DELL XPS 13 2012 TRACKPAD REPLACEMENT SERIAL NUMBER
DELL XPS 13 2012 TRACKPAD REPLACEMENT BLUETOOTH

It's an island-style layout with smallish, well-separated keys. Unsurprisingly, the keyboard here is more or less exactly what we diddled on the XPS 13. Should you opt for any of these extended wireless options, you'll be looking at an even heftier laptop, moving up to 4.88 pounds (2.2kg) and 0.91 inches (23.2mm) thick. Sadly, rich Corinthian leather is not an option, but you will have your choice of WiMAX, EVDO/HSPA, HSPA+ or Dell's own NetReady prepaid service. Dell also offers Intel Wireless Display here, but should you need even more connectivity, there is a range of models offering WWAN connectivity which, interestingly, sport a 'full-grain charcoal gray leather' lid instead of the anodized aluminum you'll see in our photos.

DELL XPS 13 2012 TRACKPAD REPLACEMENT BLUETOOTH

Those are the dimensions for the model we reviewed, packing 802.11a/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0. The overall package weighs a healthy 4.6 pounds (2.1kg) and measures 0.81 inches (22.07mm) thick. We also miss the battery charge indicator found on the 13. It's a reasonably healthy complement of ports, and we welcome the addition of the SD reader that was sadly missing on the XPS 13, but with all that room on the right we wouldn't have minded another USB port or two. On the front, there's just a single sliver of a light and nothing more. Turn to the right and there's much less clutter, just a Kensington Security Slot, an SD card slot and a combination 3.5mm headphone / microphone jack. On the left, starting at the back, you'll find a hole for that unsightly AC adapter, followed by Ethernet, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort and a pair of USB 3.0 ports. The edge of the 14 is comprised of an aluminum ring punctuated throughout with ports, lights and the big hinge along the back. This hides all the unsightly logos and stickers and makes for a much cleaner look.

DELL XPS 13 2012 TRACKPAD REPLACEMENT SERIAL NUMBER

The 14 does at least borrow the XPS 13's metallic flap covering the Windows serial number and all the various numerals and certifications the product passed on its way to retail. But, to be fair, while silicone and rubber don't look anywhere near as cool as carbon, how often are you looking at the underside of your laptop? It's a far cry from the XPS 13's über-cool carbon fiber bottom casing, its coy weave subtly exposed to the world.

Here, now, is a large rubberized pad upon which the laptop sits, surrounded by a slightly elevated soft-touch ring with slots on the front for the speakers and on the back for the (unfortunately noisy) CPU ventilation. From above, then, this looks just like a bigger 13, but flip it over and things change.

The lid is a similar aluminum design with the glossy, embossed Dell logo again stuck square in the middle and standing out as the least aesthetically pleasing part of this package. It's largely the same clean, simple visual language here.

The feeling for the XPS 14 is, unsurprisingly, much the same, but this is not the 10 percent scaled-up clone you might be expecting. The attention to design was obvious in every facet of the thing - except for the decidedly low-rent power brick that came along for the ride.

It was a sleek, finely hewn husk of aluminum nestled inside of a dark, sophisticated box. We were kind of blown away when unboxing the XPS 13. Look and feel This is not the 10 percent scaled-up clone you might be expecting.

Dell xps 13 2012 trackpad replacement