For those who are curious, here are the ports, from left to right:
Ethernet; combo eSATA/USB (Dell has these on some of their newer laptops, and a few "white-box" Quanta laptops have them as well;) USB; USB; DisplayPort.
The combo eSATA/USB port is made so that one side of the center bar has the eSATA pins, and the other side has the USB pins. For each connector, the 'shell' makes contact with all of the other connector's pins; which the system then takes as a signal to ignore that connection. The port is keyed in such a way that you can't plug either connector backwards.
He also takes a jab at Apple with his "not worth it for high-volume" crack.
Which is funny since the MacBook is the number one selling individual notebook model from ANYONE. (Yeah, Dell sells more overall, but for a single model, Apple wins.)
With the way Dell developed the screen, I see why they stuck the ports on the back but this is a mistake. Within a month or two people will have bent USB drives or power connectors because they will tilt the laptop to reach a jump drive and bend whatever is connected back there. Apple learned its lesson a long time back and developed a much better hinge design to allow for side placement of all connectors and ports.
This thing will probably be way more expensive than their other notebooks, so I'll never buy one. Plus, I don't like 13" since I'd rather have a 10" netbook or a 15.4".
As was already mentioned, this will not be Atom powered. This is a premium ultra-light notebook. As with the MBA, VooDoo Envy and the others in this new premium category, it will most likely use Intel's Small Form Factor (SFF) C2D chips. The prices are for the 1.6Ghz and 1.8Ghz are $284 and $316 in lots of 1000, respectively.
I'm much more impressed with the die-cast magnesium chassis of my XPS M1730 than this. The material was so light that I thought it was plastic. It also helps dissipate heat better - but mainly it's just cool.
Anyway - just thought I'd mention that Dell does already make a notebook (if you can call the M1730 that) with exotic materials.
I think it looks very much NOT like a Mac. There are just so many ways a (practical) notebook can look and as they come, this one looks relatively unique. Nice to see some non Apple vendors finally putting in the effort to go all the way and make an altogether sexy laptop.
But although I will never use one of these, I have to say that I HATE it when they put some extra keys flush next to the regular "edge" of the keyfield, that is next to the Backspace and Return keys.
It does sort of, but isn't that the point? See this is why I am glad that Apple exists to get PC Manufacturers thinking of how to improve the aesthetics of their machines, since it spurs innovation. That said I am not in favor of Steve Job's war on buttons and glad I don't use a mac because of it. I am glad someone is willing to spend money on hardware that makes the rest of the industry actually get off their asses and design a better and not just cheaper machine.
I really don't like the look of Apple's latest gen notebooks. They look like someone took them off the manufacturing line too early. I keep wanting to mount it on a mill to bevel the edges some more. Is it just me?
Is that a MagSafe connector to the left of the 2 USB ports in the middle? It certainly looks like it to me. If that's the case, I guess the Unibody construction isn't the only thing from Apple Dell is trying to replicate.
The one of the right looks like a eSATA, and the circular port looks like a headphone jack.
It's a smaller one than usual, like the old Gameboy AC adaptor plugs. It would be nice though if PC manufacturers embraced Magsafe, given how easy it is to damage the power ports and connectors with the conventional ones.
The other two ports are definitely eSATA and DisplayPort. Too bad hardly anything uses DisplayPort. It's more of a PITA than anything else at this point because adaptors for it are so expensive.
I thought left was eSATA, right was DisplayPort, and the power connector is the standard type on the far right. Looks like it would match the power brick shown.
After looking at the photo of the black model, the left port (right in that photo, since it's upside-down) looks to be a combination USB/eSATA port! I didn't know such a thing was possible!
And the circular port is the power input; look at two photos of the power brick.
So, I know you can't give details on specs and such, but can you say if this is going to be more in line with better notebook specs, or low power netbook specs?
It's not a netbook - the size is around 13" I think (you can try to estimate based on Anand's hand size in the picture LOL). I think we're also okay with saying that it's not using an Intel Atom CPU, so this will be higher performance than the netbook category (and more expensive, naturally).
Just as an aside, for those that are interested, dual-core Atom CPUs are currently desktop-only chips, so they really don't belong in a notebook. Sure, you could put one there, but they have a larger package and power use is significantly higher than the mobile version of Atom. This was one of the topics we discussed with some companies at CES - they pretty much said that dual-core Atom wasn't suitable for use in laptops in the present incarnation. So, if you want dual-core Atom in a netbook or laptop, you'll have to wait a while longer.
