Dell's sensual Latitude Z now on sale, starts at $1,799
By Darren Murph 
posted Sep 30th 2009 6:11PM
posted Sep 30th 2009 6:11PM
[Via Laptoping]
posted Sep 30th 2009 6:11PM
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ill pass
I concur. At this price, it's definitely on the Apple territory and honestly Macbooks are way sexier and they pack true videocards. Integrated graphics? you're not getting a netbook!.
I'll keep my Macbook.
I think the SSD makes up for the price IMO.
@ K
Excuse me? The GeForce 9400M in the MacBooks is damn well integrated graphics, and the MacBook Pros don't get discrete graphics in the form of the 9600M GT until the second, $1999 model.
@ Chris: oooops downranked! pwned!
Just to give other options you could also opt. for a more "PRO" option like a M4400 sporting a Quadro FX 770m and an optional RGB led screen. While the RGB led screen could drive the price up to around $1999 I think it would be money well spent. If you still not happy with that price you could just opt for the CCFL 1920x1080 screen.
Way too expensive.
If you don't need windows, go with Macbook pro.
If you need windows, there are several alternatives which is less than $1000. I bought acer timeline which has Core 2 Duo, 4G ram, 80G SSD at $799.99
onioning.com/yoda
@ thedarkone: Yes that is indeed another option, however let's not forget that the engadget post mentioned the word "sensual" and dells definetly don't fit that description, not even this one.
$1800 for the dull looking bad paint job? HAHAHA!
Honestly, K had it right - for the price a macbook pro is definitely a better deal. While it may not have an SSD it has a much better processor, more ram, and arguably looks better. Plus you don't have a battery hanging out the back (though some might argue that a replaceable battery is better than one you cannot replace - even if it does last 5 hours). The argument towards macbooks costing so much more is becoming more and more stale, they have lowered the prices a good deal and you can start with a polycarbonate macbook for $999.
Apple does well because it markets itself well and has an excellent reputation for quality service. When I call apple I talk to someone in Austin, TX instead of someone who barely speaks english from dell. Dells products appear to have increased a great deal in quality, but a 1700$ laptop that is as thick as this one damn well better have something better than shotty intel graphics, an outright pathetic processor, and what is probably a cheaper SSD that lacks many of the advantages of OCZ and Intel's more competitive, but more expensive, products.
I love my macbook pro, and i also love the lenovo T500 I have at the office that cost half as much for the same components, but this dell just seems over priced. That's my .02
It would be a competitive price if it included the wireless charging and wireless dock at that price, but they're another $$$ each.
@scsnu95, Actually you hit there right the nail on the head. If you dont need Windows yet the mayority of this planet does. Sure Apple has plenty of apps that could do about just the same the thing is... it´s about just the same it isnt. Differences between files or even the option to run certain apps is reason enough to stay away from Apple. And sure you could emulate or run it allong to OS X it simply isnt the same.
And sure.. you could choose a Poly-cracking-carbonate laptop which is still way more expensive then the avarage Lenovo or Acer yet why would somebody. The whole argument Apple is getting cheaper simply isn´t true if you look at the whole package you get. But then.. it´s an argument that goes on for past years and probably also the following years one thing is clear, the mere 6% to 8% in the whole computer market after 10 years of Apple shows how much Apple is wanted. (Same is arguable for the iPhone even, a mere 35 million (read the Apple quarterly statement) is nothing compared to RIM or Nokia)
Indeed. I like a lot about what Dell has done here, and this laptop does contain some interesting technology, but why it only has a 1.4GHz processor is quite beyond me. This thing is going to be utterly gutless. I definitely favour Apple but I am quite sure that PC manufacturers have competition to this that have a proper processor. Even the MacBook Air has a 1.86GHz processor...
$1900 and INTEGRATED graphics?
Sorry, $2000 and INTEGRATED graphics. I missed the "99" part.
