Dell Inspiron Duo – first tablet netbook from Dell

Hmm, this is certainly something I wasn’t expected: Dell just launched a new product at IDF in San Francisco and it’s a 10 inch tablet netbook called Dell Inspiron Duo .

It’s good to have another new tablet mini laptop on the market as there were only a few available. However, this is not your regular such device. First, it is the first to come with a dual-core N550 processor, but I expect to see others updated as well, as I’m pretty sure we’re going to get this N550 in all popular mini notebooks.

What’s weird is the way the screen pivots. Normally, tablets pivot around the hinge, rotating the entire display to switch from laptop to tablet. On this one you get regular hinges, with multiple-point contact, like on regular netbooks. But how do you switch between modes? Well, you just open the lid and the screen will swivel within its frame, like you can see in the picture below, courtesy to Engadget.

Dell Inspiron Duo with a new swiveling system for its display

Looks like a regular laptop, but it's actually not

Here it is in tabelt mode and looks quite solid

Not many more details are available for now, but we do know that this will come with Windows 7. Hopefully that screen is capacitive and we’ll get this Inspiron Duo bundled with 2 GB of memory and Home Premium, so we can use those multitouch gestures, not like on the Asus T101MT available in stores in the States. Oh, and the guys at Dell declared they’ll have this available in stores alter this year, but no details on exact dates or prices.

Also see the clip below for more details, from the guys at SlashGear.

Stay tuned though, I’m sure we’ll see more interesting details on this Dell Inspiron Duo netbook tablet very soon and I’ll update asap.

Update: There’s also a docking station prepared for it, with better speakers, meant to host the DUO when in tablet mode (and hopefully charge it while connected?).

Update2: Windows 7 Home premium is confirmed. Great!

Update3: Here’s another clip, this time from the guys at NetbookNews.com . Vertical viewing angles seem quite poor from this presentation… Also, is it just me, or does this seem quite big for a 10 incher, based on the thick bezel around that 10 inch display. Won’t argue with how thin it seems, it’s certainly a sleek machine.

Via Slashgear and Engadget

Tags: 10" netbook, Dell, tablet netbook, touchscreen

Last updated: March 30, 2012 | Published: September 14th, 2010 | Add the first comment!