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As one of the world’s leading notebook brands, Dell Latitude products are known for their reliability, high performance, low cost of ownership, platform compatibility and excellent service and support. Based on the C-series success and traditions the new D-Family, optimizing the latest performance and productivity features and making them available to the mobile professional through a fully customizable business solution. The Latitude D600 gives you desktop PC performance out on the road.

Product Description

This Laptop is designed for users who require maximum performance in a mainstream notebook.  Embedded with the Intel  Pentium  M processors and the ATI  Mobility Radeon 9000 video chipset, it gives high power and efficiency. The D600 offers Intel Pentium Mobile Technology featuring the Pentium M processor, Wireless MiniPCI card. B grade may have screen impressions, red tint at boot and other defects such as hair line cracks, missing feet and/or doors.

Product Details

Details of – Dell Multimedia Laptop – Inspiron 6400:-

The purpose of this comparison is to help prospective laptop purchasers in their decision. In today’s mobile climate, the average person can make good use of a reliable portable computer; this report is designed to help in that search.

Of the many perspective computers, only several brands have been selected for this comparison.

Those that have been selected are Pentium computers that boast the new MMX technology. MMX technology lends itself to portable computers because of the added internal processor cache, graphics acceleration, and lower power usage. The first two features add to the speed of the machine and the last to the traveling lifetime.

This report will compare laptop computers on the basis of the following: (1) features, (2) performance in hardware tests, and (3) price.

Options for Laptop Computers

Of the many laptops available, some equipped with MMX, only four specific computers were chosen. These computers are equipped with MMX processors and stood out among other MMX computers for their performance as well as their value. Those chosen for this comparison are the Compaq Presario 1080, the Dell Latitude LM M166ST, the Gateway 2000 Solo 2200 166MMX, and the Micron Transport XPE P166. These computers all have Pentium 166 processors with a variety of other features that will be discussed in the following.

Points of Comparison

The industry of computers is an ever growing and continually more competitive market. Many computer manufactures are emerging with well made, reliable systems that make a valid argument for themselves. Several of these computers are discussed below.

Features.

Many different features are available on today’s computer, but only the standard, essential features will be discussed here. These features are grouped into subheadings below for ease of use.

• Memory: Each computer has a processor speed of 166 MHz. The Compaq has the least amount of standard memory with 16 MB, with a maximum of 48 MB. Both the Dell and Gateway computers come with 40 MB installed with their maximums being 72 and 80 MB respectively. The Micron had the most standard memory at 48 MB, having a maximum at 80 MB also. The Micron machine rates best in this area

  [1:144-145].

• Weight: For laptop computers, travel weight, that is the weight of all of the required equipment and carrying case, is very important. The Compaq and Dell come in with the lowest travel weight at 8.5 pounds. The Gateway came in right behind them with 8.6 pounds travelling. Of the four computers, the Micron was the heaviest, weighting in at 9.1 pounds. The Dell and Compaq are the best in the weight department [1:144-145].
• Battery: Another key factor for laptop computers is the length of time they can operate away from an outlet. The Dell computer had the longest rated battery life with a rating of 4 to 5 hours. Compaq’s computer had a rating of 3 hours while Gateway and Micron’s laptops were rated with 2.5 and 2.25 hours, respectively. Dell’s computer has the best rating for battery life [1:144-145].
• Storage: All computers rely on their storage unit to operate for the use of programs and storing information. The Presario had the smallest standard hard drive at 1.4 GB. Both the Dell and the Gateway computers had 2.1 GB hard drives. Micron rates at the top for this category for its 3 GB hard drive [1:144-145].

Overall, the Latitude from Dell gets the best rating for this section. It’s light weight and long battery life aid in portability, and while its hard drive and memory are average for this group, they are more than sufficient for good performance.

Performance. The various machines were put through their paces to determine their comparative performance. The several different tests are listed below as well as the various computers’ performances. The numbers don’t mean much on their own and are best used in comparison.

• Windows applications: The various computers were tested and scored on the execution time of eight top-selling Windows applications. The Compaq had the lowest score with a 29.4. The final three scored fairly closely together with the Dell coming in at 36.6, the Gateway having a score of 37.5, ad the Micron having a score of 39.5 [1:140-141]. The Micron ranks at the top of this category.
• Processor: These tests were run by exercising the processor and memory with test that mirror the processor usage of many Window programs. The Latitude has the lowest rating at 322. Next in order for performance was the Presario at 328. The final two machines are fairly the same in this test with the Gateway testing at 331 and the Micron at 332 [1:140-141]. The Micron comes in at the top of this category also.
• Battery: Battery life was tested by performing a combination of down time and heavy activity for the extent of the battery lifetime. The Micron and Gateway computers ranked at the bottom with 2 minutes 20 seconds and 2 minutes 19 seconds, respectively. Dell’s Latitude was next with a battery life of 2 minutes 30 seconds. Finally, the Compaq was rated at 2 minutes 32 seconds [1:140-141]. The Compaq was at the top in this category.

