The Dell Inspiron Duo is a convertible tablet-style netbook with an innovative design that does away with the typical screen swivel and instead allows you to push the screen back to switch from laptop to tablet mode. The netbook went on sale this morning through the Microsoft Store and it’s expected to start shipping in early December.
Now the folks at SlashGear have posted some hands-on photos, video, and first impressions of the Inspiron Duo.
Here are some of the highlights:
- The rubberized case makes the Duo easy to grip in tablet mode.
- The computer is fairly heavy for a tablet (or about average for a netbook).
- If you don’t like big bezels around the display, this might not be the machine for you since it kind of has two screen bezels.
- Dell’s custom, finger-friendly software launches whenever you switch to tablet mode.
- SlashGear reports the Dell software seemed sluggish, but that this may be fixed by the time the netbook ships.
- There are no VGA or HDMI outputs on the Duo.
Make sure to hit up SlashGear for more photos and a brief hands-on video.
I feel like the tablet crazy has turned computers into toys. This thing looks great to play with, but it just doesn’t have enough polish and function for its price.
The Microsoft Store claims this has VGA out
I was about to say that. Microsoft is giving different specs and from the videos I’ve seen and pics there doesn’t seem to be a VGA port
I suspect they are referring to the docking port and you’ll need an adapter for VGA out.
That or they were thinking of bundling a USB to VGA display port adapter…
I don’t think it’s referring to the docking port since the docking port has it’s own page. Could be a mistake by Microsoft or the Duos sent out were just prototypes. I hope its the latter.
Perhaps, assuming of course the port isn’t hidden like the USB ports, but most devices without the normal port often use the docking port to provide the missing connectivity.
Unfortunately, you can’t always tell what the docking port is capable of by just the docking station it may or may not be offered with and technical specifications aren’t always clear.
Curiously, it’s up for preorder on the Dell page now, and the specs on there say nothing of a video out of any kind.