Dell Latitude E4200 / E4300 now on sale

Lookie, lookie -- Dell has placed its sparkling new Latitude E4200 and (slightly larger) E4300 on sale today, just as promised. The 12.1-incher gets going at just over two large, while the 13.3-inch sibling starts up at around $1,750. 'Course, those figures can head far north if you start speccing 'em out, so, um, why not hit the read links and start doing just that?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Read - Latitude E4200 order page
Read - Latitude E4300 order page

[Zinger314 @ Sep 16th 2008 9:33AM]

Business laptops are serious business.

[stevereportdotcom @ Sep 16th 2008 9:44AM]

My dreams are smashed. Way out of my price range. I bought my 10.1" Fujitsu 5020D back in 2004 and it was about $1400. Dell dropped the ball on this one..

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 16th 2008 11:52AM]

no comparison.

[bob sakamano @ Sep 16th 2008 9:46AM]

nice... i guess not much for business people but a little pricey for a consumer(me) wanting a 12 inch model for personal use... what im finding is the only company that offers anything reasonable is the lenovo x200, anyone know of anything else around or under $1500?

[rocket @ Sep 16th 2008 10:26AM]

the old dell D430 is good. its only like 600 bucks on ebay NEW... thats what i have now.

[Lu-Tze @ Sep 16th 2008 11:13AM]

@ bob sakamano
LifeBook T1010 Tablet PC starts around $1300 with a touch screen thrown in.

[Bobo @ Sep 16th 2008 9:20PM]

Yeah, the Fujitsu p8010 and Lenovo x200 are the other 2 options

[bc @ Sep 16th 2008 9:59AM]

too pricey. not worth it.

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 16th 2008 11:53AM]

bullshit. this is a business laptop.

[Nihility @ Sep 16th 2008 2:24PM]

$1750 doesn't even get you 2GB of RAM. It's a ripoff. Usage experience with vista on 1GB of RAM is definitely not be what I would expect after splurging 1750. Meh.

[jorvay @ Sep 16th 2008 2:47PM]

Look at the prices that Lenovo and others are offering and tell me these prices are justified because they are business machines.

[Jason @ Sep 16th 2008 10:01AM]

Jesus H. Christ McJohnson Pants that's just way too freakin expensive.

X200 is a no brainer now.

[MosquitoControl @ Sep 16th 2008 10:05AM]

I will jump on the first laptop to hit the market with a 12.1" screen, 2 GB RAM, 40-80 GB HD, and sub-$700 price.

All I want is something with a full keyboard that is around or under 3 lbs yet not entirely neutered. It doesn't need to be a powerhouse, just mostly capable. I'll give up instant-on for storage.

I already have a desktop with lots of power. I already have a 15.4" laptop with lots of power. Now I just want something light and small to take with me when I may need a laptop but may not. Something exclusively for the internet and for Word/Excel.

The netbooks all have cramped keyboards and often overly-neutered specs. The next step up is a $1099 fully functional 13.3" laptop (Lenovo has some $900 12.1" ones but they're all as heavy as the 13.3") There are a few laptops that are both 12.1" and sub 5 lbs but they're all $1800 monsters with far more power than the size needs.

I kind of feel like the ball is being dropped here. Maybe it'll be the next step of the netbook, but looking around business school I see a lot of people dying for something light enough to not need a special laptop bag yet still comfortable and capable enough to work on for a couple of hours in the library. Netbooks don't really do that, as trying to do two hours of Excel on an 8.9" screen with a cramped keyboard will drive you insane. The 5 lbs 13.3" laptops are somewhat popular due to this, but still costly.

You see an increasing number of MacBooks around. Everyone ends up whining that they can't do every assignment on them, yet they keep spreading. Why? Because Apple markets them. Every other manufacturer has similarly sized, similarly spec'd, cheaper laptops but instead keep pushing those 15.4" laptops. Those aren't very good for people actually on the run more often than not.

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 16th 2008 11:53AM]

you are commenting on the wrong article. This is a business laptop for serious users.

[jorvay @ Sep 16th 2008 10:20AM]

Damn, way to expensive for what you get...especially with the 13.3". I guess we'll have to see what the next generation of xps notebooks looks like.

