The Dell's proximity sensor and the "go dark" button are the only other nods to a "walk up" usage model that we've seen since HP's touch-screen-enabled TouchSmart all-in-one debuted this past January. The Dell has no touch screen, and its display offers only about 30 degrees of front and back adjustability; there's no extra height adjustment like the HP. In general, the XPS One isn't meant for you to be able to drive everything on it while standing up, but we appreciate that it invites at least some kind of casual interactivity.
For other typical all-in-one features, you get the obligatory wireless mouse and keyboard. The keyboard even has a touchpad, although if you're driving the XPS One from a distance, you're probably more likely to use the included remote control. It also comes with an integrated Webcam above the LCD, as well as an integrated media card reader, and an only-adequate set of built-in speakers.
The XPS One also shares a lack of internal upgradability with the iMac. Both Sony and Gateway (and to a lesser extent HP) offer basic upgrade paths for their all-in-ones this year, with removable back panels and spare hard-drive slots. We don't miss the upgradability too much here. What we do miss is the external expansion ports on the power brick like you'll find on the Gateway One. The XPS has a cable wrangle built into the base of the system, so it at least lets you gather any peripheral cables neatly, but we favor Gateway's approach that lets you keep the cables off of your desktop entirely.
As it did with its new XPS 420 desktop, Dell again closes the gap with Apple on this system with its software. Argue about Vista vs. the new Leopard OS all you want, but we're referring to Adobe's Elements Studio suite that competes strongly against Apple's iLife 08 software. No other PC vendor offers an answer to iLife, and this remains a selling point for Dell. You also get a handful of the usual nonsense links, including ads for various Dell services. Fortunately, shortcuts are easily deleted.
One link we'd keep, though, is Dell's Support Center 2.0 software. It's not as good as HP's TotalCare application, because Dell's version links out to Dell.com to answer various support questions, rather than hosting them locally on your PC. At least it provides basic system information in an easy-to-understand presentation, which is welcome. We're also glad to see Dell continue to treat its XPS customers well by offering two years of parts and labor coverage as the standard warrant for the XPS One. The 24-7 phone support and year of onsite service don't hurt, either.
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System configurations:
Apple iMac
Apple OS X; 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7700; 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM; 256MB ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro graphics chip; 320GB 7,200rpm hard drive;
Dell XPS One
Windows Vista Home Premium; 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E6550; 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM; 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2400 graphics chip; 500GB 7,200 rpm hard drive
Gateway One
Windows Vista Home Premium; 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7250; 3GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM; 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600 XT graphics chip; 500GB 7,200 rpm hard drive
HP Pavilion Slimline s3200t
Windows Vista Home Premium; 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E4500; 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 8500 GT; 500GB 7,200 rpm Samsung hard drive
Sony VAIO LT19U
Windows Vista Ultimate; 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500; 2GB DDR2 SDRAM; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 8400 GT graphics card; 500GB Seagate 7,200 rpm hard drive
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