The XPS 13 ultrabook launches in February starting at $999.

Today has been a doozy of tech news, and Dell is just continuing the cycle. The XPS 15z is a .97-inch 15-inch machine that has taken extreme cues from the Macbook Pro design. Starting at a very reasonable $999, the entry-level XPS 15z has a 2nd-gen Core i5 processor clocked at 2.30 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 2.90 GHz, 6GB of DDR3 RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M 1GB graphics with Optimus, a 15.6″ HD (at 720p, can be upgrade to 1080p) WLED Display with 1.3 megapixel webcam, a 500GB 7,200rpm hard drive, slot-loading DVD drive, WiFi and Bluetooth 3.0, a fully-backlit keyboard, and a purported 8 hours of battery life on a single charge.

For a $1000, that’s a lot of bang for your buck, but until I try one out for myself (or you do), then you can’t be too sure. Via: Dell

Another Windows Phone 7 device, this time, the Dell Venue Pro. It has one of the most beautiful designs of any WP7 device, users a 4.1-inch AMOLED touchscreen, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 5 megapixel camera with 720pHD video recording, and the recent NoDo update which adds copy-and-paste. Check out the rest of the review after the break, where I figure out that Dell’s first great smartphone entry is a win in many areas, but a slight flop in others.

Price as Reviewed: $129.99 at Dell.com

The Specs, With Looks And Feel

Specs:

• 4.1-inch AMOLED touchscreen
• 1GHz Snapdragon processor
• Portrait slide-out QWERTY keyboard
• 5 megapixel camera with 720pHD video recording
• 16GB internal storage
• 1,400 mAh battery
• WLAN802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.1 EDR
• Bands of UMTS 900/1700/2100
  GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900
  HSDPA 7.2Mbps/HSUPA 5.76 Mbps (this is a T-Mobile model)
• Weighs 6.8 oz.

It’s the best-looking Windows Phone 7 (in my humble opinion) next to the Samsung Focus and HTC 7 Trophy. It is also one of the heavier smartphones currently on the market, weighing 6.8 ounces, meaning it even weighs more than the 4.3-inch behemoth Droid Charge, which is built out of plastics rather than the Venue Pro’s rubber, plastics, and Gorilla Glass. This makes for a very weighted device, but after consulting six Android, iOS, and Windows Phone 7 handset owners, they seemed rather OK with using the device for 5 minutes, however I don’t think that’s long enough to really feel its weight, which depending for some, is just way too heavy to handle.

But that’s enough with weight: Onto the looks. Even on a general stance, the Dell Venue Pro is better looking than the massive crop of candybar phones coated in black (read: technically all smartphones), even though it looks just like them. The pictures can speak for themselves; Dell has designed a very good-looking smartphone.

But just how does it perform? What’s the battery life like? And heck, What about a portrait-style keyboard on a massive 4.1-inch AMOLED screen. Just how does that work? The following sections will answer all of that, and whether or not this should be your Windows Phone 7 device of choice, because let’s face it, WP7 isn’t the first choice among common smartphone buyers: It’s iOS and Android.

Performance In Windows Phone 7

Fo some reason unbeknownst to me,  the Dell Venue Pro is the snappiest Windows Phone 7 handset I’ve used (beating the Quantum, Focus, Surround and others) when opening apps and performing different tasks. Keep in mind all the other handsets I’ve used have been upgraded to NoDo, much like the Venue Pro, so I’m speaking on fair grounds. What’s powering all of this speed is an industry-standard 1GHz Snapdragon processor (the same used in practically all of the other WP7 devices). Perhaps it has to due with some under-the-hood tweaking Dell has made, but nevertheless, the Venue Pro is a great device in terms of speed and stability.

Since I plan to keep this review rather short, you can read up on my full Windows Phone 7 review to get a more detailed analysis of the operating system itself, since unlike Android, virtually every Windows Phone 7 runs the same exact version of the OS, with little to no carrier-bundled apps or manufacturer additions (and if so, only occur in Hubs, which are technically still apps).

Camera And Battery

The Venue Pro contains another industry-standard for smartphones of this calibre: a 5 megapixel back-facing camera capable of 720pHD video recording. WP7 handsets also have a flaw with their camera-button and aperture systems: A photo is always blurrier than the viewfinder suggests it is. It’s very hard to get a still, crisp and sharp photo on this thing. If I may borrow a saying of sorts that professional gamers use, then it would be the Venue Pro’s camera makes me ragequit. You have to be very still to take the awesome photos you see in the gallery below. 720pHD video is another matter (read: just fine). In fact, its video looks about on par with all of the other WP7 phones, like the Surround.

