CES 2012 | Dell announces XPS 13 Ultrabook

Just as 2011 saw the rise of numerous tablets, 2012 is looking to be the same for Intel Ultrabooks. Dell at CES this week revealed its latest and first addition to the Ultrabook lineup, the XPS 13. This 13.3-inch notebook will weigh 2.99 pounds (1.35kg) at launch and will be less than 0.25 inches (6.35mm) at its thinnest point. Perhaps more notably, the base will be made of light carbon fiber in contrast to magnesium alloy. “The XPS 13 is the culmination of an extensive design and development process focused on creating the best Ultrabook on the planet,” said Global Operations vice chairman Jeff Clarke in the press release. “It is specifically engineered to help both our consumer and commercial customers to be more productive and connected in every way possible.” For such a small notebook, the XPS 13 will include a large host of features such as a Core i5-2467Mor Core i7-2436M CPU with integrated Intel graphics, a claimed 300-nit 1366x768 resolution edge-to-edge display, 4GB RAM, up to a 256GB SSD (plus free 100GB of cloud storage through Dell DataStage), USB 3.0 and a backlit Chiclet keyboard. Battery life is estimated at 8 hours. Because the XPS 13 will be targeting both consumers and IT markets, Dell will be offering Intel Smart Connect, Intel Rapid Start, 4G WWAN, ProSupport and TPM encryption security options. Expect the Dell Ultrabook to launch this February in the U.S. starting for $999, although Dell is currently taking reservation online. Users outside of the U.S. will have to wait until March before the XPS 13 becomes available.