While Ultrabooks have been the talk of town over the last few months, many are still likening them to the much older slim-line notebooks. Dell aims to change this stereotype with its XPS 13 Ultrabook.

What sets it apart from the other vendors that have launched or announced their own Ultrabooks?

Simply put: the XPS 13 is the current definition of an Ultrabook, not just in terms of design but in how it redefines mobile computing as a whole. Since it became commercially available, many have mistaken it for another ultra-slim model that is renowned for being the flagship of a certain fruity brand.

Can it stand up and be singled out as the Ultrabook to beat though?

Design I: Look and Feel
The XPS 13 is a true work of art. From its design and form factor, to how it feels based on the size and weight, the types of materials used, and the thought processes behind the entire concept, everything Dell developed for this Ultrabook had a specific purpose.

The super-slim design is a core element that Intel originally pushed for when it came up with the basic tenets of the Ultrabook. While all the vendors have created their own slim form factor, none have achieved what Dell had done with the XPS 13.

While not the first to produce the thin chassis, Dell has certainly outdid itself, and its competitors, in producing a super ultra-skinny body design. With the device barely a few millimetres thick - the thinnest point being 6mm and thickest at 18mm - and with a physical footprint no larger than 11-inches, it has turn more than a few heads during the course of this review.

To dazzle and amaze is the primary routine of the XPS 13 as Dell managed to squeeze in a 13-inch and a Corning Gorilla Glass protective layer into that 11-inch top-lid and still maintain its slim form.

Being so thin, people have wondered if the XPS 13 is a pure lightweight and as fragile as it looks. Many have put their curiosity to the test and have become dumbfounded by how it is seemingly heavier, even if it generally lighter as a whole, and more durable than they would have suspected.

Design II: Materials and Tone
The XPS 13 is able to achieve a slim profile that is both lightweight yet sturdy thanks to the subtly tough materials that Dell has opted to use when re-developing its flagship slim-line notebook. These include using a machined-aluminium that was precision-cut from a single block of aluminium (for the top cover) and a large piece of carbon fibre construction (for the bottom base), mixed alloys for moving parts, and extremely lightweight electronics.

Adding a touch of military finesse to the base is the solid steel plate that is placed in the middle of the carbon fibre of the Ultrabook. This is used to protect the original license key for the Windows 7 OS and serial/service number of the XPS 13. It certainly does it job well as it was not easy task to pry open the metal cover.

Such materials are rarely used in most notebook designs as magnesium alloy and stainless steel are the more common choices.

As for the tone and colour, the original hues of the aluminium and carbon fibre are used, giving the top cover a magnificent silver finish and a single chequered pattern for the bottom base.

The result: a true work of art that expounds on the concept of extreme minimalism that exudes a form of Japanese Zen. Even the palm rest, bezel and side panels underneath the top-lid convey a classic look with its matte black look, smooth chiclet keys, and slick glass touchpad. When put together, the frame and build of the XPS 13 speaks volumes of how much Dell has put into the thought process during the development phase of this spiffy Ultrabook.

Performance: Performance Prowess
Looks isn´t everything, especially in the realm of high-performance PCs. In the case of the XPS 13, it certainly does more than offer a pretty design. Complementing its overtly practical design is the power-packed capabilities that come with it. Keep in mind that something so thin should never be in the over-performance category but, as it has been the trend thus far, Dell has broken all forms of conventions with this model.

At the heart of the XPS 13 is the 2nd Generation Core CPU that Intel has introduced last year. Coming in two flavours - Core i5 and i7 - the high-performing CPU when paired up with 4GB DDR3 Memory, a 256GB Solid State Hard Drive (SSD), and the internal Intel HD 3000 Graphics, makes for a proper multimedia powerhouse.

Indeed, boot up times (a whooping 8 seconds on average from power on to idle mode in Windows), basic work processes, massive number crunching, simple HD multimedia and 3D element rendering, heavy data and memory management, and some advance computations have all been given a speedy upgrade. It now takes less time to perform such tasks, giving users the extra seconds they need to start, carry out, manage, and complete additional workloads. And all of this is done with pin-drop silence as the XPS 13 has almost no moving parts within that emits loud creaks, whirrs and smacks.

As for the 13-inch display that Dell managed to squeeze in, the colours are rendered very nicely and have been brightened up thanks to the LED backlight used within. The Gorilla Glass, while up to the task of protecting the screen, hinders the viewing experience slightly due to the reflective nature of the glass.

The only thing that the XPS 13 is not up to the task is going full-tilt with videogames in full HD with super-detailed 3D effects. This one sore point is especially telling when it was made to play full-motion videos and render first-person camera work of popular games like World of Warcraft, Starcraft 2, Modern Warfare, Battlefield, the new Batman games, and Skyrim.

