To unclasp Dell's ultrathin Adamo XPS laptop, users will have to rub a finger along a heat-sensitive strip, kind of like the slide-to-unlock function on an iPhone.
Also, it looks like I was wrong about the Adamo XPS's posture. Instead of sitting flat like a traditional notebook, the Adamo XPS will rest on two points, with a hinge that props up the back side of the keyboard, as reported by Gizmodo. Previous photos of the computer only showed it in artsy profile shots, leading me to believe Dell was playing a trick on us.
The notebook's unique design, which stores the computer's internals on the screen side instead of below the keyboard, will probably result in divided opinions from consumers. Gizmodo says the Adamo XPS is "really really sturdy," but I'm worried that it'll still be top-heavy and prone to tipping onto its back, especially if it's resting on a lap instead of a table. Hopefully, Dell's putting a lot of weight into the space below the screen.
The finger-rubbing mechanism also seems like a missed opportunity to have the Adamo XPS prop up on its own. In a video on Gizmodo's site, a presenter is seen holding the laptop base down with one hand while tilting the back screen into position with the other. That's not a major inconvenience, but it betrays the elegance this 9.9 mm notebook is supposed to provide.
Still, I give props to Dell for trying something different. At this point, the Adamo XPS appears to be a real product, not just a design concept as previously stated. Gizmodo says the notebook will use one of Intel's ultra-low voltage processors, and not the weaker Atom processor found in Sony's Vaio X. We'll find out more when Dell officially announces the Adamo XPS next month.
