First look - Dell Latitude E4200 14/08/2008

Following in the footsteps of the Lenovo X300, Dell has released details of its own corporate-aimed ultraportable machine – the Latitude E4200, and yesterday we got the chance to put it through its paces.

The E4200 oozes style, and will be available in a range of finishes – including brushed aluminium. It will also come in a host of colours – including red or pink – a style which is sure to attract the regular consumer in addition to corporate users.

The most startling aspect of this machine is a claimed 19-hour battery life, a good deal more than anything we’ve seen from any other laptop. Dig a little deeper, however, and the claims aren’t as unrealistic as they may appear.

Instead of being able to run the E4200 for 19-hours out of the box, you’ll need the optional 9-cell battery and a battery slice – a second 12-cell battery that clips onto the bottom of the machine. The battery slice alone weighs in at around 900g, so although you’ll be able to use the machine all day, it may well be easier, and definitely cheaper, to take a charger with you instead.

Other features on this 12.1-inch machine are more impressive. Weighing just under 1kg, it offers true portability, and the LED screen is colourful and easy to see even in direct sunlight.

We found the keyboard outstanding for a machine so small – with large, tapered keys that proved responsive and firmly attached. Magnesium alloy is used throughout the chassis, and it’s definitely a tough laptop, but the samples we saw lacked the overall strength of Lenovo’s X300.

Performance comes from an Intel Core 2 Duo ULV processor, with top of the range models featuring a 2.4GHz chip. Graphics are provided by Intel’s latest GMA 4500 MHD integrated graphics card, which should be more than powerful enough for most business users.

As with most of its high-end ultraportable rivals, you’ll be able to choose between a 64GB SSD or a regular hard drive. Options include a Contactless Smart Card Reader – which allows you to swipe the card you use to gain entry to your workplace, and use it to access your data securely without the need for passwords.

The Latitude E4200 is expected to launch in the coming months, with UK pricing yet to be announced.