Dell brings touch-screen netbook for education to life

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Tuesday, 19 May 2009 09:25

Opinion and Analysis

Although the Latitude 2100 comes in five colours in the US (School Bus Gold, Chalkboard Black, Ball Field Green, Blue Ribbon and Schoolhouse Red), Australian consumers will only get the Blue, Black and Red models to start with.

US schools are also able to purchase a “mobile computing station” or “cart” that can take 24 netbooks for charging and secure storage, and while this option is not yet available to Australian schools Dell is considering their introduction here.

The 6-cell battery (with a cheaper 3-cell battery available as an option) also offers a “personalised window on the back of the battery pack where the school logo or name can be displayed, allowing schools to personalise or easily identify systems.”

Paul Bell, president of Dell’s global public sector division said: “The Latitude 2100 shows that Dell thinks about, cares about, and designs products with education in mind. This system is an extension of our efforts to support educators as they transform technology access in classrooms worldwide. We will continue to respond quickly to their needs and work with governments to deliver technology that modernizes education, excites students and arms them with the skills they need to succeed in the digital age.”

Jeff Morris, Dell’s Sydney-based APJ director of Commercial Client products said: “Dell is setting a new standard for netbooks with the Latitude 2100. The Latitude 2100 is a purpose-designed netbook for students. In addition to being popular with education institutions, we also expect the business-class design features of the Latitude 2100 to interest other public institutions and private enterprises as it delivers a unique offering to the netbook market.”

The 2100 specs are as follows:   

- Choice of XP Home, Vista Home Basic and Linux Ubuntu
- Intel Atom processor N270
- 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity coupled with a full suite of wireless communication options
- 2.91lb* (1.32kg) starting at weight with 3-cell battery
- Hard or solid state drives for increased durability
- Three-cell or six-cell battery
- Three-in-one Media Card Reader
- Optional External DVD+/-RW via USB
- VGA port
- Clean bottom is vent-free to avoid any intrusion from spills
- Options: webcam
- Key management features can allow IT administrators to lower overall ownership cost and speed up deployment:
- More durable design that means a longer product life
- Remote management for easier administration

Available from the 20th of May in Australia and New Zealand, the Latitude 2100 is a welcome addition to the ever growing range of netbooks, offering some excellent “unique features” to differentiate this new netbook from the rest of the pack, and appealing strongly to students everywhere.