Last Tuesday Dell launched a brand new flagship for the company’s high-end line of business/consumer hybrid laptops in the form of a sleek, stylish and sub-one inch thick entry that Dell is marketing as a worthy rival to the MacBook Pro line of computers from Apple which is currently dominating the ultraportable market.
Known as the Dell XPS 14z, this laptop brings plenty of power to the table as it boasts a second generation Intel Core i5 processor or Core i7 dual-core processor, depending on which one you opt for. In addition to that, the XPS 14z can also handle up to 8GB of DDR3 memory at 1,333MHz and is also compatible with an external graphics card. It also comes with Windows 7 Home Premium pre-installed.
Dell is banking on the XPS 14z to appeal to business professionals and consumers who fancy being on top of the latest technology trends and hopes that these consumers find the aesthetics of the XPS 14z, as well as the performance, as pleasing as the MacBook Pro, if not more so.
According to a statement from President of Consumer and Small/Medium Business Group at Dell Steve Felice, “The XPS 14z delivers what professionals want–raw power paired with a stunning, sophisticated design that signals ‘I’ve arrived’. The XPS 14z is specifically engineered to help our customers do more in their personal and professional lives–and it advances our industry-leading vision for thin-and-powerful solutions that deliver performance without compromise.”
The XPS 14z does what, on the surface, seems impossible and squeezes a 14″ screen into a 13″ frame. This is possible thanks to the convex shape and edge-to-edge, borderless display. The XPS 14z also features a maximum storage space of 750GB, a 1.3MP webcam and a backlit, spill-resistant keyboard along with a battery life of six hours and 42 minutes, according to Dell.
Prices start at $999 and range as high as $1,500 or more depending on the specifications of your model. However, it is clear that Dell is aiming this device at both business users as well as consumers who are willing to pay a pretty penny for both form and function. It is this same mentality that brings in such high numbers for MacBooks every year as well.
Source: Information Week – Dell Challenges MacBook Pro With Ultra Thin Laptop
