Dell Rolls Out Android and Windows Tablets

The Dell Venue Pro 11 offers full docking capabilities.
The Dell Venue Pro 11 offers full docking capabilities.
The Dell Venue Pro 11 offers full docking capabilities.

Dell has launched a new line of tablets, called Venue, built on dual- and quad-core Intel Atom processors for as little as $150, with the option of upgrading to Core i3 and Core i5 CPUs.

The new devices come in four varieties, two running Windows 8.1 and two running Google's Android operating system.

The Windows 8.1 models both get the "Pro" monicker: the Venue Pro 8 and Venue Pro 11. They sport new quad-core Intel "Bay Trail" Atom processors and offer the option of upgrading to fourth-generation Intel Core i3 and Core i5 processors. They also offer the ability to run Intel vPro.

The lower-end Venue 8 Pro offers an 8-inch 720p HD IPS display with 10-point multitouch. Complete specs are not yet available, but the Pro 8 offers 32 GB of storage and an optional keyboard and active stylus. It will sell for $299.99.

The Venue 11 Pro offers a 10.8-inch 1080p display and full docking for both a keyboard (with its own battery) and external display. It will start at $499.99.

The android models include the Venue 7 and Venue 8, offering 7- and 8-inch HD displays, respectively. They run on the Intel Atom Z2760 dual-core processor, which operates at 1.8 GHz and features a 1 MB level-2 cache. The Venue 7 will be available for $149.99; the Venue 8 will run $179.99.

The Dell Venue 7, Venue 8, and Venue 8 Pro are expected to ship Oct. 18. The Venue 11 Pro will be available in November. Additional details can be found on Dell's site.

In addition, Dell has also updated its XPS line of laptops, adding a 15.6-inch model and a 13.3-inch model and updating the original 11.6-inc XPS 11.

The updated XPS 11 is a convertible model that transforms from a laptop to a tablet. It features a display that offers a 2,560 x 1,440 resolution ("quad HD," as Dell describes it). It will ship in November for $999.99.

The XPS 13, which will also ship in November for $999.99, is an ultrabook that features an "edge-to-edge" HD touch display for a more compact form factor. It runs on fourth-generation Intel Core processors and offers Intel HD 4400 graphics.

The XPS 15 offers a display that features a "quad HD+" display with a touch option. It runs on fourth-generation Intel Core i5 and i7 quad-core processor and offers Nvidia discrete graphics, 500 GB to 1 TB storage with a 32 GB mSATA SSD or a 512 GB solid state drive. Both configurations support Intel Rapid Start.

The XPS 15 will ship Oct. 18 for $1,499.99 in its base configuration.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


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