Dell Upgrades Multi-Touch Tablet PC

Dell on Tuesday introduced a new version of its multitouch, convertible tablet PC, adding longer battery life to the business computer.

The new Latitude XT 2 can run up to 11 hours and 28 minutes without a recharge with the use of two six-cell batteries, according to Dell. The second battery is sold as an option.

In addition, the computer supports up to 5 GB of DDR3 memory, a faster technology than the older DDR2, and includes Intel's vPro technology for system management and security.

Dell last July released a software module that could be installed at no charge to add multitouch capabilities to the original Latitude XT.

The latest version ships with those capabilities, which includes the use of gestures like a pinch or tap for scrolling, panning, rotating, and zooming. In addition, there's a programmable double-tap feature to accomplish tasks such as launching a Web browser or turning the screen off to save power.

Convertible PCs are machines that can be used as notebooks but also have a rotating screen that can fold down on top of the keyboard to provide a flat writing surface. People can use a stylus that ships with the system to write notes.

The Latitude XT2 has a 12-inch daylight viewable display and is available with Dell's ControlVault and ControlPoint security software. Companies can also add support for a wireless providers' broadband data network.

The system is available with either a 1.2-GHz or 1.4-GHz Intel Core 2 dual-core processor. For storage, companies can choose up to a 120-GB, 5,400-RPM SATA hard-disk drive or up to a 128-GB solid-state drive. There's also an optional fingerprint and a smart card reader available.

The Latitude XT2 weighs 3.6 pounds with a four-cell battery and 3.8 pounds with a six-cell power supply. Pricing starts at $2,399.

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