Dell Latitude D400
This notebook is roughly in the middle of the field based on features, looks, weight, and physical size.
The Dell is heavier than the Toshiba, Sony, and IBM, but lighter than AOpen, Fujitsu, and Apple.
One very good point to note for system administrators in charge of routinely configuring IT equipment via console ports, the Dell has a single nine-pin serial port. This may seem insignificant for many readers, but when we are asked about notebooks, the first question is always "That is all well and good, but does it have a serial port?"
The screen is 12.1in and there is a noticable lack of a built-in optical drive, floppy, or a flash memory reader. There is inbuilt Bluetooth and wireless LAN, so data transfer can be made less painless.
It is a nice neat unit that could possibly have been shoehorned into a smaller footprint or have a larger display included.
| Product: | Dell Latitude D400 |
| Price: | AU$3560 |
| Vendor: | Dell |
| Phone: | 1800 812 393 |
| Web: | www.dell.com.au |
| Interoperability: |
½
Wireless LAN included, Bluetooth optional extra. |
| Futureproofing: |
Nice array of ports and good upgrade paths. |
| ROI: |
Excellent price for a unit of this calibre. |
| Service: |
½Excellent 3-year warranty. |
| Rating: |
|
Disagree with comments on the Sony. While it is loaded with a lot of stuff, the unit is, like just about every other Sony notebook ever manufactured, cheap junk. Tiny worthless little screen, "chicklet" keyboard, horrible, short warranty serviced by third party companies whose success is based on their ability to evaded their warranty responsibilities. The IBM X31 got short shrift in the review, but it is easily the best unit of all. Maybe the best ultralight ever produced. Solid (titanium case), three year warranty, great customer support, superior high quality hardware.