Laptop and tablet rolled into one!…Dell XPS Duo 12

Dell is introducing the Dell XPS Duo 12 – an original convertible laptop/tablet, beating all the hybrid products claiming to belong to the genre.

The Dell XPS Duo 12 is a fully functional touchscreen laptop in its default mode, but when the display is pushed through its frame, it swivels around and latches itself intact with the help of magnets.

At the first sight, the frame may seem to be of cheap quality, but the mechanism is sturdy. The screen is a 1080-pixel Coring Gorilla Glass panel with good colour representation.

While the XPS Duo 12, which shares its design with other Dell’s XPS 13 and 14 ultrabooks, has one big addition apart from the swivelling screen is the move to a carbon fibre front of the lid. The general design language and keyboard remain the same as in the XPS13 and 14. The trackpad in the XPS Duo 12 is better than the one in its previous versions.

The Dell XPS Duo 12 will also be available to the masses when Windows 8 arrives on the market at the end of October. The pricing details and the specifications are yet to be revealed.

The XPS Duo 12 is an all-in-one for on-the-go. This could be its unique selling proposition – distinctiveness, if Dell can price and power it accordingly. If done so, the device may well earn Dell some attention in a crowded Windows 8 marketplace.

Expecting that the Windows 8 tablet users would want a traditional QWERTY keyboard coming along with the device, Dell has compromised on size and weight. Most other manufacturers are opting for detachable keyboard-dock system, which makes the tablet lighter but comes with a thicker hinge.

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