Dell is now selling the new XPS 11 convertible and Dell XPS 13 ultrabook with prices starting at $1000 for each.
At that price you get a choice of an 11.6 inch ultrabook that weighs 2.5 pounds which can also function as a tablet or a 13 inch, 3 pound laptop with a high resolution display. Both models feature Intel Core i3 Haswell processors, although you can pay more fore Core i5 or Core i7 options.
The convertible features a 2560 x 1440 pixel touchscreen display which you can push back 360 degrees so that it’s behind the keyboard. This lets you use the Dell XPS 11 in tablet mode, much the way you can with a Lenovo Yoga tablet.
What sets Dell’s convertible apart from Lenovo’s is the unusual keyboard which has keys that rest flush with the rest of the base. They’re touch-sensitive rather than mechanical. K T is not a fan.
While the keyboard is water resistant and the keys won’t ever fall off, typing on the keyboard can be tricky.
The Dell XPS 11 measures 0.6 inches thick and features 4GB of RAM, Intel HD graphics, up to an Intel Core i5 CPU and up to 256GB of solid state storage. It has an Oxide TFT display with 160 degree viewing angles, and up to 400 nits of brightness.
Dell’s XPS 13 ultrabook features a more traditional laptop design (and a more traditional keyboard). It sports a 13.3 inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel display, up to a Core i7 CPU, up to 256GB of storage, and up to 8GB of RAM.
The laptop has a 350-nit display with 178 degree viewing angles, WiFi, Bluetooth, 2 USB 3.0 ports, and a mini DisplayPort.
The 13″ model with the “more traditional” keyboard sounds awfully good.
Why am I so tempted by the high end model?
A commenter in the linked hands-on writes that “The keys will have haptic feedback along with .5 mm travel”. But still, the keyboard breaks the deal for me. But I like the form factor. Is it fanless?
No keys? Bad move dell. Bad move.