Dell XPS 13 and MacBook Air
By Ogunleye George
Linux-based operating system has proven to be more reliable and rugged for day-to-day activity especially security purposes, when placed at par with other operating system.
The Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution with the defining component - Linux kernel is generally seen by hackers as tough to crack.
Unlike Windows, Linux is believed to be a safer OS because the kernel core has an in-built firewall. It is programmed to disallow self-propagation by certain programs, thus virus, worms and its likes can’t attach themselves to programs and spread through the system.
System processes are difficult to hide from the Linux system’s process table and it will require one to be root (Users are not administrators, and administrators are not root) to be able to do any serious damage to system.
The modular nature of the OS makes it possible for most components to run independently, whereas Windows has a large set of interdependent services for the software to run, this renders Windows vulnerable.
Installing programs on Windows is with ease and this is the easiest avenue through which malware and its likes gets to infect the system, this is not so for Linux as programs can be installed for package manager instead of downloading stuff from sketchy websites or unverified sources.
Dell with the released of XPS 13 Ultrabook has further expanded the drive to make Linux-based operating system a platform for the simple computer users and also easing the plight of developers who seek to work on the move with a more flexible computing device.
The innovative device is razor-thin measuring 0.24-0.71inches and weighing about 1.36kg. It is built from aluminum and carbon fiber thus making it tough and can be carried effortlessly for mobile/travel activities.
The 13.3-inch display fits into the compact body of a single block of aluminum which provides strength to the 1366 x 768-pixel resolution screen. It is engineered to be extremely durable with the edge-to-edge bonded Corning Gorilla Glass, typically used for making the scratch resistive screen of most tablet computers.
The processing platform is geared by Intel’s rapid start technology and Smart connect Technology, which allows the computer applications that requires real time updates (e.g. email, work contacts, favorite apps and social networks like twitter, Facebook) to keep receiving data even when your PC is asleep.
Rapid Start simply hibernates to NAND (flash memory), which allows the notebook to resume from a zero-power of the hibernating state in 5-6 seconds once the lid is opened, thus the system can go from sleep mode to checking email, surfing the web and listening to music in seconds.
Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook is equipped with 6-cell battery, 4GB memory, Intel HD 3000 graphics, Intel Core i5-2467M, and 128GB SSD; designed to save power and time on the 6-cell battery that gives it about 9 hours active work time on single charge.
Unfortunately, Dell didn’t include an SD Card slot, which is a pretty big omission. The full-size backlit keyboard illuminates in low-light; the glass touchpad could be used for navigation such as scrolling, zoom, drag and drop with an intuitive gesture control.
XPS 13, with its superslim aluminum and carbon fiber design crammed around 13-inch screen is 15 percent smaller than the MacBook Air, it could be a priced alternative coupled with that fact that both share an OS based that is rarely mal by virus infections and its likes.