Dell have released a new range of laptop case covers for their Mini Inspiron and Studio laptops meaning there's a total of 130 new cases to choose adding to the over 200 already available. Dell Studios are media-centric laptops with a focus on design and good graphics rendering and the customisable case is part of making them stand out a bit.

I'm all in favour of case-customisation, BUT this Dell announcement has got slightly on my nerves, largely because of the advertising. So basically there's a range of covers in nail lacquer colours designed by nail varnish company OPI. Dell doesn't explicity state that is for the laydeez, but I kind of get the impression that it is. You know how those girls like to paint their nails? surely they'll want their laptops to look like giant nails.

"Get a polished look with a new collection of covers inspired by renowned nail lacquer experts, OPI. With colours like "I'm Not Really a Waitress," "Big Apple Red," "Strawberry Margarita," "Rosy Future" and "Kyoto Pearl," OPI deliver supreme style, with 26 glossy OPI shades available exclusively on Dell consumer laptops."

You know, I don't even mind glossy pastel colours - it could look nice, but I do resent the marketing association. There. I've said it.

The other range suggests that sports fans (maybe boys ??!) will want to get their laptops done out in the colours of their national football team as part of their Anthem case series out in time for the World Cup.

Anyway, I suppose it is at least a step that they haven't explictly spelt out the girl/boy divide - um.

Then there's a third genderless range for people who care about world health issues and want to donate money to the African AIDs crisis. Or perhaps just don't want their laptop looking ireedeemably chavvy. There are eight designs in this category, I quite like this one:

See Dell.co.uk for offers on their Studio and Mini Inspiron laptops

Dell has learnt one thing from Apple at least - keeping a bit of mystique going. Dell's slim shiny new slate computer was launched at CES but kept tantalisingly out of the hands of reviewers. So what we know is: it has a 5 inch screen, it runs on Google Android and it looks a bit like a giant iPhone. Intrigued? Well we sort of are.

It's a bit smaller than the HP slate revealed by Microsoft yesterday, though Dell say they're testing the product in a range of different sizes. The PC company have been pushing into the mobile market recently designing a smartphone, the Mini 3.

Apparently it has a SIM slot which suggests it would run off a phone network contract. It comes in red too, according to a quick photoshoot with Engadget (pic below). It's slim apparently, which makes up for the oversized phone feel, but the rest is shrouded in Applesque mystery.

Dell has introduced multi-touch computer screens to its consumer ranges, bringing the touchscreen experience to Inspirons and Studios. Desktop computer the Inspiron One 19 and laptop the Studio 17 both feature the new technology and will run Windows 7 which natively operates with multi-touch.

It means you'll be stroking and tapping your computer on its Screen. What's this sort of up-close and personal technology good for? Well Dell has a few suggestions: "the multi-touch software enables you do anything, from using finger gestures to paint and draw onscreen and crop photos, to flicking songs in to playlists or creating slideshows - all without the need for a keyboard."

It sounds intuitive and fun.

Of course if you want to do anything involving a word document or an email then the keyboard is still going to be pretty important. The Studio laptop of course comes with one. Buy a plug-in one for the desktop.

Simplicity is the ethos behind the Inspiron 19 desktop - it only requires one wire and has a kickback stand giving it smooth contours and a small desk footprint.

The Studio looks the same as the rest of the range but the touchscreen should massively increase how interactive the user's experience is.

We really look forward to getting our hands on these screens... (literally. HAha. sorry.)

The Inspiron One 19 is already available for sale for According to CNet, the Studio 17 should launch in the UK before the end of the year. We expect that means pretty darn soon. The American version costs $899 so we expect the price will be around £550.

Inspiron One 19 on Dell

Dell's strikingly slender Adamo XPS laptop is going exclusively to John Lewis this Christmas. Though it might be better known for homeware and hampers, John Lewis has a strong line in consumer electronics and snagging the sexy Adamo is a coup for the department store.

Adamo has always been Dell's haute design offering and the latest version of it, the XPS has a beautiful split back which hinges out into an elegant balancing position, lifting the whole computer off the desk and into a tilted open position.

It's also the thinnest laptop on the market - at 9.9mm thick, the whole computer is the size of a magazine and actually slenderer than some phones. I had a play around with an XPS last month and was pretty wowed by the looks, feel and the innovative hinge.

John Lewis are also stocking other key Dell products - the Studio 15, the Inspiron 14z and 15 laptops and the candy-coloured Inspiron Mini 10 netbooks.

More information on the Adamo XPS from Dell here.

The Adamo XPS will be selling for £1,750, it's already available in select John Lewis stores and will be available on www.johnlewis.com as of tomorrow.