Latitude C600

Latitude C600

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The Latitude C600 is the baby brother to Dell's Inspiron 8000, but still manages to pack almost as many features into its restyled chassis that is smaller, lighter (2.7kg) and more robust than the Inspiron 8000. The most noticeable difference is the 14.1in display. The smaller screen has a native resolution of 1024 x 768 and produces a good-quality and consistent image.

The Latitude C600 is powered by Intel's latest 850Mhz Mobile Pentium III SpeedStep processor, which is partnered with 128Mb of SDRAM which can be upgraded to a maximum of 512Mb. An ATi Rage Mobility 128 graphics controller that has just 8Mb of SGRAM caters for graphics. However, the 20Gb IBM Travelstar UltraDMA66 hard disk drive helps the system to achieve a respectable SYSmark 2000 score of 162.

There is an integrated V.90 modem and 10/100 Ethernet connection as standard. Dell claims the Latitude is "wireless ready": to the rest of us that means it has an infrared port and a PC Card slot. Other connectivity ports are kept to a minimum - there's no FireWire and only one USB port. A single PS/2 port lets you connect a keyboard or mouse, and a VGA port lets you output a display on a monitor or via a projector. When connected to the VGA port, the maximum display resolution using a monitor or projector is 1600 x 1200.

The Latitude C600 is a twin-spindle device, so you can only fit one module at a time as well as the battery like dell F5136 battery, dell 312-0306 battery, dell 312-0305 battery, dell Inspiron 500m battery, dell Inspiron 510m battery, dell Inspiron 600m battery, dell Latitude D500 battery, dell Latitude D505 battery, dell Latitude D510 battery, dell Latitude D520 battery. The media bay at the front of the unit lets you juggle with C-Family media modules, such as the included floppy disk drive and eight-speed DVD-ROM drive or optional devices, such as a Zip 250 or LS-120 drive or second battery.

Two module release latches on the underside of the chassis let you remove either of the two modules quickly and effortlessly.

There's also an optional Advanced Port Replicator that provides more convenient desktop expansion. Existing Dell customers will be pleased to know that the Latitude C600 retains backwards and forwards compatibility with all Latitude C-Family media modules and docking solutions.

The 88-key keyboard is excellent and the large palm rests make typing more comfortable. The keys have 2.7mm travel but are sensitive, and the key spacing of 19mm makes touch-typing comfortable compared to more cramped ultraportable PC alternatives. The full-size return, backspace and spacebar keys help give a full-sized keyboard feel.

The touchpad is set to a decent level of sensitivity as standard, but the trackpoint offers a more precise control method if you don't like touchpads. One problem we noticed when using the trackpoint is that we tended to accidentally touch the touchpad, causing erratic mouse-pointer movements. You can disable the latter if this causes problems, though.

Software bundled with the Latitude 600 comprises Windows 2000 Professional, InterVideo's WinDVD for DVD-video playback and a modem diagnostic test that checks your modem is functioning and obtaining a dial tone. There's also a hypertext user guide that provides information like setting up and operating the system, solving problems and useful web links. Its browser-like interface makes navigating the comprehensive topics quick and intuitive.

Within the documentation is the full technical specification of every component in the system, which is useful if you install new components and need to refer to the original configuration.

The Latitude 600 supports Dell's OpenManage Client software which is designed to reduce a company's total cost of ownership by allowing you to manage, support and track notebooks in a networked environment. The software lets network managers remotely access and manage portable-specific attributes like battery status, power management settings, display type, PC Card information and docking system connections.

OpenManage offers security lockout features by providing the capability to remotely disable the floppy disk drive, serial, parallel and mouse ports. It supports industry standard DMI 2.0 and WBEM specifications.

Mobile security software lets you set a primary system password, administrator password, and hard disk drive password.

Its components are housed in a better quality case than the Inspiron 8000, but it still looks dull. Nevertheless, the Latitude C600 offers a practical combination of performance, features and portability for business use, but it's an unexciting product and a little pricey. Contact

Dell: 0870 907 5664, PROS Practical design and software configuration CONS A bit weighty for twin-spindle chassis; bland case OVERALL Good overall, but it's a rather standard device.

