Dell unveils XPS 13 with Kaby Lake

[Fishrrman]

jerry wrote:
"The thing that upsets me is that you can pop the bottom and upgrade the memory modules and SSD with off the shelf components. If Dell can do this why can't Apple?"

.... greed?

And perhaps an almost fanatical obsession that style must override function.

 

[Queen6]

jerry wrote:
"The thing that upsets me is that you can pop the bottom and upgrade the memory modules and SSD with off the shelf components. If Dell can do this why can't Apple?"

.... greed?

And perhaps an almost fanatical obsession that style must override function.

As a direct result Apple is now producing some of the most ridiculous hardware on the market - desktop systems that have zero upgrade path & deliberately gimped systems to force you to buy the former.

Also agree Greed is a big factor, as Apple`s margins are clearly obscene, with absolutely no consideration for the customer. When I pay a premium I expect the best, not what Apple is currently serving up, or planning to.

Apple wants my business back, Apple needs to meet my expectations, not the Facebook crowds...

Q-6

 

[mrkkbb]

That would suck. On the 15" it is DIMMs I assumed it was the same on the 13"

I have a feeling the 13" MPB memory will also be non-upgradable, it will save weight.
[doublepost=1474044471][/doublepost]

if only windows was not such a flaky OS

Well, I'm seriously considering the new developers edition with Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. Apple will loose users to Dell if they don't announce a 13" Kabylake MPB soon; they could save face even if they say available January 1st, 2017 -- I'll wait another few months. But if they don't announce soon, XPS 13 it is.

 

[leman]

That's a MBA-level laptop which uses lower-power CPUs. I am confused why it's considered a MBP competitor in the first place. If anything, compare it to the 12" macbook.

 

[Cougarcat]

That's a MBA-level laptop which uses lower-power CPUs. I am confused why it's considered a MBP competitor in the first place. If anything, compare it to the 12" macbook.

The fact that this is true has me worried that we will only see a MBA update next month.

 

[mrkkbb]

That's a MBA-level laptop which uses lower-power CPUs. I am confused why it's considered a MBP competitor in the first place. If anything, compare it to the 12" macbook.

XPS 13 has an i7 U-processor 14Watt, not an m7 like MBA (4.5 Watt)

 

[leman]

The fact that this is true has me worried that we will only see a MBA update next month.

Intel usually releases the low-power CPUs first. In fact, there still doesn't seem to be any high-end Broadwells or Skylakes (suitable for the 15" MBP) around, even though they are listed as released!

XPS 13 has an i7 U-processor 14Watt, not an m7 like MBA (4.5 Watt)

That is not correct. MBA does not use the m-series CPUs.

 

[RobbieTT]

Still, nice to see some realistic options for my next laptop. I'm a massive fan of OSX and have adored my MBP but in the last couple of years I have had to accept that Apple has moved away from designing and producing laptops (ignoring the regurgitation of old product lines at mad prices). I guess they see the future moving tech into a different direction.

It is a gut-wrenching shame but I need to find a replacement for my MBP - ideally something that is as close to the Apple experience of old, but with a defined future. At the moment I wonder if my MacBook has an Atari logo hidden under the Apple, such is the clarity of the impending dead-end.

 

[mrkkbb]

Intel usually releases the low-power CPUs first. In fact, there still doesn't seem to be any high-end Broadwells or Skylakes (suitable for the 15" MBP) around, even though they are listed as released!



That is not correct. MBA does not use the m-series CPUs.

Right, confused it with MB. My bad.

 

[Cougarcat]

Intel usually releases the low-power CPUs first. In fact, there still doesn't seem to be any high-end Broadwells or Skylakes (suitable for the 15" MBP) around, even though they are listed as released!

What about the 13"?

 

[duervo]

XPS 13 has an i7 U-processor 14Watt, not an m7 like MBA (4.5 Watt)

For clarity: The MBair does not use m3, m5, or m7 CPU's. you seem to be confusing the MBair with the Retina MacBook.

