10/27, 10:05am
Dell intros first multi-touch rugged tablet
After only a brief tease, Dell today formally unveiled the Latitude XT2 XFR. It's characterized as the first rugged convertible tablet to use capacitive multi-touch and is seen as ideal for use outdoors or at work where natural gestures, such as pinching to zoom into a map or flicking to scroll through a page, are more preferable to a pen. It nonetheless still works with a stylus and has a more outdoor-ready display that's more readily viewable in broad daylight.
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10/23, 8:30am
Dell Latitude XT2 XFR surfaces with 3G
An FCC filing (PDF) from Novatel has revealed that Dell plans to apply its rugged XFR badge to a tablet PC for the first time. Titled the Latitude XT2 XFR, it would take the company's familiar 12-inch XT2 convertible tablet but harden the system for use outdoors or in more dangerous workplaces: the body would have extra shock-absorbing protection, particularly at the corners and the hinge. It would also have protected ports to guard against dust or water.
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10/05, 6:35pm
Sony VAIO X may be ready in November
Sony's VAIO X ultralight could be ready next month and have a second notebook follow along if a rumor tonight proves true. The 1.5-pound notebook would ship in November, according to CrunchGear, and would be a direct replacement for the VAIO TT. A strategy of the sort implies it will use a low-voltage Core 2 Duo, which would support Sony's claims of extra-long battery life.
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10/02, 8:00am
Sony preps strong wireless power
Sony finished the week with word of one of the first wireless power systems that could supply significant amounts of energy. The approach uses a magnetic resonance technique that has the device operating on a frequency receptive to that of the energy itself. In doing so, the current form of the invention can supply up to 60W of power over about 19.7 inches, or enough to power many notebook computers and some smaller TVs.
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09/29, 8:45am
Dell Latitude Z official
Dell today unveiled a new flagship business notebook that should mark a number of firsts not just for itself but for the industry. The Latitude Z is the thinnest and lightest mid-size notebook to date at just 0.57 inches deep and 4.4 pounds despite its 16-inch display, courtesy of its use of ULV Core 2 Duo processors. However, it's also one of the first that can charge wirelessly: an inductive charging plate in the notebook bottom can power the system as quickly through contact with an optional charging stand as quickly as the optional AC adapter, Dell claims.
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09/18, 5:25pm
Dell Latitude Z to get wireless charging?
A recent soft Forbes article on Dell reveals that the PC maker will soon release a high-end notebook PC, the Latitude Z, that may have wireless charging capabilities. The flagship model, which was spotted at the FCC recently and may be released on October 25th, is being compared to halo cars, such as GM's Corvette, to boost the brand image and bring interest to Dell's products and foot and Internet traffic to its stores and website.
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08/06, 5:30pm
Dell Latitude Z at FCC
Dell's designer Latitude Z has garnered support today courtesy of an FCC filing for the ultraportable's government tests. Beyond confirming the notebook's existence, the use of only 802.11g Wi-Fi implies the base model won't have faster 802.11n. A diagram of the design appears to support a removable "hump" that would have an Ethernet connection, likely other ports, and possibly an extended-capacity battery.
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07/23, 9:20am
Sony Touch VAIOs in Fall
Sony plans to launch VAIO portables with touchscreens as early as the fall, company senior VP Mike Abary said in an interview today. The electronics giant fully anticipates shipping "some" computers with touch features in the fall to coincide with the launch of Windows 7, which is due October 22nd and has much better hooks for touch interfaces than Vista. Specifics weren't mentioned to Laptop, but Abary explained these were more likely to draw on Windows 7's existing touch features rather than to have a customized interface.
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06/15, 11:55pm
Dell Latitude Z series
Alleged leaked images appear to show a yet-unannounced Dell Latitude Z-Series notebook, according to a forum post on NotebookReview. The pictures show a dark two-tone finish and a thin profile, along with Windows Vista and Intel Centrino stickers. The notebook appears to place the Ethernet port on an angled surface behind the display hinge.
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06/13, 5:05pm
Dell Adamo 13 Review
Dell has had a long history of ultraportables, but when Apple released the MacBook Air in early 2008, it underscored a wide gap in terms of design: while Latitudes have always been functional, they've rarely been alluring to home (or simply design-centric) users in the way the Air was. The Adamo 13 is Dell's attempt to rectify this with an ultra-slim profile and attention to quality. But is it a case of improving on what's come before or just a Latitude in better packaging? Our full Adamo 13 review hopes to settle this question once and for all.
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05/19, 8:15am
Dell Latitude 2100
Dell on Tuesday kicked off the launch of its first netbook meant for schools or business-oriented users. Unlike the Inspiron Minis, the Latitude 2100 is toughened against the rougher use likely in a class and has a sturdier chassis as well as a rubberized surface, including a unique texture on the lid that's deemed easier to grip. In a first for Dell and most non-tablet netbooks, the 2100 has the option of a touchscreen that can be used for very visual educational apps or just as a simpler alternative to the trackpad.
