Just as Windows 8 has inspired a new breed of hybrid ultrabooks and tablets, Microsoft's latest OS is making waves in the All-in-One PC space. Dell has just pulled back the curtain on their XPS 18, an All-in-One (AiO) that doubles as an 18" Windows 8 tablet.
Launching in mid-April, the XPS 18 AiO will carry a starting price tag of $899 and feature an 18.4" capacitive touch 1080p display. It weighs in at approximately 4.85 pounds; a heavy tablet but a svelte desktop PC.
XPS 18 Portable AIO Desktop | Image Credit: DELL
The display docks into a powered stand which features a wireless keyboard and mouse, and like the new ASUS Transformer AiO it can be detached and used in tablet mode or on a surface thanks to its flip-out feet. Unlike the AiO from ASUS, however, Windows 8 will run natively in tablet mode. ASUS does have the Android advantage (their PC packs an Intel Core i5 and an NVIDIA Tegra 3), but on their hardware Windows runs via a remote desktop connection when detached from the dock.
While we can't see it in the product shot, the display has an aluminum backed design and a soft grip for traction, bringing forward much of the design language from Dell's latest XPS and ultrabook models.
Dell will offer multiple configurations, with the base model including an Intel ULV Pentium processor 2117U, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, 8:1 media card reader, and Intel HD integrated graphics. The XPS 18 AiO can be maxed out with an Intel Core i7 (with Intel HD 4000 graphics), 500GB hard drive and optional SSD, and 8GB of memory.
As for the all important battery life, Dell rates it at 5 hours -- but I'll put it through the paces closer to the product's release date.
It's too early to make confident predictions, but the monster detachable tablet may be the new direction of traditional consumer desktop PCs. Before you scoff, I bet you never thought "phablets" would get this popular...
