Hot on the heels of discontinuing its Windows RT-based XPS 10 last week, Dell has introduced a new line of "Venue" tablets shipping with Windows 8.1 or Android. The company also introduced what it deems as the world's most compact 2-in-1 device with an 11.6 inch Quad HD Display, the XPS 11, and the XPS 15 with the world's first 15.6 inch Quad HD+ display.
Dell revealed on Wednesday that the upcoming Dell Venue 8 Pro will ship with Windows 8.1 for consumers, packing a bright HD IPS display, advanced connectivity options, and supposedly long battery life. The Dell Venue 11 Pro will also be based on Windows 8.1, and ship with a detachable keyboard, offering a 2-in-1 form factor, and a removable battery. Optional accessories will include the Dell Active Stylus, the Dell Mobile Keyboard, and the Dell Tablet Desktop Dock.
Dell also plans to ship the 7 inch Dell Venue 7 and the 8 inch Dell Venue Android "feature rich" tablets. Both will have an upscale fit and finish, and will be designed with longevity in mind. These two Android devices will ship with an Intel Atom Z2760 "Clover Trail" processor, while the Windows 8.1-based Dell Venue 8 Pro and Dell Venue 11 Pro will feature the new Intel Atom quad-core "Bay Trail" processors. The Venue 11 Pro will also offer Core i3 and i5 processors and Intel vPro options as well.
As for the Dell XPS laptops, these three models will feature machined aluminum, carbon fiber, "vibrant" displays, and Corning Gorilla Glass NBT. The 4.44 pound XPS 15 will have a 15.6 inch screen with a 1920 x 1080 display, a touchscreen option, Intel Core i5 and i7 "Haswell" options, and Nvidia discrete graphics options. Hard drive configuration options will range from 500 GB to 1 TB, both with a 32 GB mSATA SSD, to a 512 GB solid state drive, all including Intel Rapid Start Technology. The XPS 15 also has an optional Quad HD+ touch display, aka a 3200 x 1800 resolution.
As for the XPS 13, this updated "razer thin" device will have a 13.3 inch edge-to-edge Full HD screen, a weight of just under 3 pounds, and optional touch capabilities. The device will also have Intel Core "Haswell" processors and Intel HD 4400 graphics. Meanwhile, the XPS 11 2-in-1 Ultrabook will have an 11.6 inch screen with a 2560 x 1440 display, weigh 2.5 pounds, and measure 11 to 15 millimeters thin.
"The Dell PocketCloud application is pre-installed on all XPS and Venue products, helping users build their own 'personal cloud' and remotely manage personal and professional content," states Dell's press release. "By combining PocketCloud with the portability of the new Venue tablets and XPS laptops, mobile workers will be able to enjoy an easy and connected experience with access to all of their apps and content from virtually anywhere."
Starting October 18, the Dell Venue 7, Venue 8, Venue 8 Pro and the Dell XPS 15 will be made available on Dell's website in the United States and select countries. The Dell Venue 11 Pro, XPS 11 and the XPS 13 with touch will be available in November. The starting price and general specs (in PDF format) for each are listed below:
Venue 7: $149.99 (specs)
Venue 8: $179.99 (specs)
Venue 8 Pro: $299.99 (specs)
Venue 11 Pro: $499.99 (specs)
XPS 15: $1,499.99 (specs)
XPS 11: $999.99 (specs)
XPS 13: $999.99 (specs)