Perhaps, but what would you rather have? A dual-core Atom consuming 8W and providing the performance of a Core Duo 1.2GHz chip (yes, that's the Yonah core I'm talking about, not the later Merom stuff)... or a Core 2 Duo chip that requires the same power, has a better feature set, and significantly better performance? Sure, Atom costs less to manufacture and Intel can therefore sell it for less, but will they actually do so?
Atom is really about providing "just enough" performance; if I got a 13.3" notebook with an Atom chip, I know I'd end up disappointed with the overall experience. Anand has an article up on the new NVIDIA Ion platform that discusses Atom more in-depth, and it gives some very good reasons why we likely will never see it in full-size (i.e. 12" or larger) notebooks.
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Thanatus - Friday, February 27, 2009 - link
It would be interesting to see how this will stack up against the Voodoo Envy, which it appears to be competing with.This looks like superb Industrial Design. Too bad us commoners can't easily enjoy such refinement.
I'll continue drooling in vain.
Anonymous Freak - Monday, January 12, 2009 - link
For those who are curious, here are the ports, from left to right:Ethernet; combo eSATA/USB (Dell has these on some of their newer laptops, and a few "white-box" Quanta laptops have them as well;) USB; USB; DisplayPort.
The combo eSATA/USB port is made so that one side of the center bar has the eSATA pins, and the other side has the USB pins. For each connector, the 'shell' makes contact with all of the other connector's pins; which the system then takes as a signal to ignore that connection. The port is keyed in such a way that you can't plug either connector backwards.
Here's a close-up picture:: http://1toppc.com/Merchant2/images/Notebook/Asus/M...">http://1toppc.com/Merchant2/images/Notebook/Asus/M...
araczynski - Monday, January 12, 2009 - link
sounds like dell's saying: expect to pay a premium for less performance, we want to be like apple.Anonymous Freak - Monday, January 12, 2009 - link
Indeed.He also takes a jab at Apple with his "not worth it for high-volume" crack.
Which is funny since the MacBook is the number one selling individual notebook model from ANYONE. (Yeah, Dell sells more overall, but for a single model, Apple wins.)
Scott66 - Sunday, January 11, 2009 - link
With the way Dell developed the screen, I see why they stuck the ports on the back but this is a mistake. Within a month or two people will have bent USB drives or power connectors because they will tilt the laptop to reach a jump drive and bend whatever is connected back there. Apple learned its lesson a long time back and developed a much better hinge design to allow for side placement of all connectors and ports.AnnonymousCoward - Saturday, January 10, 2009 - link
This thing will probably be way more expensive than their other notebooks, so I'll never buy one. Plus, I don't like 13" since I'd rather have a 10" netbook or a 15.4".Totally - Friday, January 9, 2009 - link
Is this Atom powered or not, that's all i want to know.- Saturday, January 10, 2009 - link
As was already mentioned, this will not be Atom powered. This is a premium ultra-light notebook. As with the MBA, VooDoo Envy and the others in this new premium category, it will most likely use Intel's Small Form Factor (SFF) C2D chips. The prices are for the 1.6Ghz and 1.8Ghz are $284 and $316 in lots of 1000, respectively.kondor999 - Friday, January 9, 2009 - link
I'm much more impressed with the die-cast magnesium chassis of my XPS M1730 than this. The material was so light that I thought it was plastic. It also helps dissipate heat better - but mainly it's just cool.Anyway - just thought I'd mention that Dell does already make a notebook (if you can call the M1730 that) with exotic materials.
sxr7171 - Sunday, January 11, 2009 - link
The Latitude line has been using magnesium alloy in some of the lineup for years. Check the Latitude E4200. Weighs 2.2lbs. Costs $2500.crimson117 - Friday, January 9, 2009 - link
I like how it has a big magnet on the bottom so you can stick it on your refrigerator.http://www.anandtech.com/GalleryImage.aspx?id=5261">http://www.anandtech.com/GalleryImage.aspx?id=5261
tonytopper - Friday, January 9, 2009 - link
What's the guess on the native resolution?I hope it's at least WSXGA.
legoman666 - Friday, January 9, 2009 - link
Looks like a mac.tim851 - Friday, January 9, 2009 - link
I think it looks very much NOT like a Mac. There are just so many ways a (practical) notebook can look and as they come, this one looks relatively unique. Nice to see some non Apple vendors finally putting in the effort to go all the way and make an altogether sexy laptop.But although I will never use one of these, I have to say that I HATE it when they put some extra keys flush next to the regular "edge" of the keyfield, that is next to the Backspace and Return keys.
