Dell's new D420 ultraportable

Dell's got a bit of a hit and miss history with ultraportables -- especially in the last couple of years, with the sleeper X1 (a rebadged Samsung Q30), and the 700m, a successful machine by all accounts, but one we just never really bought into. Their latest foray into the form factor comes as the D420, a three pound widescreen that appears to fall some place in between the D410 and the X1; expect a 12.1-inch display with Cingular or Verizon support (as expected) in the US and Vodafone overseas, as well as "802.11n ready" status (whatever that means), the Wi-Fi Catcher switch (that turns your shut-down computer into a hotspot finder), SD slot, three USB ports, one FireWire port, a Core Solo ULV processor, seven hour battery, and $1,379 base price tag. Not too shabby, but is it enough to take on Gateway's NX100X?

[W @ Jun 20th 2006 5:47AM]

Now before anyone flames me for saying what I have to say, let me start by saying that I use both a PC and a Mac, and that I find pros/cons to both enviornments. But seriously, a 12.1" display and Core Solo processor for $1379? The Macbook has a 13" display and Core Duo and starts at $1099! I'd definitely trade the Dell's features (maybe except for the Cingular/VZN support) for the Macbook's (built-in camera, magsafe power cord, apple remote). Things like an SD slot can be added on with a USB adapter anyway.

[wwspeeds @ Jun 20th 2006 5:52AM]

Nice. Trackpoint is there. It's good to see companies keeping that ergonomically superior pointing device alive. Dell needs to get whatever technology Lenovo/IBM has in their thinkpads' trackpoints - far superior (I have owned both).

That being said, I'd still only ever buy a thinkpad. Or a macbook that had a trackpoint.

ww

[wwspeeds @ Jun 20th 2006 5:54AM]

Oh, and even though the MacBook is features-wise great value (and aesthetically pleasing to most), ppl need to stop comparing it to ultraportables. It is NOT an ultraportable. It is more than 5 POUNDS. That's more than a 14 inch screen IBM thinkpad T60. (which has a built in optical drive, 2 PC-Card slots, S-video out, etc.)

ww

[z @ Jun 20th 2006 6:04AM]

How would you rate it against the Macbook?

[z @ Jun 20th 2006 6:06AM]

Yeah well, I see one needs to be fast when confirming a post on engadget... ;-)

[wwspeeds @ Jun 20th 2006 6:09AM]

Z -
I'm not sure who you're talking to, but I feel that each machine has its pros and cons. And if portability (i.e. lightweight and long battery life) is most important to you, then the MacBook shouldn't even be a consideration.

If you're a college student who're going to be plugged in somewhere most of the time or have it sitting in your bedroom, then the macbook is just peachy.

If you're on the move daily and/or don't have access to AC power, then the Macbook presents significant compromises.

ww

[Jake @ Jun 20th 2006 6:50AM]

Stop with the stupid MacBook comparisons. The MacBook is a huge beast of a machine which is completely NOT ultra portable and gets hotter than the sun. And I couldn't give a flying monkey's about 'MagSafe' and a remote (for a laptop??? what's the point in that???).

Importantly, this laptop comes with a Core Solo ULV processor which is far and away the best feature of this machine - it will run real cool, draw very little power, and the battery will last 7 long hours.

The only thing it really lacks which I would want is a webcam.

[cs @ Jun 20th 2006 7:27AM]

This laptop has been available for months why talk about it now??? LOL

I agree with jake,

Solo core is essential for long battery life... and the smaller screen means a smaller laptop...

[Chris @ Jun 20th 2006 7:29AM]

That's such a let down. I expected a core duo (maybe even merom) and biometrics in this model like the rest of the new latitudes

[MDJ @ Jun 20th 2006 7:46AM]

When is the release date?

[Michael @ Jun 20th 2006 8:09AM]

As an X1 owner, I look forward to anything with a better battery life. I would not trade my X1 for a Mac. If you ever carry a 2.5 computer, you'll agree that anything heavier is not worth it. Even 3 pounds is pushing it but 7 hour battery compared to 2.5 hours might be worth it. And if you are a SD and Compact Flash user (digital camera users), ... I am surprised that Apple hasn't added this to their machines given their long term audience.

[Mo @ Jun 20th 2006 8:20AM]

When comparing specs / prices it is important to remember that the ULV Core Solo seen here probably costs MORE than the core duo seen in bigger models. It only uses 5.5W compared to the 31W Core Duo and 120W+ of the Pentium 4/D. Admittedly it's not as fast but it is miles ahead in terms of performance/watt.

