Dell Latitude 10-ST2 Fills a Specific Tablet Niche

It's no secret that tablets are extremely popular right now; to the point that many analysts say they are surpassing PC sales. While Apple's iPad continues to lead the pack, Microsoft also threw its hat into the tablet ring late last year with the launch of Windows 8, its more touch friendly version of the Windows desktop operating system. Unfortunately, Windows 8 has yet to really capture consumer interest, though.

Meanwhile, Microsoft partner and PC manufacturer Dell has also been struggling to reinvent itself in this new age of computing, recently going private and manufacturing tablets of its own. The Dell Latitude 10-ST2 is the company's latest tablet device that runs Windows 8 Pro on an Intel Atom processor, putting it somewhere between the Surface RT and Surface Pro in terms of power.

In terms of build, the 10-ST2 has a lot in common with the Surface with an all-black finish, a slightly rubberized back and of course a 10.2-inch display covered in Gorilla Glass. As noted, however, the device sports an Atom processor, which is much weaker than the Surface Pro's Core i5.

Image via pcworld.com

With proper optimization, though, this lack of processing power might not hinder the user too much — and the 10-ST2 does apparently run Microsoft Office just fine — but, according to some reviewers, the device struggles with anything beyond basic use.

Meanwhile, the Latitude 10-ST2's docking station was found to be useful as it features a number of USB 2.0 ports, an audio port and a mini HDMI output. This effectively allows the tablet to offer a full desktop experience while at home complete with mouse, keyboard, monitor and speakers.

Still, though, considering how slow the 10-ST2 tends to be, there's no compelling reason to use it at home in lieu of a proper desktop or laptop. On the other hand, what the 10-ST2 lacks in performance, it makes up for in battery life, being easily capable of getting through the work day with moderate use.

Overall, the Dell Latitude 10-ST2 falls into an extremely niche category, likely only appealing to those looking to use a tablet for business use since most programs outside of e-mail and Microsoft Office tend to slow the tablet down to a crawl.