Dell Inspiron 3700

Dell Inspiron 3700

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Thinner and lighter than Dell's Inspiron 7500 (PCW, December 1999), the 3700 is designed to appeal to less power-hungry users, or to those who need to compute on the move. Depending on the configuration you choose, it weighs in at between 2.8kg and 3kg, keeping it a full kilogram below the 7500 at either end of the scale. There's a range of processor options, all Celerons, starting with the 400MHz and topping off with the model we tested, running at 466MHz.

Our review model arrived with 128MB of RAM, although this is upgradable at the time of purchase to 512MB, using two 256MB DIMMs. The excellent 14.1in active matrix LCD has a good viewing angle and is sharp and comfortable on the eye. It's driven by an ATi Rage Mobility -M1 2X chip, which can simultaneously send its output to a second monitor and span the desktop across both screens for an enlarged working area. Sound, meanwhile, is handled by the ESS Maestro-2E chip, which supports Sensaura's Positional 3D, and drives its output to the side-mounted stereo speakers.

The thing that sets this machine apart from the usual Dell fare is the styling. It is gently curved, and has a woven finish to the wrist areas.

Dell's URL is stamped just below the keyboard and the unit is available in two colours: storm grey or Tahoe blue. The keyboard is excellent - it feels fairly slack and is comfortable to type on for extended periods.

The touch pad is also smooth and responsive, but if it's not your thing then you'll be pleased to see the supplementary pointing nib in the middle of the keyboard. Each device has its own set of buttons, and pressing both the left and right buttons on either set turns your chosen pointing method into the equivalent of a scroll-wheeled mouse, moving the contents of your active window up and down.

Dell is fast getting itself a reputation for building highly-versatile machines, and the 3700 does nothing to diminish this. A front-mounted media bay gives you a choice of drives, including floppy, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Zip, LS-120 or extra hard drives. It can also house a second battery such as Dell 8M815 battery, Dell 851UY battery, dell 75UYF battery, Dell BAT-I3700 battery, dell 5081P battery, Dell Inspiron 3700 battery, Dell Precision M40 battery, Dell Precision M50 battery, dell Inspiron 700m battery, dell Inspiron 710m battery for extended use away from power points, or be emptied altogether and protected by the bundled cover for the ultimate in portability.

Softex Bay Manager has been pre-installed to enable hot-swapping, and should you find yourself in need of more than one drive at a time, Dell has thoughtfully included a cable for using the floppy drive as an external unit.

The stacked PC Card slots support two Type I/II or one Type III card.

One of these can be filled by the bundled Margi DVD-to-Go card that lets you watch DVD movies on a standard television. This supplements the integrated S-Video out port.

There are also a number of other innovations, such as Dell's exclusive ExpressCharge, which cuts the lithium ion battery's charging time in half - with no detrimental effect on its operational life. In normal use patterns, battery life is staked at around three hours.

What we didn't like was the absence of a flap covering the rear ports.

Dell explained that this was because it often snapped off but we feel it smacks of cost cutting. Dell aims this machine at 'travelling professionals, consumers and students who want an ideal combination of performance, mobility, convenience, style, quality and affordability', and with specs like this, and the 3700's modular, versatile design, it looks like it has hit the mark.

Dell Axim X5

Dell Axim X5

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It has taken Dell a surprisingly long time to enter the PDA market, but at last it has taken the plunge. It's done a lot to differentiate itself from the established players - the Axim X5 uses Pocket PC 2002 and comes with lots of good features, yet has a price tag more akin to its Palm-based rivals.

Unlike the rest of Dell's PC range, the Axim isn't black - quite a shame, as it's likely it would have looked better than the silver exterior that has been chosen, and certainly would have separated it from the rest of the market.

It's quite an odd shape too, curving in towards the bottom, but this is presumably to keep its size (and therefore weight) down.

Speaking of weight, it's pretty light at 185g, and chunky enough to be comfortable in the hand without being too cumbersome. One major plus is the removable battery to the rear.