[id hit it if it turned into a tablet. @ Jun 20th 2006 10:05AM]

Well the Latitude D420 is due in June (for US) and July (Europe)
Here are some specs:

Innovative Design: Designed with usability in mind
*Starting at 3.0lbs / 1.36kg for system with 4 cell battery, and 3.17lbs / 1.44kg for system with 6 cell
battery. Weights vary depending on configurations and manufacturing variability.
Intel® Core™ Solo and Duo processors 533MHz Front Side Bus & 2M Smart L2 Cache
Intel® Core™ Solo processor U1300 (1.06GHz)
Intel® Core™ Duo processor U2500 (1.20GHz)
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional SP2, Microsoft Windows XP Home SP2
945GMS (533MHz front side bus) with Intel onboard graphics
Min: 512MB DDR2 shared1 533 MHz
Max: 1.5GB DDR2 shared1 533 MHz
Wide-aspect 12.1” WXGA (1280 x 800 resolution) UltraSharp™
Supports up to a maximum resolution of WUXGA (1920 x 1200)
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (up to 224MB shared)
30, 60GB2 (80GB2 post RTS)
87-Key US; key travel 2.5mm; key spacing 18.5mm
Touch Pad - PS/2 compatible, Track Stick - PS/2 compatible
High Definition Audio codec, mono speaker, 1.0W, integrated omni-directional microphone
H: 25.4mm/1.0” x W: 295mm/11.6” x D: 209.8mm/8.25”
Starting at 3.0Lbs/1.36Kg11
65 Watt or 90 Watt AC adapter with cord wrapping
Primary 4-cell/28 WHr “Smart” Li-Ion battery featuring ExpressCharge™
Primary 6-cell/42 WHr “Smart” Li-Ion battery featuring ExpressCharge™
Primary 9-cell/68 WHr Li-Ion battery
56K3 v.92 Internal Modem; 10/100/1000 Gigabit4 Ethernet
Cellular Broadband6:
Dell Wireless 5500 Mobile Broadband 3G HSDPA (Cingular US)
Dell Wireless 5700 Mobile Broadband CDMA EVDO (Verizon US)
Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945A/G (802.11a/g), Dell Wireless 1490 (802.11a/g), Dell Wireless 1390 (802.11g)
Dell Wireless 350 Bluetooth internal wireless card
One Type I or Type II
Support 34mm ExpressCard via a USB interface through PCMCIA adapter
SD card slot, IEEE1394, docking connector, 3 USB (one powered), VGA, headphone/speaker out, infrared port, RJ-11, RJ-45, AC power
Serial port, parallel port, VGA port, DVI port, 4 USB 2.0 ports, RJ-45 port, RJ-11 port, MIC in, HP out
9.5mm slim 24XCDRW/DVD or 8X DVD+/-RW7
D/Port , D/Dock, D/View Notebook Stand, D/Monitor Stand
24X CD-ROM, 8X DVD-ROM5, 24X CDRW/DVD, 8X DVD+/-RW7 Floppy Disk Drive, 80GB2 Hard Drive
128MB, 256MB and 512MB USB Memory Keys8 (optional)
Cable Lock Slots, Media Module and Hard Drive locks
Integrated Smart Card Reader, Trusted Platform Module 1.2 and optional UPEK® finger print reader. Dell Embassy® Trust Suite by Wave Systems
security software.
802.11 WiFi Protected Access (WPA), 802.11i (WPA2), Virtual Private Networks (VPN) and 802.1x with EAP modes

credit to "leonx" from "notebookreview"

i want one of these that turns into a tablet - swivel touchscreen gimme gimme...

[ChaoZ @ Jun 20th 2006 10:21AM]

I own a Dell 700m and it's been a fantastic little machine so far. A little beefy perhaps, but I love the form factor.

As nice as those Macbooks seem, they are way overpriced for my tastes.

[SR @ Jun 20th 2006 11:30AM]

Yeah they did it again - these idiots.

They took a perfectly viable 4:3 screen ultraportable and put a damn widescreen display on it. Who cares if Dell saves money doing that? Most people need a regular screen aspect ratio.

Have you ever browsed this site on a widescreen? I can tell you right now that 60% of my screen is being wasted to the left and right of this narrow column. Websites are usually designed with content in the center. Word documents are usually in portrait format.

