Dell Latitude XT

We knew Dell was planning on updating its first-ever tablet—the Dell XT—with multi-touch capabilities from N-Trig, and now the wait is over. Though many were under the impression that we would have to wait until Windows 7 for multi-touch on a laptop, N-Trig and Dell today released the multi-touch firmware update for the Vista running XT. Over the last few weeks, I have been trying out the new multi-touch capabilities and can confidently say that it sure beats the multi-touch trackpads of the Eee PCs and the MacBook Air.

Check out the updated full review of the Dell XT for our impressions of the multi-touch capabilities. To see it in action, check out our video below.

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When Dell decided to finally enter the Tablet PC business in December 2007, we were left wondering why now? Tablet PCs have been around for years.

Dell’s response to that question is a mix of things. First, it has begun listening to its users through the IdeaStorm Web site. Second, the company believes that all the right technology is starting to fall into place and a very compelling tablet is ready to be built.

I say, after a week of hands-on time with its first tablet, the Latitude XT, Dell is right. Dell is one of the first tablet-makers to incorporate capacitive touch into its screens (most tablets use resistive touch). We were very excited about putting our fingers all over the XT’s screen to test its capacitive touchscreen technology. According to Dell’s Direct 2 Dell blog:

Capacitive technology senses the touch of a finger with no pressure leading to better accuracy, response times, screen durability, and ultimately, a better user experience.

We see a lot of tablets here at LAPTOP, but the XT’s capacitive touchscreen is one of the most responsive tablet screens we have ever seen. To burst the bubble of those expecting the screen to work like an iPhone’s, it just doesn’t. But it lets you do a lot more with your fingers. Though you can’t give up using the stylus or the keyboard altogether, you can really get the hang of using your fingers.

Check out our video comparing the Dell’s capacitive screen to a resistive touchscreen on the Toshiba Portégé.

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