Venue Pro Camera Tests

Now, about the battery. The battery is the shortest I’ve ever seen on a Windows Phone 7 device that I had the chance to review and it has a rating of 1,400 mAh. On a full day’s usage of Twitter, phone calls, web surfing, and GPS on with max brightness, expect the Venue Pro to last 12-16 hours on a full charge before you hit critical.

Final Verdict

Score: 8/10

With Windows Phone 7 constantly growing, there’s lots of handsets that will be released, tons of updates issued, and many more features and improvements to be made overall. Now, back to the Earth and this review: the Venue Pro is the best Windows Phone 7 device with a QWERTY keyboard that isn’t from HTC. It also has a great design (albeit heavy as it may be), is snappy, and just is a great smartphone to use. Now I truly wouldn’t mind if Dell started creating higher-end Windows Phone 7 devices using the just-announced Mango update.

Oh, what do we have here? A new ultraportable by Dell, no doubt. Posted on its Facebook page, you can “like” the post and get to see the final product once there’s an announcement or it starts shipping. Some shots of the ultraportable are seen after the break.

[Thanks, Amanda!]

Via: Dell’s Facebook Page

My favorite gaming computer company has something new to debut, and that warrants instant coverage here on LaptopMemo. And this is just perfect: the Alienware M14x and updated M11x. Starting at the decent $1,199 price point, you get 6.45 pounds of weight for a Sandy Bridge 2.0GHz Intel Core i7 processor (up to 2.9 GHz of TurboBoost) with 6MB of cache, 4GB of DDR3 RAm at 1600MHz, a 1.5GB Nvidia Optimus graphics setup (Nvidia GeForce GT 555M), a 500GB 7,200RPM hard drive (6GB per second transfers), 14-inch 1366×768 WLED backlit screen (a $75 upgrade gets you a 1600×900 screen), slot load DVD drive, comes in red or black, and a Intel Wireless-N WiFi card which supports a/g/n radios. In short, it’s quite a powerful rig. And I love the way it looks.

Second is the M11x R3, a laptop which I’ve given so much praise for that even Alienware notices (what’s the problem, it’s awesome guys!?!). The new M11x comes in red or black, Sandy Bridge-generation processors, along with a new graphics card (the Nvidia GeForce 540M in Optimus configuration), 7,200RPM hard drives, and so on (some of the same configuration possibilites as before). It also is to be noted that both systems have support for Verizon 4G LTE and WiMAX, as well as WirelessHD technology for sending images to a monitor or TV, so that’s a plus as well. The M11x R3 starts at $999, the M14x at $1,199 and both are available for purchase today. Press release after the jump.

Via: Alienware M14x, M11x R3

ALIENWARE REDEFINES MOBILE GAMING WITH THREE NEW ALL-POWERFUL LAPTOPS
• Dual-Graphics Technology for Visually Stunning Experiences
• Wireless HD for Latency-Free HD Video Streaming to Larger Screens
• HDMI Connections for Lifelike 3D Gaming

ROUND ROCK, Texas, April 19, 2011 – Alienware is redefining mobile gaming – again – with three new, all-powerful laptops, including the soon to be released M18x, which lays claim to the title of “most powerful 18-inch gaming laptop in the universe;” the M14x, which delivers unprecedented performance and portability; and an enhanced M11x, already a favorite among gaming enthusiasts, and the most-powerful sub-14-inch notebook in the universe.

The two new faces in the Alienware laptop family, the upcoming M18x and the M14x, along with the new M11x, deliver unprecedented power to the gamer on the go. All three platforms offer the latest in gaming technology, and feature second-generation Intel Core i processors to deliver the most immersive high-performance gaming experience imaginable. In particular:

• The M18x will offer dual-graphics technology and an the industry’s only Intel Core i7 Extreme CPU option factory overclocked to 4GHz;
• The M18x and the M14x offer optional wireless HD audio and video for latency-free streaming to larger screens; and
• All three laptops also offer HDMI 1.4 for connection to 3D-capable HDTVs for incredible, lifelike 3D gaming and SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports for up to 10x the speed of USB 2.0 connections for a new level in data transfer.