A widescreen display is better for video viewing and graphic design sure, but this is a business laptop for road warriors who have actual work to do as opposed to watching movies. So why would they do this? They are idiots who only think about the bottom line. The ultraportable market is a premium market where users will pay for the characteristics they want in a laptop.

Anyway screw Dell, I'll stick with a brand that knows what business users want - IBM/Lenovo. They were smart enough not to convert their almost perfect machines to widescreen but simply offer an option for one in a new product line.

[Cheap Laptops @ Jun 20th 2006 11:31AM]

I have only just bought a new laptop but was using the boring old Dell Latitude D505 but tell you what it has never let me down and do recommend to anyone, ok it is better ans lasts longer if you have an external hard drive. But very good to me it is a shame i dropped it and had to buy one because if i didnt drop it i would have stuck with the D505.

The laptop you have reviewd is nice but with just a 12.1 standard sizr screen seems a little skimpy

[TrueDis @ Jun 20th 2006 12:07PM]

If this has a DVD drive then it isn't really competing with that Gateway ultraportable, which doesn't. And what's the obsession with Thinkpads? I have one for work, it's a beast, it feels cheaply built, and I hate everything about it except the little nipple, which is well-designed, but that doesn't make up for the rest of the package. Actually, I guess one more bonus point for the arrow keys that are shifted down so that the shift key is in the normal spot. The crazy placement of the right-shift key on the 700m drove me nuts (but I'm finally used to it and I love that thing). Seems that Dell has finally caught on (or so I think the photo is from a hard angle to judge).

[Jason @ Jun 20th 2006 1:40PM]

The MacBook is nice, but a little heavy for its size. I wish they had kept it under 4 pounds.

[Dan @ Jun 20th 2006 5:43PM]

"Now before anyone flames me for saying what I have to say [...] But seriously, a 12.1" display and Core Solo processor for $1379? The Macbook has a 13" display and Core Duo and starts at $1099!"

Comparing this 3 lb. notebook to a 5 lb. Macbook is about as stupid as comparing a Macbook to a Dell that has a Core Duo and 15.4" display and costs less than $800. If you don't want to get flamed, don't post irrelevant comparisons.

[DELL SUCKS @ Jun 20th 2006 10:26PM]

Ultraportable ULTRACRAP!!!!!!!

DELL SUCKS!!!!!!

[Dave @ Jun 21st 2006 3:20AM]

I can't believe the processor is so slow. I know the ULV is suppose to add lots of battery life but I enjoy my D400's faster processor (short of the slower FSB)! I get 3 or so hours on my D400 now, so thats decent but I can't afford to go back down to a 1.06 Ghz processor...they need to come out with a faster Duo option because not all users want to sacrifice processing power for battery life. Well I am glad they increased the screen resolution and gave it a vista aero capable card....Guess we'll see what they do with the processor in the coming weeks/months (waiting for vista to finally be released before I upgrade my D400)

[ThinkPu @ Jun 21st 2006 7:13PM]

haha, I'm sure I'm not the only one to notice this but is this model marketd towards stoners?

[Anton Wahlman @ Jun 24th 2006 6:37PM]

There is another simple reason why a comparison to the Apple laptop is irrelevant. The Apple laptop doesn't have a slot for a 3G card, so it is useless for those of us who travel. Who cares about WiFi anymore, when HSDPA and EV-DO are available? If you have a Dell, it can be built-in as a module, or added in the form of a PCMCIA card. Apple offers neither, so it is a non-starter.

[Neill Birchenall @ Jul 1st 2006 10:04AM]

In reply to SR's post:

"They took a perfectly viable 4:3 screen ultraportable and put a damn widescreen display on it. Who cares if Dell saves money doing that? Most people need a regular screen aspect ratio."

"I'll stick with a brand that knows what business users want"

I think that you need to think again about "what business users want". I have been hearing about these laptops through Dell events for ICT Managers for years and can tell that they do think about what business users need to do their jobs. We want widescreen so that we can have 2 A4/Letter documents on the screen at the same time, but much more importantly for traveling. A widescreen laptop for business use gives you a larger keyboard but also fits in tight spaces like on train and plane tray tables. This machine is for business users who are going to need to work in all sorts of conditions and I think it will be perfect. I saw the prototype ages back and decided then to wait for it even though my X300 is really starting to show it's age.

The only thing I am trying to decide on is what processor to go for. I could order the Solo now or wait a few weeks (I suspect) for the Duo. Choices, choices...

[Mnajur Hakim @ Jan 26th 2007 6:34PM]

d420 is powering off automatically after it gets in it the network any idea?

regards