SINGAPORE –Dell has launched two new Android tablets and two new Windows tablets under the revived Venue brand, an indication that the company is dedicated to growing its tablet business. The PC maker put the Venue brand on hiatus last year when it discontinued its shipment of smartphones.
At its “Meet Your Match” event in Singapore last week, the company also launched three XPS laptops with Intel’s latest fourth-generation Core processors code-named Haswell.
“People today expect the best experience possible from their technology – they are counting on it to keep them connected and move with them, wherever they are,” said Peter Mars, Executive Director & General Manager, End user Computing, Dell APJ. “The new Dell Venue tablets and XPS laptops give customers the stellar experience they expect from us, with performance that allows them to work how they want, when they want, in a design they’ll be proud to show off and own.”
Dell Venue 11 Pro with Keyboard
‘Damned Sexy’
Described by the company as “damned sexy” tablets, the Dell Venue line of tablets is available in 7, 8, and 11-inch models and is powered by Intel processors.
The Android-based Dell Venue 7 and Dell Venue 8 run on Intel Atom Z2760 (Clover Trail) processors, while the Dell Venue 8 Pro and Dell Venue 11 Pro are available with the new Intel Atom Quad-core processors, code named “Bay Trail.”
Intel Atom processors are designed and optimized for lightning fast apps, responsive Web browsing, stunning 3D graphics, advanced camera capabilities, and vivid HD video.
Dell Venue 8
Windows tablets
The new Windows 8.1 tablets include the Venue 8 Pro, which will have an 8-inch screen, and the Venue 11 Pro, which has a 10.8 inch screen.
The Venue 11 Pro is available in a range of processor options ranging from Bay Trail to the latest Haswell processors. The device weighs 726 grams. It has up to 256GB of storage, NFC capabilities and a 2-megapixel front camera and an 8-megapixel back camera.
With the power of an Ultrabook, the Dell Venue 11 Pro offers 2-in-1 flexibility – it can be a tablet, or laptop with attachable keyboard or docking station. It also boasts of a large user removable/replaceable battery, full HD display with wide viewing angles that makes it easy to read and create content while staying mobile.
The Dell Venue 11 Pro features a variety of keyboard and stylus options which are enumerated as follows: Dell Active Stylus which makes it easy to annotate, draw or take notes; Dell Slim Keyboard which is designed for travel and serves as a cover for the screen when folded up; Dell Mobile Keyboard with integrated battery which provides all day productivity with a full-sized keyboard while extending the battery life; and Dell Tablet Desktop Dock which delivers full productivity on a desk with USB3.0 ports, and dual display out ports for display extension.
The Venue 11 Pro tablet that has been designed to integrate into an existing corporate environment. It also has optional advanced security features and services such as TPM and Dell Enterprise Services.
The Dell Venue 11 Pro tablet will be available in selected APJ markets in the coming weeks with a starting price tag of US$499.99.
The Venue 8 Pro has a Bay Trail processor and up to 64G-bytes of storage. It has a 1.2-megapixel front camera and a 5-megapixel back camera. It weighs 388 grams. The Venue 8 Pro starts at $299.
Other features on Dell’s new Venue Pro tablets with Windows 8.1 include Micro-SD card readers and LTE mobile broadband connectivity.
Models at the Dell “Meet Your Match” event held in Singapore, 8 Oct, showcase Dell’s latest range of devices, which includes the Dell Venue 7 (left) and Dell XPS 11 (right).
Android Tablets
The Android-based Dell Venue 7 and Dell Venue 8 tablets have an upscale fit and finish and provide features for people who want to be constantly connected anywhere, anytime.
The Venue tablets will be offered in selected APJ markets in the coming weeks for starting prices of US$149.99 and US$179.99, respectively.
The Dell Venue 7 has a 7-inch screen, while the Venue 8 has a 8-inch screen.
Both tablets have screen resolutions of 1280 x 800 pixels, Micro-SD slots and Wi-Fi.
The XPS lineup of laptops
Alongside the new family of Venue tablets, Dell also unveiled a new lineup of XPS laptops, boasts of innovative designs and improved functionalities.
The XPS 11 is a Windows 8 laptop that converts into a tablet. It has a 2560×1440 resolution screen. The other XPS laptops include the XPS 13, which has a 13-inch screen, and the XPS 15, which has a 3200×1800 display.
