Dell Won’t Release Windows 7 Tablet Until Autumn

Dell will not roll out its Windows 7-powered tablet until September at the earliest, amid speculation that the company will also launch a Windows 8 model next year, reports have revealed.

However, there is no explanation of the late arrival of the Windows 7 slate.

Commonly known as ‘the Windows 7 Business Tablet,’ Dell’s 10-inch gadget was first unveiled in February at the Dell Means Business event in San Francisco, although the device on display was nothing but a plastic mock-up.

According to the company, the Windows 7 tablet – which will be powered by an Intel processor – is designed for business users who need “greater mobility, as well as IT organisations that demand control, security, manageability, and integration with existing infrastructure investments”.

“Businesses want Windows because it fits into the IT management scheme,” said Dell CEO Steven Lalla at the event.

Dell’s Windows 8 tablet

Besides the Windows 7 Business Tablet, Dell also plans to release a Windows 8 model codenamed Peju in the first quarter of next year, according to the company’s roadmap for tablets (pictured) that has been leaked online.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is expected to show off an interface for its Windows 8 tablet operating system as early as June 2011. The system is also said to be developed with touch screens in mind.

Besides Dell, other manufacturers are also rolling out their tablets this year, with Motorola prepared to launch the 10.1-inch Xoom in a couple of days.

Acer is also planning to start shipping its 7-inch Iconia Tab A100 as well as the 10.1-inch A500 to the UK on 20 April, with an initial price tag of £300 and £450 respectively.

Later in the summer, Sony will jump aboard the tablet bandwagon with its own tablet PC dubbed ‘S1,’ boasting Android Honeycomb and a cutting-edge design, while Hewlett-Packard is rumoured to launch its webOS-based TouchPad later in June.