This is the latitude line.. the business line of machines. I believe you would be looking for the Studio XPS for the consumer line. I have a Studio 15 myself with discrete graphics, 1080p screen, and slot loading bluray for hundreds less than this thing.
i would say its not 1800 for long.... its a dell, its on sale every other day
If you are going to spend $1700 on a laptop, why wouldn't you just buy a Thinkpad?
Totally. This is a less-rugged, heavier, bigger, lacking the nub, worse keyboarded, Thinkpad T400s. Only better if you like purple.
because rich people don't have to be rational with their money. that's why apple does well.
:P
@RD:
Heavier and bigger ? "The world’s thinnest and lightest 16” laptop." Does that ring any bells ? You can stack 3 Latitude-Z on top of each other and they'll be slightly thinker than that Thinkpad T400.
How o you know how the keyboard performs ? have you tested it ?
"Tactile Keyboard: Backlit, silky-touch keyboard with subtle, finger-accommodating curves."
Yes, it's there to convince you to buy it but it doesn't sound like they have anything less than a good keyboard.
Also, the color is black-cherry, not purple.
I'd buy it just for the wireless display capability. Looks like a killer presentation machine.
I've wished dozens of times to have a laptop that wasn't tethered during classroom or business presentations.
T400s SSSSSSS. If I said T400 you'd be right although it's still 16" vs 14"
Engadget looked at the Dell notebook already and said the keyboard was one of the best they've tested in a while, but didn't say it was better than the Thinkpad KB. Backlit KB is nice, but so is the Thinklight.
Why not just go with a Sager Laptop. Faster Cpus, SSD, better graphics and cheaper. .
100% agree, but this thing is 0.53 inches and damn it's light for a 16" display.
Also look at the E4200 and how it is thinner and considerably lighter than the X200s. I use an x200s daily myself and I think I would die without the Trackpoint. But I really like the fact that Dell is showing them up in terms of size and weight because it only puts pressure on Lenovo to innovate and get their designs down to the best size/weight levels especially on X and T series as those as are the two premium series.
Lenovo HAS to make the next X-series 2.2lbs or less.
@ maveric101:
I'm not rich. I have a MacBook. Had it for three years and it's still as speedy as it was in 2006. Try that with a Windows laptop.
The three magical letters that sell Macs even to the non-rich: TCO...
I was a Windows user before, who used to update his hardware every three years or so. No need to do that anymore. Even less so when I upgrade to Snow Leopard.
As for this Dell here, I find it pretty droolable as far as looks go. BTW, is that a DisplayPort I see?
Oh, but is that a 16:9 screen? Those abominations should be made illegal.
people say macs are expensive, what?
This is expensive but Dell offers a bunch of other laptops that are priced better. Apple on the other hand starts expensive and get's even more expensive.
Don't forget to add Applecare, this Dell comes with a 3 year warranty.
AIO said it.
Apple only gives you the option of "not worth it" to only a "die-hard mac fanboy" would buy one.
At least Dell gives you $200 systems, $2000+ systems, and everything else in between.
That being said, they could/should have spec'd this out better for that price, but as it stands, it's still easily one of the best looking laptops out there on the market from a design perspective.
WindowsFTW: Apologize for Dell more, plz. Apple has laptops right now that are more powerful and cost less. We're not talking about "Dell's other laptops", are we? We're talking about this one. So how is Apple's only option "not worth it" when you can buy an Apple laptop for the same price that beats this one in every way?
SANE people would think the Apple alternative would be very worth it by comparison. And yes, Dell makes cheaper laptops but they're not as good, are they? No, no they're not. Thanks for playing though, go back under your bridge now.
I'm not a mac fanboy, I don't own one, although I'd like to for a third system. I was just stating that this laptop is horrible for the price. You can get something better for less with the apple care thrown in. As far as looks go... I really don't like this one. Knowing dell build quality from the past 7-8 years, the little port tab things sticking out of the back, and that battery sticking out, look insanely precarious. I don't see those lasting 3 years, and I bet dell is going to say if you break the battery off that it was due to abuse and they wont service it. Besides that, Dell support is terrible. D:
Jack,
The reason the Apple laptops are not worth it is simple.
