Dell previews ultra-thin Adamo laptop design

Hoping to generate some buzz around its Adamo laptops, Dell showed off an ultra-thin design that could heat up the race between PC makers trying to build the world's thinnest laptop.

Dell put up a Web page Wednesday showing an Adamo that measures just 0.4 inches at its thinnest point. That's almost half as thick as the current Adamo 13, which measured 0.65 inches at its thinnest point.

Dell insisted on calling the product a “design concept,” however, and it wasn't immediately clear if Dell will actually release a laptop that thin. It said specifications and further details would come at a later date.

The XPS brand is used by Dell for its mid-range consumer laptops and desktops. Dell intends to push the Adamo brand across a range of luxury products, the company has said.

If the device is released it could give Dell a leg up on Apple, whose MacBook Air measures 0.76 inches at its thinnest point. Apple first showed the MacBook Air in 2008, calling it “the world's thinnest laptop.” Dell launched Adamo in March this year, drawing comparisons with the Air on size and features. Both laptops come with screens around 13 inches and weigh 3 to 4 pounds.

Dell used a similar teasing tactic earlier this year when it put up a Web site to drum up interest in the Adamo 13. Prior to that it had trouble keeping development of the product under wraps. Rumors circulated late last year that Dell was building a laptop to rival the MacBook Air.

The rumor was confirmed when the laptop was shown at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. However, Dell did not reveal product specifications at the time, saying it was showing Adamo to end the speculation about whether it existed.