If you're a Linux desktop user, it's time to rejoice. Why? Because Dell has refreshed its XPS 13 Developer Edition laptop. Don't be scared off by the "Developer" in the name—it's a great computer not just for devs, but for home users, professionals, and students as well. The "Developer Edition" designation simply means it comes pre-loaded with Ubuntu Linux.
In this new notebook version, called “9380”, Dell continues to focus on beauty and slimness, but has also added some improved specifications. Especially webcam users will be happy to learn that the new XPS 13 now has the camera at the top of the screen instead of the bottom!
“The 9380 represents the eighth generation of the Ubuntu-based XPS 13 developer series from Dell. The first generation of the release started six years ago and together with the Precision mobile workstations, which were released in 2015, they build the Project Sputnik.
“While there are many great features and specifications that characterize the latest developer edition, what will bring the most joy is the new location of the camera. On the 9370 model, the camera was located at the bottom of the screen. On the new 9380, the camera has been moved to the top, providing a much more flattering view of the user while maintaining the sleek, compact design of the system. In addition to these, the new version supports auto-suspend, which allows the system to resume from sleep much faster,” says Barton George, Project Sputnik and Linux at Dell.
The new Dell offers the following features and specifications. Buyers can choose a different configuration with options for processors, RAM memory, storage and resolution.
- Intel 8th generation processors i3, i5 and i7 (Intel Whisky Lake U, 15W, non-vPro)
- Ubuntu 18.04 LTS preloaded
- InfinityEdge display with camera placement at the top
- Greater ease of opening
- Support for FHD and UHD resolution
- Up to 16GB LPDDR3 memory at 2133MHz
- 1 x NVMe slot for 2230-128GB / 2280 up to 2TB
- Thunderbolt 3 (x2) with USB3.1 Gen2 + type-C x1 with speed USB3.1 Gen2
- Improved Thunderbolt runtime power management
- Killer 1435 802.11ac [2 × 2] + Bluetooth 4.2
Fortunately, the release of the Dell XPS 13 (9380) Developer Edition is not only a US matter. It is also available online for those in Canada and Europe. Regarding Europe, Dell has announced the following list of countries. For some reason, in the United Kingdom they still cannot purchase it from the online store, only via chat.
Austria
Belgium (Dutch and French)
Switzerland (German and French)
Germany
Denmark
Spain
France
Ireland
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
United Kingdom
