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Dell preps 10.8-inch Windows 8 tablet, says report

Dell's Windows 8 tablet reportedly packs PC-like features: a 128GB SSD and 2GB of memory.

Brooke Crothers Former CNET contributor
Brooke Crothers writes about mobile computer systems, including laptops, tablets, smartphones: how they define the computing experience and the hardware that makes them tick. He has served as an editor at large at CNET News and a contributing reporter to The New York Times' Bits and Technology sections. His interest in things small began when living in Tokyo in a very small apartment for a very long time.
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Brooke Crothers
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One of Dell's current 10-inch Windows 7-based Latitude business tablets. The 10.8-inch Windows 8-based 'Dell Latitude 10' also appears aimed at business customers.
One of Dell's current 10-inch Windows 7-based Latitude business tablets. The 10.8-inch Windows 8-based 'Dell Latitude 10' also appears aimed at business customers. Dell

Dell's upcoming Windows 8 tablet will break the 10.1-screen-size mold, spanning a roomy 10.8 inches, according to a report. And it's targeted at business -- a market that Microsoft and its coterie of Windows device makers know well.

The "Dell Latitude 10," as reported by Neowin, has some brawny PC-like specs, including a 128GB solid-state drive and up to 2GB of memory -- which, by the way, is what Dell currently offers on its 10.1-inch Latitude ST, also targeted at corporate "enterprise" customers.

A source familiar with upcoming Windows 8 tablets and hybrids told CNET today that the Dell Latitude 10 cited by Neowin "seemed very accurate" and added that Dell is also coming out with a Windows 8 hybrid laptop-tablet aimed at consumers. (See Dell's Inspiron Duo for reference.)

(Update: Dell XPS 12 convertible is also coming in late 2012.)

But getting back to the Windows 8 Latitude tablet. Here are some salient specs, as reported by Neowin:

  • OS: Full Windows 8 operating system running on Intel.
  • Display: 10.8-inches, 1,366x768, capacitive, multi touch with optional stylus.
  • Processor: Intel dual-core "Clover Trail" Atom processor.
  • Memory: up to 2GB.
  • Storage: up to 128GB solid-state drive.
  • Battery: swappable 2 cell/4 cell 30/60 WHr.
  • Cameras: dual cameras, 2.0MP front, 8.0MP rear.
  • Weight: 1.57 pounds/710g.
  • Thickness: 0.4 inches/10.5mm.

In case you didn't notice, a nice feature is the removable battery. "We are hearing that the smaller battery will get 6-8 hrs of battery life and the larger battery will get 10-12 hours," Neowin said.

Michael Dell had a lot to say on Tuesday, during the company's earnings conference call, about tablets, hybrids, and ultrabooks for the Windows 8 launch later this year.

"We're totally lined up with Windows 8. You'll see us introduce tablets," Dell said.

But touch-based devices won't be cheap and business-oriented products like the Latitude tablet may be too pricey for most consumers to stomach.

"But what I can tell you is that we think that the touch-screen products will certainly cost more. They're more in the price points and price bands that we tend to operate in," Dell said.

Updated on May 25 at 12:40 a.m. PDT: adding Dell XPS 12 convertible discussion.

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