In this battery of tests, the Micron appears to be the leader. Although the battery life is lower than two of the machines, the difference is not enough to negate the Transport’s superior performance in the other tests.

Cost.

The computers were priced by the manufacturers suggested price, but the prices grow considerably when adding options. The Compaq Presario sells for $4,299 for the average mail order price. The Latitude priced at $3,999 direct. Gateway’s system can be purchased for $4,724 direct.

Finally, and most expensively, the Micron sells for $5,199 direct.

Overview and Introduction:-
The Dell XPS M1330 is designed for those that want power on the go. If you’re also fashion conscious and like to standout in a crowd, the looks of the XPS M1330 will help you in that area too. Sleek design coupled with a portable form factor and powerful components come together to make for a compelling notebook.

Build and Design:-

Our pre-production XPS M1330 as equipped:

The design of the XPS M1330 really sets it apart. The design is, in a word, striking. The sloping look and stunning lid, available in three different colors, are immediately attention grabbing. The slope is akin to a fast car tear drop look. And while the XPS M1330 isn’t designed to go fast in the physical sense, it looks like it could if you just put wheels on it.

Once opened the M1330 provides more eye candy in terms of design. The buttons along the top edge are touch sensitive and light up with a soft glow when pressed. They look very stylish. The LED buttons are a bright blue and also eye-catching in their appearance. The silver colored keyboard and brushed aluminum casing on the inside give a slightly industrial look that would tell you there’s some muscle to this machine.

The hinge on the M1330 is quite unique, it’s very rounded in its look and rotates to bring the screen about even with the keyboard for a slightly lower overall profile. The LED backlit screen is super thin, which keeps weight down and again contributes to the looks. An integrated web camera sits at the top of the screen, it’s well hidden but noticeable.

Overall we have to say that the M1330 is one of the best looking notebooks on the market today.

Screen:-

When configuring the XPS M1330 you have two options for the screen — a backlit 13.3″ LED display that’s thin and light or regular cathode backlit display that’s slightly thicker and not as bright and evenly lit as the LED backlit display. We were lucky enough to have the LED backlit display, and while it costs $150 more than the standard display, it’s a worthwhile upgrade. The picture and brightness you get is just amazing! It offers 330 nits of brightness and is simply gorgeous to look at. It’s glossy in nature so you’ll get some reflection, but the rich and bold colors that come with having this type of screen finish is worth it.

The only downside to the LED backlit display is the fact that you can only get a VGA webcam. If you get the regular WXGA display you can configure a 2MP web camera. We think VGA resolution is enough for things such as video chat applications, but if you really feel the need for a higher resolution web camera and want to save a bit of money too, then go with the regular WXGA screen option.

The speakers for the M1330 are located at the top of the keyboard area. There’s not much to write home about the speakers, they get loud enough that’s for sure, but the sound is slightly tinny as is the case with nearly all laptop speakers. The volume audio controls are touch sensitive buttons along the top right side of the keyboard. It’s a little hard to use these buttons if you have big fingers, and there’s no on screen feedback to tell you you’ve actually pressed the button. Overall the volume control buttons are tough to use, though they look nice, an old fashioned volume dial control is easier to use.

If you prefer to use headphones to the built-in, you’re set. There are two headphone ports to capture audio from, both are located on the front of the notebook. If you’re trying to attach external speakers this isn’t as handy, but since this is an on the go notebook it’s probably not an issue.

Keyboard and Touchpad:-

The keyboard on the XPS M1330 is fairly similar to the older XPS M1210, though it does feel more spread out with larger keys so overall the keyboard is better. One thing that’s definitely better with M1330 is that the keyboard is more firm. On the M1210 there was some sink on the right side of the keyboard, but with the M1330 it’s firm and solid all over. The XPS M1330 is really quite a pleasure to type on. The only complaint I have for the keyboard is that if your fingernails are slightly long they might get caught under the keys, this shouldn’t be a problem for most males though.

One thing to mention is that with the 9-cell battery in you get an overall greater slope to the keyboard, we actually like this for ergonomics, it feels more comfortable for typing.

The touchpad works well enough, though it’s on the small side. The Apple MacBook is a 13.3″ screen notebook and the touchpad is probably twice the size of what you get on the M1330. The mouse buttons are fine, though Andrew would prefer they had a little more travel to them. The good news with the touchpad is that it’s responsive, has dedicated scroll areas and the textured feel is good.