There are SEVERAL PC options out there (don't even get me started on the self-builds) that can go neck and neck with the best of Apple's offerings (if not altogether exceeding them) for what can sometimes amount to half the price.
That's why Apple's are not worth it, because anyone with a modicum of know-how or the will to search online for the best deals can usually come across PC's that cost hundreds upon hundreds less than comparable Macs...
But yes, go ahead and compare Apple's offering to just *THIS* particular Dell and disingenuously believe that they are still worth it in the grand scheme of things.
At the Apple store, a Macbook Pro with TWICE the RAM, OVER a full GHz more clock speed, a 128GB SSD (DOUBLE the size of the one in this Latitude) and a dedicated video card is STILL only $2k.
There ain't no getting around this one. When the Apple laptop is so vastly superior in so many ways for the same price, that's when you have to look at the Latitude and say "yep, that's overpriced."
So go ahead. Say it. And then explain how the Apple laptops are "not worth it" in this context. Not any other context - THIS context. If that's not something you can do, maybe you shouldn't have started your usual anti-Mac tirade in this thread, hmm?
Jack, you're frothing at the mouth. Go wipe.
Btw, I do think this particular model is not worth it too.
But Macs are never worth it. It's impossible to rid them of the smell of smug.
@Major4Play
You are comparing Dell's Warranty Service to that of Apple's. Have you used Dell's customer service? Or you just saying Apple charges for something that they do exceptionally well so it should be a negative point.
Everyone is begging for a cheaper product and yet still demand a higher level of customer service. Those of us who buy Macs are willing to sacrifice a little extra money for better materials, and better customer service.
Dell is trying to build a decent machine here, and yet you people pipe off with "it's expensive" and other comments along that line. Same with the Adamo line, those machines look great but you think it's out of your price range. Great products aren't cheap. If they were everyone would be driving Ferraris and BMWs and use 30K Mac Pros.
No wonder the economy is tanking and things are being outsourced, people like you who demand more for free, and expect a rock bottom price on something like this are collapsing this economy and sacrificing our product quality.
Jack,
You're missing the point.
This Dell is not the only option available for PC users, your Macbook Pro that you brought up for $2K *IS* on the other hand the only choice for Apple users.
I never said this particular Dell was worth it, but that it only looked good aesthetically.
I did however say that in the grand scheme of things, NO Apple system is worth its asking price because if you're a savvy enough PC user, you can either build one of your own thats similarly spec'd or buy one for hundreds upon hundreds less, and sometimes find a slickdeal for half the price.
Comprende?
Ugly.
iTard
That's rude and uncalled for.
inDEED, tristan.
john doe! got to your room!
Is there some inside joke that we missed where everyone is pretending to like how this thing looks?
i'll be honest. i saw 1.4ghz C2D and stopped reading.
but.. but... to have made that punchline you had to have read the last sentence in the article! AMAZING! how DO you DO it???
It is a ULV processor. Maybe if you had read a little further, you wouldn't put your foot in your mouth :)
I played around with this last week, Friday. The system is sturdy, has no flex and it does not have a paint-job. It has some form of coating that feels great and the overall system feels very well made and very high-end. The screen looks fantastic and has capacitive controls on the right side which are a gimmicky touch, but work well.
The keyboard is quite nice and the touchpad feels great and the multitouch responds very well. Overall, this is a really good product from Dell. The capacitive charge option (i.e. sit the notebook on to the stand and it charges without physically plugging the notebook into a charger) is pretty cool too :D
My only complaint about the notebook was the keyboard being a little too small. There seemed to plenty of room to put a larger keyboard in. Other than that though, it was a really nice bit of kit and very easy to wield/carry with 1 arm for a 16" product.
integrated wtf.
I'd rather spend nearly $2,000 and get something with a little more umph. I mean it looks nice..but I'm not paying 2k just for looks.
I'm sure there is a market for this, but I'm sooooo not part of if that I find it difficult to be interested.
I spose a 2kg 16inch oled laptop is pretty impressive. I'm sure high-flying longhaul travelling business types will lap them up.