Dell announced today that it will be introducing a 10-inch Windows 7 tablet specifically designed for the corporate world later this year. The company also plans to launch 10-inch Android OS tablets in the near future.
The Windows tablet is called the XT3 and is part tablet, part PC. It features a keyboard and swivel screen that can fold to convert into a tablet. Tablets have largely been unable to infiltrate business environments, and Dell is attempting to do just this with the XT3. “A lot of our customers are asking us for a tablet-type device that better integrates with their enterprise systems and security systems,” Steve Lalla, general manager of Dell’s business client group told Reuters this morning.
Dell’s theory seems to be that by introducing a tablet running business-friendly Windows 7 OS, it will finally break the unspoken rule that tablets are consumption devices only. But Windows 7 tablets have struggled and many analysts reason the OS as is simply isn’t suited for the platform. It will face stiff competition from RIM’s PlayBook tablet that’s set to debut this spring.
Full specs haven’t been release yet, but Dell did confirm the tablet will run the Intel Core second-gen CPU. The XT3 is part of Dell’s new Latitude E6000 rugged laptop series.
This isn’t Dell’s first go at tablets, it previously released the Streak 5 and Streak 7, which are respectively 5- and 7-inch Android-based tablets. But the manufacturer apparently feels ready to bridge the gap between work and play with the upcoming Windows 7 based tablets, which is expected to hit the market mid year.
Really? Is anyone even ASKING for this? There is a tablet market I know. I have one. I love my iPad. But I’d never use one of these Android/Windows tablets. Hell, I have yet to SEE anyone carrying one, much less using one.
Definitely will face competition from Blackberry's Playbook, since RIM dominates the enterprise space. I think HP will probably give Dell a run for its money, too, since they have the negotiating power with retailers and corporate buyers to require an upfront or minimum buy. Given Dell's reputation for value-pricing, the XT3 will probably satisfy IT manager's "total cost of ownership" criteria, but what remains to be seen is the mobile or wireless capabilities on this thing… ever since Ron Garriques left (whom Dell hired from Motorola), it seems like Dell tried and failed to bring many mobile gadgets to market.
Really? Is anyone even ASKING for this? There is a tablet market I know. I have one. I love my iPad. But I’d never use one of these Android/Windows tablets. Hell, I have yet to SEE anyone carrying one, much less using one.
Bah Ha Ha!!! Bigger is BETTER!
The now-a-days, ever-present, pick up the pieces left behind from Balmer's shorts overflowing into the streets, Dell blasts another ABSOLUTE ZERO FAIL.
W7, in all it's incarnations is a piece of JUNK. WHY? BECAUSE IT'S WINDOWS. It's software built for PC's and the masses-of-asses that have and use them from their Windows-induced stupor. BUT, never fear…. there is about to be ANOTHER W7 implementer in the mix… Nokia-soft !!! If you've got even 33 brain cells left working, you'll run as far away from ANYTHING that even resembles ANYTHING windows or just remember that we did mention it.
It looks great. i may pick one up. the only thing is.. how portable are these tablets now? 10inches seems like alot to carry around. what they really need to invent is some kind of 10inch device that can be folded or collapses so you can carry it around in your pocket while not using it.