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(Source: Dell)

Along with three new Dell Dimension desktops, the relatively small and slim Dell XPS 210 desktop was unveiled yesterday.

With a nice sliver finish, the 4-foot-tall XPS 210 supports up to an Intel Core 2 Duo processor - though Pentium D processor options are still available for those on a tighter budget. Given its small form factor, it can be installed in either horizontally or vertically.

It ships with Windows Media Center by default, and has a starting price of US$1,190 - which does look a bit high until you consider the fact that this price includes 1-year of priority XPS service support.

[News via Dell]

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(Source: bit-tech.net)

The oh-so-delayed Dell XPS 700 finally falls into the hands of a review site, which is none other than bit-tech.net.

It’s a pity, however, that despite having the yet-to-be-released nVidia nForce 590 chipset, performance of Dell’s gaming monster failed to match bit-tech.net’s own custom rig - mostly due to Dell’s pathetically slow memory. The XPS 700’s design received mad props though.

Overall, they conclude that, “Dell has done what many thought would be beyond it - created a decent gaming system that hardcore enthusiasts would be happy to have on their desk. The engineers have nailed the industrial design and the core internal design, but the guys haven’t quite managed to get the components and the pricing right. But for all our ragging on the component specifications, Dell has really got the core of this system spot on, and for that it earns our Recommended award. However, we hope Dell takes our comments on board and sorts future machines out with the kind of components that will really make the Core 2 Duo processor shine - and at the right price.”

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(Source: MCS.COM)

Do you know how much it’d cost if you refurbished your Dell Dimension to get this sort of specs?

Intel Pentium D 3.2ghz CPU
3072 MByte RAM
500gb SATA
DVD-Rom Drive
DVD-RW Drive
256mb NVidia GeForce 6800 Video Card
Creative Sound Blaster X-FI Xtreme Sound Card

Well, apparently it’d cost “only” £5,980,000. Don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself.

[News via The Inquirer]

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(Source: bit-tech.net)

Dell recently clarified that new customers for the heavily delayed Dell XPS 700 would get a mid-October shipping date, while customers who preordered will get a mid-September to mid-October shipping date. But… only if you’re keeping with the Intel Pentium D-processor and have no intention of taking up Dell’s free upgrade to a Core 2 Duo.

This annoucement was accompanied with an explanation for the further delays customers are experiencing: Cooling assembly installation problems - which could affect system stability.

And don’t forget that if you are one of those who opted for the free upgrade, your XPS 700 might arrive as late as February 2007, or so speculation goes.

[News via Direct2Dell]

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(Source: bit-tech.net)

CNET hates it when PC vendors like Dell mess with the validity of their reviews. We over here hate it when PC vendors delay shipping schedules even more than they should.

Remember when people were speculating that the XPS 700 would start shipping after Dell started getting stock of Intel Core 2 Duo processors?

Now, the community is speculating instead that the gaming powerhouse will start shipping as late as February 2007 due to the inclusion of Nvidia’s new Nforce 590 chipset.

I pity the guys waiting for their XPS 700s. After all, by the time they get it, it might no longer be the top dog in town.

[News via CNET]

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(Source: CNET)

If you’ve been keeping up with the recent torrent of news, you’d know that the delayed Dell XPS 700 gaming powerhouse will come equipped with Intel’s latest Core 2 Duo processors. But more likely than not, the XPS 700 is far too high-end (and far too pricey) a PC for even the gamers in most of us.

So, what do you get if you really, really need to test out Intel’s latest microprocessor offering? Get a Dell XPS 410 - a Core 2 Duo E6600-powered replacement of the aging XPS 400. CNET already has a review for it too, and they say it’s fast. Ironically though, it’s also pretty expensive - value for money-wise, that is. But its US$2K+ price is surely leaps and bounds away from the US$4K+ Dell is demanding for the XPS 700.

So, if you’re looking to own the latest in processor technology, and want a PC that’s on the high-end - though not too high - give the XPS 410 a shot. After all, 7.2 out of 10 from CNET is still pretty respectable.

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(Source: Intel)

Intel takes the lead again with today’s launch of the Core 2 Duo processor, or more accurately, 10 Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme processors.

While the average consumer will certainly be thrilled by the sheer power packed within these processors (which apparently consume 40% less power too), those who have yet to receive their Dell XPS 700 gaming desktops and have opted for Dell’s Core 2 Duo upgrade scheme will surely be the happiest.

After all, now that Core 2 Duo has been unveiled, it shouldn’t take “too” long for Dell to get some of it and pump those XPS 700’s out the factory door.

[News via Geekzone]

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(Source: bit-tech.net)

Remember the delayed XPS 700 gaming powerhouse that Dell said it would start shipping very soon? Well, it seems there might be further delays, and Dell is trying to mitigate the negative impact from this by pledging a free Core 2 Duo processor upgrade for those who ordered on or before 18 July.

Customers who accept Dell’s upgrade offer will also have to agree to an “extended wait time” - presumably for stock of Intel’s upcoming Core 2 Duo to come in.

At least this time, we’re hearing direct from the horse’s mouth, i.e. Dell’s newly-launched one2one blog. So, we most probably won’t have to look at problems like the recent overclocking misunderstanding issue XPS 700 customers experienced.

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(Source: bit-tech.net)

Although not a single unit of the Dell XPS 700 gaming desktop has been shipped since its intended shipping date in May, Dell has announced through its new weblog that the long delay will end this week.

While this piece of news will assuage the many customers hitting Dell’s Community Forums, this entire delay issue is surely not-so-good news for Dell’s already battered image.

At least, we can take heart in the fact that Dell has begun replying to customer complaints publicly through its new blog.

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(Source: bit-tech.net)

About.com’s tech. guide has just published another one of its traditional tech. specifications reviews, and this time, it’s on the newly released Dell XPS 700.

As expected, the XPS 700’s strong performance was a plus point for the reviewer, but the lack of liquid cooling and limited case designs pulled down the overall score. Well, there really wasn’t a score per se, but you get my point.

Anyway, the conclusion given was that, “Dell’s XPS line gets a boost with the new XPS 700 that offers a wide range of performance options for those on a budget or with as much money as they can spend. Don’t expect a lot of case designs to choose from though.”

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