Well, that's a form factor you don't see that often. Of all the Windows 8 PCs we've seen so far, the Dell XPS 12 is tough to forget, if only because it's the only one whose screen flips inside the hinge like an easel. We already got hands-on at IFA last month, but now we're learning some key details -- you know, like pricing and availability. Dell just announced that it will go up for pre-order today, starting at $1,199. (It will ship October 26th, the day Windows 8 launches.) That's a princely sum indeed compared to some of the other Windows 8 ultraportables we've seen, but it's important to remember that this runs not on an Atom processor, but an Ultrabook-grade CPU. And while you might assume that 12.5-inch display makes do with 1,366 x 768 resolution, it's actually a dense 1080p panel. Hopefully we'll get to review a final unit soon, but in the meantime feast yourself on a fresh round of hands-on shots below.

Gallery: Dell XPS 12 hands-on

Filed under: Laptops, Dell

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Source: Dell

Our next stop on the Windows 8 announcement train is Dell, which today unveiled the XPS 10, a Windows RT hybrid device that runs Microsoft's latest OS on a 10-inch touch-enabled display. Dell says you can expect up to 20 hours of battery life, though the company didn't touch on CPU and storage specs.

Dell also unveiled the XPS Duo 12, which sports a 12.5-inch touch display. When closed, it looks like any old XPS laptop, complete with a backlit keyboard, machined aluminum built and carbon fiber surrounding the display. To enter tablet mode, you literally flip the Duo 12's display around and close it over the keyboard. The design is intriguing (and it looks pretty awesome, we have to say), but based on our short hands-on time the hinge feels rather flimsy. Processor options will go up to Core i7 (Qualcomm also told us its Snapdragon S4 chip will power the device). Both the XPS 10 and the Duo 12 will be available later this year after the official Windows 8 launch.

Gallery: Dell XPS Duo 12 hands-on

Gallery: Dell XPS 10 hands-on

Mat Smith and Joseph Volpe contributed to this report.

Filed under: Laptops, Tablets

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