The USB cradle has a shiny silver finish, which wasn't particularly to our taste. The Dell logo at the front lights up a fluorescent blue when the PDA is plugged into the mains - we're not sure whether this is particularly to our taste either, but it is a good indication of whether it is actually plugged in.

The thing we liked most about the cradle is the slot for a second removable battery such as dell Inspiron 8100 battery, dell Inspiron 4000 battery, dell Inspiron 4100 battery, dell Inspiron 2500 battery, dell Latitude CPX battery, dell Latitude C600 battery, dell Latitude C610 battery, dell Latitude C640 battery, dell 1691P battery, Dell 1K500 battery. A spare isn't supplied, but a 1,440mAh one will be availalble for around £45.

One of the most impressive features of the Axim X5 is the inclusion of both Type II Compact Flash (CF) and Secure Digital (SD) slots. This is normally found only in £500 PDAs, and can ultimately give up to 1.5GB of extra storage space at one time.

However, we weren't particularly keen on the position of the SD slot, on the top left-hand side - it's exactly where your thumb normally rests.

It's unlikely any installed card would pop out just by you resting your thumb on it, but we would have preferred to have seen the jogdial in its usual place, rather than a couple of inches further down the same side.

On the front are the four standard shortcut buttons for email, calendar, contacts and home, along with the five-way navigation button.

The Axim X5 uses an Intel Xscale processor. The model we tested had a 400MHz version, coupled with 64MB of SD-Ram. A 300MHz, 32MB version will also be available, and for significantly less (approx £180), though it won't come with the cradle.

The Axim X5 is pretty fast; in fact, only the more expensive Palm Tungsten T is significantly faster. Just over 21MB of the 48MB Flash Rom is free for use, so investing in a separate SD or CF card may therefore be wise.

The device uses Pocket PC 2002 Premium. The 'Premium' in its name means that it includes Pocket PC versions of Office programs, such as Word and Excel; the 'Professional' version lacks these vital features.

The 3.5in screen is transflective, meaning it works as well in poorly lit conditions as it does in sunlight. We thought the screen was fairly good, but it isn't as clear as those we have seen from Sony and Palm in recent months, particularly when it comes to text.

Video playback through Windows Media Player flowed well and therefore looked good, though that's more down to the speed of the processor than the screen itself.

Battery life is only okay, at 12 hours. We found it took an extraordinarily long time to recharge in the cradle - a full working day once the battery had been almost fully run down.

Using a second battery, and keeping the device in its dock as often as possible, is definitely recommended.

The Axim X5 does have flaws, but considering it's nearly half the price of similarly equipped Pocket PC rivals, it's excellent value. It does lack a wireless option or Bluetooth, which lets it down, but you really can't complain at less than £280.

Specs

•Pocket PC 2002 Premium

•400MHz Intel Xscale processor

•64MB of Ram

•48MB Flash Rom

•3.5in colour TFT screen

•SD slot

•Compact Flash Type II slot

•USB cradle

•Removable Li-Ion battery

•130 x 80 x 17 mm (h x w x d)

•185g

Dell Latitude D620 business notebook

Dell Latitude D620 business notebook

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Dell's Latitude range of corporate notebooks have been a long-term mainstay for many a business person on the move, offering a good balance of performance and battery power such as dell Inspiron 9300 battery, dell Inspiron 9400 battery, dell 310-6321 battery, dell 310-6322 battery, dell D5318 battery, dell G5260 battery, dell G5266 battery, dell Latitude CPi battery, dell Inspiron 8200 battery, dell Inspiron 8000 battery.

Dell has recently refreshed its Latitude series and new D620 sits in the middle of the range.

Our review sample came with an Intel T2500 Core Duo processor clocked at 2.0GHz; Dell currently offers the T2600 (2.16GHz) or T2400 (1.83GHz) as alternatives.

Backing this up is 1GB of PC2-5300 memory, although once again Dell offers other choices.

Clad in its matt silver and black finish, the D620 looks good, but weighing 3kg including the power adaptor it will start to tug on your arms if you carry it around all-day.

The screen is a 14.1in widescreen model and has a native resolution of 1,440 x 900, which provides plenty of desktop space.

