Dell introduced four new low-cost tablets on Wednesday that run on Intel processors, shutting out ARM-based processors from its launch, even for Dell's Android machines, Computerworld reports.
Two of the four tablets run on Android — the 7-in. Dell Venue 7 and the 8-in. Dell Venue 8. Both use Intel's Atom Z2760 Clover Train processors, a chip designed to conserve battery power.
Intel developed the chip in part to compete against battery-conserving ARM-based processors built by Qualcomm and Nvidia, which have been suppliers for nearly all the Android-based tablets that have shipped.
The Venue 7 will cost $149.99, making it one of the lowest priced tablets on the market, while the Venue 8 will cost $179.99.
The other two new Dell tablets run on Windows 8.1 and the Intel Atom quad-core processor code-named Bay Trail. They are the 8-in. Venue 8 Pro, which will sell for $299.99 and the 11-in. Venue 11 Pro, selling for $499.99.
At an event in New York City, Dell officials said they are not planning to provide refreshed models of Windows RT-based tablets. Dell discounted the price of its first-generation Dell XPS 10, amid reports of slack sales. The tablet ran on the ARM-based Qualcomm Snapdragon S 4 and Windows RT, which was widely criticized for not running legacy Windows applications as Windows 8 did.
Dell is also calling the Venue 11 Pro tablet a 2-in-1. The device has the power of an ultrabook and a detachable keyboard that can be added for a desktop computer experience. It also has a removable battery, unlike many other tablets on the market.
Dell is selling the XPS 11 Pro for $999.99. Two other laptops that were announced include the XPS 13 for $999.99 and an XPS 15 for $1,499.99. All the new Dell tablets except for the Venue 11 Pro, and the new XPS 15 will be available on Oct. 18 on Dell's website. The Venue 11 Pro, XPS 11 and updated XPS 13 with touchscreen capability will be available in November, Dell said.
The three laptops announced also include Intel's latest fourth-generation Core processors code-named Haswell.
Dell had trouble with a livestream of the event, which was repeatedly interrupted, and brought some derisive comments from reporters and analysts trying to watch. Dell indicated in a note attached to the livestream Web site that it is now the "largest startup in America" since founder Michael Dell took the company private last month.
