One chassis, multiple engines. The PC industry is moving towards the car industry business model now that Core and Atom devices are starting to be built to the same design. One of those designs is that of the Dell Venue 11 Pro 2-in-1 which I know many of you are considering. It’s going to be a popular model if Dell can get it out there quickly but if you’re one of the many interested, which one do you choose? Atom, Pentium and Core are up for grabs but there’s quite a difference between them.
I took a view of the Dell Venue 11 Pro from the high-end position last week but today I want to help you, and help myself, choose between the four main models and multiple options associated with that and we obviously need to start with the same old question – What do you want to do with it?
The Dell Venue 11 Pro could be a desktop replacement in all model variants but only the Haswell-architecture variants would be comfortable options. None of those, however, has the power of a modern Ultrabook. There may be some of you out there that can work with the BayTrail version as your only PC but let’s not kid ourselves that it’s going to be an upgrade from anything less than a 5-year old low-end notebook or desktop and even the high end variants aren’t going to be power-houses. They will, however, fit some users perfectly. One of those, I think, is me. You too?
The Display and cams on all the models are all the same. The width and height are the same. They all look the same and have the same keyboard accessories. Let’s be clear that the basic product is a 10.8-inch tablet though. The processors and accessories make it very interesting. Keyboard docks and docking stations provide the sort of ultra-mobile-to-desk experience that many of us are looking for; Saving time and money.
Low-End Dell Venue 11 Pro Model has Atom Architecture (Model 5130 in USA)
- Starting at $499
- Basic Windows 8.1 OS: 32-bit Windows 8.1
- Lower power processor: Processor: 4-core Z3770 processor and 2GB DDR3 1333MHz Memory memory.
- Smaller Battery: Battery is 32Wh
- Thinner design: 10.2mm thick
- Lower graphics power: Intel® Gen 7 Graphics (A cut-down version of HD4000 GPU graphics)
- Slower storage: 32 or 64GB eMMC SSD storage.
- Lighter: 726 grams / 1.59 lbs
- Always-on support: Connected standby.
- Better Office package: Microsoft® Office Home and Student 2013 Included
- Dell Wireless 1538 Dual-Band 2×2 802.11n WiFi + Bluetooth® 4.0 [Differences between 1538 and 1537, below, unknown.]
- Lower price
High End Dell Venue 11 Pro Models have Haswell Architechture Models (Model 7130/7139 in USA)
- Starting at $799 (Core i3. Pentium prices unknown but expected $50-$100 cheaper.)
- Higher-end OS: 64-bit Windows 8 Pro (only, as per Dell offerings today)
- More powerful processor options:
- Intel® Pentium 3560Y processor (2MB Cache, 1.2 GHz Dual -Core) No Turbo boost, No Intel Quick Sync.
- Intel® Core i3 4020Y processor (3MB Cache, 1.5 GHz Dual -Core) No Turbo boost
- Intel® Core i5 4210Y processor (3MB Cache, 1.5 GHz Dual -Core) Turbo 1.5Ghz-1.9Ghz
- Intel® Core i5 4300Y processor (3MB Cache, 1.6 GHz Dual -Core) VPro + Turbo 1.6Ghz-2.3Ghz
- Thicker design: 15.4mm thick (Atom version is 10.2mm thick)
- More powerful graphics: Intel® GT2 Graphics (HD 4400)
- Larger, faster storage: Storage is 128GB or 256GB. Likely on a SATA interface and with much more potential speed.)
- Bigger battery: Battery is 36Wh (although it’s understood that the 32 and 36Wh batteries can be interchanged.)
- Heavier design: 1.84 pounds (Atom version is 1.50 pounds)
- More memory: 4GB or 8GB DDR3 1600MHz Memory (Ato m version is offered only in 2GB version although 4GB is theoretically possible.
- Dell Wireless 1537 Dual-Band 2×2 802.11n WiFi
- More expensive
- Options expected for this model:
- Intel® 7260AC Dual-Band 2×2 802.11 ac WiFi
- Broadband: Dell Wireless 5570E (3G / HSPA+) or Dell Wireless 5808E (LTE/HSPA/EVDO) Mobile Broadband Card
Put your thoughts below and/or vote here.
Which Dell Venue 11 Pro do you think is best?
[poll id=”6″]
Will the “Pentium” models be Bay Trail-M ?
It says Y so its based on Haswell.
The Bay Trail M models have much higher TDP and the performance is not better than the top of the line T like the Z3770. The M models also do not have S0iX support so the battery life will be noticeably worse per WHr.
In all ways it would be a downgrade over the T series Bay Trail.
Baytrail-M does support S0ix in 32-bit version (and one assumes 64-bit in the future.)
I’m interested in the Bay Trail M devices coming out. Hopefully, a 10 incher with thin bezels and an option to max out the RAM if it’s not upgradeable. I want a keyboard dock (not a flappy cover type) as well.
That is, if no OEM busts out with a 5″-7″ slider with a mouse and Bay Trail T that can boot 64-bit Linux OS’s easily.
I just don’t think the industry can support that sort of cost now although in the service industry it could be popular. Unfortunately, that could mean expensive!
I understand that I’m looking for a device with small demand given the likely high price. But I’d gladly pay high prices (up to a point of course) if what I want exists. I don’t even mind losing other features like an active stylus and a touch screen for a 10″ “premium” netbook. The same goes for a spiritual successor to the OQO sliders. I am someone who actually paid the high prices of past UMPCs. I even bought IBM ThinkPads when they were $2000+. The ones where fairly heavy people can stand on and hop a little.