Bluestealth - Friday, January 9, 2009 - link
It does sort of, but isn't that the point? See this is why I am glad that Apple exists to get PC Manufacturers thinking of how to improve the aesthetics of their machines, since it spurs innovation. That said I am not in favor of Steve Job's war on buttons and glad I don't use a mac because of it. I am glad someone is willing to spend money on hardware that makes the rest of the industry actually get off their asses and design a better and not just cheaper machine.Solandri - Friday, January 9, 2009 - link
I really don't like the look of Apple's latest gen notebooks. They look like someone took them off the manufacturing line too early. I keep wanting to mount it on a mill to bevel the edges some more. Is it just me?ltcommanderdata - Friday, January 9, 2009 - link
Is that a MagSafe connector to the left of the 2 USB ports in the middle? It certainly looks like it to me. If that's the case, I guess the Unibody construction isn't the only thing from Apple Dell is trying to replicate.The one of the right looks like a eSATA, and the circular port looks like a headphone jack.
crimson117 - Friday, January 9, 2009 - link
Looks like it uses a regular AC adapter:http://www.anandtech.com/GalleryImage.aspx?id=5271">http://www.anandtech.com/GalleryImage.aspx?id=5271
mmntech - Saturday, January 10, 2009 - link
It's a smaller one than usual, like the old Gameboy AC adaptor plugs. It would be nice though if PC manufacturers embraced Magsafe, given how easy it is to damage the power ports and connectors with the conventional ones.The other two ports are definitely eSATA and DisplayPort. Too bad hardly anything uses DisplayPort. It's more of a PITA than anything else at this point because adaptors for it are so expensive.
Zoomer - Saturday, January 24, 2009 - link
Magsafe isn't necessary, at least not if dumb stuff like using the power cord as a tripwire isn't done.acejj26 - Friday, January 9, 2009 - link
Display Portstrikeback03 - Friday, January 9, 2009 - link
I thought left was eSATA, right was DisplayPort, and the power connector is the standard type on the far right. Looks like it would match the power brick shown.UNHchabo - Friday, January 9, 2009 - link
Don't know about the left port, but the right one isn't eSATA, it's DisplayPort.UNHchabo - Friday, January 9, 2009 - link
After looking at the photo of the black model, the left port (right in that photo, since it's upside-down) looks to be a combination USB/eSATA port! I didn't know such a thing was possible!And the circular port is the power input; look at two photos of the power brick.
tdawg - Friday, January 9, 2009 - link
So, I know you can't give details on specs and such, but can you say if this is going to be more in line with better notebook specs, or low power netbook specs?JarredWalton - Friday, January 9, 2009 - link
It's not a netbook - the size is around 13" I think (you can try to estimate based on Anand's hand size in the picture LOL). I think we're also okay with saying that it's not using an Intel Atom CPU, so this will be higher performance than the netbook category (and more expensive, naturally).Just as an aside, for those that are interested, dual-core Atom CPUs are currently desktop-only chips, so they really don't belong in a notebook. Sure, you could put one there, but they have a larger package and power use is significantly higher than the mobile version of Atom. This was one of the topics we discussed with some companies at CES - they pretty much said that dual-core Atom wasn't suitable for use in laptops in the present incarnation. So, if you want dual-core Atom in a netbook or laptop, you'll have to wait a while longer.
sprockkets - Saturday, January 10, 2009 - link
It's called Intel does not want to cannibalize thier C2D sales buddy.JarredWalton - Tuesday, January 13, 2009 - link
Perhaps, but what would you rather have? A dual-core Atom consuming 8W and providing the performance of a Core Duo 1.2GHz chip (yes, that's the Yonah core I'm talking about, not the later Merom stuff)... or a Core 2 Duo chip that requires the same power, has a better feature set, and significantly better performance? Sure, Atom costs less to manufacture and Intel can therefore sell it for less, but will they actually do so?Atom is really about providing "just enough" performance; if I got a 13.3" notebook with an Atom chip, I know I'd end up disappointed with the overall experience. Anand has an article up on the new NVIDIA Ion platform that discusses Atom more in-depth, and it gives some very good reasons why we likely will never see it in full-size (i.e. 12" or larger) notebooks.
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3499">http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3499
JonnyDough - Saturday, January 10, 2009 - link
Anand has such smooth sexy hands. He should totally model.