Dell's XPS One 24 joins Apple, Sony, and HP in the large screen all-in-one category Thursday with a new 24-inch model. Starting at $1,699, the new XPS One 24 will come in regular and (PRODUCT) RED versions. Each includes a 2.3GHz Intel Core 2 Quad E8200 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a variety of multimedia-friendly features.
Dell's new XPS One 24 all-in-one.
(Credit: Dell)We're concerned that the new XPS One 24 has only the 32-bit version of Windows Vista. We've seen $500 desktops with 64-bit Vista (from Dell, no less), as well as other all-in-ones, like Sony's Vaio JS190J, so its absence here is troubling for those interested in using this system for memory-intensive tasks, like digital media editing.
The press release also promises a Blu-ray drive, but it's only available in the RED version of the $1,999 baseline model, the link for which is buried on Dell's Web site. Dell informs us that it's working on making it easier to find.
The rest of the XPS One 24's baseline features check out for both the $1,699 and the $1,999 units. The hard drive starts at 320GB, with a 750GB upgrade in the higher-end $1,999 model. The pricier model also includes a GeForce 9600 GT graphics chip, making it a credible gaming PC. 802.11n Wi-Fi, built-in Bluetooth, and a wireless mouse and keyboard come standard in both versions.
Dell has also upgraded the speakers from the old model to a set of JBL stereo outputs, with a subwoofer unit built into the body of the unit. We can't vouch for the quality of those speakers, but they can only get better compared with what we usually find in all-in-ones.
We're interested to review this system, and we hope Dell will provide us with a unit soon. We also have a 24-inch Sony all-in-one on deck, as well as HP's 25.5-inch TouchSmart all-in-one on its way. Smells like a roundup to us.
In the labs: Dell XPS One
(Credit: CNET Networks, Inc.)Update: our Dell XPS One review is live.
Dell sent us a Dell XPS One for review last week and asked us to hold off publishing the review until it releases its first all-in-one PC next Monday. Then--surprise!--Dell gets a little trigger-happy and puts it up for sale today. (Estimated ship date isn't until November 27.) Rich Brown is writing feverishly; look for our full review later today.
What can we tell you now? The design of the thing doesn't look all that different from Dell's LCDs, with a black screen bezel and angular base. It's available in four preconfigured models, but one size fits all--your only screen option is a 20-inch wide screen. Pricing for the four models ranges from $1,499 to $2,399, and surprisingly for Dell systems, you're not given anything in the way of customization options other than adding a printer, software, or other accessories to your order. Common to all four machines are the following: 2GB of RAM, a hybrid analog/digital TV tuner, Vista Home Premium, Adobe Elements, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. The two lower-end models feature the Core 2 Duo E4500 CPU, and the two higher-end models feature the Core 2 Duo E6550 while also upgrading the integrated graphics to a 256MB ATI Radeon HD 2400 Pro card. The highest-end model also trades in the DVD burner for a Blu-ray burner. Hard drive capacities range from 250GB to 500GB.
It looks like Dell plans to enter the all-in-one market after all, according to information uncovered on the FCC's Web site this morning (thanks PC Joint and Gizmodo).
When the Dell XPS One A2010 comes to market, it will join the Gateway One, the Sony VAIO LT19U, and the HP TouchSmart as Windows-based competition to the Apple iMac.
Dell's XPS One A2010, as leaked by the FCC
(Credit: Dell)The reports indicate that Dell will have options for a Blu-ray burner, 802.11n wireless, Bluetooth, and a TV tuner, making it more in-line with the higher-end VAIO than with the more mainstream Gateway One. With those specs in mind, we'd guess pricing will be similar to the new XPS 420 desktop--between $1,500 and $2,500, depending on the options--although possibly higher due to the added cost of heat management and space savings in a confined chassis.
As we said, assuming Dell releases this system with the specs as reported, every major desktop vendor will offer a reasonably priced all-in-one. If you're not shopping for a budget PC, if you're not a gamer, and if you're not a video editor, these systems seem to offer everything you'd want in a modern computer. We have to ask, then, what again is the purpose of a traditional midrange desktop?
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