Dell shows pics of next-gen gaming boxes

If you thought you had to be at E3 to check out Dell's new gaming boxes, we've got some good news for you: Dell has launched a web site to show off the prototype models, the cleverly named XPS Next Generation Gaming Desktop and the previously revealed XPS Mobile Entertainment Concept laptop. The bad news? Dell's Flash-heavy teaser site for the boxes provides little in the way of real specs (unless you consider a statement that the desktop will include "some of the latest processors, graphics capabilities and performance hard drives" enough info). The site does, however, show off some of the desktop's external features, including an aluminum case, a choice of LEDs in 7 different colors, and -- woo hoo -- a stabilizing fin. No specs on the laptop either, natch, but we already have the goods on that one. We're not sure if Dell plans to bring either of these to market, or if they're just eye candy designed to attract gamers to existing products, like the M1710 notebook. However, we expect the desktop to show up in some form, if only so that Dell can try to say that the company's home-grown, Intel-based gear is as good as the AMD stuff they picked up from Alienware -- which, at this point, may be the whole point of keeping the XPS line alive in the first place.

[Thanks, Templedog]

[Gr1zz @ May 10th 2006 1:41PM]

The laptop is a thing of beauty, the handle is cool.

For those of you dual monitor-laptop users, the detachable keyboard lets you chose which monitor you want to position yourself in front of, which is great too.

[DJ @ May 10th 2006 1:47PM]

It'll be interesting how close in performance Dell allows these to get to Alienware. Almost like Dell's Jaguar to Alienware's Aston-Martin. Lots of the same parts, but ultimate beauty and ultimate performance can only be had at the ultimate price.

[DS @ May 10th 2006 2:11PM]

wow these look A1 Retarded. They have a *LONG* way to go b4 they compete (design wise) with high end builders like Apple.

[idude135 @ May 10th 2006 2:13PM]

Digging the ventilated tower design. Nicely done.

Actually these concepts look sharper than any Alienware computer ever.

[Brian Clarke @ May 10th 2006 2:29PM]

That desktop concept is the most badass desktop tower I have ever seen. It balances noise reduction, with ventilation, and doesn't go too over the top in stying. The laptop design are even cooler. I had to vote for the flame design.

[t @ May 10th 2006 2:29PM]

Hey DS, would you pass some of that koolaid you're drinking?

[Tom @ May 10th 2006 2:37PM]

Wow! Dell is starting to make some of the ugliest computers ever released by any computer company ;-)

[heyhow @ May 10th 2006 2:38PM]

Hey ... Engadget has stolen the woo - hoo !

[James @ May 10th 2006 2:47PM]

Hi I'm a PC user, before someone accuses me of being an Apple fanboy. I agree with Tom No.8 these computers are really very ugly. Micheal Dell said in an interview recently that the look of Dell computers are not designed in-house by Dell. How can such a big/rich company pass this stuff on design. Once again not a Mac user but, Dell needs to take a leaf out of Johnathan Ive's book and start to design good looking computers. What the hell were they thinking!!

[Schmack @ May 10th 2006 2:53PM]

I love the tower. It's hard to find a gaming case that looks cool without looking overdone. I'll be interested to know what the ventilated design does for cooling and noise.

I would buy the Mobile Entertainment Concept in a heartbeat.

[diulei @ May 10th 2006 2:59PM]

That laptop is awesome. I'm shocked that Dell actually had that in them, I would have thought the design was more Sony or Samsung-esque (or any other computer company, for that matter).

[TeleCustom @ May 10th 2006 3:06PM]

I still hold that it'll fall apart in a couple months due to its Dellness.

Bought an XPS laptop a couple years ago. Christ was that ever a mistake.

[Aaron @ May 10th 2006 3:06PM]

DS:

Apple doesn't make gaming machines. Shut up.

[craig @ May 10th 2006 3:08PM]

I reall dig the dell tower, but geez, I never realized how expensive their laptops are. Is this normal? Or is there something I'm missing. $3850 for a 2.0 core duo and 512mb video card?

[DS @ May 10th 2006 3:27PM]

# 13, actually your wrong apple can run windows XP. Because your obviously not to tech savvy, I will point out that the same OS that Dell uses is XP. Macs (since the intel switch) have been able to use xp. go to apple dot com backslash bootcamp for more details. Now #13 my original post was speaking about design. If you think these jerry-riged POS's look cool then your the type of guy who likes customised Honda's (ala Fast n the Furious) over Maseratis.....

sorry about misspellings in advanced,
DS

[Aaron @ May 10th 2006 4:10PM]

Hmmm. Not white, not apple. Must be ugly. What a lazy critique. Some of Apple's designs are good, but they are not the only good designers in the world. Different styles can both be good design. Don't confuse taste with good design. These gaming machines are designed for the gaming market.

