What would you get if you crossed February's Latitude XT2 multi-touch tablet with March's rugged Latitude E6400 XFR?
The answer is the Dell Latitude XT2 XFR - a 12.1in rugged multi-touch convertible tablet that Dell reckons is the smallest of its kind.
Launched today, the system features a 12.1in capacitive multi-touch display outdoor-viewable screen and a rugged shell that'll laugh in the face of harsh conditions.
Designed to be used in the field, the Latitude XT2 XFR is independently tested to meet military (MIL-STD-810F) and IP54 (Ingress Protection) standards. That essentially means it's resistant to rain, dust, dirt, vibration, extreme temperatures and drops from up to 3ft.
In addition to being built like an Ox, the system sports some pretty decent internal components. At its heart is a 1.6GHz ultra-low-voltage Intel Core 2 Duo SU9600 processor, up to 5GB of DDR3 memory, a choice of solid-state drives, integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics and Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system. Connectivity options come in the form of Gigabit Ethernet, Wireless N, HSDPA and Bluetooth. There's even a fingerprint reader and a built-in webcam, as well as the option for a backlit rubber-sealed keyboard.
Prices start at over $3,000 in the U.S., but there's no mention of UK availability just yet. Whilst we await a UK launch, here's a Dell-provided video of a Latitude XT2 XFR system being tested. If you do decide to buy one, this should give you some ideas on what to do with it:
