XPS 13 Ultrabook | Dell

Dell XPS 13

I'm currently trying to decide what my next computer purchase will be, and I am leaning towards some sort of laptop or ultraportable. My last purchase was a 2009 17" MacBook Pro (MBP) and it is by far the best quality laptop I've ever owned.

That said, I'm really open to the idea of moving back to Linux (with Gnome-shell) full time and installing that setup on an Apple device just feels a little like blasphemy to me. Recently, PC manufacturers have been trying their hand at "Ultrabooks" and this one from Dell debuted today (2012-02-28).

I really like the look; very understated. The materials look exceptional: carbon fiber base, Gorilla glass screen, aluminum shell, glass touchpad. This all sounds great -- the innards seem just as good with an i7 option, 256GB ssd and even a mini-Displayport for video out, the same as my MBP.

The sad part is, my biggest complaint to date with Dell laptops (and all other PC manufacturers) is the power port! It is sad to have such a high-end piece of equipment that has such a horrible connector for power. Invariably, after several months of use, (very careful use) that plug always becomes loose and eventually, has to be held at a specific angle to maintain a proper connection to the laptop.

Apple has solved this problem, and solved it well. All their power connectors use a magnetic connection that can pop out whenever a cord is tripped over (hey, I have two kids) and makes a secure, non-wiggly connection to the unit. Additionally, all their newest equipment also passes data over this same connection (Thunderbolt) that, if for nothing else, works incredibly well with Apple's own Thunderbolt Display. Having owned a 24" Apple Cinema Display for years, I really love everything about it.

Ultimately, I've decided to wait for Ivy Bridge to debut by summer and decide at that point; right now, I'm leaning towards Apple once again but hoping other companies can make considerable strides in both engineering and design to close the gap.