Dell Will Be Late with Windows 7 Tablet

Previous roadmaps may have painted a more optimistic picture as far as the market for Windows 7 slates goes, but it looks like, at least for Dell, plans have been pushed back by several months.

Tablets loaded with the Windows 7 operating systems aren't a myth on the IT market, but they have, so far, not really been that successful either.

The reason behind this is the simple fact that, excluding the Apple iPad (which has been dominating this area), models based on the ARM platform and running the Android OS are better suited for this type of electronic.

Nevertheless, Wintel slates (as they are called) still appeal to enterprise users and some consumers that want an experience closer to that provided by a PC.

Dell is one of the companies with intentions to address this particular end-user base, although it might just have to delay things a bit.

Back in February, a leaked roadmap implied that the so-called Rosemount model would be made available by May or June at the latest.

It was described as a 10-inch device more suited for business users, meaning that it won't be burdened by competition from Apple's iPad 2 and the various Android tablets already making rounds around the world.

No real details are known about it, but reports now indicate that its launch has been pushed back to September.

Considering that Intel's Oak Trail platform was recently said to be on track for Computex availability, it seems more than certain that Dell's own solution will adopt it.

As for what will come next, Dell should end up as one of the first world-class IT player to provide the industry with slates running Windows 8, once 2012 comes around.

Until then, the company will keep on promoting the 5-inch and 7-inch Streak slates, which use the Android OS. A 10-inch Android 3.0 model should come out later this quarter.