Sometimes clarity is preferable to pedantic accuracy. Mooresfield and Bay Trail both use Silvermont cores; but only BaytTrail has any significant widespread name recognition.
The XPS13 is available now in 1920x1080 and 3200x1800 models. The 1080p models get 3 hours longer runtime; but at 12 vs 15h I suspect for most users it will come down to how much they're willing to spend not how long they need their battery to last for.
Agreed. Until the scaling situation improves in Windows, I personally cannot consider these otherwise beautiful, high-DPI displays. Right now, 1080p at 13.3 inches is just barely "useable" for applications that don't scale. I can manage it, but it is eye-strain inducing due to ridiculously tiny fonts at that resolution and screen size. The typical problem is that Windows menu bars scale, but the main text elements in the application remain absolutely tiny. I would need a magnifying glass on a "4k" display!
It would be nice if Microsoft gave user's the ability to choose application-specific scaling options. For non-DPI aware apps, I'd essentially like Windows to let me merely "magnify" the application -- keep 100% font scaling, but use some kind of post-processing to smooth images and text. It wouldn't be perfect, but it would allow non-DPI aware apps to be useable, even if not perfectly sharp. Similar to how modern web browsers scale both text and graphics on web pages.
I think the idea is that since the rear exhaust area is angled upwards it can't be butted up against a wall. This will allow the warm exhaust air a better path to escape the area of the computer. Granted that only helps if you have your computer pushed up against a wall but I do think that's a pretty common scenario.
Another benefit I see of this design is that it is much easier to see the rear ports when leaning over the tower from the front.
Well according to Silverstone and their data, 90 degree mounted motherboards means significantly less strain on videocard and motherboard PCBs, so I suppose this would have a similar effect, and as stated it would allow exhaust to escape the computer quicker if the rear of the case was up against a wall.
But yes, I doubt the temperatures are greatly improved if the rear isn't up against a wall.
Hi Brett, can you confirm if the Dell XPS15 was actually updated or not? I looked at their website & I feel that they did not update 15 yet & it still contains old parts. I really wish they had updated the 15 as well cause I was hoping to pick it up when Win10 was launched later this year. Also, a 15" Infinity display would look really really good.
only the screen of XPS15 was updated to 4K, rest all its the same because XPS 15 and Alienware 15/17 uses full voltage intel CPU's which are not upgraded to Broadwell yet. All the laptop/ultrabooks upgrades you are seeing contain low power Broadwell U chips.
Anyway you are going to buy it later this year, so just wait for the Broadwell H CPU plus Windows 10 which is your requirement.
"Dell basically managed to fit a 13” display into an 11” chassis"
I'm surprised that everyone finds this so shocking. The previous XPS 13 made the same claim and already had bezels that were smaller than all competing ultrabooks. The bezels are even smaller this time around, but the difference in footprint really isn't that dramatic (very small bezels --> even smaller bezels).
So a huge difference compared to fat-bezeled competition (e.g. Macbook Air), but a relatively modest change in footprint compared to the previous XPS 13. The changes in mass (2.6 lbs on the non-touch model) and battery life (up to 15 hours for non-touch) are more significant in my book.
I'm very glad they kept a 1080p, non-touch display option, which has better battery life and lower weight. Now if only Dell still allowed you to fully configure your system like they used to...
We’ve updated our terms. By continuing to use the site and/or by logging into your account, you agree to the Site’s updated Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
19 Comments
Back to Article
Arachnotronic - Wednesday, January 7, 2015 - link
The Venue 8 7000 is Moorefield, not Bay Trail.DanNeely - Wednesday, January 7, 2015 - link
Sometimes clarity is preferable to pedantic accuracy. Mooresfield and Bay Trail both use Silvermont cores; but only BaytTrail has any significant widespread name recognition.npaladin2000 - Wednesday, January 7, 2015 - link
Did the XPS15 have a numeric keypad? Or a standard keyboard with flanking speakers again? I don't see a photo of it.Stephen Barrett - Wednesday, January 7, 2015 - link
Neither. It's the same chassis as the model we reviewed. Down firing speakers and no numpadmckirkus - Wednesday, January 7, 2015 - link
Can we get a resolution on that laptop? And an amen?DanNeely - Wednesday, January 7, 2015 - link
The XPS13 is available now in 1920x1080 and 3200x1800 models. The 1080p models get 3 hours longer runtime; but at 12 vs 15h I suspect for most users it will come down to how much they're willing to spend not how long they need their battery to last for.http://www.dell.com/us/p/xps-13-9343-laptop/pd?ref...
