Quantitatively, the numbers show a marked increase in both the Windows Experience Index and the HD Tune results, seen below. Qualitatively, the difference is amazing. My computer boots from a cold start to a working desktop in under 20 seconds, and it takes mere seconds to install a program like Firefox. It almost feels like I have a whole new computer. Certainly worth the ~$230 for the 80 gigabyte drive.

WEI with SSD - 7.7 for HDD

WEI without SSD - 4.6 for HDD

HD Tune with SSD

HD Tune without SSD

Feature	Apple iPad	Dell Latitude XT2
Screen	9.6″ Capacitive, multi-touch, LED-backlit at 1024×768	12.1″ Capacitive, multi-touch, LED-backlit at 1280×768, stylus supported
Weight	1.5 lbs	3.78 lbs
Processor	1 Ghz Apple A4 (ARM based)	1.4 Ghz Intel Core2 Duo ULV
Storage	Up to 64 gigabytes of flash storage	Up to 256 gigabytes of flash storage
Battery Life	~10 hours	~3.5 hours, or 9 hours with extended battery
Wi-Fi & Bluetooth	Yes	Yes
3G	Optional, through AT&T at a discount	Optional, through AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint
Connectivity Ports	Docking connector, headphone, mic	2 USB, 1 USB/eSata, Expresscard, SD Card, Gigabit Ethernet, VGA, headphone, mic
Accelerometer	Yes	No
Build-in Hardware Keyboard	No	Yes
Multitasking	No	Yes
Adobe Flash	No	Yes
Built-in Camera	No	No
Applications available	Select iPad apps at launch, including iLife, 140,000 scaled iPhone apps	Complete Windows library
Price	Begins at $499	Begins at ~$1999 ($999 refurbished)

Screen

The Latitude XT2 has a larger, more high resolution screen with the added advantage of having a built in stylus, which gives it the win here. The stylus also allows for effective note scribbling, something that is difficult to do with fingers. That being said, even with Windows 7′s new gesture support, Tablet PCs just don’t have the finger-friendliness of the iPhone, and, as an extension, the iPad. The iPad’s screen also looked a little brighter, and overall more fun to use.

Weight

While my XT2 feels fairly light, the added components and keyboard can’t compete with the slim, streamlined iPad. While I haven’t held one in my hand, I have to imagine that an iPad would be more comfortable for long periods of reading or browsing, though I haven’t really had issues with my XT2.

Processor

Apple has flexed its hardware muscles after the acquisition of P.A. Semi almost 2 years ago. The 1Ghz ARM-based A4 chip appears to be very fast, especially when paired with Flash memory and optimized software. The Core2 Duo chip in the XT2 may be a little faster, but without the level of software optimization that the iPad has, I’m going to rate this as a tie.

Storage

The iPad can hold up to 64 gigabytes of flash memory, compared with 256 gigabyes for the XT2 (and likely 512 gigabytes soon). Download some high-definition movies, and 64 gigbytes goes pretty fast. In addition, the XT2 can use ExpressCard and USB external storage and even USB Blu-Ray drives.

Battery Life

With 10 hours of battery life, I’m going to have to give this one to Apple. The Latitude (and most Tablet PCs) can get an extra battery, but it adds cost and weight. The iPad battery is not removable, unfortunately, but this seems to be the Apple trend of late.

Wireless Connectivity

Both machines have full 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-fi and Bluetooth, and also 3G access. The Latitude offers a greater variety of carriers for 3G, but the iPad has a much cheaper data plan at $30, so I’m calling 3G as a tie, depending on whether you value price or flexibility.

Connectivity Ports

This is where the decision to make the iPad a larger iPhone rather than a small Macbook begins to hurt. The lack of any real connectivity options means that it will be difficult to expand the iPad’s built-in memory, and a large range of USB devices, such as webcams and DVD drives, are not going to be available. The docking connector does allow video out with an adapter, but at a paltry 1024×768 resolution (the XT2 does up to 1920×1080 over VGA, and can do HDMI over the docking station).

Accelerometer/Keyboard and Gaming

The lack of a hardware keyboard on the iPad will probably be more off-putting than the lack of an accelerometer on the XT2. The XT2 can also use a mouse, which allows for a wide variety of mouse/keyboard gaming options. While I’ve enjoyed the accelerometer on my iPhone, I generally find it a bit gimmicky for gaming, and first-person shooters just don’t play well with touch-screen controls.

Multi-tasking

Another major Achilles heel for the iPad, and something I really hope is fixed in the iPhone OS 4.0 update. The lack of multi-tasking is problematic enough on the iPhone, but I know I’ll really find myself missing it on the almost 10″ screen. Why can’t I run an IM window next to my Flash game with Pandora streaming in the background (a common occurrence on my XT2)?

Adobe Flash Support

Similar to multi-tasking, this moves from a weakness on the iPhone to a serious flaw on the iPad. Steve called out the iPad as the ultimate browsing experience, especially over “underpowered” netbooks, but browsing without Flash means a decent chuck of the web is not available. Again, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for an OS 4.0 update, but I see this as less likely than multi-tasking support, though arguably more important.

