March 5th, 2008Dell’s new Latitude XFR D630
Dell’s new Latitude XFR D630 ruggednesses notebook meets MIL-STD 810F specs for moisture, dust, and shock confrontation, and for use in tremendous temperatures and high altitudes.
Computer maker Dell has determined to enter the ruggedized notebook business with its new Latitude XFR D630 notebook, a new organization intended for management, enterprise, and other commercial customers who need tough systems for use in harsh environments and field work. The XFR D630 meets MIL-STD 810F (PDF) for process in great conditions, and shares components with Dell’s existing Latitude line for easier integration into existing IT infrastructures. And, of course, it wouldn’t be Dell if they didn’t tout the machine as faster than the competition: the corporation claims the XFR D630 is 23 percent faster than the Panasonic CF-30 ToughBook, with up to four times improved graphic performance.
The Latitude XFR D630 represents a tectonic shift towards simplicity in the ruggedized laptop space,” said Dell Product Group director Brett McNally, in a statement. “We are taking a multi-dimensional approach that focuses on cut down deployment, service, and toughness without sacrificing performance. Major contestant focuses their efforts on ‘rugged’ only.
The XFR D630 features a 14/1-inch 500-nit outdoor viewable LCD panel (available in black or desert tan, touch screen optional), an Intel Core 2 Duo processor (T7250 or 7500 at 2.0 or 2.2 GHz), a thermally-enhanced, shock mounted 80 GB hard drive (solid state drives up to 64 GB are available as an option), supports up to 4 GB of RAM, uses Intel GMA X3100 graphics, 802.11 Wi-Fi networking, gigabit Ethernet, a Type I or Type II PC Card slot (Express Card/34 available through a USB PCMCIA Adapter), four USB 2.0 ports, VGA output, and optional optical drives, including an 8×dual-layer DVD burner: the slot can also be used for a non-rugged hard drive, a secondary battery, or even a floppy. With a base configuration, the XFR D630 weights just under 9 pounds. Even improved, the XFR D630 will run in environments ranging from -20 to 140°F, as high as 15,000 feet, and features damp and dust seals to stay the internal components pristine. Just the kind of thing some people may require in their kitchens or game rooms.
The computer has an international protection rating of 54, which means it meets the International Electro technical Commission standards for protection against dust and water. In addition, it has a magnesium frame that adds durability, a shock-mounted hard drive, and integrated digital camera and scanner for radio frequency identification tags. The F5 is available with Windows XP Tablet PC Edition or Windows Vista business edition, pre-installed. Pricing ranges from $2,699 to $4,000 depending on configuration.
