Dive Brief:

• Panasonic, Intel, and Microsoft Corp. have collaborated on a new 2-in-1 convertible device for K-12 classrooms, unveiled Sunday morning at the 2014 International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference.
• The 3E — which stands for "Engage, Empower, Enable" — features a 10" touchscreen and can be used as a tablet or laptop via detachable keyboard. It comes preloaded with education software like KNO, and also has a stylus for note-taking, a magnifying lens that allows the camera to be used as a microscope, and a temperature probe for lab use.
• The device is also IP51 standard compliant, making it resistant to spills and dust and capable of handling three-foot drops, and teachers can control students' activity by viewing r unlocking their devices with classroom management tools.

Dive Insight: 

Additional features include: Micro HDMI, Micro SD, micro-SIM, dual audio/microphone input, and USB 3.0 ports, as well as the Intel Atom quad-core processor and Windows 8.1 PRO operating system. Due to the additional battery in the keyboard, the 3E can also last three hours beyond the minimum eight-hour life of the tablet battery itself.

With this device, Panasonic, Intel, and Microsoft are clearly aiming for the iPad, currently education's dominant tablet choice. Will the 3E, which starts at $499, be able to cut into Apple's share of the market?