Enterprise heavyweight Dell has thrown its weight behind Windows 8, launching a range of devices including a 10.1in tablet and touch screen All-in-One.
Key specifications of the Latitude 10 tablet include a 10.1in IPS (1366 x 768) LED Corning Gorilla Glass display. The device will support the full version of Windows 8 and legacy apps, thanks to the Intel Atom Clover Trail dual-core processor, and will feature 2GB of RAM.
The tablet will be available with 16, 32 or 64GB of storage, with 3G also an option for those who want internet access on the move. An important design feature will be the ability to replace the battery.
Dell will offer 2-cell and 4-cell power packs. The device has a claimed battery life of up to 18 hours, Adam Griffin, product manager at Dell told IT Pro.
Dell is confident that customers will deploy Windows 8 tablets, despite many businesses still yet to upgrade from Windows XP.
PJ Dwyer, executive director of end user computing at Dell, told IT Pro that enterprises came to Dell asking for tablets running on Windows 8.
"Customers have been asking us to make a Latitude tablet and we have worked closely with them to research their needs," he said.
"The Latitude 10 Windows 8 tablet will be differentiated from competing devices as Dell will include management, security and configurability options associated with other business class products."
Dwyer added that the latest 14in Latitude Ultrabook will cater to the needs of power users who want to create content on the move.
Although they will ship with the latest Intel Core Ivy Bridge processor, vPro technology and Windows 8, they will lack the touch screen interface. So it will be interesting to see how popular those devices are.
The 23in OptiPlex 9010, meanwhile, will boast a 23in touch screen, support up to 1TB of storage, up to 16GB of RAM and be powered by a choice of Intel's 3rd Generation Core i3 and i7 processors. The device will be best suited for use at kiosks, POS terminals, but can be used as a desktop.
Pricing and availability of all device are to be confirmed. Stay tuned for hands-on and video demos.
