Like the Sony Vaio Tap 20 and Lenovo
IdeaCentre Horizon, the XPS 18 exists in the
space between the tablet and all-in-one desktop
form factors. The XPS 18 is centered on its 18.4-
inch touch screen, but has an Intel Pentium
processor, based on Intel Core technology.
It’s
aimed at the user who needs a full Windows 8
PC, albeit one that can move around the house
from room to room while still operating.
The XPS 18 base unit comes with an Intel
Pentium 2117U processor, but XPS 18 models
can be configured with a selection of Core i3, i5,
and i7 processors during the purchase process.
The system comes with either 4GB or 8GB of
memory, 320-500GB hard drive, 32-512GB
mSATA SSD, and Intel integrated graphics. The
system comes with two USB 3.0 ports and a
single USB 2.0 ports for a keyboard/mouse USB
transceiver. The XPS 18 weighs about five
pounds and is around-the-house portable, with a
claimed five-hour battery life.
The XPS 18 has built-in kickstands for desktop
use with or without a wireless keyboard/mouse
setup. Dell will also offer a $49 desktop stand
with tilt and recharge functions. The system has
a webcam on the same side as the screen, but no
backward-facing camera, so it’s not meant to be
a mobile tablet. Instead, the XPS 18 is meant for
the home roamer, carrying the system from
bedroom to den to kitchen. The system is only
0.69 inches thick, much slimmer than the Sony
Vaio Tap 20.
It’s interesting that Dell is willing to enter such
an untested segment of the market. While the
Vaio Tap 20 blazed the trail for portable all-in-
one desktops, there haven’t been too many other
direct competitors yet. Windows 8 practically
screams for a touch screen, and the inclusion of
a 10-point touch screen on the XPS 18 is, in our
opinion, absolutely necessary for a sharable
system like this.
The XPS 18 is as light as a large laptop (5
pounds), which makes it a much better
candidate for carrying around the house than
the 11-pound Tap 20 or the 18-pound
IdeaCentre Horizon.
Pcmag.com
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