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03/27, 4:15pm
Dell Latitude 2100 Leak
A leak on Friday hints that Dell is producing netbooks under the Latitude name. Gizmodo understands that the systems will be known as the Latitude 2100 series and will have the same style as full-sized Latitudes. Like the HP Mini-Note, though, its focus would be on the educational market and would involve bright color schemes like "Red Apple" and "School Bus Orange." It may also add a touchscreen that hasn't been present on any previous Dell netbook.
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03/10, 7:20am
Dell Latitude E6400 XFR
Dell this morning put the finishing touch on its newer-wave pro notebooks by launching the Latitude E6400 XFR. The significant overhaul improves on the already rugged design of the earlier XFR system by switching to a newer material known as PR-481. By giving the notebook the material as its main shell, the company says the E6400 can take drops from up to four feet while turned off (three feet while on) and last longer in extreme cold or heat. A special sealing approach also gives it a IP-65 rating against dust and water.
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02/10, 8:25am
Dell Latitude XT2
(Updated with pricing) Dell as promised has launched the Latitude XT2 as the second-generation of its convertible tablet PC. The new version comes with multi-touch support out of the box and uses pinches, swipes and other gestures to zoom and scroll through apps that support the features, such as web browsers and photo viewers. It also continues to carry a second digitizer and will work with a bundled stylus for more precise control or for drawing.
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01/12, 10:20am
Microsoft Invests N-Trig
Israeli touchscreen maker N-Trig today revealed that it has received a total of $24 million in funding from a group of investors led by Microsoft. The American developer is the largest contributor and says its undisclosed amount is there to encourage the use of multi-touch technology with Windows 7, which is the first desktop Windows platform to be built with touchscreens in mind.
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12/18, 4:15pm
Dell Adamo Teaser
Dell may be in the midst of developing a new designer, ultralight notebook that would challenge Apple's MacBook Air, an investigation shows. A teaser for a product or product series known as Adamo has surfaced and has been accompanied by matching trademarks for computer hardware as well as early marketing material that infers an ultraportable notebook line competitive with the Apple system, which has a standard-sized screen but focuses on reduced thickness and weight.
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11/26, 4:20pm
N-trig applications expand
The N-trig multi-touch technology will remain confined to mobile PCs, as per N-trig's VP of Business Development, Lenny Engelhardt, according to a Tuesday CNET report. Currently, the N-trig interface is available in Dell's Latitude XT tablet PC and, more recently, the HP TouchSmart tx2 tablet, with the interfaces sporting some minor manufacturer-specific differences. N-trig uses a thin and transparent capacitive touch sensor with its circuitry located on either side of it.
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10/21, 4:45pm
Dell tablet PC problematic
Dell's multi-touch screen is still undergoing teething issues
According to an online report published on Monday. The N-Trig digitizer used in Dell's multi-touch Latitude XT Tablet PCs has issues that, nearly seven months since the products' launch, have not been resolved. According to users, some of the problems include errors that prevent the digitizer software from being found, making the tablet useless in auto and dual modes. While this problem goes away after a couple of reboots, many see it as frustrating and counter-productive. The report goes on to name an additional flaw that has the digitizer clicking items while the stylus is hovering when the tablet is exiting standby mode.
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10/15, 9:15am
MS Developing Instant On
Microsoft could be hoping to preempt the further spread of Linux into its territory by developing its own pre-boot interface, a survey sent by a reader to Engadget shows. Tentatively called just Instant On, the proposed feature would mimic the approach taken with Dell's Latitude Instant On or the Splashtop interface on some ASUS mainboards and notebooks by giving users basic web browsing, media playback, and messaging in a special interface that would start in less than eight seconds.
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10/02, 12:05pm
Fujitsu Multi-Touch 2009
Fujitsu senior product director Paul Moore in an interview published today revealed plans by his company to introduce multi-touch computers while simultaneously downplaying the significance of the technology. Following in the footsteps of an early development in Dell's Latitude XT, Fujitsu tells Wired it plans to release PCs in mid-2009 that accept multi-finger gestures but plans to limit these to fixed and convertible tablet PCs rather than extend them to all its notebooks.
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10/01, 8:10am
Apple May Ramp LEDs
Apple is once again scaling up its production of LED-backlit displays and the notebooks to match, if a production forecast today proves accurate. Kenmos, one of Apple's key suppliers of LED backlights, is said to be boosting its production from at most 80,000 notebook lights during the summer to 200,000 for the fall, returning to levels unseen since the start of 2008 and the launch of the MacBook Air as well as refreshed MacBook Pros.
