- #Flip function keys on dell xps 13 upgrade#
- #Flip function keys on dell xps 13 full#
- #Flip function keys on dell xps 13 pro#
- #Flip function keys on dell xps 13 plus#
#Flip function keys on dell xps 13 full#
To keep that processor running at full speed, Dell needed to implement a more advanced thermal design, which required more space.
#Flip function keys on dell xps 13 plus#
Dell is equipping the XPS 13 Plus with the faster 28-watt version of Intel’s 12th-gen Core CPU. Like the Touch Bar, the capacitive touch buttons allow space for larger keycaps.īut the second reason is a thirst for more performance. First, it makes for a slick, futuristic look. Well, according to Dell, the reason is twofold.
#Flip function keys on dell xps 13 pro#
They roughly mimic Apple’s Touch Bar, which was already abandoned on the most recent MacBook Pro machines. Gaining performance with an innovative approachĪt first glance, one of the more perplexing changes is the switch to capacitive touch buttons for the row of function keys.
And as mentioned above, without the haptic technology, Dell would have been unable to implement its standout palm rest, demonstrating that the company combined function and form in designing the XPS 13 Plus. I imagine Dell will get this ironed out by the time the laptop ships.
Certainly, in our initial testing, the touchpad is a bit clunky, but that’s to be expected in preproduction machines. I don’t know what the next version of the XPS 13 will look like, and it’s entirely possible that it, too, will sport a haptic touchpad of its own (although I have no reason to think one way or another).
#Flip function keys on dell xps 13 upgrade#
I think this is an excellent upgrade that will prove popular, and I applaud Dell for implementing it. Lenovo is another with its new addition to the ThinkPad line, the ThinkPad Z13. The market is very slowly following suit, with the XPS 13 Plus being one of the first to implement its own haptic touchpad. The latest versions are virtually indistinguishable from physical touchpads, and they offer some advantages like the ability to click anywhere without worrying about physical buttons. Haptic feedback for the winĪpple has used haptic feedback for its MacBook touchpads for several generations, and it’s a technology that the company has perfected and that works exceptionally well. In essence, Dell created a laptop with an even simpler and more cohesive design, while still managing to give it something to help it stand out from the crowd. The palm rest is striking and creates its own aesthetic flair - and not many laptops can say the same. Looking at it from this perspective, I like the decision even though I’ll miss the warm feel and attractive look afforded by the fiber coating. The same effect would likely have been impossible to produce with the fiber layer, so it had to go. I’m not sure there’s another contemporary laptop that creates such a modern aesthetic in this aspect of its design.ĭell was able to implement the look thanks to the inclusion of another new and futuristic feature, a haptic touchpad that’s rendered invisible in the ultra-clean palm rest.
While all-metal designs might be common, this aspect is not. There’s no visible touchpad marring the lines, giving the inside of the XPS 13 Plus a stunningly clean look. The palm rest on the XPS 13 Plus is an unblemished stripe of metal. The XPS 13 Plus is all aluminum, giving it a colder feel and a simpler aesthetic.īut there’s more to it than that. Not only does the fiber provide a distinctive look, but it also makes for warmer and more comfortable palm rests. One of the most visible design changes is the loss of the carbon or glass fiber layer on the XPS 13 keyboard deck, depending on which color you select. The Dell XPS 13 Plus ensures that’ll never happen, even if it risks being rejected due to some of its more controversial changes. As great as the standard XPS 13 has been over the years, it’s entirely possible for the laptop to fall behind.