My only gripe with the XPS 13 is the unsightly power adapter which comes with an even more bulky 3-pin plug.

All in all, it's a pretty light laptop and won't cause the shoulder cramps that the 14z would have. Weighing just 1.36 kg (a tad heavier than the Lenovo U300s at 1.32kg), the XPS 13 measures 6mm at its thinnest end and 18mm at its thickest. Dell has even covered up the ugly logos and stickers that embellish laptops with a thin, aluminium flap that fits smoothly into the base. And unlike the XPS 14z's garish accents, this transforms the laptop into a truly classy machine. The carbon fibre weave that's been all the rage on electronics extends all the way up to the sides. Dell's attention to detail is obvious here. The trackpad is roomy but not always accurate and in some cases a bit oversensitive, especially when it comes to vertical scrolling.īut the real beauty is strangely on the bottom panel. The keys are responsive and had good tactile feedback, unlike theĪSUS Zenbook and Acer Aspire S3, but I still feel the Lenovo U300s has the best Ultrabook keyboard on offer. The island-style, chiclet keyboard is well spaced out and is backlit – something theĪcer Aspire S3 lacked. The rounded edges of the screen and base shine with subtle chrome detailing. Open the lid and you'll find the carbon-fibre base, which is coated with soft-touch paint for a smooth, almost rubberised effect. Sure, Dell's opted for the same aluminium casing we've seen on every Ultrabook since the Macbook Air, but this ‘machined aluminium' as the company calls it only applies to the lid. From the outside it looks like any other Ultrabook, but when I opened it up I breathed a sigh of relief. In impeccable packaging, the XPS 13 exudes class and style all the way.

A relatively late comer in the genre, I wondered how Dell's first effort would fare up to the competition. Well, it looks like Dell has addressed most of the issues I had with the 14z in its new entrant Ultrabook: the 13z. Dell XPS 14z a few months ago, I had complained that after the spate of Ultrabooks flooding the PC market, a bulky machine just didn't seem to have the same appeal.

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