From L-R: Khoo Teng Guan, General Manager, Consumer Business, Dell Sales Malaysia, and Sunny Ooi, Consumer Channels Group Director at Microsoft Malaysia
Dell recently held an event that heralded the coming of its new Ultrabook Convertible, the XPS 12, a hybrid device that runs on the latest Windows 8 operating system.
Amrita Sapre, Windows Product Group Manager for Microsoft Malaysia, seen here demonstrating the simplicity of Windows 8 on the XPS 12
The event was hosted at an art gallery (Dell's subtle way of promoting the XPS 12's overall artistic usability), with banners bearing the words 'I AM 2', a direct reference to the XPS 12's ability to switch from business to pleasure. Kicking off the show was Khoo Teng Guan, General Manager of Consumer Business for Dell Sales Malaysia. Mr. Khoo came up on stage and gave a few words about the XPS 12 and how the collaboration between Dell, Intel and Microsoft brought about the conception of the device. Present as well was Amrita Sapre, Window Product Group Manager for Microsoft Malaysia – who very briefly gave a technical demo for Windows 8 on the XPS 12 - as well as Prakash Mallya, Country Manager, Sales and Marketing for Intel Malaysia.
The Dell XPS 12, seen here in its tablet mode
During the event, a short demonstration of the XPS 12 showcased the design and motif of 'I AM 2' and was emphasized when two models - who were actually a pair of twins - walked about showing off the functionality and accessibility of the XPS 12.
The XPS 12 being displayed in its Ultrabook and Tablet form. Yes, those models are twins.
The Dell XPS 12 is actually two devices and one. It is the combination of an Ultrabook and tablet, bounded seamlessly together via Dell's unique and patented flip hinge, which is what helps the XPS 12 to smoothly transition between laptop and tablet.
A close-up of the twin models holding the XPS 12.
The exterior of the device is nothing short of impressive, if not expected. It is a 12.5” Full-HD touchscreen, is 8.20mm in measurement and weighs in at 1.54kg. According to Dell, the vibrant Full-HD display provides 90 percent more pixels than a standard HD display for an exceptionally crisp reading and viewing experience.
The chassis is a bit of surprise, as we noticed that Dell opted for a carbon fiber chassis and machined aluminum combo for the screen's back instead of the spun/brush aluminum designs more commonly found on most of its competitors. As with all touchscreens, the XPS 12 is fitted with an edge-to-edge Corning Gorilla Glass display, capable of 1920x1080 resolution.
The XPS 12 will come with either an Ivy Bridge Core i5 or Core i7 variation, depending on the user's preference.
The hardware inside the XPS 12 varies depending on the consumers. Consumers may opt for the model packing Intel's 3rd generation Ivy Bridge Core i5 processor with 4GB DDR3 RAM, or the model with the Core i7 Processor with 8GB DDR3 RAM. Both variations come equipped with Intel HD Graphics 4000 graphics, which, as we've said many times before, is considered as the current industry's stock standard.
During the event, Dell was also very eager to show off its new product lines, which were all Windows 8 compatible. These models included its All-in-One lineup: the Inspiron One 23 and XPS One 27, as well as the 23” touchscreen monitor. The XPS 12 is already available from Dell, with a starting price of RM3,899 onwards.
