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WSJ Personal Technology Columnist Walt Mossberg reviews Dell's new XPS 13 Ultrabook.
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The case in your case following in the footsteps of Bob -- Lenovo and Toshiba.
-- indeed is ready to roll out this ultra book XPS thirteen.
Can it compare to Apple's popular MacBook Air joining us now from -- DC in this week's all things digital business won't love America I don't I thought the comment is very good Walton so often but also don't.
It's been a lot different to say -- have been.
Just -- always -- we take a little map this yeah you could sleep there her voice message.
You know there's a lot of truth to that tell us -- doubt that.
Opinions about -- walk up big picture the first thing that jumped out for -- with that you with your review.
Of this opt out Alter book was that the size of the screen.
Right so I'm.
-- -- we should just quickly remind viewers -- an ultra book is ultra books are a new kind of windows left up.
It basically tries to emulate the MacBook Air which has been out since 2008.
It's stand it's light -- the ultra books and they all also you solid state drive state.
Built on the cover they come back to life very quickly that is not been the tradition.
With windows computers over the years as you know can sometimes take long time to get them going again but these do it.
And all the big companies are gradually bring up these ultra books which are being pushed by Intel and now -- is doing it.
On your screen question that's the interest in twist the -- has here.
So thirteen inch screen same as of the -- the the bigger of the two MacBook -- -- same as a lot of the other ultra books but they've managed.
To trim the overall footprint of -- thing so it's more it's closer to the size of an eleven or twelve bench.
Ultra look but it still has the thirteen -- screen and a ten good keyboard.
-- the obvious issue though that people are gonna have with it after they read your column is gonna say but that's okay -- thought.
The battery life could be a problem for a lot of people right.
Yeah I think that that is kind of a spoiler in in this otherwise very nicely bill could look team solid machine.
You know I do a battery test -- renewing -- -- twenty years.
-- in it and it's the same test I applied all the lap tops of whatever brand and debt on this one.
The Dell really was it is the weakest culture book tested so -- and significantly weaker on battery life than the MacBook Air.
It got a little under four hours and my test.
My test isn't normal conditions so I guess you might be able to get maybe five hours but.
That's -- eat it it's an hour less than the best of the other -- books that I've tested so far.
And two hours less the MacBook air and they're gonna really.
Have to take a look at the battery on this and try to do something about it.
And Walt cost is an issue I broadly speaking when you look at the category of -- books -- -- be put right.
Put the Dell up to the MacBook Air its.
Attractive -- prices -- -- and.
Yes it's it's about 300 dollars less per similarly.
Expect out machine compared to the MacBook air and it's not a surprise that apple on.
Computers is more expensive it's it's more -- a premium brand.
I think there's another important point here though for window shoppers which is -- used.
45600.
Dollar machines and these ultra books are all still hovering.
Around a thousand in fact.
If you really want an adequate amount of storage on this Adele and -- and other ultra books.
Because solid state storage which replaces a hard disk is expensive.
It jumps 300 bucks to getting.
256.
Gigabytes.
-- storage.
So.
All the ultra books hover somewhere around a thousand dollars and yes they're little cheaper than apple but.
In the gap is not what it is with a typical windows notebook.
Hardball always great seeing glad to see -- wide -- and down thanks for joining us so I'm gonna go sleep now in the -- back into the -- -- -- -- Which is something actually cut that's a day while -- there was great to see Walt -- on the wall.