Fortunately, the same cannot be said of full HD content as there seems to be no problems when raw HD as well as full HD, compressed HD, and lossless audio linked videos were played on it. Howeve, one minor and highly negligible issue came up during the course of the video testing: HD content with effect heavy subtitle sets that have been hard-coded into the multimedia package caused heavy lagging and even slowed down the system to a grinding halt. Take note that this is not an isolated case as it is a problem that all vendors are trying to steer away from.

So here is some sagely word of advice: keep to the games that do not need heavy 3D graphic rendering or, at least, switch the video performance to low-mid settings, and avoid HD videos that have heavy subtitle effects or too many frames to render.

Putting those issues aside, the XPS 13 can definitely be called the Ultrabook that operates on a hyper-balanced platform as it offers the performance requirements needed. In providing better work efficiencies and best-of-breed in design, it is clear that Dell did mot scrimp on the performance details as well. Doing any less would be a disservice to the fans, loyal clients and the XPS brand as a whole.

Battery Life: Power Connection
With XPS 13 being so lightweight yet having enough performance potential to make its mark as an ultra-slim powerhouse, one would expect the battery life to be on the low side. In fact, even its I/O ports and multimedia accessories are being presumed be scarce.

Not so with this sleek looking beauty as the battery performance. While not matching the claims on paper, the battery managed to last for almost 5 hours before going flat. This was under the conditions of performing basic work processes, using the WiFi, and rendering the occasional heavy graphic image/element. The battery life, after a full charge, was even shorter - less than three hours - when the tasks ramped up into heavy graphic rendering and playing HD YouTube videos.

In that case, does it run hot with so many bells and whistles on? Like most notebooks, and even Ultrabooks, high temperatures are to be expected after prolong use. The cause of it is due to the super-heated components that operate within. While the overall design and materials used help shunt the access heat away, there is only so much that can do to help alleviate the internal heat.

As for the I/O ports - the only minus for this review - Dell could certainly do with more. The slim chassis frame of the XPS 13 restricts the number of connectors that can be provided for it. While some competitor models have three USB ports, only two (one USB 2.0 and one USB 3.0) are present on Dell´s flagship. The headphone jack and mini DisplayPort, which are must haves, are the last two of the four available ports.

Just one more USB port and all would be great!

How about a DVD-ROM or a SD-card slot? Why are these not included? The former seems to have died out on its own since literally everything can be sourced, bought, and managed on the Internet. As for the SD-card slot, it is mostly due to the fact that there is no space to put such a feature on the Ultrabook. Go figure.

Misc: Extras, extras
Beyond the more obvious features that the XPS 13 offers, there are some other improved functions that enrich the overall user experience. The chiclet-based keyboard, along with the full LED backlit and spill resistant design, is a dream to work on as the keys are adequately spaced and provide a tactile feel that is exceptionally responsive.

Sound wise, the speakers that comes built-in with the Dell Ultrabook is more than adequate to provide a full-body sound that can fill up the living room. Thanks to the way Dell placed the speakers in the chassis, the sound quality and performance are considerably good and is only short on providing decent bass levels.

Last but not the very least is the wireless connectivity suite that the XPS 13 comes loaded with. Included within the package are Advanced-N A/G/N WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, and Intel´s newest innovation, the Wireless Display function (more of which can be read here.

The WiDi feature, while a recent addition, is a primary feature as there is no proper HDMI port to use on most Ultrabooks. It is a definite must to provide this option. Strangely, it is not widely promoted and has no dedicated button to turn it on or off. This fundamental problem, present in all current Ultrabook vendors, will cause many to overlook this native service and may not even realise that there is even such a thing.

Conclusion: Overall Outlook
It must be said that Dell has gone very far to achieve what it has set out to do with the XPS 13, which is to make it extremely robust and hardy for tougher than usual environments, speedy in terms of processing, and easily identifiable at just a glance.

As an easy-to-bring-around device, Dell´s Ultrabook more than fits the bill for it does more than just meet the necessary requirements. Be it for students or the haggard businessman who is always on-the-go, the XPS 13 is definitely up to the task in providing a speedy workhorse and then some.

If there is an alternative to the "airy" notebook of the fruity kind, the XPS 13 is it.

Score: 9/10
Verdict: The only Ultrabook that will make anyone do a double-take at how similar it looks to the Macbook Air (Gen 1) and then realise how different it is after a quick study.

The carbon-fibre base and aluminium unibody for the top-lid are definitely industry firsts and will be the benchmark to beat, especially in terms of design, overall weight/size, and heat dispersion.

What it lacks in - discrete graphics and over-the-top performance for heavy HD graphic rendering - is, thankfully, made up with its speedy boot-up and responsive process times. Definitely a great device though it´s just a tad short of being perfect.