Up close with Dell's Latitude E4300 and E4200 ultra-portables with DisplayPort

Ultra-portables are by the far the sexiest class of laptops. Especially when they start at just 2.2-pounds (1kg) like Dell's upcoming 12.1-inch E4200 or 3-pounds for the 13.3-inch E4300. Both pack LED backlit displays; Centrino 2 chipsets; Firewire, eSATA, 2x audio, ExpressCard 34, and at least 2x USB ports; integrated UMA graphics; DDR3 800MHz with Intel Turbo Memory 2.0; DisplayPort; and a host of security features to keep corporate IT types happy. The E4300 differs with a higher WXGA+ resolution, modular optical bay, peppier CPU options, and a choice of beefier hard disk drives instead of the 32GB or 64GB SSD restriction of the E4200. Plenty more in the gallery including a head-to-head comparison's of each new model with the D430 they'll replace. Stay tuned as our exclusive Week o' Dell Scoops continues.

Gallery: Up close with Dell's Latitude E4300 and E4200 ultra-portables with DisplayPort

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[ScOObyDoo @ Mar 21st 2008 7:27AM]

Oh.

When you said "up close" I had hoped for more than just a teaser shot of the side of the machine :(

[OneLove @ Mar 21st 2008 10:52AM]

Is anyone else having trouble using the image gallery. The image is always too large see the whole image and still click the buttons on top. You have to scroll left, right, top , bottom...very annoying!

[happy_penguin @ Mar 21st 2008 7:35AM]

Ooooh! Pretty! *googlie eyed look*

[monkeydust @ Mar 21st 2008 7:36AM]

What is the advantage of DisplayPort over HDMI?

[happy_penguin @ Mar 21st 2008 7:41AM]

It's compact so I'm pretty sure that's the advantage in this application, however there are other advantages. Look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort

[Kelmon @ Mar 21st 2008 8:01AM]

More importantly, do any monitors support the interface yet? DVI has been kicking around for many years but yet the most common interface is still VGA. This is a pain since it means that I need to get out my DVI to VGA adaptor much more often than I'd like. Will a similar situation happen here or will this finally push VGA into the past?

[happy_penguin @ Mar 21st 2008 8:07AM]

DVI is a licensed technology. DisplayPort is open. Hopefully that will make a difference in manufacturers' willingness to adopt DisplayPort.

[monkeydust @ Mar 21st 2008 8:08AM]

Thanks for the reply. Ready wiki, I still don't see much of an advantage of HDMI and it doesn't support audio like HDMI does.

My Dell 2408WFP has a DisplayPort connection.

[Adam @ Mar 21st 2008 8:40AM]

If by not supporting audio, you mean supporting 8 channels of audio, then yes, you would be correct. It also integrates an auxiliary channel for separate data like touch screen, integrated camera, etc etc.

[John @ Mar 21st 2008 8:50AM]

DisplayPort has higher bandwidth and supports larger resolutions, as well as being license & royalty free.

[Luke D @ Mar 21st 2008 8:36AM]

Oh gosh, after reading all those specs, I'm in love!

[bob e @ Mar 21st 2008 8:57AM]

I want this beautiful PC :>

Too bad I need to wait 6 months...

[bob sakamano @ Mar 21st 2008 9:01AM]

yeah whats the price? have they said it yet?

[Jon Doe. @ Mar 21st 2008 9:30AM]

Less then an air....

[ev01 @ Mar 21st 2008 9:27AM]

Ahh.. Black. That's what I'm talking about.. No more silver 'kay, Dell?

[John Doe. @ Mar 21st 2008 9:29AM]

Frack the MacBook Air...this thing is teh sexy, has the ports that people actually use, has expansion via an external bay, and you have several choices of battery. Now all we need is to hack Leopard on the thing and we are set...I can't live without my Aperture 2.0

[Jeff Lewis @ Mar 21st 2008 11:59AM]

You get the cookie for being the first Mac fan to actually put this the right way instead of making it sound like it's Dell's fault you can't get MacOS X on it.

[JohnQPoster @ Mar 22nd 2008 2:07PM]

Do you think this think has a processor that is powerful enough to run Aperture. When you look at the MacBook Air the lowest end processor bests the fastest processor that you can get on any other Ultra Portable. IBM's new Ultra Portable comes with a 1.2GHz Duel Core verses the MacBook Air at 1.6GHz on the low end and 1.8GHz on the hight end. So it is clear that you will get more processing power with the Air. Ports are cool but if the computer is slow and has a lame OS (Vista) like so many people claim including dell what is the benefit. I am sure that most people posting cant' even afford the computer much less a MacBook Air, so why are you all posting about it?

