Dell reveals Lattitude XT tablet notebook

Dell has decided to enter the realm of tablet PCs saying “businesses are ready to consider more flexible types of computers for employees.”  Or maybe tablet notebooks are just cool, either way the first tablet notebook from Dell will be the Lattitude XT series.

The Lattitude and Vostro are Dell’s business line of computers with the Inspiron and XPS lines being the standard consumer line.

Dell’s Lattitude XT features a 12.1 inch touchscreen display sensitive to either finger or stylus input and has modes for use indoor and under daylight.

Information Week says Dell’s the decision to release a tablet notebook was Generation-Y entering the work place who are used to using computers in different ways with different kinds of input methods because of PDAs, MP3 players and mobile phones.

It is available with either Windows Vista or XP, Dell recommends it is equipped with XP because Vista is better able to handle a touchscreen environment.  Vista Basic will not be offered on this model since that version lacks the tablet PC input methods.

Standard features include 1GB of memory, a 1.06GHz Core 2 Solo ULV (ultra low voltage) U2100 processor, a 40GB hard drive, Wi-Fi connectivity and is available with a 9 hour battery.  It’s unlikely many individuals or business will adopt the XT because of the $2,500 price tag and things only go up from there.

A nice Vostro or Inspiron laptop can be had for $1,400 or less and unless a touchscreen is really important to you then it might be best to go with one of those models.

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