Not content to let Asus, Acer, and Toshiba hog the spotlight at Computex 2013, Dell is not only updating its computer lineup with the fourth-generation Intel processor, it also has a couple of new products, like the 21.5-inch touch monitor with an unique hinge design (as pictured above). In addition to some printers and some desktops geared more towards the business world, Dell announced a refresh to some of our favorite products, like the Dell XPS 12, which we gave an Editors’ Choice award to, and the Dell XPS 27, an all-in-one desktop we can confidently recommend.
Let’s see what the Haswell refresh can do for Dell’s new refreshed products.
XPS 12 Ultrabook
Check out our Dell XPS 12 ultrabook review.
Dell’s iconic XPS 12 convertible Ultrabook (pictured right) will be upgraded to the new Haswell chip from Intel, which means you should be able to enjoy improved performance and significantly better battery life than the first-gen XPS 12. According to Dell’s tests results, the Haswell-powered XPS 12 (with a 1.8GHz Intel Core i7 45ooU chip) is 1.6 times faster and lasts two hours longer on battery than its predecessor – that’s a total of 8 hours and 43 minutes before needing a charge. The base configuration starts with the 2.6GHz Core i5-4200U chip, a 12.5-inch 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution touchscreen, 4GB RAM, and even Gigabit Wi-Fi and NFC. The updated XPS 12 will be available in the “coming weeks” starting at $1,200.
XPS 27 All-in-One
Check out our review of the Dell XPS 27 Touch All-in-one PC.
Like the XPS 12 Ultrabook, the XPS 27 all-in-one, with the amazing Adobe RGB Quad HD touch display, will also be getting the Haswell treatment. That’s a good thing for customers who need one of the best possible touchscreens available for true-to-life color reproduction, as the quality of the first-gen XPS 27’s screen rivals iMacs.
Don’t worry, Dell isn’t messing with its 27-inch, 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution screen with this second-gen XPS 27, but simply upping its computing power and storage capacity. That’s why its base model has at least a 3.2GHz Core i5 (4430S) chip, with the option to add the Nvidia GeForce GT 750M discrete graphics, 16GB max RAM, and opt for a dual-drive solution with up to a 2TB hard drive and 256GB SSD. This updated multimedia powerhouse all-in-one is available direct from Dell.com today starting at $1,600.
XPS 8700 Desktop PC
If having a traditional hard drive and solid-state drive is still not enough storage space for all your HD movies and photos, you may want to look into getting the XPS 8700 desktop tower. First of all, you’ll get the same snappy performance on this desktop as on the XPS 27 all-in-one, as they’re powered by the same fourth-gen chips in both configurations with the optional Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 discrete graphics. Where the XPS 8700 desktop shines is in its flexible storage options: you can use of the four available bays to expand to a 4TB hard drive. You can order this highly expandable desktop PC from Dell.com today starting at $700.
Dell’s S2240T Touch Monitor
Next to the acrobatic XPS 12 convertible Ultrabook, the most visually interesting product that Dell announced has to be this 21.5-inch S2240T touch monitor. Our initial impression of this monitor was that it’s an all-in-one computer, complete with a highly flexible hinge that allows the display to almost morph into a giant tablet – like the Dell XPS 18 all-in-one.
It turns out this unique design is purely a 21.5-inch monitor that has full HD resolution (though Dell has yet to specify its exact pixel count), and recognizes ten-point touch so you can interact with its easy-to-position screen more directly. Like the XPS 27 all-in-one and XPS 8700 desktop, this touch-friendly monitor is available from Dell.com today.