[Perry @ Sep 16th 2008 10:21AM]

I am so disappointed. I would even pay $1600, but $2400 (the way I spec) is just a little too much over my budget. I love mini notebooks (sub notebook, used to call). I bought Asus S5NE (2.6lb) back in 2004 for $1395. It is not fast, but it does everything that I needed to do. For a business traveler on a budget, that was a perfect laptop. Today, anything under 3lb requires over 2 large ones. I better start to work out my shoulder to carry laptops. Sorry shoulder, this is going to hurt a little.

[rocket @ Sep 16th 2008 10:26AM]

are you serious? we were waiting for these prices? first this mini and now this... for far less I can get a Lenovo X200 or even a X300!! the choice is clear now that I'm upgrading my Dell D430... lenovo baby!

[Doc @ Sep 16th 2008 10:44AM]

So I held off on buying a new laptop all summer for this? Like the rest, my new laptop will not be a Dell. That's just friggin' ridiculous.

[Benjamin @ Sep 16th 2008 10:45AM]

The prices are deceiving, Dell's Latitude laptops come with a 3-year warranty. If they offered them with a 1-year it would make them much cheaper, by about $215.

[Rick @ Sep 16th 2008 10:58AM]

J.H. Jumping Up-n-Down C.!!!!! I configured an E4200 with a 3-year onsite warranty and it was over $2800. There isn't even an Instant Savings special.

I can buy a Lenovo X300 for a lot less than that.

[John @ Sep 16th 2008 10:58AM]

Yeah - I was so excited about the e4300 - but ain't no way I'm payin that much! Dropped the ball indeed.... They'll be $799 in 6 months.

[Rick @ Sep 16th 2008 10:59AM]

The price is still out of line with the rest of their offereings and no Instant Savings yet.

[KV @ Sep 16th 2008 11:01AM]

wtf in the danish dell shop, i can save around 50 dollars if i choose a 128GB SSB instead of the 64GB SSD

[rb @ Sep 16th 2008 11:13AM]

yep ... the US site has the 128GB SSD for $0 upgrade.

[Ian @ Sep 16th 2008 11:29AM]

They're both a ripoff.

The 12" is more expensive than a MacBook Air (which people also said was too expensive), while the 13" version is very expensive, and offers the same specs as the Lenovo and Apple MacBook.

They sure are pretty. I sort of want one anyway. *sigh*

[Kevin @ Sep 16th 2008 3:33PM]

You may be onto something there... a little collusion between the two big vendors? If Dell doesn't lower their price, Apple can keep their new Macbook priced higher too...

[Ian @ Sep 16th 2008 11:35AM]

Except the 64 GB drive is high speed, while the 128 GB version isn't. That's why the "upgrade" is free.

[Jonyah @ Sep 16th 2008 11:41AM]

freaking expensive. That xps1330 is looking better every day.

[Jonyah @ Sep 16th 2008 11:51AM]

I just noticed for that price too you only get integrated video. so much for waiting. I'll pass on these until they get new specs and are half the price.

[chris @ Sep 16th 2008 11:44AM]

3-cell battery?? $19 extra to get 6-cell, no option for 9...

[Radukk @ Sep 16th 2008 12:06PM]

EXPENSIVE!!!!

[Noam23 @ Sep 16th 2008 12:24PM]

Horrible prices.

Lenovo's X200s (hopefuly released this month) is going to be almost as light as the E4200, with faster CPU, for 1/2 the price.

[Tore Frederiksen @ Sep 28th 2008 3:54PM]

Funny thing. Here in Denmark the e4200 is about 10% cheaper than the x200. :S

[CorpTraveller @ Sep 16th 2008 12:45PM]

Where is color option? I talked to my rep and 2 weeks is best information I got

[CorpTraveller @ Sep 16th 2008 12:48PM]

I have XPSm1330, its a little bit heavy for my taste and too plasticky.. I had it for 4 month with SSD and LED backlit.
I'm waiting for color options on E4200.

Does anyone know how much difference there is between Ultra Performance SSD and Mobility SSD??

[Jason Litka @ Sep 16th 2008 2:42PM]

The 64GB Ultra Performance is the SLC Samsung drive. The 128GB is a MLC device.

[JAdmiral @ Sep 16th 2008 12:51PM]

Well, I too gasped when I saw the price. I thought entry level would be around $1100 - $1200. But I bit the bullet and ordered one. Why? Because my MacBook Air isn't cutting it. It's BEAUTIFUL, but doesn't have enough power. Sure, I can emulate Windows (or boot directly into), but I drain the power away even more. When you factor in no optical drive, 1 USB port, and needing a dongle for just about everything else, it's a no go. I gained a few ounces of weight, but a whole lot more laptop.

