Review: Dell XPS 18

Introduction, design and featuresThere's a conundrum these days in choosing between a desktop, a notebook or a tablet. Starting at $599 (about £395, AU$758), the Dell XPS 18 makes the decision easier by offering a little of everything (or at least two of the three) in one package. Not all configurations are available globally.What makes this 18.5-inch, Windows 8.1 tablet so appealing is a pair of rubberized feet, which allow it to stand upright when you want a desktop experience. You can also lay it down at an angle for a reading mode, or the feet can be folded in so that the tablet goes flat. The back has rubber strips on it, so you don't have to worry about it slipping, and the bezel sports rubberized edges that can withstand a few minor bumps.Dell also includes a stand with select models, or it can be purchased separately for $99 (around £65, AU$124). Simply drop the tablet into the stand, switch on the included wireless mouse and keyboard, and you have yourself an all-in-one PC.DesignAt about 5 pounds, the XPS 18 weighs about the same as large laptops, although its wide screen will make it difficult to pack into an ordinary bag. The super-sized slate has two USB 3.0 ports, a memory card reader, and a headphone jack. Slim speakers fire out from the sides, and they are surprisingly loud with decent stereo separation.Even with its relatively light weight, this isn't the kind of tablet that you'll want to keep on your lap for long periods of time. The vented side gets uncomfortably hot, even when watching streaming video, making it necessary to put the system down.Beyond that, the XPS 18 is an excellent large screen tablet. The tablet's 1,920 x 1,080, LED touchscreen makes everyday tasks like reading the news very enjoyable. Although the screen has some reflectiveness, the glare isn't too distracting.Taking a StandBack to the XPS 18's stand, this sharp-looking and dense bit of metal, with a non-slip bottom, can tilt until the screen is completely horizontal. Ideal for those that don't necessarily want to sit in front of the computer all day, the stand is ideal for those that may want to use it from a standing position once in a while.The screen feels very secure in its stand, and the power cord plugs directly into the base, which removes the hassle of wires and allows the tablet to be charged through a number of prongs on its bottom edge. Lining the screen up with the charging prongs can be a little tricky at times, but there's nothing terrible about it. When you want to go mobile, you simply lift the screen off the stand and carry it away.The included mouse and keyboard have a good size and weight to them as well. The aluminum lined keyboard, with its chiclet keys, provide a pleasant working experience, although some may take issue with its tiny arrow keys and how the home keys are awkwardly lined up across its top.Specifications, performance and verdictThe Dell XPS 18 squarely targets the computer user who wants a system with maximum versatility. It bears some similarities to the Lenovo Horizon 2 , particularly in how both systems are large screen tablets that can be connected to stands. However, the differences are night and day.The XPS 18 only weighs a third of what the Horizon 2 does and is far more portable than that 27-inch all-in-one system. Not to mention, the XPS 18's battery lasts almost twice as long as the Horizon 2's, despite the former's higher performing Core i7 processor.While the Lenovo can only travel short distances, like from the office to the living room, the Dell XPS 18 has the potential to go almost anywhere. However, the XPS 18 also has fewer input ports, a smaller hard drive (on most configurations), and a weaker GPU. Furthermore, there is no HDMI-in port for hooking up entertainment devices, like Blu-ray players and game consoles.Spec sheetCPU: 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-4510U (dual-core, 4MB cache, up to 3.1GHz with Turbo Boost)Graphics: Intel HD 4400 graphicsRAM: 8GB Dual Channel DDR3L (1,600 Mhz)Screen: 18.4-inch 1,920 x 1,080, LED Backlit Touch DisplayStorage: 256GB SSDPorts: 2 USB 3.0 ports, media card reader, headphone/mic jackConnectivity: 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0Camera: H.264 via SW / Color SensorSize: 18.25 x 11.17 x 0.7 inches (W x D x H),Weight: 5.14 lbsThe XPS 18 comes in four different configurations. The lowest price model, which retails for $599 (about £395, AU$758), includes an Intel Core i3 processor and doesn't come with a stand. I reviewed the top-end model, which contains everything listed above for $1,499 (around £987, AU$1,889). That's a little on the pricey side, given its screen size and features. In the UK, prices start at around £998, and they all include an adjustable stand. Australian folks may be disappointed to learn that the XPS 18 is not yet available in those parts.PerformanceAlthough the system features a decent processor, the XPS 18 suffers when it comes to 3D graphics, so it's best not to tax it. The Horizon 2, far and away, wins out on the graphics front when compared to the XPS 18, thanks to an Nvidia GeForce GT 840A graphics chip. Here's how the XPS 18 fared in our benchmark suite:3DMark: Fire Strike: 621; Sky Diver: 2,489; Cloud Gate: 4,543PCMark 8 Home: 2,499PCMark 8 Battery Life: 3h 23min 51sCinebench Graphics: 25.36 fps; CPU: 271 cbThe Horizon 2 scored over twice as well in 3DMark and Cinebench graphics tests, like its 5,177 3DMark Sky Diver result and 53.05 fps rating in Cinebench's graphics test. Although the XPS 18 is considerably more portable, it simply isn't designed for heavy 3D graphics. That said, the Intel Core i7 CPU inside the XPS 18 moderately (if unsurprisingly) beats out the Horizon 2's Core i5 CPU, which scored 230 points in Cinebench's processor test.What is surprising is how closely midrange all-in-one systems, like the Acer Aspire U5, compare with the XPS 18. The Aspire U5, a sedentary all-in-one PC, reported PCMark 8 (2,502) Cinebench (292 cb) scores within digits of the XPS 18's results.Also, the Acer all-in-one gets some better performance out of its Intel HD 4600 graphics than the XPS 18's Intel HD 4400. It's not an incredible speed increase, but the two systems match against each other very nicely. With that in mind, the Aspire U5 makes for an appealing option if you want to trade in portability for a lower price tag.Finally, the XPS 18 also features a pretty decent battery that lasted for about 3 hours before having to plug it in again. That's plenty of time to watch a movie, check email, surf the web, and get some work done. However, the graphics aren't very powerful, so it's not great for playing most games.We likedWhether you're using it as a large screen tablet or an all-in-one desktop, the Dell XPS 18 is there to please. The ability to simply lift the screen off its stand and work from another room using its folding legs can be invaluable, and I enjoy the sense of having a portable desktop system.I also like how the heavy base can be tilted so that they system can be operated while standing, making it easy to quickly check things like news headlines, the weather, and sports scores. The system has a nice, bright, LED backlit touchscreen and very loud speakers, which makes it ideal for watching video or viewing photos.We dislikedPortability creates sacrifices, and the XPS 18 is no exception to this rule. The slate only has two USB 3.0 ports and a media card reader to expand its storage. The screen has one vented side, and it has a tendency to get hot with prolonged use. However, the biggest downside of the configuration we reviewed is the price. At $1,500, this high-end system is quite an investment. The Lenovo Horizon 2 doesn't win out in the portability department, but it features a massive 27-inch screen, backed by an Nvidia GPU, while retailing for the same price.Final verdictThe Dell XPS 18's greatest value is its versatility. There's nothing quite like knowing that you can pick up your computer at a moment's notice and continue working from a different location without necessarily having to sacrifice the desktop experience.However, the price for the Core i7 model seems exceptionally high, considering its unimpressive graphical performance and small handful of ports. It would be great if Dell offered a model with a Core i7 processor, but equipped it with a less expensive storage options. However, that option doesn't exist yet, and so users will have to either pay more or add on more external storage.Here's the bottom line: with a long-lasting battery, high degree of portability, fast processor and high resolution display, the Dell XPS 18 could easily serve as the hub for your home computing life. That said, you might want to aim for one of the lower-end models, or keep an eye out for sales.

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