 

[leman]

I'm a massive fan of OSX and have adored my MBP but in the last couple of years I have had to accept that Apple has moved away from designing and producing laptops (ignoring the regurgitation of old product lines at mad prices). I guess they see the future moving tech into a different direction.

I am very confused about this statement. Every single laptop on the market right now is basically an MBP knockoff (except MS Surface of course, who are the only guys who dare to try something original). Yes, the current MBP design hasn't been updated in some time externally. However, over the last few years, we got super-high-res displays (first in the industry), high-speed connector (also first in the industry, if I am not mistaken), enterprise--performance-level SSDs (first in the industry), among other things. Next step is wide-gamut displays. I am sure that Apple has some other neat things in the pipeline.

 

[tubeexperience]

I am very confused about this statement. Every single laptop on the market right now is basically an MBP knockoff (except MS Surface of course, who are the only guys who dare to try something original). Yes, the current MBP design hasn't been updated in some time externally. However, over the last few years, we got super-high-res displays (first in the industry), high-speed connector (also first in the industry, if I am not mistaken), enterprise--performance-level SSDs (first in the industry), among other things. Next step is wide-gamut displays. I am sure that Apple has some other neat things in the pipeline.

Looking closely at the Dell XPS 13: I do see that it has a screen, a keyboard, and a touchpad.

On closer inspections, I see that it even has ports!

Damn those copycats from Dell!

 

[Dicelu]

As a direct result Apple is now producing some of the most ridiculous hardware on the market - desktop systems that have zero upgrade path & deliberately gimped systems to force you to buy the former.

Also agree Greed is a big factor, as Apple`s margins are clearly obscene, with absolutely no consideration for the customer. When I pay a premium I expect the best, not what Apple is currently serving up, or planning to.

Apple wants my business back, Apple needs to meet my expectations, not the Facebook crowds...

Q-6

And what crowd do you belong to?

It's funny because I've been following the web dev scene lately, watched a lot of online courses and video tutorials and noticed 90+% of them use a Macbook Pro. A veteran Linux system admin, co-author of the Unix and Linux sys admin handbook (pretty much the bible of unix/linux sys admin), clearly admitted a Mac is his system of choice, hands down.

 

[leman]

Looking closely at the Dell XPS 13: I do see that it has a screen, a keyboard, and a touchpad.

On closer inspections, I see that it even has ports!

Damn those copycats from Dell!

Just look at the Dell XPS before L511Z and after. There might be a surprise in store for you.

 

[jerryk]

And what crowd do you belong to?

It's funny because I've been following the web dev scene lately, watched a lot of online courses and video tutorials and noticed 90+% of them use a Macbook Pro. A veteran Linux system admin, co-author of the Unix and Linux sys admin handbook (pretty much the bible of unix/linux sys admin), clearly admitted a Mac is his system of choice, hands down.

Not sure what you mean by web dev, but if you mean client side, the hardware hardly matters. Javascript is the new assembly language that runs on almost every device.

 

[leman]

Not sure what you mean by web dev, but if you mean client side, the hardware hardly matters. Javascript is the new assembly language that runs on almost every device.

Web dev is obviously web developer. Most high-impact web frameworks nowadays are actually being developed on a Mac.

 

[tubeexperience]

Just look at the Dell XPS before L511Z and after. There might be a surprise in store for you.

Dell XPS 13 (Early 2012):

 

[leman]

Dell XPS 13 (Early 2012):

Yep, that is the time when they started copying the MacBook Air design. Honestly, just look at the historical development of the design. The XPS before that looks just like a classical Dell: bulky, compact keyboard without gaps, non-central position of the touchpad etc. E.g. look at L501X, which was the first 15" XPS I believe. Then they release the L511Z, which gets a central touchpad, speaker grills that look just that of a MBP and a new keyboard layout, which is again clearly influenced by MBP (arrow keys!). Then the 13" with its tapered design, no speaker grills — very similar to the MBA (which at that point existed for years). There can be no doubt that Mac line was at least a major inspiration for Dell's recent XPS models.