This is a business notebook, so graphics performance is never going to be top of the agenda.

Having said that, the integrated Intel GMA950 chipset is perfectly adequate for all the usual business applications you might use.

The keyboard is comfortable to use with the keys having a good, solid feel when typing. Both a trackpoint and trackpad are built in with two mouse keys provided for each.

Disappointingly, the Trackpoint doesn't have a scrolling facility.

In between the two mouse buttons, below the trackpad, is something that's becoming more commonplace on business notebooks of late – a fingerprint reader.

This is joined by an integrated smartcard reader that will be welcome should security be a major concern.

Our review system had a strange, rubber-finished protuberance sticking out of the front. On closer inspection, this turned out to be the extended battery. In most cases, batteries tend to jut out of the rear of the chassis.

This battery includes a useful level meter, which saves you having to boot up the D620 to find out how much juice is left.

Wifi in the form of 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth are both built in. We also liked the wireless on/off switch that also doubles as a Wifi detector so, once again, you don't have to boot the system up to find out whether there are any local hotspots available.

There's no DVD writer, but the DVD combo drive is able to read DVDs and burn CDs.

The D620 also has an integrated 3G module built into it, something that Dell is planning to roll out across the whole of the Latitude range soon.

But, while the module is there, there are no drivers or software to control it at present – we're told these should be available soon.

In Sysmark 2004 SE, the D620 clocked up a score of 207, while the integrated graphics predictably restricted Far Cry to just 8fps (frames per second) and 632 in 3Dmark05.

The battery life of the D620 is worth noticing. In our tests, it achieved an impressive five hours and 10 minutes in Mobilemark 05's Productivity Test and four hours and 38 minutes in the DVD Playback Test.

For full performance results, check out our Reportlabs site.

If fast graphics performance isn't a concern, and for most business users it won't be, the Latitude D620 from Dell would be a good choice.

Dell Vostro 1500

Dell Vostro 1500

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What do you get when you strip a Dell Inspiron laptop of its colors, remove all the trial software, and add a full range of support services for small businesses? You get a Dell Vostro, of course. The Dell Vostro 1500 ($1,282 direct) is a laptop that caters to business environments with less than 25 employees. It's a little on the heavy side, but overall, you get quality features and premium processing parts for a price that even Inspiron lovers can love.

Everything about the Vostro 1500 is reminiscent of the Inspiron line, with the exception of the black-clad frame. It's obvious that Dell instructed the design squad to make the Vostro line as bland and conservative as possible, to meet the expectations of serious business users. Luckily, only the color scheme was sacrificed. The 1500 is a desktop-replacement laptop with a 15.4-inch glossy widescreen and a back-straining 7.3-pound chassis; alternatively, Dell offers a 14-inch model that relieves some of the weight. The keyboard is just like the one found on the Inspiron models—comfortable and very responsive. I'm also a huge fan of the quiet mouse buttons.

Just because this is a small-business system doesn't mean you lose out on multimedia features. The standard features include four USB ports, a FireWire port, VGA-Out and S-Video out. A four-in-one card reader (SD, MMC, MS, MS Pro) lets you transfer images from your digital camera. The Vostro 1500 comes standard with a dual-layer DVD burner and an ExpressCard slot, and you can select a variety of optional features, including a 2-megapixel webcam for videoconferencing. Ordering a cellular modem results in an extra one-time charge, and you have three carriers to choose from: Verizon (EV-DO Rev A, $150), Sprint (EV-DO Rev A, $150), and AT&T (HSDPA, $180). The modem lets you access the respective carrier's broadband networks wherever you can find a cell phone signal, but it's a costly upgrade.

Of course, there are features—or rather, services—that define the Vostro line. First, you have the option of removing all unnecessary third-party software, whether it's trial software from Norton and McAfee or EarthLink ads trying to sell you a DSL connection (this option is offered across all of Dell's systems). In addition, Dell throws in a one-year subscription to DataSafe and 10GB of storage space through its DataSafe Web service. If your company doesn't have an IT department, Dell can get you up and running, via its 24/7 phone-based service, guiding you through tasks ranging from removing viruses and spyware to solving simple networking problems. But if your company has a more complex, enterprise-style setup, such as running on a domain or via complex switches and firewalls, you're out of luck. Dell troubleshoots only simple networking problems.

