According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Dell is ready to readdress the luxury notebook market with a new ultra-thin offering to take on Apple’s MacBook Air. Dell launched its sleek Adamo line in March 2009 and its first model was an underpowered, over-designed offering that started at $2,000. Dell would later introduce less expensive Adamo laptops but consumers still wouldn’t bite, and the Adamo line was killed off in early 2011. On Tuesday, Dell will unveil its latest attempt to capture the hearts, minds and credit card numbers of prospective MacBook Air buyers with the slender XPS 15z. The new laptop will sport a price tag that starts at $999, and while Apple’s MacBook Air starts at $999 as well, that sum will only get you an 11-inch Air while Dell’s new notebook will apparently be the thinnest 15-inch laptop on the planet. Hit the break for a teaser video Dell ran earlier this month.

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The “is Android open?” question is one that constantly fades in and out of focus on blogs and in the tech media. The latest snippet that will undoubtedly reinvigorate the argument was revealed this past weekend, and this time it’s not a pretty one for Google. As part of Skyhook Wireless’ lawsuit against Google, which alleges that the company interfered with a contract that placed its services on Android phones sold by Motorola, several internal emails have been made public by a Massachusetts state court. Collectively, the emails provide various insights into the business strategies employed by Google’s Android team. One email in particular, however, is attracting a great deal of attention. In it, Android Open-Source & Compatibility Program Manager Dan Morrill writes, “we are using compatibility as a club to make them do things we want.” In other words, we’re brought right back to the earlier revelation that Android partners can do whatever they want with the platform, but only those that play ball with Google’s compatibility requirements get preferential treatment, such as early access to new Android builds. Of course this time, the sentiment comes straight from the horse’s mouth in a relatively gruff manner, which doesn’t exactly do a service to Google’s repeated “open” claims.

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A few things come to mind when we see a computer thinner than most mobile phones, including the iPhone. For instance, what could this thing possibly be packing besides a screen and a keyboard? At just 9.99mm thin, the Dell Adamo XPS sets the new standard for thinness in the notebook world, but quite frankly we hope this doesn’t become a new trend. There aren’t too many details on the new computer just yet – only that it’s ridiculously thin. And silver. And Sony’s X Series is right around the corner. What do you guys think, is your Macbook Air feeling a little too fat now?

[Via Gizmodo]

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Just as expected, Dell’s rumored Studio XPS notebooks made their debut on Dell’s website just in time for CES. According to the respective product pages, the new Studio XPS 1340 and XPS 1640 come in Obsidian Black with leather accents and will feature the following specs:

• Intel® Core™ 2 Duo P8400 (3MB cache/2.26GHz/1066Mhz FSB)
• Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1, 64-bit
• Edge-to-Edge HD Widescreen 16.0 inch WLED LCD (1366×768) W/2.0 MP  or Edge-to-Edge 13.3″ HD WXGA LCD with 2.0 Megapixel Camera
• 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1067MHz (2 Dimms)
• 320GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
• 8X DVD+/- RW(DVD/CD read/write) Slot Load Drive (Sorry no Blu-Ray!)
• ATI Mobility RADEON® M86XT – 512MB
• Dell Wireless 1515 802.11n Half Mini-Card
• 6-cell Battery
• High Definition Audio 2.0
• Bundled with 15 months of McAfee Security Center, Dell Online Backup 2GB for 1 year , Microsoft Works
• 1Yr In-Home Service, Parts + Labor,24×7 Phone Support
• $200 Promo Dell Gift Card Card – Card to arrive 6-8 weeks after purchase

Both the Studio XPS 1340 and the Studio XPS 1640 have listed starting prices of $1,149. Pricing and specs are tentative as they may just be placeholders until official announcements come from Dell.

[Via Notebook Review]

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It appears as if Dell is trying to change its image from boxy and plain to sleek and sexy. Engadget got a hold of some photos of the leather-clad Studio XPS 13 laptop and it is a knock out. If the external photos don’t impress you the internals should as the Studio XPS 13 will come loaded with the latest Intel Montevina chipset, hybrid SLI graphics, slot-loading Blu-ray drive with HDMI, integrated Mobile broadband, edge-to-edge glass display with optional RGB LED backlighting, illuminated keyboard, capacitive multimedia buttons, integrated Gigabit networking, SATA/USB combo slot, webcam and a biometric fingerprint reader.  Still think it is just the same old Dell with a little bit of leather on top? Then you best hold onto your hats because Dell has another beauty, codenamed Adamo, in store for us in 2009. We fist told you about it earlier this morning but the boys at Engadget have managed to dig up some more rumors on what could be one of the sexiest laptops of 2009. Adamo, according to their sources, will be the introduced as the “world’s thinnest laptop”, presumably dethroning the MacBook Air. Adamo will have a black and silver color scheme similar to the XPS 13 but with a different overall design. It was expected to be released in Q4 2008 but has been pushed back until February 2009 at the earliest. No pictures of Adamo yet but you can drool over a few more shots of the XPS 13 after the jump.

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In a sign that proves just how much the general public dislikes Windows Vista, Dell has announced that they have postponed their kill date for Windows XP from today until June 26th. Interested consumers can still purchase an XP-laden Dell system until 7 AM Eastern time on the 26th, after which point Vista will be your only Microsoft OS option. The extension only applies to three versions of Dell’s Inspiron 530, as well as the XPS 630. If you’ve been thinking about a grabbing a Dell, and hate Windows Vista, we suggest you head on over to the company’s site quickly, as time is most certainly running out.

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