Yesterday, Dell unveiled its 14-inch XPS 14z “Less Than an Inch Thin” notebook with an optical drive.

The new Dell XPS 14z is the thinnest fully featured 14-inch notebook with an internal optical drive and discrete graphics option. The XPS 14z delivers a powerful performance and stylish design. The notebook comes in anodized aluminum and magnesium alloy chassis with a palmrest in dark gray.

It is powered by Intel’s second-generation Core i5/ i7 processors, a 14-inch HD WLED display, a slot-load optical drive and NVIDIA graphics option. The XPS has a compact design – measures less than an inch thin and with a 14-inch HD display “Borders on Borderless” fitted into a 13-inch laptop form factor (offering 10 percent more viewing area than a 13.3-inch display).

The new Dell XPS 14z weighs just 4.36 pounds, it is less than an inch thin, and has a battery life of up to six hours and 42 minutes. The notebook runs Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium. 

The Dell XPS laptops also come with Dell Stage UI, a one-click access to favorite content, including music, photos and video. SyncUP (by Nero) keeps content and personal information synched with other Stage-enabled Dell PCs and mobile devices within a home WiFi network. 

“The XPS 14z delivers what professionals want – raw power paired with a stunning, sophisticated design that signals ‘I’ve arrived’,” said Steve Felice, president of Dell’s Consumer and Small/Medium Business group. “The XPS 14z is specifically engineered to help our customers do more in their personal and professional lives – and it advances our industry-leading vision for thin-and-powerful solutions that deliver performance without compromise.” 

“When Dell looks at innovation and product development, we start with the customer. For us, it’s about delivering the right feature-set and design to provide the best user experience for our customers,” said Sam Burd, vice president of Dell’s Consumer and Small/Medium Business product group. “With the XPS 14z, our challenge was to build a laptop that provided customers the performance and portability that they need, with the design and finish they desire.” 

Dell XPS 14z specs

• OS   Windows 7 Home Premium
• CPU   Intel Core i5/ i7 Dual Core processor
• Display  14-inch (1366×768)  HD (720p) WLED with TrueLife and edge-to-edge glass
• Graphics  NVIDIA GeForce GT 520M with 1GB VRAM (with NVIDIA Optimus technology)
• RAM  6GB/ 8GB dual channel DDR3 1333Mhz (8GB max)
• HDD   500GB/ 750GB (7200rpm)/ 256GB SSD storage option
• Optical   built-in Slot load DVD +/- RW
• Keyboard   Chiclet, Backlit, spill-resistant
• Wireless   Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6230 802.11a/g/n, Bluetooth V3.0
• WiDi    Intel Wireless Display-ready
• Battery life   up to 6 hours, 42 minutes (8-cell battery)
• Ports  USB 3.0 x 1, USB 2.0 x 1, HDMI 1.4 x 1, RJ-45 x 1, Mini Display-Port, microphone/ audio
• Camera  1.3MP HD Webcam with dual array digital microphones
• Software   Next-gen Dell Stage
• Dimensions   0.9” (23mm) x 13.19” (335mm) x 9.21” (234mm
• Weight      from 4.36 lbs (1.98 kg)

Customers can experience a wide range of Dell products at the Barton Creek Mall in Austin, Texas and the Orland Mall in Chicago, Ill. Other Dell.com@ locations will open across the U.S. in early November.

Dell will host CreateWorkInspire (a creative installation) and will showcase Dell’s new thin-and-powerful suite of products within the context of a creative professional’s real, functional workspace, November 2^nd – 4^th  in New York’s Soho’s Open House Gallery. 

The Dell XPS 14z notebook will be available  from November 1^st in the US and Canada, priced from $999 USD/ CAD (www.Dell.com) and in select retail stores nationwide, and worldwide from November 15^th, 2011.