Dell Takes Aim at the MacBook Neo, Releases $599 XPS 13 Laptop - CNET

Our gifting experts are obsessively searching for holiday gifts that are unique, thoughtful and suitable for any budget. Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. It looks like it'll be a hit for students. The Dell XPS 13 starts at $599 for students. Apple reset the budget laptop market earlier this year when it debuted the MacBook Neo, a machine with a design superior to anything near its price of $599 and enough performance for most students. It was only a matter of time before Windows laptop-makers responded, and Dell has answered with the XPS 13. The XPS is Dell’s premium brand, but it’s built an entry-level XPS 13 model for students that gets it close to what they’d pay for a Neo. The XPS 13 follows on the heels of Dell relaunching its XPS line with the XPS 14 and XPS 16. The XPS 13 is available now, starting at $699, and students can buy it for $599. That’s $100 more than the baseline Neo that costs $499 with Apple’s education discount, but the XPS 13 has a few advantages over the Neo. You can’t take on a MacBook without delivering a sleek, all-metal