FETC 2017 Coverage

Dell EMC Unveils New Portfolio of PCs and Monitors for K–12 Market

• By Richard Chang
• 01/26/17

Dell EMC, the infrastructure business of Dell Technologies, is unveiling a new portfolio of education PCs and monitors designed to help teachers leverage the latest technology to improve learning for K–12 students worldwide.

Three new laptops are designed to withstand the rigors of the day-to-day classroom environment. And new to the education portfolio will be a 360-degree convertible notebook built for K–12 students.

Each of the three new devices are fully compatible with either Windows or Chrome operating systems, designed to provide options to customers, as many schools have hybrid technology implementations and multiple tech needs. The new devices are also built for a full day of use, with all-day battery life. Each new product will feature 6th Gen and the latest 7th Gen Intel processors for maximum performance.

Here are the new laptops:

Latitude 11 Convertible (3189) with Dell Productivity Active Pen (PN557W) and Chromebook 11 Convertible (3189):

The two 11-inch 2-in-1 convertible laptops are new additions to Dell’s education product lineup and adjust to the needs of the lesson of the day by offering 360-degree flexibility with clamshell, tablet and tent modes. Corning Concore glass and Gorilla Glass NBT add durability and scratch resistance to the touch-enabled display. The Latitude 11 convertible is available with 7th Gen Intel Celeron and Pentium processors, while the Chromebook 11 convertible is available with 6th Gen Intel Celeron processors.

While in tablet mode, the Windows version has a “world facing” camera available for creating videos on the go and opening up other creative possibilities. The Windows version also offers the optional Dell Productivity Active Pen, so students can improve their understanding of conceptual applications by writing notes and making diagrams with natural pen-to-paper writing motion.

Latitude 11 and Chromebook 11 (3180):

These affordable 11-inch notebooks have an all new design that reduces the overall size, so they’re easy to move from desk to table during group assignments. They feature an ergonomically designed keyboard for comfortable student use and an all-day battery life. The fully sealed keyboards and click pads provide protection against spills and the secure keys are 50 percent more tamper resistant than in previous generation products.

These models also feature a 180-degree lay-flat, durable hinge to support collaboration, allowing students and educators to gather around a single device and view materials together.

Latitude 13 and Chromebook 13 (3380):

These 13-inch notebooks deliver a larger screen, more powerful processing performance and faster memory for students to create and excel using the latest STEM applications. The laptop’s design will support advanced curricula, content delivery methods and learning use cases, Dell said in a news release, providing a powerful platform for students and teachers to create and explore.

These notebooks also have all-day battery life, an improvement over previous generation products. Optional E-rate mobile broadband (Windows only) allows educational institutions to support connected learning at a discounted rate wherever WiFi isn’t available.

All three mobile devices have been designed to MIL-STD 810G specs to survive the daily rigor of the classroom environment.

Dell is also introducing two interactive displays built for classroom presentations and collaboration. The release of Dell’s 55-inch and 86-inch 4K interactive touch monitors (C5518QT and C8618QT) follows the introduction of Dell’s 70-inch interactive touch monitor (C7017T) — the company’s first interactive touch, 70-inch, full HD (1080p) monitor, developed in response to increasing demand for interactive flat panel displays as an easier to manage alternative to interactive whiteboards.

The Dell 55 and 86 4K interactive touch monitors offer a touch display for collaboration with up to 20 touch points for classrooms and meeting rooms. New InGlass touch technology allows for a natural writing experience with two included passive styluses as well as anti-glare and anti-smudge coating on the cover glass for easy viewing. Both monitors feature 4K UHD resolution and utilize the latest monitor technology for clear text and images.

Both monitors have multiple ports for plug and play connectivity and optional wireless connectivity via the Dell wireless module.

Dell is also introducing new mobile computing carts that can store, charge and secure up to 30 select Dell computing devices. With horizontal shelves and vertical dividers, the footprint of the carts is the same whether the doors are open or closed, and separate storage areas ease device access by multiple users at one time. Large 360-degree caster wheels and a comfortable handle allow for easy transporting.

Pricing and availability:

• The Latitude 11 Convertible and Chromebook 11 Convertible will be available beginning Feb. 7 on Dell.com. Prices will start at $579 and $349, respectively.
• The Latitude 11 and Dell Chromebook 11 will be available starting Feb. 7 on Dell.com, starting at $349 and $219, respectively.
• The Latitude 13 and Dell Chromebook 13 will be available starting Feb. 7 on Dell.com, starting at $519 and $299, respectively.
• The Dell 55 and 86 4K interactive touch monitors will be available beginning March 30, priced below $5,000 and below $11,000, respectively.

Dell is exhibiting at the Future of Education Technology Conference this week in booth 645. For more information, visit Dell’s website.