Applications

I think that App developers may come up with some really neat applications for the iPad, but for the present, the 140,000 pixelated iPhone apps don’t compare with the huge library of Windows software available. In addition, Apple has rather draconian application development policies. Without full access to the iPad file system and hardware, I fear that it will again fall on the jailbreak community to develop useful utilities.

Price

Tablet PCs have failed to get mass-market adoption for almost a decade, and a major reason is that they are more costly than a laptop with similar specs. Apple made a smart move by offering a model with less persistent memory and no 3G at a lower price point. To be fair, the XT2 is one of the most expensive Tablet PCs on the market, as you can find models like HP’s Touchsmart at a $949 price with up to 20% discounts. In addition, most people using Tablet PCs do not have another laptop, which many iPad users will still want to price in a laptop as well as the iPad, leaving less available budget. Still, the bottom line is that the iPad runs away with this one.

Conclusion

The iPad has received its share of criticism in the past 24 hours, and much of it centers around a key design reality: the iPad is not a “Macbook Light”; it is an “iPhone heavy”. As a result, it has significant weaknesses compared to traditional laptops, unlike Tablet PCs, which are “Laptops Plus”. The comparison chart illustrates this, as the iPad only really wins on weight, battery, and price. The iPad is really for people that want a lightweight, cheap, limited device in addition to their laptop or instead of their laptop. In that respect, it fills the same niche as netbooks and eReaders, rather than today’s Tablet PCs, and netbooks and eReaders will be the real competitor, especially as more netbooks add touch capabilities.

The final piece of the puzzle is the full iPad experience. On paper, the iPad has a tough time competing with today’s Tablet PCs, and even today’s netbooks in many respects. Having not held one in my hand, I haven’t had the “magical” experience, but a combination of killer apps and a seamless, pleasurable UI may allow the iPad to make a name for itself. Time will tell.

As for me, I’m still waiting for the Microsoft Courier.

I took advantage of the deal I mentioned in my last post and picked up a Dell Latitude XT2 Tablet PC. I have always liked Tablets, ever since I began programing an e-Textbook program on an HP TC1000, which was a great tablet but a bit small and slow. Last year I took advantage of a similar deal to purchase a Latitude XT, but it was quickly annexed by my significant other, which left me using my old Fujitsu s2110, which wasn’t the fasted machine when I bought it 3.5 years ago, though still a great laptop.

Fast forward to today – I now have a Latitude XT2 with Windows 7 Beta installed. The Latitude XT line is one of only two Tablet PC models that have a multi-touch capacitive screen, which Microsoft is integrating tightly into Windows 7. You can have a look at a demo here (notice that they use a Latitude XT). In this review, I will be analyzing my new Latitude XT2 and comparing it with the Latitude XT to determine if it is worth the upgrade. Keep reading for benchmarks, pictures, and thoughts on both the machine and Windows 7.

Specs

Here are the specs:

• 12.1 inch, WXGA LED display
• Intel Core 2 Duo Processor SU9400 (1.40GHz, 3M L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
• 120 GB SATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
• Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
• 3 GB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz (2 DIMMs)
• Intel WiFi Link 5300 802.11a/g/n Draft Mini Card
• Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth Module
• 6 Cell Primary Battery
• Fingerprint reader
• Windoes 7 Beta (came with Vista Ultimate)
• Weight: 3.78 lbs

I ordered refurbished, and my computer didn’t come with an external DVD-ROM drive. As I already have a rarely used external DVD-RW drive from my XT, I wasn’t too concerned. I was a little disappointed not to even receive a restore disk (the restoration information is a 2GB partition), but as I’m moving on to Windows 7 anyway, it didn’t bother me too much.

What came in my box

Overview and Body

I used Vista for a few days before installing Windows 7 instead. Vista SP2 isn’t really that bad, but Windows 7 is more lightweight and battery friendly, two things I have noticed since the trasition. While using the beta, I had occassional issues with the mouse pointer and aero graphics, which I’m assuming are an issue with the Vista driver on Windows 7. Since installing the Release Candidate, I have seen those issues.

The feel of the XT2 is quite nice. It is very light, even lighter than the XT. It feels quite solid as well – I would have preferred aluminum, but the magnesium composite is fine. The dimentions are almost the same as the XT, though there is an overhang at the top of the screen which makes it easier to open. Unfortunately, there are only 3 quick access buttons on the XT2, as opposed to 4 on the XT.

Comparisons between the XT and XT2. As you can see, they are almost the exact same size.

I purchased the LED screen rather than the daylight view, and I’m quite happy with it. The screen is bright and vibrant, and viewing angles are quite good. The selection of ports is very nice, with the following:

• 1 Standard USB
• 1 Powered USB
• 1 USB/eSATA
• 1 4-pin Firewire 400
• Gigabit ethernet (10/100/1000)
• SD card reader
• Expresscard 54mm
• Headphone & microphone jacks
• VGA out

Certainly a respectable number of ports. Once prices come down, I may purchase an Expresscard SSD and run my main hard drive off of that.

