Earlier this year, we announced a refresh of our portfolio of business client systems, including nine new additions to our Latitude family. With these new systems, our efforts focused on delivering professional tools with consumer appeal – designed to maximize end user productivity and IT control. And our focus is measured by customer interest and demand – as well as 3rd party product reviews from sites like notebooks.com, Government Computer News and Computer Reseller News, we’ve been successful in this effort.
As we began communicating to customers today, we recently made a decision that impacts availability of one of those systems: the Latitude XT3 convertible tablet. We have removed the Latitude XT3 tablet from sale on Dell.com. I can assure you; there are no issues with the Latitude XT3 itself. This decision is based on the fact demand has outpaced production capacity.
Further, this decision should in no way be interpreted as Dell is not committed to End User Computing, the PC business or tablets in general. Dell is steadfastly committed to End User Computing and meeting our customers’ needs from the device to the data center to the cloud with customer inspired design across a complete portfolio of systems, services and solutions.
Comments or questions on this decision? Let us know below.
Kirk Schell is senior vice president of Dell’s Commercial Client Product Group. In this role he is responsible for overseeing strategy, planning, launch and sustaining programs, brand and messaging for Dell Latitude commercial client products and Dell’s Internet of Things edge computing portfolio.
Mr. Schell has held multiple leadership roles in his 18 year career at Dell. Previously, he led the Marketing organization for Dell’s Business Client Product Group and was responsible for product strategy, product planning and management, messaging and overall business performance of the Latitude, OptiPlex and Dell Precision brands. Before that role, he served in Shanghai, China as director of the Vostro Product Group for Dell’s Small and Medium Business (SMB) division. In that capacity he was responsible for the Vostro desktop and notebook product line and Emerging Market products in Dell’s portfolio of SMB products worldwide.
Before joining Dell, Mr. Schell served as an officer in the United States Navy in the US Navy Nuclear Power Program. He also served as the United States Navy Liaison to Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth in Devon, England.
Mr. Schell holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from The University of Michigan. He now lives in Austin, Texas after repatriating in June 2010 from Shanghai, China and the Dell China Design Center.