DELL has unveiled its latest XPS computer, an 18in hybrid tablet/all-in-one PC designed to replace your existing desktop but still be portable enough to carry around the house It's a concept we’re beginning to see more of, with Sony and Asus having released similar products earlier in the year, but Dell's new angle could be the best yet.
Dell claims the XPS 18 is the world’s thinnest and lightest all-in-one Windows PC Weighing just 22kg, we've seen laptops that weigh more. It's barely any thicker than the average Ultrabook and tapers down to just a few millimetres. There's still room for side-firing stereo speakers, an SD card slot, two USB3 ports, a 3.5mm headset audio jack and a power port around the edges, which should be enough to connect peripherals, although there are no video ports.
The star of the show is the 18.4in, 1920x1080 display, which uses an IPS panel for excellent viewing angles, Gorilla Glass for extra protection and capacitive touch to make the most of Windows 8's finger-friendly interface. You can position it at a comfortable working angle using the flip-out feet built into the back of the device; you have the choice of a flat, easel-style mode and a more upright, monitor-style angle, but only in landscape orientation.
You can also use the bundled docking platform, which doesn‘t have any extra inputs and is purely designed to hold the tablet at the height of a traditional computer monitor, but it's made of sturdy stuff — magnets lock the tablet in place. Other accessories include a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard; both are fairly standard Dell peripherals, but are sensibly wireless to let you take them around the house along with the tablet. lite internal battery, which is apparently good for five hours of use, means you don't have to tie yourself to a power socket, either.
The XPS 18 has real potential as a portable all-in-one computer. It takes up significantly less room than a traditional desktop tower and can be picked up and moved around easily when you don’t want to be chained to a desk. It runs the full version of Windows 8, so you aren't restricted to a small selection of apps like you are on a Windows RT device. If you just use your computer for email, web browsing and word processing, but want a big screen rather than a small laptop, the XPS 18 makes a lot of sense. Dell has launched the XPS 18 in the UK on 16th April, in a range of different hardware configurations. Core i3, i5 and i7 processors, 4GB and 8GB of RAM, hard disk, mSATA and SSD storage options will all be available.
The Price starts from $899
The star of the show is the 18.4in, 1920x1080 display, which uses an IPS panel for excellent viewing angles, Gorilla Glass for extra protection and capacitive touch to make the most of Windows 8's finger-friendly interface. You can position it at a comfortable working angle using the flip-out feet built into the back of the device; you have the choice of a flat, easel-style mode and a more upright, monitor-style angle, but only in landscape orientation.
You can also use the bundled docking platform, which doesn‘t have any extra inputs and is purely designed to hold the tablet at the height of a traditional computer monitor, but it's made of sturdy stuff — magnets lock the tablet in place. Other accessories include a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard; both are fairly standard Dell peripherals, but are sensibly wireless to let you take them around the house along with the tablet. lite internal battery, which is apparently good for five hours of use, means you don't have to tie yourself to a power socket, either.
The XPS 18 has real potential as a portable all-in-one computer. It takes up significantly less room than a traditional desktop tower and can be picked up and moved around easily when you don’t want to be chained to a desk. It runs the full version of Windows 8, so you aren't restricted to a small selection of apps like you are on a Windows RT device. If you just use your computer for email, web browsing and word processing, but want a big screen rather than a small laptop, the XPS 18 makes a lot of sense. Dell has launched the XPS 18 in the UK on 16th April, in a range of different hardware configurations. Core i3, i5 and i7 processors, 4GB and 8GB of RAM, hard disk, mSATA and SSD storage options will all be available.
The Price starts from $899
