Dell wows IDF with "dual personality" tablet
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By Nicole Kobie in San Francisco
Posted on 14 Sep 2010 at 18:43
Dell has shown off an intriguing new tablet PC, the Dell Inspiron Duo.
Dell marketing manager for ultra mobile devices, Dave Zavelson, won appreciative applause from the IDF crowd by flipping it open to reveal a full keyboard and screen that rotates within the frame, transforming it into the netbook form factor.
The screen flips inside the body of the device, rather than swivelling on a hinge like standard convertible tablets.
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“Tablets are great for entertainment, but not exactly conducive to productivity,” Zavelson said, claiming the “dual personality” tablet bridges the gap between entertainment and work.
Specs were scarce, but Zalveson claimed it was the most powerful 10in Windows 7 tablet on the market, would run an Atom N550 processor and support WiMax – although it wasn’t clear if that was at launch or in the future.
Zalveson said it would arrive later this year.
That's not a tablet or slate, it's a touch-screen netbook with a swivelling screen.
By Phoomeister on 15 Sep 2010 
@Phoomeister: I think when Dell use the terms tablet or slate they use it to to loosely describe the functions that can be achieved, and this inspiron duo certainly seems to be capable of achieving tablet/slate like functionality.
I guess you were looking for a stricter definition. Fair enough - I just looked up the dictionary definitions for tablet and slate; they don't mention computers.
By adante on 15 Sep 2010
I quite like the look of it. Curious to see how high the price is though.
By skarlock on 15 Sep 2010
Hinges
What's more curious, is how long will it take for that swivel mechanism to break?
By Steve_Adey on 15 Sep 2010
Looks ok as a laptop, as a slate it doesn't even seem to have the single button on the front that the iPad has, is windows 7 so good as a touchscreen operating system that it doesn't need any physical buttons? I know there's a keyboard hidden beneath the screen but would you really want to have to flip it open just to minimise a full screen app for example?
By Shuflie on 15 Sep 2010
A button on the side would do just as well.
It looks really neat, but what do you get over simply having a slate plus dock and a keyboard?
By davids4kes on 16 Sep 2010
What you get over a dock & keyboard is train and cafe usability
By PKeogh on 16 Sep 2010
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