$2,500 anyone?
Just the other day we advised that Dell would be announcing its forthcoming tablet PC and not a moment too soon, the announcement has been made.
Via its official Direct2Dell blog, Digital Media Manager Lionel Menchacha has confirmed the specification that we already knew and stamped it with a hefty $2,499 starting price. We had hoped the Dell tablet PC would help bring the tablet market forward a step or two but by introducing the Latitude XT at such a high price point, one has to wonder.
As expected, an uproar in regards to the pricing has ensued on the Direct2Dell blog with one reader posting a delicately worded question to Dell; "Are you guys smoking crack?"
One item missing from today's announcement is a firm release date. Mr Menchacha did confirm that "We will begin taking orders and shipping the product by the end of the year", that gives Dell another 20 days at most to get the Latitude XT ready to ship.
The now official specification in case you missed it earlier is as follows:
Processors:
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Intel Core 2 Solo ULV processor U2100 (1.06GHz) or
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Intel Core 2 Duo ULV processor U7600 (1.20GHz)
12.1" WXGA (1280 x 800) display:
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Optional LED-backlit display
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LCD Outdoor viewing display for increased brightness in outdoor use
Graphics: Integrated ATI Radeon X1250 UMA adapter
Memory:
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All configurations include 1GB of integrated 533MHz memory
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optional 2GB or 3GB configurations available
Power/Battery Options:
- 4-cell 28W/Hr Li-Ion primary or secondary
- 6-cell 42W/Hr Li-Ion primary or secondary
- 45W/Hr Li-Ion High Capacity Battery Slice
- 45W (small form factor), 65W, Combo Auto/Air (90W test only)
- 3-foot power cord standard, 6-foot optional
Hard Drive Options:
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40GB 1.8" 4200RPM hard drive
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80GB 1.8" 4200RPM hard drive
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120GB 1.8" 5400RPM hard drive
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32 or 64GB Solid State Disk (SSD) drives
Input Devices:
- Finger Touch - Capacitive Touch Screen
- Pen - EM Digitizer
- Eraser functionality actuated via side switch
- Optional tether
- Interaction with display controlled by three different replaceable "tips" for user-selectable writing experiences
- Full-size keyboard / full Latitude localization
- Dual-pointing; rubber domes with leveling rods
- Scroll Wheel with enter and back functionality (on display / slate)
Operating Systems:
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Windows Vista Business (32-bit or 64-bit)
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Windows Vista Ultimate (32-bit)
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Windows XP Tablet Edition 2005
Connectivity Options:
- Dell Wireless 1390 (802.11g)
- Dell Wireless 1490 (802.11a/g)
- Dell Wireless 1505 (802.11a/g/ Draft n)
- Dell Wireless 360 Bluetooth Module
- Dell Verizon Wireless 5720 Mobile Broadband3 (EV-DO Rev A)
- Dell Wireless 5720 Sprint Mobile Broadband3 (EV-DO Rev A)
- Dell Wireless 5720 Telus Mobile Broadband3 (EV-DO)
The Direct2Dell blog will be providing a 10 minute video walkthrough of the Latitude XT tomorrow and we look forward to seeing it try to justify the price tag.
