Digital Trends
Computer maker Dell has always targeted the education market with its desktop and notebook models—what computer maker doesn’t want to have its wares carted around in backpacks and populating university and high school labs? But now the company is targeting a much younger segment of students with its new Latitude 2100 netbook
Having introduced the very first multi-touch capable tablet with the Latitude XT and followed it up with the more consumer-friendly TouchSmart tx2, Dell has gone back to update the original for business users.
The Latitude XT2 brings better performance, a thinner profile, and longer battery life to the convertible tablet, as well as a slightly lower price tag. This time around, it boasts Intel Core 2 Duo processors, up to 5GB or RAM, better hinge design for a more stable screen, and even an “LCD-based” antenna that Dell claims will improve Wi-Fi connectivity. Dell brags of run-time of 11 hours and 28 minutes – but only by supplementing the internal six-cell battery with an additional six-cell slice.
Internet giant Google is getting into the location-sharing game with Latitude, a new service that enables users to share location information from their phones and/or a computer with friends and family, so they can see a user’s approximate location in real time—all, of course, displayed using Google Maps.
Computer maker Dell has taken the wraps off new notebooks, including the new Latitude E-series (which includes models ranging from ultra-portable to ruggedized notebooks, along with the Precision M4400 and M2400 mobile workstation notebooks.
Computer maker Dell has decided to enter the ruggedized notebook business with its new Latitude XFR D630 notebook, a new system intended for government, enterprise, and other commercial customers who need tough systems for use in harsh environments and field work. The XFR D630 meets MIL-STD 810F (PDF) for operation in extreme conditions, and shares components with Dell’s existing Latitude line for easier integration into existing IT infrastructures. And, of course, it wouldn’t be Dell if they didn’t tout the machine as faster than the competition: the company claims the XFR D630 is 23 percent faster than the Panasonic CF-30 ToughBook, with up to four times better graphic performance.
Hot on the heels of Toshiba’s ninth-generation tablet PC, the M700, Dell has announced its very first entry into the tablet market. Rather than slipping out a budget model to test the waters, Dell will attempt to lead the market with its high-end Latitude XT, which delivers a slim profile, low weight, and new touch screen technology.
The Latitude XT’s main claim to fame is its capacitive touch screen, the same technology used for the iPhone. The Latitude’s touch screen should be faster, more accurate, and more responsive than the resistive touch screens commonly used by other tablet makers. And although multi-touch, the ability to use two fingers at once on the screen for tasks like resizing, won’t function out of the box, Dell has alluded to future upgrades that may make it possible.
Computer maker Dell is putting its foot in the solid-state drive arena, announcing the immediate availability of 32 GB SanDisk solid-state drives as an option in its Latitude D420 ultraportable notebook, as well as its Latitude D620 ATG semi-rugged notebook.
"A solid state drive is an excellent storage technology for our mobile users," said Kevin Kettler, Dell’s CTO, in a statement. "We are committed to leading the industry in delivering these new drives and will offer them across Dell’s next generation of Latitude products."
Computer maker Dell has introduced the Latitude D420, a new ultraportable laptop which weighs just over three pounds (at least, before you add on additional gear) and offers up to seven hours of battery life. “The Latitude D420 combines the sleek travel-friendly form factor of the Latitude X1 with the compatibility benefits and durability of the Latitude D410, and initial customer response has been extremely enthusiastic,” said to Alex Gruzen, senior VP of Dell’s Product Group.
Dell Computer today announced its Latitude D620 and D820 notebook computers which feature slimmer and lighter designs than their predecessors, Intel Core Duo processors, and optional wireless broadband capabilities using either Verizon Wireless or Cingular Wireless in the United States, or Vodafone in Europe.
“As mobile computing has become mission critical for businesses of any size, Dell found that customers care about durability, security and constant access to critical business information,” said Alex Gruzen, senior VP of Dell’s product group. “These new Latitude systems address and exceed these customer needs in robust design, comprehensive security options, integrated mobile broadband and significant reductions from the prior generation products in weight and thickness.”
The Latitude X1 is designed and built for the rigors of life on the road. The LCD back is reinforced to counter the pressure of an overstuffed bag placed under seat or in an overhead bin. The keyboard is sealed to protect against spills.
The 12.1-inch, wide-aspect display has shorter height than traditional screens and fits easily in tight spaces, including tray tables pinched by fully reclined seats. For the lightest travel weight possible, the Latitude X1 comes with an extremely small power adapter that is almost 50 percent smaller than the typical Latitude power adapter. When configured with the optional six-cell battery ($129), users can expect up to six hours of battery life while adding only 0.3 pound.
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