Surprise! Dell releases XPS One today
In the labs: Dell XPS One
(Credit: CNET Networks, Inc.)Update: our Dell XPS One review is live.
Dell sent us a Dell XPS One for review last week and asked us to hold off publishing the review until it releases its first all-in-one PC next Monday. Then--surprise!--Dell gets a little trigger-happy and puts it up for sale today. (Estimated ship date isn't until November 27.) Rich Brown is writing feverishly; look for our full review later today.
What can we tell you now? The design of the thing doesn't look all that different from Dell's LCDs, with a black screen bezel and angular base. It's available in four preconfigured models, but one size fits all--your only screen option is a 20-inch wide screen. Pricing for the four models ranges from $1,499 to $2,399, and surprisingly for Dell systems, you're not given anything in the way of customization options other than adding a printer, software, or other accessories to your order. Common to all four machines are the following: 2GB of RAM, a hybrid analog/digital TV tuner, Vista Home Premium, Adobe Elements, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. The two lower-end models feature the Core 2 Duo E4500 CPU, and the two higher-end models feature the Core 2 Duo E6550 while also upgrading the integrated graphics to a 256MB ATI Radeon HD 2400 Pro card. The highest-end model also trades in the DVD burner for a Blu-ray burner. Hard drive capacities range from 250GB to 500GB.
the desktop, which means it probably ships that way. Why can't
you just purchase a PC that when you turn it on, all you see is
My Computer and the Recycle Bin? Leave all the trash software
off, and put everything else in the Start Menu under Programs.
Especially on an all-in-one, where simplicity is meant to be the
reason for purchasing the computer in the first place.
This is one thing that Apple definitely does right. The specs
seem decent on this model, but the fact that they don't have
anything bigger than a 20" to compete with Apple does not
speak well for Dell; however, maybe this will make Apple
consider putting a Blu-ray drive in their iMacs soon?
"expensive" compared to the cheap systems out there is that the
all-in-one form is more expensive to engineer. The iMac is very
price competitive with this machine.