Dell is currently taking pre-orders for its rather interesting XPS Duo 12 convertible ultrabook. As one would expect, the Duo 12 is designed specifically to run Windows 8 and features a screen that rotates inside its bezel to turn the ultrabook into a tablet and take full advantage of Microsoft’s touch-centric Windows 8.
The convertible ultrabook won’t ship until later this month, presumably around the same time Windows 8 launches. The little beast isn’t cheap, so if you’re shopping on a budget look elsewhere. Pricing starts at $1199.99 for the XPS Duo 12. At the $1200 entry-level price, you get a machine with an Intel Core i5-3317U Ivy Bridge processor paired with 4 GB of RAM.
The entry-level machine has 128 GB of storage via a SSD. The 12.5-inch display is the same on all versions of the Duo 12 and features a resolution of 1920 x 1080. Graphics on all versions of the tablet are handled by an Intel HD 4000 integrated GPU, and the tablet weighs 3.35 pounds.
If you’re not entry-level sort of person, prices go up significantly from the above-mentioned starting point. The next step up will cost you $1399.99 and gets you a faster processor and twice as much RAM. The top-of-the-line XPS 12 will cost $1699.99. A top-of-the-line machine uses a Core i7-3517U processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB SSD.