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09/24, 3:00pm
Dell Portable Projector
Dell on Wednesday introduced the M109S ultra-portable projector, meant for use with laptops during on-the-go presentations. The product weighs less than a pound and but can still produce a widescreen 858x600 resolution. Maximum projection distance is 8 feet. In exchange, the brightness and contrast are low compared to some larger, more mainstream projectors at 55 lumens and 800:1 respectively. The largest image the small projector can throw up is 60 inches.
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09/16, 11:10am
Dell E4200 and E4300 Ship
Dell today at last began shipping the Latitude E4200 and E4300, its most anticipated but also most delayed notebooks from its notebook launch last month. The 12-inch E4200 is considered the MacBook Air's rival at just under 0.8 inches thick and a 2.2-pound starting weight. In its finished version, it carries a 1.2GHz ultra low-voltage Core 2 Duo, 1GB of memory, GMA 4500MHD integrated video and the user's choice of both regular and high-speed 64GB solid-state drives as well as a 128GB option.
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09/08, 2:55pm
HP 24h Battery Claim
HP today heated up competition against Dell by announcing a special trim level of the EliteBook 6930p that it believes sets a new record in battery life. Through new firmware and graphics drivers, an Ultra Capacity battery pack, an LED-backlit display and Intel's just-launched 80GB SSD, the 14-inch notebook can last for as much as 24 hours on one charge. The figure if accurate would beat Dell's claimed 19-hour record and would be enough to last an entire Newark-to-Singapore flight with extra power left.
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09/05, 11:20am
Dell Shuttering Factories
Dell is looking to sell off many of its self-run factories in a bid to remain competitive in the home market, sources have allegedly told the Wall Street Journal. The company currently assembles many of its PCs itself in factories around the world but is now considering offloading many of these in favor of contracting outside firms to do all its work. Many of the old plants would still produce Dell notebooks as part of the deal, though it's unclear whether these companies would be free to make other products at the plants.
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08/13, 3:15pm
Dell to End Separate XPS
Dell is phasing out its distinct XPS line in favor of its regular brands, the company has revealed today. While not explicitly saying it will discontinue the XPS label outright, the name will now be folded into the Inspiron and Studio systems as a high-end trim level. The stylized Studio line will effectively replace the XPS for most purposes, Dell's worldwide marketing chief Mark Jarvis says. The official doesn't provide a motivation other than to suggest the move is part of "brand consolidation" that trims the number of labels at Dell.
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08/12, 10:30pm
New Latitude keyboards
Dell company executives announced the re-design of keyboards for the new Latitude notebook. The new keyboards offer backlit keys, enhanced tactile feel, new key spacing and other features. The new Latitude project began two years ago with the engineers and designers first focused on developing a world-class keyboard. All aspects were considered and improved to offer better feel and usability.
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08/12, 5:00pm
Dell execs pump Latitude
Electronista on Tuesday had an opportunity to listen to Dell executives on camera following the PC maker's Latitude introduction that reveals the company's approach to targeting systems such as the MacBook Air. The firm says it isn't worried about the competition from Apple, Lenovo, or other rivals as the Latitude "brackets" these systems; the E4200 is smaller and lighter than the Air through its use of an ultra-low voltage Core 2 Duo processor, while the 13.3-inch E4300 uses a full-power Core 2 Duo and has an optical drive bay absent on these competitors.
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08/12, 4:35pm
Photos from Dell event
Dell today launched its all-new line of Latitude laptops, comprised of the 12-inch E4200, 13.3-inch E4300, 14-inch E6400, 15.4-inch E6500, as well as the 14-inch E5400 and 15-inch E5500. All of the business systems feature a new instant-boot function that allows users to access email the Internet without waiting for Windows to load. Likewise, all have wide-area wireless and a fingerprint scanner for security, with 3G, GPS and WiMAX optional extras. One of the highlight features of the new Latitudes is their claimed 19-hour battery life, which is unprecedented in the laptop world.
Check out our photo gallery from Tuesday's Dell Latitude introduction event, including photos of the new Precision models and their unannounced 17-inch model, after the break.
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08/12, 12:50pm
Dell Latitude 2008
Dell today launched the new Latitude line, ushering in a significant refresh of its business systems. The new models have a new streamlined design with the choice of multiple shell colors and take cues both from recent PC designs like the Studio as well as the MacBook Pro; the new systems now have backlit keyboards, a magnesium shell designed to be strong, and an extra-thin design. The mainstream models are the thinnest ever in the mid-size class, the Texas-based company claims, while its ultraportable E4200 model weighs as little as 2.2 pounds.
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08/08, 4:30pm
Dell Expands GPU Fail List
Dell today quietly expanded the list of its notebook PCs affected by NVIDIA's mobile GPU failures to include several extra systems. The chart now includes the Latitude D620, D820, and D830 business notebooks as well as the Precision M4300 and M65 portable workstations. All of these run either a GeForce 8400M, 8600M, or its Quadro equivalent.
