Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook Review & Owner's Thread

[socar]

Known issues we are working on:

Fan noise/thermal profile. A03 BIOS web posted today. Awaiting customer feedback. Mostly positive so far.

Touch pad. Palm check too sensitive. Algorithms incorrectly detect base of human palm as another contact point. Cursor jumps when typing. New drivers should web post early next week. Feedback from BETA testers so far is that out of box, it's an improvement, but it needs some setting tweaks. Once the settings are right, every tester so far gives it positive ratings.

Some units fail to transition from S2 to S3 states. I'm unable to replicate on my unit, so we have escalated to engineering. We are awaiting units from customers in the field for failure analysis. Early suspicions are a software title or users' settings are affecting sleep/hybrid sleep transitions. Not enough information on root cause at this time to say anything definitive yet.

Known issue we are not going to correct until possibly on future revisions:

Screen quality and resolution. I think the resolution is fine for a 13" screen, but there's a lot of customer and reviewer feedback to the contrary. There is also some subjective feedback regarding poor viewing angles. Many state they have no problem with the angles. I find them perfectly acceptable myself, but I'm obviously biased. My opinion counts little here. Trust your friends.

As far as the pros go, there's plenty of documented happiness with everything else about the laptop. I haven't seen an Ultrabook I'd choose over this one, but again- bias. Take advantage of the 21 day return policy if you don't like it after you get it. It should hit retail shelves later this month or next.

Bill,

I just downloaded A03. Had downloaded A02 previously. The A03 is an improvement in overall loudness, but . . . now there is a constant, low-level hum/whine that never goes away. It cyles from a low to high hum, as I am assuming the fan is rotating. It is like listening to a ceiling fan that has a rhythm that is constant, except instead of a click click click, you get a moaning, undulating hum that is constant. No on/off.

[heavyharmonies]

I'd put the keyboard font under a third category: Issue we are not looking at. Kidding. We're actually looking at the font for future platforms.

Not that you were asking for feedback, but I actually really like this keyboard font and think it is an improvement. I don't consider it a downside/issue at all.

[SoundsGood]

Not that you were asking for feedback, but I actually really like this keyboard font and think it is an improvement. I don't consider it a downside/issue at all.

Eeek. It really bugs me. No kidding. I guess I just prefer the typical "plain" font used on most keyboards (Helvetica or whatever they tend to use). The Dell keyboard font has an alien sort of feel to me.

[SoundsGood]

Haaaa! This is pretty funny -- I just came across another review of this Dell. It also bashes the screen quality, but that's not what's funny. Check out what it says about the keyboard font:

http://www.businessinsider.com/dell-...-review-2012-3

[CinciPrius]

I also like the keyboard font - it catches the eye and sets the XPS apart from other laptops.

[nipun_jain]

Can anyone confirm if their XPS 13 keyboard is like the one shown in many reviews? My number key rows has many symbols missing, like the Euro symbol, the Indian Rupee symbol etc.

[alphadog00]

Bill,

I just downloaded A03. Had downloaded A02 previously. The A03 is an improvement in overall loudness, but . . . now there is a constant, low-level hum/whine that never goes away. It cyles from a low to high hum, as I am assuming the fan is rotating. It is like listening to a ceiling fan that has a rhythm that is constant, except instead of a click click click, you get a moaning, undulating hum that is constant. No on/off.

I notice it too - like the fan is always on ultra low - if you pick up the laptop with the screen open and hold the bottom near your ear it is very obvious - but it seems louder at the end opposite the fan - so maybe it is the electronics.

[alphadog00]

I also like the keyboard font - it catches the eye and sets the XPS apart from other laptops.

I find the symbol keys odd - but not a deal breaker. Took me a bit to get used to, definitely unique.

[magnuers]

Downloaded A03 a couple of hours ago, haven't heard the fan since..

I still have this low high-pitched electrical noise, which bothers me in quiet rooms. But if that's from the SSD I guess everybody have the same thing, but only some are able to hear it.

It's cool to have a unique font, and I personally think it looks good.

[pdagal]

I confess I really like the new keyboard font.

My XPS 13 has been so quiet with A03 that I compulsively check CoreTemp to make sure it's not running too hot .