Tablets for government: Dell Latitude 10 Enhanced Security
Connecting state and local government leaders
The Latitude's user authentication features will please admins, but users won't love the limited battery power.
The tablet has become an integral part of the mobile plans of many agencies, complementing and, in some cases, even replacing laptop and desktop PCs. Different models of tablets have different strength and weaknesses, and which one is right for your agencies depends on your own needs. This week, we take a close look at five popular tablets and what they offer agencies.
The Latitude 10 Enhanced Security tablet from Dell has user authentication features that simply aren’t available on most tablets. However, without a spare battery users won’t want to be away from a power source for long. Prices range from $499 to $779, depending on the configuration.
What works for government agencies
The Latitude 10 Enhanced Security is a Windows tablet (it runs XP, Vista and Windows 7 and 8) that, as its name implies, focuses on security in government, academic and health care settings.
It comes with both a fingerprint reader (a quarter-inch square on the upper left of the back of the tablet) and a smart card reader. It also includes Trusted Platform Module 1.2 hardware, Microsoft BitLocker drive encryption and Computrace support for tracking a lost or stolen device.
The tablet includes a good array of ports that would make it a fit for agency employees who work both in the office and out on the road. Users who want to expand their office setup can get an optional WiGig dock ($249) that connects to a monitor through its HDMI port and keyboard and mouse through the dock’s four USB 3.0 ports. The docking connector also functions as a power port. But to save a user from having to unplug the power cord from the docking station, Dell also put a micro-USB port next to the docking port that can be used for charging.
Its 1.8 GHz Intel Atom Z2760 processor and 32G to 64G of solid state storage should be enough for most jobs.
What might not work for government agencies
The battery life of the Latitude 10 Enhanced Security tablet might not be ideal for every government job. The operating system, apps and broadband (if especially with the 4G LTE option) all take their toll, and the two-cell, 30-watt-hour battery will only last a few hours under non-optimal conditions. Dell does offer an optional four-cell, 60 watt-hour battery that can be swapped out, but that brings the total weight to just about two pounds.
MORE: 5 tablets for government