Dell to announce a new line of business laptops

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Dell today announced a completely new line of business laptops 'New Latitude', ranging from the lightest ultra-portable in the company's history to the most powerful mobile workstation.

Ultra-Portable -
Dell Latitude E4200 model is a 12.1-inch laptop that starts at 2.2 pounds, making it the lightest commercial notebook in the company's history. The 13.3-inch Latitude E4300 model has a starting weight of 3.3 pounds. Designed for road warriors and executives who demand maximum performance and light weight, the systems will be available in the coming weeks.

Mainstream
Dell Latitude E6400 and E6500 models, available today, are 14.1- and 15.4-inch laptops that start at $1,139 and $1,169 respectively. The systems are ideal desktop replacements for high-performance users.

Essential
Dell Latitude E5400 model, a 14.1-inch notebook, starts at $839, and the E5500, a 15.4-inch notebook starts at $869. Available today, the systems include everyday features at a cost-effective price.

Semi-Rugged
Dell Latitude E6400 ATG model is a 14.1-inch semi-rugged laptop that starts at $2,399 and will be available next week. It is built and tested to meet Military 810F standards for dust, vibration and humidity.

Incorporating a wide range of new technology, Dell's new Latitudes feature full-frame magnesium alloy construction, an intelligent backlit keyboard, and its exclusive ControlVault solution that helps protect user credentials and security keys in a single hardened security vault away from the systems main drive.

In particular, the E6400 offers breakthrough battery life of up to 19 hours, while the E6500 is the only laptop with both a contact-less Smart Card reader and a fingerprint readers that complies with Federal Information Processing Standards.

The new Latitude systems provide breakthrough battery life, brilliant new design and style, including a choice of five colors. In addition to mica-brushed metal, the Latitude E4200, E4300, E6400 and E6500 will be available in regatta blue, regal red and quartz pink(E4200 only) in the coming weeks. The E5400 and E5500 are available in matte Black.

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Inspired Design
The Latitude E4200 is designed to travel in style. With premium magnesium alloy construction, longer-lasting paint finishes and robust metal hinges, the new Latitude E4200 is more durable than ever. Dell Latitude Ultra-Portable laptops also feature exclusive on-the-go innovations such as:

* Dell Latitude ONTM for easy access to critical online features
* Dell ControlPointTM software
* Dell ExpressChargeTM

A Dell slim-line AC/Auto/Air adapter to maximise productivity on the road.

Instant Connectivity
Enjoy instant access to email, calendar and internet with the new Dell Latitude ONTM Reader communication module. Dell Latitude ONTM Reader enables remote access to your Microsoft Exchange data with the single touch of a button without booting or waking your entire laptop—lowering power consumption and extending battery life.
Peace of Mind
Sleep easy knowing that Dell Latitude laptops—and your company’s data—are secure and protected anywhere in the world. Dell offers a broad range of laptop security and data protection options that can easily integrate into your current infrastructure, including:

* Dell ControlVaultTM secure credential management
* Multi-factor authentication via an integrated contactless smart card reader, Trusted Platform Module v1.2 and optional biometric fingerprint reader
* Multi-factor authentication via an integrated contactless smart card reader and optional biometric fingerprint reader
* Solid State Drive technology for improved data protection

Technical specifications


Processors

Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) Processors

Operating System

Genuine Windows Vista® Ultimate
Genuine Windows Vista® Business
Genuine Windows Vista® Business 64-Bit
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Basic
Genuine Windows Vista® Business with Windows® XP Professional Preinstalled
Genuine Windows Vista® Ultimate with Windows® XP Professional Preinstalled

Chipset

Mobile Intel® GS45 Express Chipsets

Displays

12.1" Widescreen WXGA (1280 x 800) Backlit LED Display

Memory

Dual Channel DD3 Memory3
1 GB on board and one Memory slot offering up to a combined 5 GB
Memory Bandwidth: 800MHz

Primary Storage

UltraPerformance Solid State Drive up to 64GB1
Solid State Drive up to 128GB

Graphics Cards

Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD

Connectivity

Wired: 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet network interface adaptor

Wireless LAN: Intel® WiFi Link 5100 [802.11a/g/n (1x2)]
Intel® WiFi Link 5300 [802.11a/g/n (3x3)]


Bluetooth: Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth® 2.1

Security

Physical Security: Magnesium-reinforced Cable Lock Slots and Hard Drive Locks.

User & System Security: Smart Card Reader
Fingerprint Reader OR FIPS Fingerprint Reader (optional)
TPM 1.2
Optional Encrypted Hard Drive provides full disk encryption
RSA SecurID® certified – Hardware integration with RSA SecurID for strong authentication
ControlVault – secure credential management within a trusted boundary

Network Security: 802.11 Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), 802.11i (WPA2), Virtual Private Networks (VPN) 802.1x with EAP modes and compatible with CCX 4.0

Multimedia

2 speakers
digital microphone
Expandability
Slots:Expresscard 34, SD/MMC

Docking: E-Port Plus, E-Port, E-Legacy Extender, E-View Laptop Stand, E-CRT Monitor Stand, E-Flat Panel Monitor Stand

Modular Options: E-Family modular media bay (optional): 8X DVD-ROM, 24X CDRW/DVD, 8X DVD+/-RW, second Hard Drive or Travel Lite Module
Media base (optional): DVD-RW

Chassis

Magnesium Alloy LCD back and Base

Weight & Dimensions:
Starting weight: 2.2 lbs/1.0 kg2
Width: 11.4"/291mm
Depth: 8.0"/204mm
Height: 0.79"/19.95mm

Ports

IEEE - 1394, docking connector, USB 2.0 PowerShare, VGA, Display Port, RJ-11 (optional), RJ-45, eSATA, headphone/speaker out, mic, VGA, RJ-45, eSATA/USB Combo (x1), headphone/speaker out, mic

Power

Power Supply: 45Watt AC adapter with cord wrapping
65w Auto/Air/AC Travel Adapter
4-cell Prismatic Primary battery featuring ExpressChargeTM 6-cell extended primary battery;

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I got some more info on those new ultra portable Dell laptops, the E4200 and the E4300.

Both are small, just 12.1” for the E4200 and 13.3” for the E4300. Lightweight for sure, weighing in at 2.2 lbs and 3.3 lbs, respectively. While the size difference may not seem like much, I found that actually holding the two made all the difference in the world. The E4200 may be just over an inch smaller, but for those looking for ultra compactness, it should really make a difference.

Both of these notebooks will ship with Dell’s new Latitude On hardware enabled. By using a secondary processor with its own Linux based OS, the primary CPU is bypassed for instant access to a variety of functions. Think BlackBerry style. Contacts, calendar, email – that kind of stuff – opened up directly on your laptop without firing up the whole system. The dedicated sub-system should also preserve battery life by avoiding the power drain of larger applications.

Speaking of battery life, Dell has created a long lasting battery and more energy efficient algorithms to help stretch out your time away from the plug. While that may be true, to get the full benefit from this extended battery life, you’ll have to shell out for an extra. They’re calling it “high-capacity battery slice options”. So if you want that 19 hrs of battery life, you’ll have to pay for the double battery pack option.

These mini-notebooks may be small, but they aren’t going to be cheap. I swear I heard a starting price of $1300. We’ll just have to wait and see if I’m right on that. No firm release date was given, but expect them in the coming weeks.