Having a hard time deciding between a netbook and a tablet? Dell hopes to make the choice easier by giving you a two-fer: its new Inspiron Duo is both, a hybrid with a 10-inch touch screen. The Duo may be unveiled next week; no pricing has been announced yet.
Dell isn't saying much about the Duo just yet, although a short YouTube video shows a sneak peek. (BlackBerry maker Research In Motion also is sharing a look on YouTube at its new PlayBook tablet, due for release next year, comparing it to Apple's iPad).
The Duo, with a dual-core Atom processor and using Windows 7, was first shown by Dell in September at an Intel Developer Forum.
There have been other hybrid designs, most notably Lenovo's IdeaPad U1, unveiled earlier this year. The Android-based device was supposed to be available in June, but has now been pushed back to early next year. The IdeaPad U1 has an 11.6-inch screen that can be used as a tablet only.
Estimated pricing on the Lenovo has been around $1,000; Dell will need to come in at much less than that to make the Duo appealing price-wise.
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