Dell XPS 12

Windows 8 hybrid Ultrabooks see here , change from laptop to tablet and back again , with ease . The second of the shape - shifting laptop PC comes Labs is the Dell XPS 12 . As a convertible ultrabook , the Dell XPS 12 works as both a laptop and a tablet , using the same design flip - and - fold last seen on Dell Inspiron Duo ( Black ) . Dell has dropped the name Duo , which is actually now used by Sony for its own convertible ultrabook , the Sony VAIO Duo 11 ( D11213CX ) .

The name change is understood , as the XPS 12 has little in common with the Dell Inspiron Duo , save for the screen flips around in a safe framed lid. The external style bears a strong resemblance to the Dell Inspiron 13z , with soft - touch exterior and metal frame . In looking at the specifications , it is clear that the XPS 12 is in a different category than the Dell Inspiron Duo , which has an ultrabook - class Intel Core i7 - 3517U processor instead of a netbook - class Atom , and a 256GB solid - state drives offer significant performance gains over the slower hard drive used in the Netbook .

Design
Weighs 3.3 pounds and measuring 0.95 by 5.12 by 8.6 inches ( HWD ) , meets the standard XPS 12 Intel Ultrabooks to be replaced , and it was just a bit heavy with Ultrabooks size ( convertible or otherwise) we witnessed , namely 3.2 - pound Asus Zenbook Prime UX32VD - DB71 . It also has a design more aligned with laptop sensibilities than the tablet , with a slightly tapered chassis . Well it works on a laptop , as seen in the Inspiron 13z laptop - only , but with a tablet the lack of uniform thickness is a little uncertain . Unlike the Sony Duo 11 , however , it is comfortable to hold , with rounded edges and soft touch panel on the underside . When using it as a tablet for watching movies or browsing the Web , it is comfortable enough , but tend to keep it in landscape mode , as the wedge profile puts the screen at a slant when in portrait mode .

Weighs 3.3 pounds and measuring 0.95 by 5.12 by 8.6 inches ( HWD ) , meets the standard XPS 12 Intel Ultrabooks to be replaced , and it was just a bit heavy with Ultrabooks size ( convertible or otherwise) we witnessed , namely 3.2 - pound Asus Zenbook Prime UX32VD - DB71 . It also has a design more aligned with laptop sensibilities than the tablet , with a slightly tapered chassis . Well it works on a laptop , as seen in the Inspiron 13z laptop - only , but with a tablet the lack of uniform thickness is a little uncertain . Unlike the Sony Duo 11 , however , it is comfortable to hold , with rounded edges and soft touch panel on the underside . When using it as a tablet for watching movies or browsing the Web , it is comfortable enough , but tend to keep it in landscape mode , as the wedge profile puts the screen at a slant when in portrait mode .