 

[tubeexperience]

Yep, that is the time when they started copying the MacBook Air design. Honestly, just look at the historical development of the design. The XPS before that looks just like a classical Dell: bulky, compact keyboard without gaps, non-central position of the touchpad etc. E.g. look at L501X, which was the first 15" XPS I believe. Then they release the L511Z, which gets a central touchpad, speaker grills that look just that of a MBP and a new keyboard layout, which is again clearly influenced by MBP (arrow keys!). Then the 13" with its tapered design, no speaker grills — very similar to the MBA (which at that point existed for years). There can be no doubt that Mac line was at least a major inspiration for Dell's recent XPS models.

... and at the time, MacBook Pro 13" looks like this:

 

[leman]

I get an impression that you are not reading my posts The 13" XPS was copied more from MacBook Air and not MacBook Pro 13". In turn, the 13" predecessor, the 15" XPS L511Z copies the 15" MBP. Anyway, I have presented enough material so that anyone with basic google and visual comprehension skills can connect the dots. If you can't see the connection, not really my problem.

P.S. Funny details: look at the key shapes. Especially the arrow keys and the enter key. Dell has copied the Mac's earlier enter key (by that time, Apple has replaced the L shape enter key with a square one). They even copied the notch in front of the trackpad

 

[Dicelu]

Not sure what you mean by web dev, but if you mean client side, the hardware hardly matters. Javascript is the new assembly language that runs on almost every device.

Both front-end and back-end web development. Later stages of the process are done on servers (Linux mostly) of course.

The point being that lots of professional developers (iOS app developers is another group, obviously) use Mac, if they are offered the choice. The stereotype of Mac users being mostly facebookers or Starbuckers or artists can't be further from the truth now. Truth of the matter is the marginal performance diff between current gen and new gen hardware matters little for the great majority of use cases, including professional uses. So unless you are a gadget geek "needing" the latest and greatest silicon, most people, including professionals, don't care that much and will buy the current product, which will likely serve them well for at least 2 years.

 

[tubeexperience]

I get an impression that you are not reading my posts The 13" XPS was copied more from MacBook Air and not MacBook Pro 13". In turn, the 13" predecessor, the 15" XPS L511Z copies the 15" MBP. Anyway, I have presented enough material so that anyone with basic google and visual comprehension skills can connect the dots. If you can't see the connection, not really my problem.

P.S. Funny details: look at the key shapes. Especially the arrow keys and the enter key. Dell has copied the Mac's earlier enter key (by that time, Apple has replaced the L shape enter key with a square one). They even copied the notch in front of the trackpad

Dell doesn't have a notch in front of the trackpad. Also, the L-shaped enter button is the standard international keyboard.

So, let's look at the rest: speaker gills, centered touchpad, and Chiclet keyboard.

Are you saying that all those things were copied from Apple?

 

[jerryk]

Both front-end and back-end web development. Later stages of the process are done on servers (Linux mostly) of course.

The point being that lots of professional developers (iOS app developers is another group, obviously) use Mac, if they are offered the choice. The stereotype of Mac users being mostly facebookers or Starbuckers or artists can't be further from the truth now. Truth of the matter is the marginal performance diff between current gen and new gen hardware matters little for the great majority of use cases, including professional uses. So unless you are a gadget geek "needing" the latest and greatest silicon, most people, including professionals, don't care that much and will buy the current product, which will likely serve them well for at least 2 years.

And a lot use windows and linux. Most people developing web apps don't really care and it does not matter. The tools you need are on any platform. There is nothing special about a Macbook, but there is nothing wrong with it. Its a computer.

 

[Queen6]

And what crowd do you belong to?

It's funny because I've been following the web dev scene lately, watched a lot of online courses and video tutorials and noticed 90+% of them use a Macbook Pro. A veteran Linux system admin, co-author of the Unix and Linux sys admin handbook (pretty much the bible of unix/linux sys admin), clearly admitted a Mac is his system of choice, hands down.

This one;

Not all Mac`s spend their life on the desk...

Q-6