MrSpadge - Thursday, January 8, 2015 - link
It also comes down to how intensively you use non-DPI-aware desktop programs.MrS
TrackSmart - Friday, January 9, 2015 - link
Agreed. Until the scaling situation improves in Windows, I personally cannot consider these otherwise beautiful, high-DPI displays. Right now, 1080p at 13.3 inches is just barely "useable" for applications that don't scale. I can manage it, but it is eye-strain inducing due to ridiculously tiny fonts at that resolution and screen size. The typical problem is that Windows menu bars scale, but the main text elements in the application remain absolutely tiny. I would need a magnifying glass on a "4k" display!It would be nice if Microsoft gave user's the ability to choose application-specific scaling options. For non-DPI aware apps, I'd essentially like Windows to let me merely "magnify" the application -- keep 100% font scaling, but use some kind of post-processing to smooth images and text. It wouldn't be perfect, but it would allow non-DPI aware apps to be useable, even if not perfectly sharp. Similar to how modern web browsers scale both text and graphics on web pages.
Gigaplex - Wednesday, January 7, 2015 - link
"The internals are mounted on an angle, which is said to enhance cooling."I'm not convinced. Do they have anything to back up that claim?
sphigel - Friday, January 9, 2015 - link
I think the idea is that since the rear exhaust area is angled upwards it can't be butted up against a wall. This will allow the warm exhaust air a better path to escape the area of the computer. Granted that only helps if you have your computer pushed up against a wall but I do think that's a pretty common scenario.Another benefit I see of this design is that it is much easier to see the rear ports when leaning over the tower from the front.
Antronman - Sunday, January 11, 2015 - link
Well according to Silverstone and their data, 90 degree mounted motherboards means significantly less strain on videocard and motherboard PCBs, so I suppose this would have a similar effect, and as stated it would allow exhaust to escape the computer quicker if the rear of the case was up against a wall.But yes, I doubt the temperatures are greatly improved if the rear isn't up against a wall.
Synomenon - Thursday, January 8, 2015 - link
Nothing on their 34" curved monitor?redmonkeyjunkie - Thursday, January 8, 2015 - link
Does the XPS 15 include the Infinity Display as well?arnavvdesai - Thursday, January 8, 2015 - link
Hi Brett, can you confirm if the Dell XPS15 was actually updated or not? I looked at their website & I feel that they did not update 15 yet & it still contains old parts.I really wish they had updated the 15 as well cause I was hoping to pick it up when Win10 was launched later this year. Also, a 15" Infinity display would look really really good.
BMNify - Thursday, January 8, 2015 - link
only the screen of XPS15 was updated to 4K, rest all its the same because XPS 15 and Alienware 15/17 uses full voltage intel CPU's which are not upgraded to Broadwell yet. All the laptop/ultrabooks upgrades you are seeing contain low power Broadwell U chips.Anyway you are going to buy it later this year, so just wait for the Broadwell H CPU plus Windows 10 which is your requirement.
rocktober13 - Thursday, January 8, 2015 - link
I wish they had included the capability for the external graphics on the XPS line. The XPS 13 with that capability would be my ideal laptop.TrackSmart - Friday, January 9, 2015 - link
"Dell basically managed to fit a 13” display into an 11” chassis"I'm surprised that everyone finds this so shocking. The previous XPS 13 made the same claim and already had bezels that were smaller than all competing ultrabooks. The bezels are even smaller this time around, but the difference in footprint really isn't that dramatic (very small bezels --> even smaller bezels).
So a huge difference compared to fat-bezeled competition (e.g. Macbook Air), but a relatively modest change in footprint compared to the previous XPS 13. The changes in mass (2.6 lbs on the non-touch model) and battery life (up to 15 hours for non-touch) are more significant in my book.
I'm very glad they kept a 1080p, non-touch display option, which has better battery life and lower weight. Now if only Dell still allowed you to fully configure your system like they used to...
Impulses - Saturday, January 10, 2015 - link
Any of those display options matte?Brett Howse - Friday, January 9, 2015 - link
No infinity on the 15 yet just the 4K panel update. We asked when it would be added but of course they couldn't say.