Dell XPS One Review
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I am not being compensated for this review in any way, shape or form. Dell sent me a loaner XPS One that I will be (sadly) returning to them now that this review is published.
So, @RichardAtDell reached out to me a few weeks ago and asked if I would be interested in reviewing their new machine, the XPS One. Never one to turn away a chance to play with new gadgets, I said yes immediately. Had I known what I was getting into, I’m not so sure I would have said yes anymore – because I’ve completely fallen in love with this thing and I do. not. want. to. send. it. back.
Dell XPS One 24"
First of all, this has got to be the sexiest looking machine I have ever laid eyes upon. I guess I really didn’t realize just how big a 24″ monitor is – it’s BIG. Big and SEXY. (I am going to use that word a lot in this post. Just warning you now). But it’s not just a big flat screen monitor – it IS the computer. That’s it – all of it – right there.
What’s funny is that Richard had asked me to review this machine from the perspective of a mom with kids, and talk about how we use it as a family.
I have a confession to make.
My kids haven’t gotten a whole heck of a lot of time to use it. 
We seriously fight over who gets to use it next.
I do think it’s mostly because it’s so big, the monitor is so bright and the colors are so saturated, it’s kind of hard to look at any other computer in our house and be happy about having to be stuck with it.
But this thing has capabilities we haven’t even been able to use yet because of wiring issues in my office. The XPS One is also capable of being a HD TV. If I could let this go, it would be a brilliant addition to my kitchen so that I could keep my kids entertained during snack time and I could use it to find recipes right there instead of printing them out (my *dream kitchen!*). For now, we’ve been at least using it as a DVD player and MP3 player – thanks to Dell I’m a new Amazon MP3 store addict.
So besides being sexy, looking great, being sexy, and us fighting over who gets to use it, what’s so great about it? In the end, isn’t it just another computer? Well, kindofbutnotreally – it’s one freaking fast computer that can handle pretty much anything I can throw at it – I always have 5-10 Firefox windows open, am playing music on iTunes, using Skype or AIM to chat or make VOIP phone calls, and always have Word, Excel, and either Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop open all at once. Plus it’s WIFI ready and Bluetooth enabled.
Ginsu Knives
On my old laptop, it can handle all of this with my 2 GHz processor and 2GB RAM – but it slows things down a bit. On the XPS One, with a 2.33 GHz Intel® Core™ 2 Quad Q8200 processor and 4 GB RAM, having all these programs open at once is like slicing through butter with a Ginsu. I think I could be doing serious multimedia development and this machine wouldn’t bat an eye.
So, normally in a review I try to find something that the company should improve upon – as far as the machine is concerned, I honestly couldn’t ask for anything else. I probably wouldn’t normally buy something so big, as it seems like more machine than I would need. But now I’m hooked. I guess at a price tag of $1599, if I were actually going out to purchase a desktop computer, I’d probably try talk myself down to a lower priced machine because I’m cheap and it’s the holidays. If you wanted to add a Blue Ray DVD player, tricked out video card and triple the size of your hard drive to 750 GB, it would set you back $1899. But considering this thing is cable-tv ready, it’s like you’re getting a TV, sound system and computer all in “One” (OMG – I didn’t even plan that pun).
If you’re interested in the machine, be sure to check out the 3D view and the photo gallery. It comes in a few colors (wishing they sent me the Product RED version, personally). And I am seriously considering just sending Richard a check and keeping the darn thing…
So this is how they pump up holiday sales – tell us to just “try” it knowing they will never see the thing returned again. 
Update :: Since several of you asked, here’s a picture of the Dell in my office:
Dell XPS One
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24″ monitor is nice but there is such thing as too big and 24″ would be.
You need to adjust the mouse speed to get from one end of the screen to the other. You also can’t see everything with out moving your head like you can on a smaller monitor.
The maximum comfortable size for many people would be 19″
Bluey
Laser Modules For Raves!!!
I do have to give it to dell they have finally hired a designer and made something that isn’t just another grey box. I do still think the first version of this computer is better looking, you know, the iMac. lol.
I don’t think you can have too much screen. There are numerous studies that bigger screens = more productivity. It would be really cool to see an all in 1 with a 30″ screen, or maybe I am just greedy.
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Big screens are awesome. Having the power of seeing many things at the same time instead of one at a time is a lot of convenience. As a computer programmer, it allows me to compare code efficiently, and it allows me to see what I’m working on and the reference/documentation at the same time. I also edit videos. I certainly appreciate seeing bigger portion of my timeline.
As for the speed, I was programming on a single core machine at work, but switched to to quad core a few months ago. It definitely made things go a lot faster. The downside is that it hurts the excuse for goofing off while something is compiling or loading up.
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Oh Wendy – I can’t believe they are making you send it BACK! In my opinion that’s stingy
That being said – it looks totally awesome! I love my Dell and look forward to buying a new one in 2009.