Noise, Heat, and Battery Life

My Latitude XT2 exhibits a slight hum when operating. It isn’t really noticable in an office or home with background noise, but in a quiet room it certainly can be heard. I’ve identified the hard drive as the culprit, but for now, it isn’t problematic enough for me to send in. I’ve also noticed the occasional high-pitched noise when on battery power, though this is a known Intel problem.

The fan rarely comes on, and when it does it is very quiet. The XT2 can get a little warm underneath, but nothing that you can cook an egg on.

I haven’t done a strict test of battery life, but I got just over 3 hours with regular use (documents, web browsing) on Vista on 50% brightness. Since moving to Windows 7, I can get about 3.5 hours with typical use at 50% brightness. 50% brightness is still perfectly usable – in fact, I usually only operate at about 70% brightness even on AC power.

Tablet Operation

The Latitude XT2 is a joy to use as a tablet. The capacitive touchscreen is very finger friendly, and Windows 7 gestures work well. The pen is easy to grab and quite accurate. I have noticed one area at the bottom of the screen where the pen occasionally skips, but it isn’t enough of a problem to send in. I wish the XT2 had 4 shortcut buttons rather than 3 (a strange change from the XT), but it isn’t a huge concern.

Benchmarks

The Latitude XT was often cited as being too slow, thanks to the ULV Intel processor and PATA hard drive. My XT has a 1200 MHz Core 2 Duo and 5400 RPM hard drive, but even with those, I found it to be a little slower than I’d like, though still quite usable.

Thankfully, the Latitude XT2 is a step up in speed. With the new Centrino 2 chipset, 1400 MHz Core 2 Duo processor, DDR3 RAM, and a 5400 RPM SATA hard drive, I’ve found the XT2 to be noticeably faster than the XT. I’ve run several benchmarks that seem to confirm the XT2′s superiority in just about every area.

Windows Experience Index

WEI is not the best measure of performance, but it is a good starting point.

WEI scores: Processor - 4.4, Memory - 4.9, Graphics - 3.2, Gaming - 4.9, Hard Disk - 4.6

I was suprised at first to find that graphics and gaming graphics had such a disparity, but a quick Google search showed that this could be a bug with Windows. I never meant for the XT2 to be my primary gaming machine (I have a desktop for that), but I’m quite pleased with the scores I recieved. The RAM score of 4.9 is excellent, and the main difference between the XT2 and the XT (which had a 4.1).

PC Mark 05

PC Mark is a staple of computer benchmarking, and I took the XT for a spin, with the following results:

3090 PCMarks

Not an amazing score, but certainly respectable. The Latitude XT scored 2,692, about 400 points less than the XT2.

3D Mark 06

Another benchmarking staple, I hoped to get more information about the differing WEI graphics scores from this test.

614 3DMarks

614 3DMarks is hardly groundbreaking, but following the pattern it is an improvement over the Latitude XT’s score of 445. As this is a new chipset, the graphics performance will hopefully improve with new drivers. Still, Aero is fine, and as I’m not doing serious gaming on this machine, I’m happy with the scores. I was able to play .h264 720p video using VLC without a problem.

HD Tune

Rates (in MB/sec): Min - 13.1, Max - 41.3, Ave - 31.9, Burst - 70.7, Access Time - 21.3ms

Decent scores, and an improvement over the Latitude XT’s scores, particularly in burst (51.8) and Max Rate (36.7).

Super Pi

Two million calculations took 1 minute and 16 seconds, which is a huge improvement over the Latitude XT’s 1 minute and 47 seconds, and puts the XT2 in company with the 1.6 GHz Core 2 Duo processor on the Lenovo ThinkPad X61.

Final Thoughts

The Latitude XT2 doesn’t blow the XT out of the water, but it improves on it in almost every area, and is noticably faster. With a refurbished XT2 going for $300 more than a similary speced Latitude XT however, it could be a tough call. For me, personally, I think the added speed was worth it, but either one is a great machine.

Dell has always had good deals on its refurbished outlet items (50% off), and currently they have a Spring Clearance Sale running with a 20% coupon (CPP1002XWDHXDK), allowing users to get the Latitude XT and new Latitude XT2 for 60% off the retail price. Depending on the models available, that could mean an XT2 for $1,031, or an XT (Core Solo) for $575 (though I would go with the Core Duo for  a little extra).

I have an XT, and it’s a little slow, but certainly faster than a netbook, many of which are going for $400-$500. Add in the LED, 12 inch, WXGA screen with capacitive, multi-finger touch, and you have a nice little machine that weighs under 4 lbs. It’s also one of just a few tablets that has true multi-touch, will should be an integral part of Windows 7.

More information is avaible on Always Innovating’s site.

Specs:

• 9.4″ x 7″ x 1.4″ for 2 lbs (with keyboard)
• ARM Texas Instruments OMAP3 chip
• 1024×600 8.9” screen
• Storage: 8GB micro SD card
• Wifi 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth
• 3-dimensional accelerometer
• Speakers, micro and headphone
• 6 USB 2.0 (3 internal, 2 external, 1 mini)
• 10h to 15 hours of battery life