[adrian @ Mar 21st 2008 9:34AM]

Goodbye Mac Book Air,
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your missing port
They set you on the treadmill
And they made you keep your name

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wifi
Never knowing what you were
When the critics set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I needed more
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever started

Loneliness was tough
The toughest role you ever played
Jobs created a superstar
And pain was the price you paid
Even when you died
Oh the press still hounded you
All the papers had to say
Was that Mac Book Air was without use.

Goodbye. So cruel.

Well Helloooo Dell....sexy legs. Would you like a little sweety...Maybe you would like to take a ride in my car ?

[jervis961 @ Mar 21st 2008 9:57AM]

One speaker, integrated graphics, 1280x800 screen, come on Dell where are the options?

[Jon Doe. @ Mar 21st 2008 10:14AM]

You either want it small and limited option or thick and loaded. You can't have both. There is a reason why its called INTEGRATED graphics. The board is HIGHLY specialized for this form factor. You want discrete graphics, 2 speakers, etc...get a 1330.

Consider yourself lucky...at least they didn't pull an apple and give it one port.

[Andrew @ Mar 21st 2008 10:50AM]

I'm sure the 14" and 15" mainstream/essential models will have more options but do remember these are Dell's business laptops.

[jervis961 @ Mar 21st 2008 11:29AM]

Yes these are business computers but business people travel too. Perhaps Dell would sell more systems by offering options of an enhanced multimedia experience to business customers. I'm not talking top of the line here but at least a bump up like in the XPS M1330. I would prefer to own a professional looking computer that was able to be used on the road and at home and I'm not alone. Check out Dell's idea site IdeaStorm and you will find ideas like mine of people asking for these options. http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/66820/Put_some_attitude_into_the_Latitude

[Tamale @ Mar 21st 2008 1:50PM]

sounds like you'd like a sony SZ

[jervis961 @ Mar 21st 2008 5:33PM]

What and pay $50 to get no bloatware? No thanks, Dell has done pretty well by me so far. I'd just like to see them do even better.

[snife @ Mar 21st 2008 10:05AM]

Wow, this system is looking good (with the exception of that silver bit at the back), I will only use ThinkPads but I get a Dell every now and again for comparison and the Latitudes are really catching up to the ThinkPads in design terms and this looks like another good step, however, the pointing stick buttons look worse that ever - Dell really need to sort it out as it is the main thing that makes the systems unusable for TrackPoint users - theres no point having a pointing stick if its not going to be implemented properly

[Russ @ Mar 21st 2008 5:06PM]

Absolutely agree about the trackpoint. I'm a lifelong Thinkpad User / Purchaser for my employer. Dell's versions are close but there's just something wrong with them. I can use my T61 for ours with never a problem, but the trackpoint on my wife's Latitude D630 hurts my hand and just doesn't feel quite there.

[Scott @ Mar 21st 2008 10:21AM]

So can we expect Dell to include the Centrino 2 chipset with DDR3 in the M1530 as well?? I'll be in the market for a new laptop this summer and have been eyeing that machine...

[mark @ Mar 21st 2008 10:27AM]

damn. centrino 2 .. ddr3?!

[RobertC @ Mar 21st 2008 10:30AM]

Why does Engadget get all hot and bothered when a new product with "DisplayPort" is released. Big F*n deal?

[pff1029 @ Mar 21st 2008 11:13AM]

How about more coverage of Apple TV DVR patents, then? It's about time we get the scoop on another company's stuff for a change.

And it's not just about DisplayPort, it's the fact that these business models are light years ahead of the old Latitude D series and could even attract some consumer purchases, too. I'm lusting after that E4300 myself.

[Khattab @ Mar 21st 2008 11:55AM]

1280x800 with 13.3"? Forget it.

[Erik @ Mar 21st 2008 2:16PM]

"The E4300 differs with a higher WXGA+ resolution..."

Read: 1440x900 at 13.3"

[Jeff Lewis @ Mar 21st 2008 11:56AM]

Geeze - even the Dell logo is done tastefully...

Only missing info: CPU speed and price.

But.. you know... the SSD model is 0.6 to 0.8" thick and only 2.2lbs while still managing to have most of the ports AND an ExpressCard slot and an SD card reader...

If it doesn't cost $3000 and have a 1.2GHz CPU, wouldn't this essentially stomp all over the MacBook Air?