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LOVE it! I need something SOOOO much faster. I run around 5-10 tabs too, with skype, yahoo, photoshop and my computer barely hangs on through it all.
I would love the monitor for my photoshop editing. Being able to process photos comparably would RAWK!
Great review Wendy..loved your humor through out it.
Oh, and @RichardatDell
LET HER KEEP IT!!!
A Cowboy’s Wifes last blog post..A Blogging Break for Re-Self Discovery
I would suggest that you’d like a 24″ iMac for all same reasons that you like this Dell, but I guess since you’ve already invested in MS Office & Adobe software for Windows, you wouldn’t take the suggestion too seriously.
Although I do agree that this Dell is the best looking Windows machine ever.
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@Blue – I have to disagree now that I’ve used a big monitor. I can get so much more on the screen and there’s so much less scrolling. If I was still doing full-time graphic design the $1599 price tag would be a paltry price to pay to get that much more screen space! Working in PS and IL is so much easier on this monitor!
@Bob I’m monitor-greedy like you.
@Kelvin – You’re so right! I remember being able to screw around quite a bit back in the old days when it took files 10 minutes to process a Photoshop filter!
@Kelly & Lori – From what I understand Dell has pretty strict standards when it comes to reviews, and I think they don’t want anything they do to be construed as a compensated review. But if Richard listened to you I wouldn’t complain one bit!!!
@Anthony – I am a GEEK among geeks – I don’t like Macs. I even let that slip out once to Guy Kawasaki.
Oops.
I did get this computer last year for Christmas! It is the wonder machine and brought me into a new era of computer enjoyment. To be honest, my daughter works for Dell and mine was ordered right after they were available. The bad news is: I spend even more time sitting at my desk. The good news is: time on the computer is productive rather than frustrating. I continue to learn new tricks and applications every day.
Wendy, do you have any pics of it actually at your desk in your workspace, like a before and after ?
Hi Wendy, I will love to see the actual picture of the Dell computer. Personally though Dell looks pretty great, my personal preference is APPLE. They have the best aesthetic design and hence it looks pretty cool.
For functionality, I will go for HP computers instead. They have great support and it is stable and faster. I hope this is useful for anyone considering buying a computer and not buy it out of emotional response. One of my friend is pretty clever. Guess what he did? He bought a computer using installment plan. Why?
I was amused when he gave the answer. He said a computer life span is almost a year and hence during those time, he will sell the computer and then bought another one using the installment plan. Isn’t he clever? This helps to save cost and enable him to ‘update’ his computer every year!
I’m thinking they need a homeschooling family to test this lovely thing out!!
@ Jill GoalGuru I don’t have a decent ‘before’ picture, but I did add an ‘after’ picture just for you.
wow. can santa bring me this for my e-business. seriously, that is a review that makes me drool.
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So the actual CPU is integrated into the Monitor???
I remember Monorail did such a thing back in the day.
XPS One is like “awesome tech, on crack”
lol
Looks nice.
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Hey Wendy – it’s interesting both that Richard approached you directly and that he asked you to give the XPS back. The jury’s still out on what’s best pratice on blogger outreach so that’s for sharing you expereience with us.
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Dell’s XPS One is really awesome. I envy your office because it was graced by such a beautiful and sexy thing. Hope Richard would give you 50% discount and no interest rate for 5 years
My daughter’s laptop is a Dell and she loves it though the screen is just 1/4 of the XPS One’s monitor. I’m sure she’ll drool over this sexy giant. Thanks for sharing Dell to us.
I also think like Denise. They need homeschooling family!
That big monitor would be perfect for me with all the photoshop/ illustrator work I do! Sexy – you said it bro!
Wendy this is awesome and I’m going to buy a desktop next month so I’m sending this to David to review for me. We have a Dell account in my day job Commercial Real Estate office (my day job) so there is a strong possibility I’ll pick this baby…especially when I now know it’s cable ready….
Thanks for the review…I’d like to speak with you regarding something I’m writing..could you email me so I reply and you get the message..
Thanks Dorothy from grammology
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The only problem that I have with the Dell XPS system is the price:performance and price:quality ratios. You can buy parts of much higher quality (including a 24″ display) and build a much more powerful computer for hundreds less than that dell. You can still keep it small with microATX/shuttle platforms. The only downside is that you do not get the Dell warranty or service (which is not that great in my opinion).
Ok, that machine is SO sexy! You had me at 5 Firefox windows + Adobe + whatever… ALL open at the same time? Feeling faint…
Great review!
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We just bought our kids a couple of Dell Mini 10s as we start our homeschool adventure this summer. I use a Dell Mini 9 for my laptop and netbooks are great for secondary machines. My primary is an older Dell XPS – happy with all of my Dells.