Dell XPS 14 Review: Beautiful and Powerful, but Wait for Windows 8

The Dell XPS 14 follows theXPS 13 ultrabookas the previous plus to the revamped merchandise line . fit with a 14 - inch blind , twofold - core Intel Core i7 running at 2.4 gigacycle per second , 8 gigabytes of RAM , 500 gigabyte HDD ( with a 32 gig SSD for straightaway caching ) , and discrete NVIDIA GeForce GT 630 M graphics , it certainly has horsepower to part with . But is it worthy of its $ 1500 pricetag ?

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What Is It?

Dell wants this to be the computer that give short in the elbow room of public presentation , but still has some of the portability of a little computer . ( Alongside the XPS 14 , Dell also released the XPS 15 today , which has a faster Core i7 CPU ( 3.1 gigacycle ) , and a more powerful GPU ( NVIDIA GeForce GT640 M ) , in add-on to the added heft—5.8 pounds vs 4.6 Cypriot pound ) .

Who’s It For?

Those who want the power to act games , edit picture and picture , watch movies and TV in HD , but are n’t needs hard-core about it and also value specification such as size of it and battery life-time .

Design

The XPS 14 shares the same design DNA as the XPS 13 , which is to say that it has a mill around atomic number 13 exterior , boundary - to - edge Gorilla Glass covert , delicate pinch credit card around the keyboard , and a spacious trackpad . Roughly as thick as a 13 - inch MacBook Pro , with a footprint that is just a bit large , the XPS 14 has plentifulness in vernacular with Apple ’s computer design - wise , but is unlike enough to deflect being label a unblushing knockoff . Also deserving mark is Dell ’s determination to throw overboard an ocular drive , which will more than probably become received for the non - powerhouse laptop across the add-in .

Using It

Like the XPS 13 , the first thing you notice when opening up the XPS 14 is how quality everything feels . The dead body , the key , the screen all palpate rock solid and very agiotage . Then you turn it on . charge times are riotous ( ~22 seconds ) , the CRT screen is bright and beautiful , and the stamp battery can get you through an entire mean solar day .

The Best Part

The stop number and responsiveness that Ivy Bridge affords . Considering this is n’t direct towards the chance email chequer or a video editor , the XPS 14 took everything I could throw at it and performed admirably . With 50 or so yellow journalism unresolved in Chrome ( loaded with resourcefulness - heavy pages , listen you ) , along with Chrome and the machine was still able-bodied to wager back an Vimeo video in full blind HD .

Tragic Flaw

The trackpad . It ’s been a pretty common issue with all Windows - based laptops over the past few years , and the XPS 14 is no different . Not only does the trackpad have a sticky feel to it , but it ’s rugged to find the zone to consistently register odd and correct clicks without have to really think about it .

This Is Weird…

As well as this laptop perform , I could n’t help but desire this thing to have Windows 8 on it . A machine this courteous should have a more visually likeable OS , particularly when it comes to the overall mealy appearance of the system UI .

Test Notes

Dell advertises an 11 hour battery sprightliness for the XPS 14 . Maybe that s possible if you were only carry out the most introductory of tasks with the cover brightness level ratcheted down , but otherwise unrealistic . However , it is potential to get through a work day with restrained internet and multimedia use ( and , of course , not have the screen brightness all the way up ) .

The gentle touch textile on the palm rest is a grease magnet .

Powered by Waves MaxxAudio 4 , the speakers are n’t mindblowing , but they do the trick . The audio turnout is amazingly enough , delivering plenty of power to my Aiaiai TMA-1s .

Geekbench scores saw the Ivy Bridge Processor out performing interchangeable Core i7 processors from last generation . Though not the highest , it appeared to be within range of other machine packing the same CPU .

Dell calls this an Ultrabook , and technically this falls under Intel ’s spec for 14 - inch models . But this is not an ultrabook like the XPS 13 is an ultrabook . It ’s a laptop computer .

Should You Buy It?

This is a weird clock time to be laptop computer shopping , seeing as Windows 8 is decently around the corner . Do n’t get affair twisted ; the XPS 14 will more than be capable of handling Windows 8 , but will it be as ripe as a machine build around the coming OS ? It ’s hard to say . If you dead need a premium , all - around PC laptop right now , then yes , drop ( at least ) $ 1100 on an XPS 14 . But if you could yield to be patient , it may be deserving waiting to see what come later this fall .

• O : Windows 7

• CPU : 2.4GHz dual - core Core i7 - 3517U ( as tested )

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