Any one who uses a laptop for their only computer would recognize what a great design the media center is with the handle/hinge. Puts the screen up where it belongs and leaves the keyboard down within good reach. A removable keyboard is awesome. Laptops are too cram packed to use all the time. They are great for on the move computing with the machine on your lap. They are terrible for long periods of time. This computer looks like the usability of a full size computer with great portability. Hmmm. Sounds like just what a gamer would use for work, then grab and go for the evenings lan party fragfest.

[burgle @ May 10th 2006 4:45PM]

The tower looks great...
I hope you can upgrade it to quad stabilizing fins

---DS
Running XP does not make a PC (or a Mac, which is practically a white PC running OSX after the intel switch) a gaming machine. Macs can be great home computers but none of the them have high end graphic cards. That is why they are not gaming machines. Also MacBookPro has already overheating issues even with its low performance graphic card, it may look good but if you put the graphic card in Dell's laptop in MacBookPro it would melt... It is not like Honda vs. Maserati it is more like Hummer vs. Maserati on an outdoor track.

[t @ May 10th 2006 5:18PM]

DS's first comment is a great example a pot calling the kettle black. LOL!

[Dave @ May 10th 2006 8:08PM]

The 2010 portable media machine is going to be using ONLY an ATI gpu. Dell is about to find out that will be about as popular as using P4's. They always seem to find out last what NOT to use in a machine, but that's why they had to buy Alienware so they could pick up a few pointers from folks actually connected to the home consumer industry.

Is this a bit scathing? Sure is. The 1710 was a great hit, but how many quarters are you going to apologize for your desktops, before you learn that what the public wants isn't something you can just "take your best shot on". Why use an ATI gpu when you are selling literally tons of notebooks that use the Nvidia gpu's and they are getting rave reviews? Because you think you'd like to experiment? Did you bother to check a few market polls before making that choice? How many quarters of P4's not selling, and limited Conroe (it won't exactly be available by the millions at launch) before you think maybe it might be a good idea to at least OFFER an AMD desktop.

The key to a great retailer is that you offer an assortment of products and you listen to what the market deems desireable. Failing to keep the pulse of the market leads to failure. Dreaming that every machine you build will "invent its own market" is arrogant and reaps the joyous rewards of apologizing to investors why yet again you can't produce results.

While I thankfully got out of Dell a long time ago, it should be a big wake up call to stockholders. These folks little to no idea what they should do next. And what the market has clamored for them to do, they are completely unable to accomplish. 20 years from now you'll read about Dell like you read about AT&T, and think "how the mighty have fallen".

I just don't think they get it, plain and simple.

[boss sauce @ May 10th 2006 11:19PM]

The tower's rounded bottom edge looks unstable, and the "stabilizing fin" proves that it is dumb-- it is not stable on its own. I don't understand the grooves on the side either-- what purpose do they serve? Does it snap in two like a big Kit-Kat? And where are its handles?

The laptop/media center looks silly-- the black is too shiny, the screen's bezel is way too thick, you'll kill the screen on the optical drive cover, and from the width of the keyboard, it looks like it weighs a lot. The offset trackpad where the inverted-T should be looks like bad ergonomics.


They're sure thinking different, though...;P

[Intrepid @ May 11th 2006 3:52AM]

Why does an Apple fanboy (DS) always show up and open his mouth? We don't really need to hear you speak.
And Dell gets two thumbs up for making some awesome machinery.

[E @ May 11th 2006 2:24PM]

DS tell me, exactly how does Steve Job's buttcrack taste?

You're obviously not a designer, you might have some clue if you did. Gaming machines appeal to a particular demographic and market. While I appreciate minimalism, making it a plain white box is just not going to cut it.

I love how everyone who owns a Mac immediately becomes an expert on design. It's really funny to read these threads, just because you know there will be one of these losers.

"21. The tower's rounded bottom edge looks unstable, and the "stabilizing fin" proves that it is dumb--"

WTF are you talking about? Are you 5? You have absolutely no sense of engineering do you?

What's with some of you people? You sound like a bunch of girls, making fun of some other chick's dress. Sissys.