So, I just configured an E4300 with more power and memory than the MBA, and with an internal optical drive. When you factor the cost of an MBA with external superdrive, it wasn't that far out. Plus... sorry to say... I just feel more at home with Windows. There. I said it.

I know, maybe a regular MacBook or MacBook Pro would have been more to my needs. For that issue, I just go back to the fact that in my corner of the business world, we use Windows.

[kjn260 @ Sep 16th 2008 1:10PM]

E4300: Webcam or WWAN.....not both?

I'm thinking that the WWAN antenna might live where the webcam would usually go...bad move...I want both!

[Lancelot @ Sep 16th 2008 1:18PM]

I guess this proves that "Apple" MBP & Macbook aren't that over the top price wise as everyone seems to think.

[Jason Litka @ Sep 16th 2008 2:08PM]

I emailed my rep when I got in this morning and told him that the prices were ridiculous and that I could get a MacBook Air for less. He said, basically, "yeah, they're pretty high, but it's a new product.", which was almost immediately followed by "but of course I can give you a discount".

I ended up getting about $500 off of a $3100 config and the order should ship 10/15.

[Jason Litka @ Sep 16th 2008 2:14PM]

Should have mentioned, bought the E4200.

[idgaf84 @ Sep 16th 2008 2:33PM]

Wait 6 months for them to be on dell's outlet site they will be half the price. I just got a latitude xt for $1000. Same price for the one i got new would have been over $2000.

[Rick @ Sep 16th 2008 3:24PM]

6 months? I'll bet these will be there in 3-4 months.

[Anders @ Sep 16th 2008 4:16PM]

Who is buying a corporate laptop at list price, anyone?

This is the time when you drop a email at your Account Manager at dell and let them know we'll going to order 100 units but wants to test it first. I don't expect to pay more than 600-700 for it.

All you consumer loosers - Get a cheap laptop instead, that would break if you drop it. No problem, you just have to wait 2 weeks to get a new one, if your lucky it might be covered by the warranty. or not.

[Fearghoul @ Sep 16th 2008 6:04PM]

All of you need to pay attention to this comment. It is pretty obvious that the majority of people who end up buying an E4200 or E4300 will do so through their company's purchasing program/account manager and end up not spending a dime on them.

These laptops were never intended for consumers. You could still buy one if you pretend to be a small business but I guess then you'll have to be willing to put down the big $$$..

Comparisons to the Lenovos? Who the heck would use those ugly monsters for work?

[Rich @ Sep 16th 2008 7:12PM]

Wow, incredibly lame price point. I could get an Asus Eee, MSI Wind, HP 2133, Acer Aspire, and Dell Mini 9 for the price of one of these.

[dave @ Sep 16th 2008 10:07PM]

I'm buying (well my employer is)

What is stopping me buying TODAY?!?!?!

- Latitude-ON and how the upgrade will work

- Backlight keyboard option on E4200 (where is it?)

- 5GB RAM option on E4200 (I guess 4GB DDR3 SO-DIMMS are in short supply?!?)

- and does the 5530 WWAN card support HSDPA on 850Mhz


Can anyone help find answers? Dell telephone ppl in my (a-pac) region are totally useless.

[DS @ Sep 16th 2008 11:24PM]

these prices are a joke! The Macbook and Lenovo x300 are going to be the winners here. I'll be getting a lenovo. Can't believe I waited for this.. what a disappointment..

[mdn @ Sep 17th 2008 1:18AM]

If you think it's expensive in the US try Australia - They haven't got it on the website yet, but I spoke to a sales rep who quoted a starting price of $4700 (AUD). This is much more than an exchange rate hike. I told him he was dreaming and that the correct price in Oz dollars would be more like $3000 for a reasonably specced version - I pointed out that the US site had the version I wanted for around $us2500. He sympathised and spoke to his supervisor and came back with an offer of $1200 off!. I still said no sale and hung up. An hour later he called back and offered it to me for $3000. You get what you ask for.

[dave @ Sep 17th 2008 1:47AM]

eeek... indeed you do. here's a hot tip.

I have a quote sitting here for E4200 base config @ AUD $2500 .... and E4300 base config @ AUD $2100 (yes, I'm in Australia, we're a dell customer, but only have 150 employees... so nothing TOO special)

Tell him (your rep) to sharpen his pencil :-D