Guide Note

Dell's Latitude XT Tablet PC is a convertable tablet PC that comes with an outdoor viewing display, an Intel CPU and innovative touchscreen technology. The XT can be used either as a tablet—with the stylus applied directly to the screen—or as a conventional laptop, with the keyboard and trackpad.

Fast Facts

1. Manufacturer: Dell Computers
2. First lightweight tablet PC with capacitive touchscreen technology
3. Can be used as tablet, or standard laptop
4. 12.1" screen
5. Weight: 3 lbs., 12 oz.
6. Strong magnesium construction
7. Meant for artists, draftsmen and industrial uses
8. Price: $2,159

The XT's touchscreen uses technology that is more expensive than the alternative, but may have certain advantages. As of 2008, most tablet PCs on the market use a resistive touchscreen. In this system, the pen (or stylus) exerts pressure on the upper layers of the screen, creating an electrical connection with a lower layer. One drawback of resistive screens is that the electrically conductive layers limit screen clarity to around 75%. A capacitive touchscreen, on the other hand, does not register pressure, but instead identifies anything that touches the screen as a disturbance in an electronic field. According to some reviews, the capacitative system is very precise, and allows for a higher degree of clarity than does a resistive screen.