Dell's Mini 10 launching on or around February 27th?

We'd be highly skeptical of this one (in fact, we actually are highly skeptical), but we've seen a Dell rep or two speak the truth before. To that end, we figured it prudent to pass along Sir Paul Synnott's recent chat with an online Dell UK representative. Upon asking for more details on the future release of the Mini 10 netbook -- you know, that machine that was unveiled at CES and then promptly forgotten? -- he was amazingly hit back with a definitive ship date: February 27th. He was also told that the power adapter would be a "smaller one, as with the Mini 9," and that pricing was yet to be determined. We know, it reeks of fish, but the date itself doesn't sound all that outlandish. Guess we'll just have to wait and see, eh?

Dell Latitude XT2 multi-touch tablet with 11-hour battery now official (starts at $2,399)

The machine translation is pretty weak, but Dell's 12.1-inch (1,280 x 800 pixel) Latitude XT2 looks to have just made its first tentative steps in a global launch. The video posted after the break comes courtesy of Korean site, AVING, where the convertible tablet was apparently just released. Pinch to zoom and two-fingers swipes... yup, it's in there. 11-hours of battery (6-cell plus battery slice) and DDR3 memory (max of 5GB!) too in a chassis just 2.5-cm (0.98-inches) thick. Click through for the video while we track down the official specifications that already seem to be aligning with the unofficial specs leaked earlier.
Update: Official Dell Japan press release now out. We've got specs:

• up to 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo ULV SU9400 processor with Montevina chipset
  
• Intel integrated GMA 4500MHD graphics
  
• Windows Vista Ultimate on down
  
• 12.1-inch LED backlit capacitive touch-screen with EM Digitizer pen
  
  
• up to 5GB of DDR3 1066MHz (1x1GB, 1x4GB DIMM)
  
• up to 120GB 5400RPM SATA disk or 128GB SSD
  
• 802.11a/g/n WiFi and gigabit Ethernet
  
• SATA ODD
  
• 3.78-pounds (1.72-kg) with 6-cell battery
  
• eSATA, 2x USB 2.0, firewire, and ExpressCard 54 slot

Hark! Dell Mini 12 kitted with an SSD

Like a proclamation from On High come the words: "Rejoice! No longer do you have to put up with a slow dell Mini 12!" The kids over at Portable Monkey have taken a good look at Mtron's 1.8-inch SSD (the inelegantly named MSD-PATA3018032-ZIF2 is going for ?26,800 -- about $294) and not surprisingly, the thing has far out-classed the Mini 12's default 4200rpm HDD in benchmarks. On the other hand, the drive does draw a considerable bit of power, so battery life may be an issue -- and at a height of 8 millimeters (as opposed to 5 millimeters for the standard drive) some folks have had a hard time installing the thing. Are you the type of person who gets giddy at the prospect of souping up your hardware? We thought so. Hit the read link for all the juicy deets.

• Dell XT2 specs and availability leaked, launching on Weds?
• dell Promise Pink laptops fight breast cancer

Dell Promise Pink laptops fight breast cancer

It slipped under the radar this past week, but Dell and Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced a partnership that'll see Dell donate $5 to the foundation for every new Promise Pink laptop it sells. Most of Dell's line is available in the new hue, including the various Inspiron Studios and Minis, the XPS m1330 and m1530 -- hell, even the Latitude E4200 for all you trendster suits out there. Dell's committed to raising at least $250,000 through the program, so it apparently thinks these are going to be quite popular -- we'll know for sure if this dude trades up to Promise from Flamingo.

Dell XT2 specs and availability leaked, launching on Weds?

It's been a long, long time since the first information about Dell's update to the venerable XT convertible tablet snuck out of Texas, and while we got some choice morsels of information last month, we were still missing any semblance of a release date (that original November 2008 target proved to be a bit optimistic). Now we have what could be the official spec sheet for the series and a date to boot, confirming much of what we'd heard before, like your choice of 1.2GHz SU9300 or 1.4GHz SU9400 Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs, a 12.1-inch multitouch display, up to 5GB of DDR3 memory, and either 80GB worth of platters or 64GB of SSD. Base weight is 3.62 pounds, just over the 3.5 pound target the company had been aiming for, and if this source is correct the machine will be getting an official unveiling on February 11 -- close enough that we'd advise holding off on any other tablet purchases for a few days.

• dell 's Mini 9 selling for just $249 -- who needs a subsidy?

Dell's Mini 9 selling for just $249 -- who needs a subsidy?

mini s>If you thought last month's $99 Mini 9 was just too cheap (unlikely), or were scared off by the two year contract that came along with the offer (rather more likely), check out Dell's latest deal. The company is selling its lowest-spec Mini 9n, offering 512MB of memory and Ubuntu installed on a 4GB SSD, for just $249. That's $100 less one went for for last September. Can't live without Windows? You'll still need to pony up another $50, but will at least get an extra 4GB of storage out of the deal. Surely one of these two bargain portables will fit into your budget and your lifestyle, but don't spend too long deciding which -- this deal expires on February 12.

• Dell's Mini 12 netbook dissected for your viewing pleasure

Dell's Mini 12 netbook dissected for your viewing pleasure

It's taken quite awhile for someone to gather up the courage to do it, but at long last, Dell's cutesy Mini 12 has been stripped of its dignity and dissected for the world to see. Honestly, there isn't much in this netbook that you haven't already seen in similar alternatives, but those unable to resist the allure of undressed gadgets will still want to give the read link a visit. Or two, depending on your level of self-restraint.

• VAIO P spotted and unboxed in the American wild
• Hey Sony, where's the 1.86GHz VAIO P for America?