I even think that if you actually make use of all the features, the Fujitsu Q584 has a fair price. I don’t mind paying extra if it’s upgraded to Bay Trail M, has thinner bezels and a matte black or graphite color (not a fan of white electronics) and just not make use of some of the features.
I’m not like those who see the word “Atom” and a price that’s not $300 and start complaining while ignoring pretty much everything else about the device.
The baytrail version intrigues me more but I need see how Dell responds to the active stylus issues on the V8P .. there might be a firmware update this week but we’ll see.
Good point. I think we have to assume that it’s never going to be as good / as well supported as Wacom. I hope i’m wrong but that’s my gut feeling.
Chippy.
Are they really not going to offer a broadband card in the baytrail version of this? I was hoping to get a 1080p baytrail with broadband card or at least a slot to add one later if i wanted.
It’s still unclear. It’s technically possible and Dell are talking about 3G/4G options but we haven’t seen any model offering it yet.
.) Better Office package: Microsoft® Office Home and Student 2013 Included
Thats not correct, its only a trail version.
.) Thicker design: 15.4mm thick (Atom version is 10.2mm thick)
Some configurations for 7130/7139 are coming with 12.2mm
Actually the $499 baytrail version includes the full Office Home & Student 2013, while the haswell models include a trial version of office.
From which source did you get this info? Do you have a link?
Dell states it comes with it on the $499 model.
For the poll I have clicked on the Baytrail low power version, but this is mainly because I would like to have longest battery life possible. The specs description, however, indicates the Baytrail devices have smaller batteries. How does this compute to battery life differences between devices?
Chatting with a Dell rep a week ago, said that battery life would be the same across the two devices (iCore have little higher power requirement, but also that bigger battery) — should get 8-10hrs with both.
Are the Haswell based models fanless?
I’m quite interested in the emmc-model built into the baytrail-t-model.
Because there are quite big differences in performance.
There is a highspeed emmc-model which is almost as fast as a SATA-SSD.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7347/sandisk-announces-optimized-inand-extreme-emmc-for-bay-trail
150MBytes per second read / 45MBytes per second write @ 4KB random
4000 IOPS read / 800 IOPS write
And there are quite slow emmcs around.
I’ve got the baytrail model venue 11 pro in front of me (purchased from the local Microsoft store). I’m seeing ~150Mb/sec seq reads and about 65MB/second seq writes.
you got the 11 pro? Tell us more, please.
I am quite interested in the Haswell model core i3 with 3G/HSPA. However, among the configurations offered by Dell in Europe today, there is one single configuration with a 3G Modem (which seem unlocked), while a number of configurations using Dell NetReady Broadband Solution with a SIM card from an specific carrier (in the case of Europe, O2). I assume that Netready solution consist of a combination of a chip card (maybe based on Qualcomm Goby technology)+SIM card (I assume that replaceable)+Dell Netready application as service application front-end.
I think that Dell is offering similar solutions in the US in a number of laptops and tablet devices. Does anyone know how well Netready is working?. Can you change the SIM card and connect to other carrier or the device is locked to that SIM card?.
I ordered the Atom version. My reasoning is that the new Baytrail Atom has progressed so much in this iteration that it will meet and exceed my everyday needs. My usage scenario is that of a generic business person as an Estate Agent, while I do run a side business a wedding photographer I use a desktop multiple monitor setup for editing in Lightroom and Photoshop. So for me the frequency of actually editing photos or transcoding a video very infrequent, which encomposes all of my CPU intensive tasks.
Thus I decided with the Z3770 getting such positive feedback for its general use speed I saw no reason to invest another $300 in the top iCore version. The one issue that I do see as a potential issue is the ridiculously small amount of ram.
I feel personally that the choice can be distilled into two overall usage choices.
A.
If you intend to use this as your sole computer mostly likely with the desktop dock and large monitor go with the iCores. That being said though if you are going to invest the extra money on the CPU and Dock That $3-400 could almost build you a desktop capable of wiping the floor with the Venue 10 Pro.
B.
If your everyday mobile computing life looks like mine and most business professionals/Students the Atom should serve you very efficiently. In other words if you live in Photoshop, some 3D application or video editor then the Atom isn’t your choice. Otherwise even some of the CPU intensive tasks I just described should be adequately handled by the Atom on occasion. I do realize that this is an assumption based on other devices that have this CPU. However the RAM bottleneck aside, other reviewers gone as far as to say the the Baytrail Atom’s are so good they should have been rebranded for fear that association with previous model’s anemic performance reputation will rub off on the new unit.
Chippy I am scheduled to receive my Venue 11 Pro on 12/13/13 or before. I would love to do a guest post with an unboxing/preview of the Atom version. As long as you don’t mind being my editor, grammar was never my best subject. I have been a reader of the blog since 2008 when based on your coverage I bought the Everun Note D16S. Thanks for all your work, advice and coverage throughout the years!
A user review, overview or video is more than welcome. I’m thinking about the 11 with Baytrail too.
Does anybody know what happened to the pentium option? It’s not on dell’s site and the dell reps don’t know anything about it
I use i5 4300 processor 8GB 256GB SSD model as desktop replacement for .NET development – running web server and SQLserver