Thursday, October 21, 2010

Apple and Dell New Releases for the 2010 Holiday Season

I'm too sexy for my shirt, I'm also too hot to play video smoothly. Kernel Panic Mode!



So, Apple has finally refreshed the Macbook Air for all the Mac zealots out there, now in four flavors, two of which house 11 inch screens and two with 13 inch screens.  All I can say is be careful which one you purchase if you are going to take the plunge because those aren't Solid State Disk Drives in the Macbook Air's; It's a NAND memory chip embedded in the logic board and it can't be upgraded. So when you fill up your storage space and need more, you either need a more expensive Macbook Air or an external drive.

What does this mean to you?  It means you can't upgrade the Solid State Memory.   As every refresh of an apple product comes out, they take away more and more upgrade-ability from their products.

Oh, and if these Macbook Air's are anything like the last generation, expect to encounter slow-downs due to heating issues.  Apple has not yet been able to figure out how to get rid of heat and keep their devices running cool despite their claims to the contrary.

Apple's motto should be Form Over Function, but they're sure to sell at least a million or more of them just because it has an Apple logo on it.




Look at me, I'm plain and boring!

Dell's announcement is a little more interesting, They're putting out some new XPS notebooks this holiday season with aluminum lids and packing NVIDIA's Geforce 400M GPU, it looks interesting.  Unfortunately if you were a victim of the last batch of Dell's XPS and Studio notebooks you might remember the freezing and hard lock issues you or a friend suffered through, so be wary before taking the dive.  

Another interesting note, these new XPS units that Dell is putting out on the market for this holiday season are still lacking USB 3.0 ports.  That's a real shame since this is supposed to be a premium notebook under the Dell brand name.




Pro's

  • Leading edge NVIDIA® performance graphics bring your media to life
  • High-fidelity JBL speakers with Waves MaxxAudio® 3
  • First Skype™ -certified laptop — video chat with HD Webcam

Con's

  • Design is not very sleek
  • No USB 3.0 ports on the XPS 14 (it is supposed to be their premium notebook right?)
  • Pricing is high




OFFICIAL DELL PRESS RELEASE

DELL RE-IMAGINES HIGH-DEFINITION ENTERTAINMENT WITH NEW FAMILY OF XPS LAPTOPS

  • Turn the Volume Up to 11 with JBL and Waves Sound Design and Catch a Cinema-like Experience with High-Definition NVIDIA Graphics
  • Stay Close to Family, Friends with the Industry's First Skype-Certified Laptops that Support HD Video Streaming
  • Watch Eye-popping 3D Movies, Games and Photos on Big-screen 3D Televisions1



ROUND ROCK, Texas, Oct. 21, 2010 – Providing the ultimate mobile entertainment experience, Dell's family of new XPS laptops deliver pulse pounding JBL and Waves sound design, a cinema-like HD video experience featuring cutting-edge graphics from NVIDIA, and the industry's first Skype-certified laptops with HD video streaming webcams so you can stay close to friends and family.

In addition, the new family of laptops -- which come in 14-, 15- and 17-inch screen sizes -- are all 3D TV ready and include NVIDIA's 3DTV Play software which allows users to connect their Dell XPS notebooks to new 3D HDTVs and play hundreds of popular PC games in 3D, watch Blu-ray 3D movies, and browse 3D photos and videos in immersive, stereoscopic 3D.
Featuring exceptional sound, video and now 3D-capabilities, the new premium systems mark the return of the highly regarded XPS brand, which blends classic style, world-class features and premium performance in products that stand up to rigorous standards. The XPS brand joins the Inspiron and Alienware families in rounding out Dell's overarching consumer portfolio -- just in time for the holidays.

The XPS laptops were designed for creative explorers -- individuals who are passionate about art, film, photos, and value an immersive entertainment experience. Their daily lives are multimedia experiences that they share with each other, whether it's uploading photos, watching streaming video or listening to their favorite band play a concert on the other side of the world.

The stylish laptops come standard with silver anodized aluminum display back and palmrest, or can be personalized with one of more than 200 original designs from Dell Design Studio, including the new Susan G. Komen collection, which generates a $10 contribution in the fight against breast cancer.

"We're pushing the limits once again -- this time with our new line of XPS laptops, which offer pulsing audio from JBL and Waves, new high-definition screens driven by NVIDIA technology and the industry's first Skype-certified laptops with the first webcam allowing HD video streaming," said Sam Burd, vice president, Dell Consumer, Small and Medium Business Product Group "The XPS brand has always been the standard-bearer for outstanding performance from Dell, and the new line of laptops is no exception. No laptop PCs have ever sounded or looked so great."

Turn It Up to 11
Built-in JBL designed and certified speakers with integrated Waves MaxxAudio® 3 processing technology rock the loudest, clearest and best laptop sound Dell has ever produced, including best-in-class bass with 12-watt subwoofers on the 15- and 17-inch models. Boasting up to 22W peak audio performance, this incredibly clean and clear sound helps deliver a superb audio experience.


A Cinema-like Experience
High-performance 1GB to 3GB NVIDIA graphics options power eye-catching HD video capabilities on the 14-, 15- and 17-inch High Definition LED displays. For the ultimate entertainment experience, the new Dell XPS laptops are all 3D-capable with NVIDIA's 3DTV Play software. With the available Blu-ray Disc drive option families can enjoy immersive 3D Blu-ray Disc movies on a big 3D HDTV screen in their own living room.1

Video Stream in HD
The XPS laptops boast the first integrated webcams capable of HD video streaming. The webcams are designed to provide crystal-clear full screen video chats and are also the first laptop PCs to be Skype-certified.

The Dell XPS brand is renowned for delivering the latest, world-class technology, and that legacy continues in the new models, which feature Intel Core i processors and the latest NVIDIA GeForce 400 series graphics with Optimus technology. With more performance capabilities than many desktop PCs, XPS laptops are the perfect choice for people who demand high performance, premium technology and the best entertainment experience. Over the years, Dell has incorporated many evolutionary product refinements to its XPS models, including some that are the result of customer suggestions. For example, customer feedback has helped Dell improve heat dissipation, power supplies and chassis strength in this new generation of XPS models, making them among the most reliable and durable XPS laptops Dell has ever offered.

Dell is an industry leader in delivering a great shopping experience, featuring an online concierge shopping service that helps ensure you get exactly what you want: the latest technology designed for your needs. Dell is committed to delivering reliable products that you can count on, with access to immediate and reliable support anytime, anywhere you need it.

Dell Design Studio
Dell Design Studio is an immersive online shopping experience similar to touring an art gallery. Shoppers can interactively view and select from hundreds of designs, artists, colors and patterns that can turn a Dell Mini or Dell laptop PC into a personalized accessory. Individuals who want to personalize their laptop can choose from categories that include unique, eye-catching designs representing popular OPI shades, bold Major League Baseball team designs, community favorites Threadless graphic art, special (PRODUCT) RED™ signature artwork, and a variety of edgy designed-for- Dell artwork.

Availability & Pricing
The new Dell XPS laptops are available beginning today directly from www.dell.com. Models, configuration and options may vary by global region and retailers. Starting prices for the new XPS laptops are: $899 for the XPS 14; $849 for the XPS 15; and $949 for the XPS 17.

Links Dell's New 2010 XPS Notebooks
Skype Video Calling
Waves MAXX Audio 3
Dell Design Studio

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