Dell has announced it's incorporating touch-screen functionality - in the form of an easy-to-install firmware upgrade - on it's Latitude XT tablets.

Tablets or convertible PCs are notebooks with a rotating screen that can be used as a flat writing surface. With the free software, users can scroll by placing two fingers on the screen and moving them horizontally or vertically, zoom in by touching the screen with two fingers and moving them together or program a double-tap to launch a web browser or to turn the screen of to save power.

Dell has release a short clip on YouTube showing how this will work...

Can't see the video? Download FlashPlayer from Adobe.com

Related stories

Dell 'tattoos' Studio notebooks 'Different' Dell to downgrade XPS brand Dell thinks young and colorful with business notebook refresh Dell's dinky designer desktop Focus plus excitement: Michael Dell talks turnarounds Dell challenges blades with rack workstation Dell hits all the wrong keys – again Dell's Ubuntu love-in expands to new laptops Dell hit by class action over unpaid overtime Dell and Wal-Mart team on TV installations

On other notebooks these capabilities won't be available until Windows 7 is released, which promises multi-touch "built throughout the OS".

Dell has also introduced a 128 GB SSD (solid state drive) GB drive for all Precision and Latitude systems and for XPS and Alienware systems. The $649 price tag is the same as the previous 64 GB SSD. SSD drives have no moving parts and are eight-and-a-half times more shock tolerant than standard hard drives.

Dell next month starts to manufacture its news Mini notebook, which will run on Linux, initially. According to Ken Musgrave, director Experience Design Group, Dell may decide to release a Windows XP version at the same time, but the company hadn't decided yet. The Register saw red, white and black notebooks, each with three USB ports, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, a car reader and a normal size keyboard. Musgrave declined to comment on the release date and pricing.

More comments…