Insider scoop on Dell's first Tablet PC

Just got a scoop from one of our reliable sources that Dell is planning to have their first Tablet PC out before the end of the year (probably October) and that it'll have a be a convertible-style model with a 12.1-inch screen (basically a laptop with a screen that swivels around and folds down), run on the 2005 version of the Tablet PC operating system, and possibly weigh under four pounds. We'll get a pic of this as soon as we can.

[Robin Ashe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Looks interesting, I'm wondering if it would have an integrated optical drive. 'Course there's no way of knowing that yet.

[John McDonald @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Sorry to burst the bubble, but there is no dell tablet on the way. My organization (educational institution) has asked dell if they are developing a tablet pc for late this year or next year and have been told that there is no such development ongoing. I am sure they would have told us because we purchase close to a million dollars annually worth of Dell laptops and computers... and are not looking at IBM, Toshiba & Viewsonic instead.

[Shawn Lim @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I've been waiting a long while to get a notebook or tablet PC. I'm just wondering how people get the "inside scoop" on these things cause I've been waiting over a year now.

I highly doubt Dell's tablet PC is going to have an optical drive if its sub 4 lbs.

Anyone know if it'll have a SXGA like the Tosh. M200? Hopefully it'll be worth waiting for.

[Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I just heard from an employee at Dell that they are going to hold back the Tablet PC for a while. They are saying there is not enough of a demand.

I have been waiting almost a year for a Dell Tablet PC. Any other news?

[Shawn Lim @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

Don't know how accurate the sales people were with Mr. McDonald and his educational institution, but according to a Microsoft TPC OEM type dude, there is development going on inside Dell Computer Corp.:

"Host: robert (Microsoft)
Q: To refresh my question posed earlier, I wonder if Sony, Dell, and IBM are going to offer their own tablet pc any time soon.
A: We are working very closely with all three companies. They continue to engage with us on tablet pc. However, we are not free to disclose their plans."

This was from a chat transcript on the microsoft website. Does anyone know ANYTHING about when/if Dell's TPC will be released? It has to be soon... IBM just released theirs in Korea. Would be awesome if it had a Sonoma ("Centrino 2") package and same SXGA resolution like the Toshiba. Though Sonoma's chipset won't start shipping out till Q1 05 and I think the 12.1" SXGA is only manufactured by Toshiba...

[C. Allen @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I spoke with my Dell sales rep and he repeatedly has said that Dell is not working on a Tablet PC. I even asked him to forward an email up his CoC (Chain of Command) as we are looking at Tablet PCs and we currently buy Dell.

Also, I was told from a sales rep at IBM Direct that IBM will be coming out with a Tablet in the next few weeks.

Very interesting. Has anyone else heard that?

[C. Allen @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

I spoke with my Dell sales rep and he repeatedly has said that Dell is not working on a Tablet PC. I even asked him to forward an email up his CoC (Chain of Command) as we are looking at Tablet PCs and we currently buy Dell.

Also, I was told from a sales rep at IBM Direct that IBM will be coming out with a Tablet in the next few weeks.

Very interesting. Has anyone else heard that?

[P Stokes @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

As it happens, Dell has at least two divisions and the left doesn't know what the right hand is up to. Regardless, the Tablet PCs that we recently purchased from Dell were from the Retail division. These are actually ViewSonic V1250S units. As difficult as it is to determine that Dell carries a Tablet or not, it is even MORE difficult to get support once purchased. Follow this URL for proof that Dell sells these, however, I highly recommend purchasing these from the original manufacturer(s) http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productlisting.aspx?c=us&l=en&cs=04&category_id=5959&first=true

[gfbird @ Dec 19th 2005 12:03AM]

What's the deal with Dell being listed as a Clio Nxt reseller? Is it real? When is it happening?