The XPS lineup of laptops features flyweight machined aluminum, carbon fiber, vibrant displays, and Corning Gorilla Glass NBT for performance, durability and the ultimate experience.
“We have spent a lot of time and effort in this field to come up with innovative designs for our products,” said Max Hsu, Design Director, Experience Design Group at Dell. “In general, the XPS design is characterized as iconic, a design suited for Dell products; unique form factor; and compact size.”
Hsu added that as part of the design effort, they are putting a lot of investments on CMF which stands for color, material and finish.
‘Thinnest and most compact’ 2-in-1 Ultrabook
First on the list of XPS family is the Windows 8-based Dell XPS 11, considered by the company as the world’s thinnest at just 11-15mm slim, lightest (starting at 2.5lbs), and most compact 2-in-1 Ultrabook that will be available in selected APJ markets in the coming weeks. Dell XPS 11 has a starting price of US$999.99.
Featuring a tablet-first design with laptop functionality, Dell XPS 11 can easily transform from tablet to laptop using a 360 degree rotating hinge design. The device opens up like a laptop and when folds back on itself, it becomes an 11-inch tablet. It is also equipped with an innovative solid surface backlift touch keyboard fused in the chassis of the laptop.
With a Quad HD display that provides a 2560 x 1440 resolutions, the highest resolution display in an 11.6-inch 2-in-1 today, Dell XPS 11 has a bright, crisp viewing experience. The display also offers True Color viewing powered by eeColor, enabling customers to enjoy true, rich consistent color in nearly any lighting environment. The device uses an innovative new display technology called oxide TFT. It has a system memory of up to 4GB.
Joining Dell XPS 11 are the XPS 15 multimedia powerhouse and the XPS 13 Ultrabook which boasts with faster processors, touch Full HD display and improved battery life.
Multimedia powerhouse
Dell XPS 15
Dell XPS 15 is the world’s first 15.6-inch laptop to feature a Quad HD+ display, with a touch option that offers over 5.7-million pixels – five times the amount of standard HD – for jaw-dropping resolution. It also delivers the highest resolution (3200 x 1800-pixel) in its class, and power in an ultra-thin, light wedge design, starting at less than 4.5lbs. Systems memory options are 8GB and 16GB. The device runs Windows 8.
The laptop, designed for creative enthusiasts, boasts of a Fourth-Generation Intel Core i5 and i7 Quad-core processor options and NVIDIA discrete graphics options. XPS 15 boots and resumes within seconds with hard drive configuration options from 500GB to 1TB, both with a 32GB mSATA SSD, to a 512GB solid state drive, all including Intel Rapid Start Technology. It comes with Windows 8.1 and a touch display covered with Corning Gorilla Glass. It will be available in selected APJ markets in the coming weeks with starting price of US$1,499.99.
Compact Ultrabook
Dubbed as the most compact 13-inch Ultrabook on the planet, Dell XPS 13 is powered by Intel Core processors, Intel HD 4400 graphics, and has longer battery life for the mobile users who values a sleek design, responsiveness and ultimate mobility. Its system memory options are 4GB and 8GB.
Made of Corning Gorilla Glass and works with Windows 8.1 touch gestures, XPS 13’s Full HD display with 1920 x 1080-pixel resolution, is now more versatile with a touch option, providing a brilliant viewing experience. Starting at below three pounds and with its 13.3-inch edge-to-edge display that innovatively fits into a footprint similar to an 11-inch laptop, XPS 13 is razor thin and light. The Ultrabook will be sold at a starting price of US$999.99 in selected APJ markets in the coming weeks.
Personal cloud
To help users build their own “personal cloud” and remotely manage personal and professional content, the Dell PocketCloud application is pre-installed on all XPS and Venue devices. For mobile workers to enjoy a connected experience with access to all of their apps and content from virtually anywhere, they have to combine PocketCloud with the portability of the new Venue tablets and XPS laptops.
Aside from the Dell Limited Hardware Warranty, consumers can elect to include additional protection such as Accidental Damage Service, Premium Phone Support and Rapid Return for Repair after Remote Diagnosis. This means that their system will be repaired and returned to them within 3-5 business days after remote diagnosis. Besides, business customers can rest assured that their devices will fit seamlessly and securely into their corporate IT environment with Dell Enterprise Services like ProSupport on the Dell Venue 11 Pro tablet.
Image Credit: Dell
