Dell Venue 11 Pro 7000 gets a Broadwell refresh -- thinner, fanless, and gorgeous
Back in the day, Dell disrupted the PC industry with its direct sales and low prices. What really made Dell stand out, however, was its quality and attention to detail. I remember being a computer salesman in a brick and mortar retail store, trying to sell Compaq and Emachine laptops. Without fail, after helping someone for 30 minutes, they would say "but can you match Dell's prices?" Of course, we usually couldn't and they would leave the store to buy from Dell direct.
Things have changed quite a bit over the years -- manufacturers have come and gone. While the PC market is not as strong as it once was, Dell remains a significant player, offering both value and power machines. Today, the manufacturer refreshes the popular Venue 11 Pro, with a fanless Broadwell processor.
"Dell is introducing updates to the popular Dell Venue 11 Pro 7000 Series tablets. Venue 11 Pro tablets are designed to accelerate productivity for mobile workers and provide secure access to content beyond the corporate firewall for easy IT management", says Dell.
The manufacturer further explains, "the Venue 11 Pro can be configured with additional security features including two-factor authentication with integrated smartcard and fingerprint readers as well as the Dell Data Protection suite of client security software. When configured with these options, the Venue 11 Pro is the most secure and manageable Windows tablet in the industry, earning a place on the U.S. Department of Defense Unified Capabilities Approved Products List (UC APL)".
Dell touts the following improvements over the previous generation:
- 15 percent thinner and fan-less design for a light and quiet user experience;
- Extended battery life to get through the work day;
- Travel keyboard for a full laptop experience and accompanying thin keyboard for ultra-portability;
- The latest range of Intel Core M processors;
- Stunning wide-angle (1920 x 1080) FHD IPS & 10.8-inch display;
- Docking station for a traditional monitor, keyboard and mouse PC experience
Notable Specs
- Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 64-Bit
- Processor: Intel Core M 5Y10a processor (4MB L3 Cache, 2.0 GHz Dual-Core)
- Display: 10.8 inch TN TFT Display with FHD (1920 x 1080) resolution with 10-pt capacitive touch
- Memory: 4GB DDR3L 1600MHz Memory
- Storage: 64GB or 128 GB Solid State Storage (expandable with micro SD)
- Connectivity: Intel 7265 Dual-Band 2x2 802.11 ac WiFi + Bluetooth 4.0
- Camera: 2MP front, 8MP rear
As you can see, this will be a competitor for the Surface Pro 3. With that said, it is smaller and lighter than Microsoft's tablet, but more importantly, fanless too. Consumers that want an absolutely quiet machine will greatly appreciate Dell's offering. Keep in mind though, the Surface Pro 3 has a larger screen and more configurations.
Business users in particular will like the security options, such as the fingerprint reader, which can lead to one less password to remember. Not to mention, the docking station will transform it into a peppy workstation, while the optional active stylus makes taking notes a breeze. Dell has a huge presence in the enterprise and companies with existing contracts will want to check this out.
The optional Mobility Keyboard with embedded battery turns the Dell Venue 11 Pro 7000 into a true laptop, while also extending the battery life even more. Road-warriors in particular will want to pick up this accessory.
Pricing starts at $699, which is very close to the Core i3 Surface Pro 3 price of $799. With such close starting prices, consumers and businesses will have tough decisions to make when the new Dell Venue 11 Pro 7000 Series sees release later in the month.
Which would you rather have, the Surface Pro 3 or the Dell Venue 11 Pro 7000 Series? Tell me in the comments.