Dell's new Latitude D400 is one of the fastest and best-equipped ultraportables we've tested. It's a wise addition for companies looking to upgrade their ultralight fleets.
Editors' Note: Dell has discovered a possible flaw in our test notebook, which may have caused inferior battery performance. We will retest a new system in the days ahead and update our review, if warranted.
Dell's new Latitude D400 series is one of the fastest, best-looking, and most affordable Pentium M ultraportables on the market. (And it may get faster, because Dell is planning a version with higher-clock-speed Pentium Ms.) Unfortunately, while delivering respectable battery life of around three and a half hours, it trails the battery life of other Pentium M notebooks, including a competing ultraportable, IBM's ThinkPad X31. Nevertheless, the D400 offers an impressive array of wireless options, ranging from standard 802.11b, which can make this a true Centrino notebook, to various combinations of 802.11a, b, and g. Businesses will also like the built-in smart-card reader, and everyone should appreciate the low starting price.
With the Latitude D400, Dell manages to keep the snazzy industrial design it rolled out with its Latitude D600, while shaving off some weight; the Latitude D400 weighs in at an easy-to-tote 1.77kg. Of course, lighter notebooks always involve some trade-offs. This ultraportable, like others in its class, has no built-in secondary storage drive, meaning that you may have to carry around an external optical drive (we tested the system with an external DVD/ CD-R/W combo drive). Once you add the external drive and a power supply, you're looking at a travel weight of just less than 2.7kg. While the Latitude D400 is a pleasure to carry around, nonetheless, it is heavier than a comparably outfitted IBM ThinkPad X31 (though the X31 is slower and more expensive). The Dell's dimensions, however, are standard for a business-class ultraportable: 28.7cm wide, 24.13cm inches deep, and 2.54cm thick.
To add external drives, the Latitude D400 uses Dell's D/Bay, which is a powered USB 2.0 module. While this makes connecting an optical drive a snap because it eliminates the need for an additional power supply, it does mean that you'll use up one of your two USB 2.0 ports in the process. As you would expect, the new system is also compatible with existing D-series docking stations, including the useful D/View notebook stand, which, when used in conjunction with a port replicator, allows you to keep your notebook display at eye level when you're using it in the office.
Like other Latitude models, the Latitude D400 includes both a pointing stick located in the centre of the full-sized, superfirm, comfortable keyboard and a touchpad in the wrist rest. Including both a touchpad and a pointing stick gives users a nice range of input options.
Dell has managed to pack an impressive assortment of features into the Latitude D400. Initially, this system will be available with both 1.3GHz and 1.4GHz Pentium M processors (in conjunction with Intel's 855PM chipset).
Given its compact size, the Latitude D400 is available only with a 12.1-inch display. We found the screen, especially at its native 1,024x768 resolution, to be bright and crisp, especially for an ultraportable notebook. You can also configure the system with up to 64MB of video memory.
Though Dell's standard configuration for the Latitude D400 is a Centrino setup--meaning it includes an Intel Pentium M processor, the 855 chipset, and Intel's own 802.11b Pro/wireless card--you can upgrade to one of Dell's TrueMobile cards, which come in two flavours: 802.11b/ g or 802.11a/b/g. The Latitude D400 also includes an integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet port, as well as a 56Kbps V.92 modem.
The Latitude D400 can handle anywhere from 128MB to a whopping 2GB of 266MHz SDRAM, and hard disks of 20GB, 30GB, and 60GB, running at 2,400rpm. (It's rare that an ultraportable can accommodate that much extra memory and such a spacious hard drive.) Dell also offers a zippy 5,400rpm 40GB hard drive as an option. You have a choice of external optical drives, including DVD+RW, CD-RW/DVD, or standard CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. You can also add an external 40GB hard disk through the external D/Bay connector.
Though the system includes two USB 2.0 ports, the external D/Bay drive, which you get automatically with the notebook, takes up one of them. You'll also find a single FireWire port and an integrated smart-card reader, which comes in handy if your business uses that security technology. A four-cell 28-watts-per-hour battery is standard, though you can upgrade to a six-cell, smart lithium-ion model.
While the system we tested shipped with Windows XP Professional, other options include Windows XP Home and Windows 2000 Professional. For office suites, you can skip one entirely or opt for either Office XP Small Business Edition or Office XP Professional.
The Latitude D400 is one of the fastest ultraportables tested in ZDNet Labs, and it easily achieved first place in this small test group. Thanks to the combination of its 512MB of RAM and fast, 5,400rpm hard drive, the Latitude D400 beat both the Sony VAIO Z1A and the IBM ThinkPad X31. We should note that the two competing systems had different specs: The Sony VAIO Z1A had 512MB of RAM but only a 4,200rpm hard drive. The IBM ThinkPad X31 had the same 5,400rpm hard drive as the Latitude D400, but the former had only 256MB of RAM. The Dell Latitude D400 hits the specs sweet spot, allowing it to beat its comparison systems by a healthy margin.
The Latitude D400 achieved good battery life in our tests, lasting 3 hours and 26 minutes. Compared to other Pentium M notebooks, however, particularly the IBM Thinkpad X31, it comes up short. The slightly larger Sony VAIO Z1A beat the Latitude D400 by 17 minutes. Still, the Latitude D400's battery life is good enough to keep you free from watching the clock in anticipation of its battery's death. For frequent fliers, we recommend buying a second battery.
Dell Latitude D400
Company: Dell
Price: AU$3,469
Distributor: Dell Australia
Phone: 1 800 812 393
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