Prefer your Ultrabook in two separate parts for portability between big-screen desks? Fancy being ahead of the curve on touch-enabled Ultrabooks? The Samsung Series 7 Slate (XE700) is a tablet you need to pay attention too. After months of waiting (we did our first tests on this back in September) it’s shipping and you can expect a range of reports from various sites next week.
First up is a tweet that got me jealous. Mobile-device fan and owner of last years ASUS EP121 Slate from Genghiskent who had his delivered a few days ago. I’m in contact with him to get some thoughts soon but do keep an eye on his blog.
We’ve got news coming from Samsung Germany next week on a review sample but if you want some info today, check out Liliputing where Brad has just posted some first thoughts. I hope he has the chance to run up a Windows 8 Preview on it!
The first thing I note is that Samsung will ship this without the keyboard in the USA where in Europe, it appears to be shipping with the keyboard. Update: It could be that the low-end version in the USA ships without the keyboard and that the more expensive versions with 128GB ship with the keyboard.
Our Series 7 XE700 performance testing article is here and the Samsung XE700 specifications and more links are here.
Hi Chippy! The Series 7 Slate has been available here in the US since late October/early November. You can get the the 64 gb model for around $1,099 with Win 7 Home Premium and $1,199 with Win 7 Pro. The model that comes with the dock and keyboard is $,1349. I’m going to get one myself.
My mistake. I didn’t know it had been available for so long. Thanks for the info.
No problem. I enjoyed your live review of the Acer ultrabook earlier today. You know I always enjoy the live reviews. :-) I also enjoy the Meet:Mobility podcasts which are really the only podcasts I listen to so I hope there will be more in the future.
Chippy, the high-end model (which I now have) comes with a keyboard and dock as Dr. Nick says. My shipment was delayed. Just speculation, but this may be due to Samsung fixing reported problems with the left bottom of the screen not being flush but above the bezel level.
Is there a holder for the stylus? Does the dock have ports (USB and video out) for quick docking/undockung to/from a big screen, mouse and full keyboard? Thanks.
No holder for stylus. Dock has 5 ports. Power, Ethernet, USB, HDMI, Audio. Not sure about “hot” docking/undocking. Hope this helps.
Thank you. I don’t mind having to issue an undock command. I just don’t want to constantly plugin/out cables. Too bad for no pen holder.
I am getting the Stand Case as this device needs protection. I have heard this case doesn’t have a pen holder either. However, there are inexpensive solutions available to add a pen holder to a case.
Is the official case compatible with the dock?
I have read it is not. I don’t have the Stand Case yet so I can’t test it myself. But there doesn’t seem to be much tolerance in the fit of the “bare” tablet in the dock.
Is there a WWAN option or is it upgradeable to have an mPCIe WWAN module?