Dell confirms 12in netbook? MID? Tablet?
Tesco leak legit, sort of
Dell has confirmed it is indeed working on a 12in netbook-style laptop, as UK grocer Tesco recently let slip on its website.
Dell's European marketing chief for consumer products, David Clifton, admitted today that, yes, the PC giant's recently released Inspiron Mini 9 9in Small, Cheap Computer will soon be joined by a 12in model.
However, he refused to be drawn to comment on when the machine will be announced, or what its final specification will be.
According to the Tesco leak, the machine will be powered by an Atom Z530 - a chip normally reserved for internet handhelds rather than laptops, suggesting that the Dell machine might be more of an MID-style device than a notebook.
Think a roughly A4-sized touch-sensitive tablet for web browsing, media streaming and IM'ing around the home.
That's one option - a larger-than-usual netbook type device is another. Again, Clifton was giving no clues.
Other specs - if Tesco is to be believed - include 1GB of memory, a 40GB hard drive, Ubuntu Linux for an OS, a size of 30 x 30 x 1.7cm and a weight of 1.2kg.
COMMENTS
@ b
"they must be making so many of the 15.4" panels that they are the cheapest to buy"
Er, that'd be "economies of scale" then? See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economies_of_scale
Shot across MS bow?
(I may be wrong but...)
Isn't there at 10.2 inch limitation on screen size for MID devices/UMPCs running XP? So a 12 inch screen with an Atom mobile processor probably runs Ubuntu quite nicely but may be underpowered for a satisfying Vista experience (if such a thing exists).
Is this a case of Dell forcing the XP retirement issue? MicroShaft may not be too happy about this. I may actually have to start liking Dell...
Latitude XT
Dell already make an 11" tablet PC (called the Latitude XT), so I'd expect a very small laptop rather than a tablet, unless they're going to make a more consumer friendly version.
not quite a baby!
more of a small child laptop...
anyway, i recently bought into this space with an hp tx1340ea, which is a 12", but it has a touch screen, so the picture isn't great (you get a slight silvery sheen to the screen). but apart from that it's a fully functionaing laptop. dvd burner etc.
so it's definately not a baby ("scc"), but i'll bet dell do it for a dam site less than the £700 hp took off me for it!
anyone else noticed that the cheapest lappy's are 15.4"?
they must be making so many of the 15.4" panels that they are the cheapest to buy, but i have to say, i really like the 12" size, tho i'm eyeing up a 10" one..you can do most things with it, whereas a 10" may start doing your eyes in after long periods..idk..
cheers,
bill
p.s. stuff and nonsense: http://www.eupeople.net/forum