[Seoultrain @ Mar 21st 2008 3:01PM]

Yep. As always, the only reason to get a mac is OSX.

[Kelmon @ Mar 22nd 2008 10:28AM]

"If it doesn't cost $3000 and have a 1.2GHz CPU, wouldn't this essentially stomp all over the MacBook Air?"

As always, you'd need to try both and compare. Given that neither the Dell is likely to be running OS X or the Air running Vista, it's going to be hard to compare the two directly but it is fair to say that specifications on paper probably don't translate directly into real-world performance. If you are thinking of switching (and that's a big commitment) then you definitely need some hands-on type with both before making your choice.

I would also disagree with Seoultrain - I have a 17" MacBook Pro and it's a wonderful bit of hardware even without OS X.

[Ray @ Mar 21st 2008 12:04PM]

This photo surprises me.

Dell laptops were known for ugly, heavy, and bulky.
(XPS 2010 is more a Desktop then a laptop)
Some may mention the XPS 1330 as a breakthrough of that image but I don’t agree. Because the XPS 1330 is heavier, much thicker, and no uglier than the Sony SZ.

However this design shown in the photo is absolutely cool.

It is thin, the whole design looks sharp and stylish, and the keyboard keys are good looking too.

I am using a MacBook Pro now and I too, as a Mac fan, think this machine shown above is stylish.

The ThinkPad X300 is nice also, but Dell’s Complete Cover warranty service is just cool.

[WhiteRtlNav @ Mar 21st 2008 12:09PM]

That's a great looking Dell, but I see a few potential issues with it. The first two are personal preference, and the thrid one may apply to others.

1. Dell was one of the few remaining companies that put ports on the back, but with these new laptops, it looks like they have done away with them.
2. The keys on the keyboard look to be completely flat. Their current Latitude's keys are slightly concave, and I think it gives the keyboard a better feel.
3. This last one isn't an issue for me, but I can see it being an issue for others. If you look at the close-up shot, you'll see that some of the keys show the standard and shift values right next to each other, instead of on top of each other. For example, the bracket key is shown as "[{", and could confuse people who haven't memorized their keys. Thankfully, this probably doesn't apply to most of us.

[treacherous @ Mar 21st 2008 12:11PM]

Dude. I want an E4200 now.

[alpha @ Mar 21st 2008 12:55PM]

This is indeed sexy. I just hope that Dell won't follow their XT tablet pricing scheme again. Sigh

[potato @ Mar 21st 2008 1:50PM]

Ooh, I must say Dell has really finally woken up and focused on industrial design. This thing looks sweet as hell.

I'm glad Apple isn't the only one in the market anymore that can make sexy looking laptops :)

[michael @ Mar 21st 2008 2:27PM]

Well there is Sony, you know, whose Vaios are probably where Apple probably got some of their 'ideas' for the MacBook line.

[beq @ Mar 21st 2008 2:40PM]

The E4300 is listed with WXGA+ (1440x900), but also 1280x800 in the comparison chart? It's also listed as having one speaker, but the photo shows a speaker grill to the right of the keyboard. Presumably it would also have a speaker to the left of the keyboard.

BTW will any of these have a webcam??

Also noticed that both models will use the SFF (small form factor) version of the Montevina platform, which as I recall is only supposed to show up a few months after the standard Penryn/Cantiga version in June? So Dell's timetable seems to make sense...

P.S. I wholeheartedly agree with improving the E4300's pointing stick and its buttons, to even attract ThinkPad users. The E4200 doesn't even have a stick...

[kvo @ Mar 21st 2008 3:07PM]

Finally, back-lit keyboard!!! I have been waiting for this option on PC's laptop for a long time now. Will definitely get a few for out company when its come out.

[linuxamp @ Mar 24th 2008 1:08AM]

Since these are "business notebooks" does that mean they will be available with XP? The release date appears to be after the OEM cutoff for XP so I have a feeling not. I sure hope Dell releases XP drivers for those who will format Vista.

[Ferrycy @ Mar 24th 2008 9:38PM]

Better yet, will you be able to get them without any OS whatsoever?

[jerold_wallis @ Mar 30th 2008 2:31PM]

Note the article says that the display on the 4300 is WXGA+ (1440x900) , but this is contradicted in the slide-show details which list it as WXGA (1280x800), with LED backlighting.

Also the article refers to a "modular optical bay" on the 4300, whereas the slide details say "fixed internal media bay (DVD +/- RW or Blueray), though one can add on an external modular media bay using the E-dock connector