Dell Teases 10", Business-Oriented Windows 7 Tablet

Dell released more business-oriented desktops and laptops today than the average middle manager would care to count, but there was one small interesting nugget tucked into the press release that average consumers might enough: something about a tablet. Yeah, another tablet! This is the exact quote:

"Additionally, Dell plans to extend its existing tablet portfolio with a 10-inch, Windows 7-based business- ready tablet later this year. The upcoming tablet is designed for end-users who need greater mobility, as well as IT organizations that demand control, security, manageability and integration with existing infrastructure investments. Dell’s tablet will empower a more mobile workforce in a way that offers customers the business applications and corporate data they need, while meeting regulatory mandates and IT requirements."

This sounds a lot like the HP Slate that has still not shipped in any large quantity, so far as we can tell. It's clear that tablets have a place in the enterprise, with Apple claiming that many larger companies have incorporated the iPad into their work flow in one way or another. Now, it's Dell's chance to join that market, and possibly offer a tablet other than the Streak 7 to the consumer market as well. There aren't any details as far as pricing, release or specifications (we checked with Dell, we swear!), but the images definitely give us a lot to think about.


We haven't been too fond of Windows 7-based tablets, but in the enterprise, it's assumed that a full copy of Win7 will be needed to accomplish certain tasks. Hopefully it'll be quicker than the Inspiron Duo we recently reviewed.