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07/14, 3:55pm
Latitude XT Multi Touch
Dell this afternoon revealed that it will give its Latitude XT convertible tablet multi-touch support as of Tuesday. The software patch from the company's support site will let the XT's capacitive touchscreen work with several programs in Windows XP and Vista. Owners can zoom in and out using a pinch motion in most web browsers, Windows' built-in photo viewing utilities, Google Earth, and Microsoft Office; a two-finger scroll will also permit scrolling without having to use the mouse.
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04/21, 2:25pm
Dell XP Until 2012
Dell will keep using Windows XP until as late as 2012, a company representative has reportedly told users. Although Microsoft has said it would discontinue the option for XP this year in all but very low-cost notebooks, the claimed Dell message says the PC creator will continue offering XP Professional until 2012 on all its higher-end business offerings, including the Latitude, Optiplex, and Precision lineups.
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03/22, 10:40am
Dell Latitude E5K and E6K
Dell will lead off the introduction of its completely overhauled Latitude E-series with mainstream models that promise both a better image and new wireless features, according to details reported today by Engadget. Besides the visual redesign, the 14-inch E6400 and 15.4-inch E6500 will be the first Latitudes in their class to bring LED-backlit displays that offer better color and light; both receive the option with a 1440x900 panel, while the larger E6500 will also have the option of a 1920x1200 screen. The systems will have the option of 256MB dedicated NVIDIA graphics (likely Quadro chipsets) to drive their sharper displays.
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03/21, 11:55am
Dell Latitude E4000 Detail
Dell's Latitude E4000 series will more explicitly target the same very thin, advanced technology field covered by Apple's MacBook Air and Lenovo's ThinkPad X300, according to leaks continued today by Engadget. While both the E4200 and E4300 will offer thinner LED-backlit, 12-inch displays, the E4200 will be far thinner than earlier Latitudes and will measure between 0.6 and 0.8 inches thick and will optimally weigh just 2.2 versus the 3 of its challengers. This will in part come from its storage: the E4200 will require either a 32GB or 64GB solid-state drive instead of a conventional hard disk.
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03/20, 11:10am
Dell E-Series Roadmap
Dell's Latitude E-series overhaul is now due for June and will represent a sweeping change to its lineup, according to a roadmap leak supplied by Engadget. The new-look systems will ship immediately alongside the launch of Intel's Centrino 2 and use the faster, cooler processors of the platform to slim down the design compared to existing models. Previous leaks have also pointed to a brushed-metal surface and a better hinge similar to that from the XPS line.
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03/19, 1:45pm
Dell Latitude XT 2 Leak
The Latitude XT's first major revision should see a faster device and potentially the inclusion of an optical drive, says information reportedly leaked to Engadget. The convertible tablet will reportedly switch completely to Intel's Centrino 2 platform and use its newer, faster low and ultra-low voltage Core 2 Duo processors along with the faster GMA X4500 integrated video that comes with the new chipset. Refinements to technology should also allow Dell to fit an extremely thin DVD drive into the system rather than rely on a dock.
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02/01, 3:10pm
Dell Latitude E Series
Dell is working on a complete replacement for its Latitude professional notebooks that will compete in design with Apple and Sony models while catering to a business audience, if a leak through Engadget proves accurate. The platform, known so far as the Latitude E-series, would switch out the simple look of the existing D-series models with brushed metal and a one-piece hinge design; 14- and 15.4-inch models should be thinner than past versions thanks to LED backlighting. Smaller 12- and 13.3-inch systems will also exist; neither has been confirmed as using LEDs, but one report has indicated Dell ordering 12-inch LED panels for a future system.
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12/18, 1:20pm
Dell Latitude XT For Sale
Dell today began taking orders for its long-delayed Latitude XT convertible tablet PC, putting the system within closer reach. The Texas PC builder distinguishes the system with a more advanced capacitive touchscreen that is both more precise than most such displays while also offering a comparatively bright, thin LED-backlit screen with the standard model. In a departure from most of the company's lineup, however, Windows XP Tablet Edition is installed by default; using Microsoft's newer but more demanding Vista Business is free but remains an option.
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12/11, 8:15am
Dell Latitude XT Specs
Dell today officially confirmed many of the details of its Latitude XT tablet. The Texas PC maker hopes to distinguish its first ever touchscreen PC by making it one of the lightest available: at 3.57 pounds, the system will be relatively easy to carry, Dell hopes. The new convertible Latitude will also have the choice of either a thin, LED-backlit screen or an outdoor-focused screen that remains more visible in daylight. Weight and speed can also be improved through storage; while up to a 120GB traditional hard disk is available, up to a 64GB solid-state drive should improve boot times and reduce weight.
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