Dell launches Latitude ST business tablet on Windows 7

Dell has announced a Windows-based tablet for business customers, focused on security and manageability through integration with existing IT infrastructures.

The Dell Latitude ST, available from 1 November, is based on an Intel Atom processor and runs Windows 7, rather than Android on which some rival tablet devices are based.

Dell said that the company had chosen Windows as it is a better fit with existing corporate IT infrastructures and the range of applications that enterprise customers are already using.

"First and foremost the Latitude ST is a business tablet, not a consumer device," said Kirk Schell, executive director of Dell's Business Client Product Group.

"Our customers are asking for a purpose-built Windows 7 tablet that they can easily secure and manage, while giving their employees a familiar user interface and applications."

Like several other enterprise-focused tablets, the Latitude ST has a 10.1in screen protected by Corning Gorilla Glass and supporting touch input and a digital stylus, and has a 816g starting weight, and a built-in trusted platform module for security.

The tablet also comes with 2GB maximum memory, a Flash SSD drive up to 128GB and Wi-Fi as standard, with 3G mobile broadband and GPS optional extras.

In these respects, the Latitude is similar to Fujitsu's Stylistic Q550 and Motion Computing's CL900, both of which also target the corporate market.

Dell said that the Latitude ST can be tailored to specific business or end user needs, citing the healthcare and education markets as potential buyers for the new client device.

An optional docking cradle comes with three USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI and audio outputs.

Dell said that it is launching now rather than waiting for Windows 8 because customers are asking for a purpose-built tablet that will easily integrate into their existing IT environment.

Schell added that Dell is "very aligned with Microsoft around Windows 8" and that customers can "expect to see a wide range of products released" on the platform.

Pricing for the Latitude ST starts at £603 with 2GB memory, a 64GB SSD and three years' next business day on-site warranty, but no 3G connectivity.