Dell Launches New High-End Brand with the Adamo Laptop

So, you say as tough as times are you are just not into the inexpensive E-toys that are Netbooks. You need a real toy, or at least one with a 13" screen. Oh Dell loves you, nay, they need you and they definitely want your business. So, with that in mind today they launched their high end Adamo laptop.


Dubiously billed, as "the world's thinnest laptop" -- dubious because as soon as you say that someone, somewhere takes issue with it -- maybe less debatable is that the Adamo is also the launch product in Dell's new high-end brand of the same name. Yup, Dell a company that has struggled over the last several months if not longer in the current tough economic times and it's own bad decisions has decided to try to take the high-end road back to the top. Will it work? Not on its own of course, but maybe it won't hurt anymore than doing nothing would either. Dell's press release from earlier in the day portrays the Adamo and the items in the new brand as part of its "...commitment to design and personalization across its entire product line," only instead of bamboo and bright gaudy art they are aiming here at consumers they presume wish to be "...rewarded by the select materials and craftsmanship you would expect in a fine watch." Okay, that might fly somewhere, especially if you have the cash for one of these boxes. Yet Engadget is already tossing some light criticism of the unit's power to price ratio, but then again this is not even day one, so I'll let you decide. The Adamo comes in Onyx and Peal color schemes and the two fairly haughtily named configurations of "Admire" and "Desire." Here are the specs on those (from the Australian Dell site):

Admire

* 1.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor with Centrino technology
* Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64 bit Edition
* 2GB 800MHz DDR3 dual-channel memory2
* 128GB3 solid state drive
* Super-thin 13.4-inch 16:9 (High Definition; 720p) WLED display
* Full-size keyboard with back-lighting and scalloped, metallic key cap design
* Integrated 1.3 megapixel camera and integrated digital microphone
* IO: Display Port (with external DVI adapter included), USBx3 (1 eSATA combination), Audio Out and integrated RJ-45 port
* Communications: Gigabit LOM, Bluetooth 2.1, 802.11n (3x3)
* 5+ hr battery life using Li-Polymer cells; 40 Whr
* Compact power adapter
* Dimensions: (w x d x h) 13.03 x 9.5 x 0.65 in (331 x 242 x 16.39 mm)
* $1,999

Desire

* 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor with Centrino technology
* Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64 bit Edition
* 4GB 800MHz DDR3 dual-channel memory2
* 128GB3 solid state drive
* Mobile Broadband4
* Super-thin 13.4-inch 16:9 (High Definition; 720p) WLED display
* Full-size keyboard with back-lighting and scalloped, metallic key cap design
* Integrated 1.3 megapixel camera and integrated digital microphone
* IO: Display Port (with external DVI adapter included), USBx3 (1 eSATA combination), Audio Out and integrated RJ-45 port
* Communications: Gigabit LOM, Bluetooth 2.1, 802.11n (3x3)
* 5+ hr battery life using Li-Polymer cells; 40 Whr
* Compact power adapter
Dimensions: (w x d x h) 13.03 x 9.5 x 0.65 in (331 x 242 x 16.39 mm)
* $2,699

Any opinions, or maybe even takers on these? They will supposedly be available on March 27th.