More You won't be disappointed with performance, because the Vostro 1500 loads a 2-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 CPU and 2GB of RAM. This configuration is good for any operating system, including all the flavors of Windows Vista. SYSmark 2007 Preview scores were higher than those of the HP Compaq 6910p, an enterprise laptop. Scores even surpassed those of its enterprise sibling, the Dell Latitude D630. My review unit came with the nVidia GeForce 8400M GS graphics card, an ideal option if your work entails intensive 3D applications. (You can opt for integrated graphics to maximize battery life.) There are two options for batteries--six-cell and eight-cell--though I suggest the eight-cell battery like Dell TK330 Battery, Dell RU030 Battery, Dell XT828 Battery, Dell 310-5351 Battery, Dell G5226 Battery, Dell C5340 Battery, Dell F5608 Battery, dell Inspiron E1705 battery, dell Inspiron 6000 battery(dell 6000 battery) that came with my unit, which generated 4 hours 11 minutes on MobileMark 2007.

The Dell Vostro 1500 is basically an Inspiron 1520 that had its colors stripped off. Like any other Dell laptop, it offers a wide range of features, including graphics, mobile broadband, battery, and a webcam option. The primary difference between the Vostro line and other Dell notebooks is the additional services geared toward small businesses. Overall, the $1,282 configuration that I looked at is an excellent buy no matter who you are.

Dell Launches M1710 Gaming Notebook

Dell Launches M1710 Gaming Notebook

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On Tuesday, Dell Inc. released the M1710, a gaming notebook that improves on the performance offered by Dell's previous gaming notebooks by about 35 percent.

The M1710, available in either "Special Edition Red" or "Metallic Black", includes such fancy extras as a light-up touchpad and 16-color perimeter lighting.

Since Dell introduced the XPS desktop series, the company has made small, but growing efforts to address the gaming market served by Falcon Northwest, VoodooPC, and others. In addition to the quad-GPU Renegade the company debuted in March, Dell agreed to acquire Alienware, a boutique PC supplier that Dell will operate as an independent subsidiary.

The notebook's base configuration will cost $2,600, based on an Intel Duo Core T2400 processor, Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, an Nvidia GeForce Go 7900 GS graphics chip with 256 Mbytes of memory, a gigabyte of DDR2 DRAM, a 60-Gbyte hard drive, a 5-in-1 card reader, and a nine-cell battery such as dell Vostro 1510 battery, dell T112C battery, dell Vostro 1310 battery, dell T116C battery, dell Y022C battery, dell Inspiron 5000 battery, dell Inspiron 5150 battery, dell Inspiron 1150 battery, Dell 312-0660 Battery, Dell XPS M1530 Battery. Although the notebook includes the Media Center software, however, a TV tuner is an optional add-on.

The notebook also includes a 17-inch TrueLife widescreen UXGA display, whose brightness Dell said it had enhanced by 30 percent for a clearer display.

The Dell M1710 weighs 8.75 pounds.

Dell Launches Ruggedized Notebook PC

Dell Launches Ruggedized Notebook PC

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Dell has unveiled its first rugged notebook PC that the company designed expressly for the purpose of withstanding humidity, altitude, dust, and vibration. The Latitude ATG D620 -- priced at $2,499 -- is expected to appeal to computer users who work in demanding environments.

The new laptop sports a shock-mounted 80-GB hard drive that is encased by rubber so the drive is not affected by dropping the machine. In addition, the D620 sports a spill-resistant keyboard and an extra-bright display meant to offer better viewing in full sunlight.

The new Latitude will put Dell in competition with Hewlett-Packard and Panasonic , both of which offer ruggedized notebooks that can deal with temperature extremes and rough handling.

On Display

In announcing the laptop, Dell said the 14.1-inch display is unique in the ruggedized laptop scene in that it has an ambient light sensor, glass overlay, and antireflective coating.