Alienware has a rich history of innovation and delivering solutions that delight gamers and performance enthusiasts around the world. These laptops, along with the m17x announced and launched in January, represent the most-significant expansion in Alienware’s portfolio in several years and arrive as the company celebrates its five-year anniversary as part of the Dell family. Since its acquisition by Dell, Alienware has expanded to provide award-winning gaming systems to a global fan base. The brand is also available at major retailers worldwide and has spawned a community site, Alienware Arena (www.alienwarearena.com), where gamers everywhere can interact socially and compete with one another.

“If you’re a gamer, you’re going to love our new family of laptops, which deliver on the features gamers care most about – uncompromised graphics performance, latency-free wireless HD streaming to HDTVs, and lifelike 3D gaming,” said Arthur Lewis, general manager of Alienware. “We are committed to delivering the best gaming systems for enthusiasts everywhere and we take great pride in helping them ‘pwn’, no matter where they are in the world.”

As Alienware’s flagship laptop, the M18x – which is also dubbed the “Most Powerful 18-inch Gaming Laptop in the Universe” – will be a true desktop replacement. It is perfect for gamers who want to compromise nothing for blistering frame rates and full immersion in the gaming experience. With Wireless HD and 3D options, as well as HDMI-in, the M18x allows gamers a no-holds-barred gaming machine capable of meeting even the most grueling demands of today’s gamer, delivering gaming content when and where gamers need it.

For gamers seeking a mobile HD gaming experience who want a balance of performance and mobility, the new 14-inch M14x offers the best of both worlds. Weighing in at less than 6.5lbs, the M14x features full-voltage Second-generation four- and two-core Intel Core i CPUs, discrete graphics and an optical disk drive. For the gaming enthusiast or anyone who needs mobile computing performance, the M14x is a mobile yet powerful option. The M14x offers updated graphics featuring the NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M with up to 3GB of graphics memory, and for the gamer on the go, optional Intel WiMAX technology to enable internet connectivity virtually anywhere.

For the truly mobile gamer, the M11x has long been a favorite, but now it’s even better! New improvements to the popular M11x include second-generation Intel Core i processors with Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, updated graphics featuring the NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M, and like the larger M14x, optional Intel WiMAX technology. The latest M11x also features a soft touch finish with a new Nebula Red option.

Blistering Performance
The M18x, M14x and M11x each offer blistering performance on the go. Highlights of the new M18x include:
• An 18.4-inch FHD WLED 1080p display for the best visuals possible
• Powerful Dual GPU options with the fastest graphics memory (GDDR5) on all graphics options
• Both AMD and NVIDIA graphics options, in Crossfire X and SLI, respectively
• New Intel “Huron River” Architecture with a new factoryoverclocked Intel Core i7 Extreme Quad Core processor up to 4GHz
• Upgradeable to up to 32GB 1333MHz memory
• HDMI/Display Port output & HDMI-in
• Wireless HD & 3D output options, delivering low-latency high-def content wirelessly or output to 3D displays

Highlights of the new M14x include:
• 14-inch WLED HD (720p) display standard (1366×768) or optional 14-inch WLED HD+ (900p) display (1600×900)
• Second-generation Overclockable Intel Core i CPUs with Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
• Updated graphics featuring the NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M with up to 3GB of VRAM
• NVIDIA Optimus technology to extend battery life
• Up to 8GB of 1600MHz Extreme-Performance system memory
• HDMI 1.4 to support connectivity on HDTVs and 7.1 digital audio
• Audio powered by Klipsch (onboard speakers)
• Optional Intel WiMAX technology

And the refreshed M11x includes:
• An 11.6-inch WLED HD (720p) display (WXGA 1366×768)
• Second-generation Overclockable Intel Core i CPUs with Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
• Updated graphics featuring the NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M
• Up to 16GB of 1333MHz high-performance system memory
• HDMI 1.4 to support connectivity on HDTVs and 7.1 digital audio
• Audio powered by Klipsch (onboard speakers)
• Optional Intel WiMAX technology

Links:
www.alienware.com
www.dell.com

About Dell
Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to its customers and uses that insight to make technology simpler and create innovative solutions that simplify daily activities and help people stay, entertained, connected and in touch. Learn more at www.dell.com