Within twenty-four hours of each other, two major OEMs announced new Tablet PCs: Toshiba Portege M700 and Dell Latitude XT. Interestingly, these two Tablet PCs are at opposite ends of the spectrum, with the Toshiba offering high performance and the Latitude XT being ultra-low voltage delivering long battery life. It’s great to see such diversity in the market!
The Toshiba Portege M700 is available in two prebuilt configurations, as well as build-to-order or “customizable” where you can select up to an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.6GHz processor, 4GB of system memory, and up to a 160GB hard drive. People looking for performance mobile PC should be happy, particularly college students looking to get every ounce of power out of it for science classes and movies 🙂
Preconfigured Portege M700-S7002 $1799
- 12.1″ widescreen XGA display (1280×800)
- Dual mode digitizer with active and resistive (touch) capabilities
- Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7500 (2.2GHz) with 800MHz FSB
- Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator x3100
- 2GB of system memory
- 160GB hard drive, 5400 RPM
- DVD Super-Multi drive (+/-R double layer)
- 802.11 a/g/n
- Intel 10/100/1000 ethernet
- Bluetooth v 2.0
- Webcamera & mic
- Stereo speakers
- Fingerprint reader
- About 4.6lbs
- and more
While Dell has been selling Motion Computing’s slate form factor Tablet PCs for a few years, the Dell Latitude XT Tablet is Dell’s first own-brand Tablet PC. Dell designed the Latitude XT from the ground up and it is clear that they focused on ultra-portability. Highly mobile field sales, healthcare, education, and enterprise business users will appreciate the long primary battery life, extended battery option, and light weight.
Direct2Dell.com details the two models for the Latitude XT:
- 12.1″ widescreen display (1280×800 resolution)
- 2 display options: outdoor viewable CCFL at 400 nits or
- Active and capacitive (touch) digitizer
- Intel Core 2 Solo ULV processor
- Integrated ATI Radeon x1250 graphics adapter
- Up to 3GB of system memory
- 40/ 80/ 120GB standard hard drive option or 32 / 64GB SSD
- 802.11 a/g/n available
- EVDO option
- 3.57lbs
- Pricing starts at $2499
LED backlight at 200 nits
News articles about these products:
GottaBeMobile on the Dell: “It’s hallmark feature is N-Trig’s DuoSense capacitive touch technology, allowing for much finer touch controls, and supporting the active digitizer pen.”
GottaBeMobile on the Toshiba: “Combining what looks like features of the M400 and the R400, with an Intel Core Duo T7500 processor running at 2.2GHz, Toshiba looks to be aiming at those that what a little more power in their Tablet PCs.”
TabletPc2.com: “While Dell could have used one of its standard notebooks and just added the Tablet PC features, instead they thoughtfully designed a Tablet PC from the ground up. The Latitude XT is an ultra-thin, ultra-light, fully functional PC.”
TabletPCReview: “The XT looks like a solid tablet and as soon as we get our review unit in the next few weeks, we will bring you our full hands-on review. ”
G4 TV on Toshiba: “This new Toshiba Protege features a touchscreen, which does not require a stylus to manipulate.”
PC World: “Dell says prices will start at an expensive-sounding $2499, but good touchscreen digitizer technology doesn’t ever come cheap.” and “You may have seen a prototype demo video of a multi-touch display which draws similarities to the Apple iPhone, but Dell has confirmed that it is launching this tablet as a single-touch display only.” (Source)
ZDNet Larry Dignan: “So what will Dell do to get the rest of us interested in the Windows-based tablet PC. Margaret Franco, product marketing director Latitude line of business, at Dell laid out a few core themes as it tries to take on HP and Lenovo in the tablet market.” [Note: Windows XP Tablet PC Edition was launched 5 years ago, not 6.]
DailyTech: “All of the Latitude XT’s Tablet PC goodness comes at a price — the system features a base price of $2,499. Dell is currently taking orders for the system and the first shipments will commence before year’s end.”
Engadget: “We spent a few minutes with the brand new Dell Latitude XT and we have to say, as far as tablets (and especially Dells) go, this thing is top-tier.”
Statesman: “Like other convertible tablets, the XT works both with a keyboard and, after folding the keyboard under the screen, with a pen-like stylus. But unlike other convertibles, Dell said, the XT features a new technology that also allows people to use it like a touch-screen device — without the computer confusing the stylus and the user’s hand.”
CrunchGear: “Toshiba has two new tablet notebooks up for sale starting today. Both belonging to the Portégé M700 series, they are the ‘company’s first Tablet PC to incorporate a touch screen LED backlit display.'”
InfoWorld: “Toshiba launched its first tablet PCs with LED screens on Monday, taking some thunder away from Dell, which later in the day is expected to launch Latitude XT, its convertible PC with an LED screen.”
Laptop Magazing: “Aimed at mobile professionals and students who’d prefer pen or finger input over a traditional keyboard, the M700 features a 12.1-inch (1280 x 800-pixel resolution) display with anti-glare coating, which increases the tablet’s viewing range both indoors and outdoors.”