Dell also said the display is about one and a half times brighter than most mainstream corporate notebooks, making it a better option for employees who frequently use their laptops outdoors.

One customer Dell cited in the press release announcing the new laptop is TaylorMade Golf, which plans to use the new Latitude to analyze golf swings outdoors so it can develop better clubs.

But the display has a drawback as well: It uses more battery power such as Dell BATDW00L Battery, Dell 1X793 Battery, Dell BAT1194 Battery, Dell Precision M20 Battery, dell F5635 battery, dell YF976 battery, dell C5974 battery, dell U4873 battery, Dell Inspiron XPS M170 Battery, Dell Inspiron XPS M1710 Battery to attain its level of brightness. Dell has acknowledged that the new display will drain a battery more quickly than other LCDs, but said the impact is a tradeoff to meeting customer needs.

Rugged Move

Although Dell's new offering likely will appeal to a certain type of consumer, ruggedized laptops are not expected to spawn a widespread movement toward tougher machines, noted Loren Loverde, an analyst at IDC .

"Ruggedized systems are a small niche of portables, so a move by Dell there could affect the niche," he said. "But it would not have much impact on the overall market."

It is also likely that the system's cost will keep it from being a mass-market pick. However, Loverde noted, the new Latitude could have an impact on Dell's competitive edge against HP and other computer makers, and could win some customers who have been using ruggedized PDAs instead of laptops.

New Latitude Line Offers Game-Changing Features

New Latitude Line Offers Game-Changing Features

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Among the innovations in Dell's latest family of Latitude laptops is at least one "game-changing" feature, according to a technology analyst. Latitude ON is a new technology -- expected to be available by the end of the year -- that provides super-fast access to e-mail and Web browsing. It will be available on Dell's new ultramobile models, the E4200 and E4300.

"They're looking to find a way to marry the benefits of laptop performance with the instant-on access and radically extended battery life people expect from smartphones," said Charles King, principal analyst with Pund-IT , in a telephone interview.

Latitude ON leverages a separate subprocessor and subsystem that allows the user to turn on the laptop without having to boot the entire system, King said. "You'll push a button and the system will be on in a second or two. You can't run the full range of applications and multimedia, but you will have Outlook and basic browser functionality. It's a way for employees to simply turn on the machine and work."

In addition, if the system is run exclusively in ON mode, the ultramobile's battery life will be extended substantially, King added.

Extensive Battery Life

Battery life is another area where Dell's E line is impressive, King said. In combination with an additional battery pack like Dell RD859 Battery, Dell PR002 Battery, Dell UD260 Battery, Dell PD942 Battery, Dell Latitude 131L Battery, Dell 8F871 Battery, Dell 2G218 Battery, Dell Winbook N4 Battery, Dell F0590A01 Battery, Dell 7T670 Battery, the mainstream E6400, with a 14.1-inch screen, can run on battery power for 19 hours, Dell says. "That's impressive by any metric," King said.

The new machines show the increased importance of mobility in the enterprise , King said. "Mobility as an issue is moving throughout enterprise, it's not just road-warrior types," he said. "Mobility is increasingly important to businesses of every kind," from employees working at home to contractors who drop into satellite offices to salespeople who are constantly on the road.

A key to advancing mobility is Dell's new security system, ControlVault, in which a separate subprocessor and subsystem manage security, King noted. "It not only increases security on individual machines, but when a Dell laptop goes online, it calls home. When there's an alert that the laptop was lost or stolen, Dell headquarters can wipe the laptop," King said. "You may not get the laptop back, but you won't have to worry about your data ."

A Substantial Shift

Innovations like these stand in marked contrast to Apple's ultramobile offering, the MacBook Air. "That was a great example of a mobile solution that leaned more to style than technical substance," King said. "It's a beautiful product, but the lack of ability to change batteries and the system's relatively short battery life to begin with makes it a pretty but essentially useless product."

"The new Latitude E family shows Dell is capable of taking a utilitarian viewpoint and marrying that to much more attractive style points. With the Latitude ON feature in particular, if it works as Dell was talking about, we may be seeing the beginning of a very substantial shift in the mobile computing game," King said.