Dell's Latitude XT2 XFR Is The XT2 Multitouch Tablet, Gone Ballistic
Normally, when we think of Dell's rugged notebook lineup, we think of the Latitude E6400 XFR, a nine-pound clunker of a military-grade laptop. Today, though, Dell announced the Latitude XT2 XFR, the rugged version of the Latitude XT2, the company's multitouch tablet. This 12.1-inch tablet weighs in at a comparatively light 5.4 pounds (starting weight), is 1.5 inches thick (Dell says that makes it the thinnest rugged convertible tablet), and starts at $3,599.
Like the E6400XFR, the XT2 XFR is a fully rugged notebook, tested in accordance with military specifications (MIL-810G, which Dell says is more stringent than the usually MIL-810F standards used to test rugged laptops). Likewise, it's also intended not just for the armed forces, but for field workers. The tablet promises to endure temperatures between -10 and 140 degrees Farenheit. Its QuadCore thermal management system removes heat from the processor in such a way that it also keeps dust, water, and wind out.
Feature-wise, the tablet's multitouch display allows for four-fingered gestures. It runs on Intel Core 2 Duo processors (Dell says it decided not to go with more battery-conserving ULV processors so that its customers wouldn't have to sacrifice performance). It can take up to 5GB of DDR3 RAM, and has a GPS module, wireless-N, Bluetooth 2.1, and optional mobile broadband.
Users can choose between a four-, six-, and nine-cell battery. According to Dell, the XT2 XFR is expected to last over nine hours with a six-cell battery and battery slice. We faulted the original Latitude XT and the Latitude XT2 for not lasting long on a charge.
The XT2 XFR will be sold in the U.S., Canada, UK, France, Italy, Spain, and Germany.
Stay in the know with Laptop Mag
Get our in-depth reviews, helpful tips, great deals, and the biggest news stories delivered to your inbox.
Dana Wollman was a contributing writer at Laptop Mag. Her coverage included reviews of some of the most iconic laptops from the previous decade, such as the Dell XPS, Dell Studio, HP EliteBook, and MSI Wind. She focused on smaller netbooks and productivity-oriented devices. After Laptop Mag, Dana worked as an Editor-in-Chief at Engadget, and is now a Senior Technology Editor at Bloomberg.