Though Dell is keeping its mouth shut on the topic of the company’s first ever tablet PC, the folks over at Engadget claim to have the inside scoop on the Latitude XT and if they’re right, this little guy will be nothing to sneeze at. According to Engadget, we can expect the following:

• Single or dual-core Intel ULV CPUs (with integrated graphics)
• LED-backlit WXGA 1280 x 800 display option
• Outdoor viewing WXGA 1280 x 800 display option
• Pen and touch support (digitizer and touchscreen)
• (3) USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, 1394, VGA out
• WiFi options up to 802.11n, optional Bluetooth
• Optional 3G (HSDPA, EV-DO Rev. A)
• ExpressCard slot, optional Smart Card slot, fingerprint reader

The tablet PC (which, judging from the looks of it, might ship with Windows XP?) will allegedly land sometime in the third quarter of this year. That only leaves one unanswered question: What’s Dell doing entering a sluggish market like tablets so late in the game?

For more on the tablet (including a leaked photo):
– see this Engadget article