Dell confirms 12in netbook? MID? Tablet?

Tesco leak legit, sort of

By Tony Smith in Monaco • Get more from this author

25th September 2008 08:55 GMT

Dell has confirmed it is indeed working on a 12in netbook-style laptop, as UK grocer Tesco recently let slip on its website.

Dell's European marketing chief for consumer products, David Clifton, admitted today that, yes, the PC giant's recently released Inspiron Mini 9 9in Small, Cheap Computer will soon be joined by a 12in model.

However, he refused to be drawn to comment on when the machine will be announced, or what its final specification will be.

According to the Tesco leak, the machine will be powered by an Atom Z530 - a chip normally reserved for internet handhelds rather than laptops, suggesting that the Dell machine might be more of an MID-style device than a notebook.

Think a roughly A4-sized touch-sensitive tablet for web browsing, media streaming and IM'ing around the home.

That's one option - a larger-than-usual netbook type device is another. Again, Clifton was giving no clues.

Other specs - if Tesco is to be believed - include 1GB of memory, a 40GB hard drive, Ubuntu Linux for an OS, a size of 30 x 30 x 1.7cm and a weight of 1.2kg.