Dell Latitude D630 Notebook Computer Review

The Dell Latitude D630, the update to the very popular D620, packs in all the essentials needed to keep road warriors productive on the go: a speedy Intel Next Generation Core 2 Duo processor, excellent Wi-Fi throughput, and blazing-fast mobile broadband, courtesy of Verizon Wireless. Factor in the rich security options, the 120GB hard drive (with Dell's patented StrikeZone shock-absorption technology), solid battery life, and discrete Nvidia graphics, and you have an excellent notebook for demanding business users.
 
The D630 sports the same ergonomics that we loved about the D620: a pointing stick, dedicated volume and mute buttons, and a roomy, spill-resistant keyboard with minimal flex. The attractive black and gray body feels as solid as a tank with its magnesium-alloy build and sturdy, reinforced hinges. The only oddity is the dell latitude d630 battery; it sticks out of the front of the notebook, rather than the back.

CPU: My machine came equipped with the new Santa Rosa platform. Upgrades to the processor include a faster front-side bus and a new level of power state. According to an Intel rep (I used to work in retail), I was told these new chips are about 10-15 percent faster and equally consume less battery life than the previous Centrino generation. This will not, however, make minor application usage (office programs) run any faster. The design behind this is most likely for the battery use and people that need a faster processor (multimedia users).

HD: The hard drive is an 80GB SATA drive running at 5400RPM. My plan was to buy a 160GB drive and a notebook enclosure from Newegg, replace the 80GB drive, and convert the machine’s original drive to a portable HD. Due to financial reasons, I did not go through with it. The faster transfer speed (higher density) and larger storage are nice ideas but we can’t have everything.

GPX: I’ll be blunt, this machine was not built for gaming. Intel upgraded this generation’s integrated graphics but it is still no match for a dedicated card. Essentially, the X3100 can run old games but don’t expect F.E.A.R. or an equally graphically intensive game to be playable.

RAM: If you wish to run multiple applications, get the 2GB. Vista recommends (read: needs) 1GB to run the OS and any other application(s) smoothly. Before I upgraded the machine with 2GB, it came with 512MB. It was crawling and nearly always accessing the hard drive (and consuming more battery in the process). After the upgrade to 2GB, it ran as smooth as a hot knife through butter. I needed 2GB because Photoshop is a huge memory hog. If you plan to use this machine for office use, 1GB will most likely be enough to accommodate your needs.



The Dell D630 battery includes most of the ports and connections we'd expect on a thin-and-light, plus a few extras. Though it lacks S-video-out and a multiformat card reader (neither of which is essential to business), the Latitude D630 does add one more USB port than average, plus a serial port for use with older, specialized peripherals. In addition, the Latitude D630 piles on corporate-level security measures, including not only a fingerprint reader but also a smart card slot and an internal Trusted Platform Module. Another feature of note is the Latitude D630's Wi-Fi On/Off switch, which incorporates a Wi-Fi finder. Sliding the switch past the On position lets you test for nearby Wi-Fi networks, whether you're booted up or powered down--you don't even have to turn your system on to find a network.

Moreover, comparing the PC Mark scores for the D630 and the D620 gives some indication of the improvement in speed to found when using the new Santa Rosa CPUs and chipsets. In the tests the D630 shows a significant improvement over the D620, and though some of that performance may be taken up by the increased overheads of running Vista, it’s still a good sign.

To test latitude d630 battery life we’re still relying on subjective testing since our previous testing benchmark, MobileMark, has yet to be updated for Vista and as such cannot be used. For this testing the notebook was operated in normal working conditions for word processing and internet browsing, with the wireless enabled and screen brightness set to high.

Anyone accustomed to shiny finishes and flashing lights may find it hard to get excited about a comparatively mundane business notebook. But the more time we spent with the Dell Latitude D630, the more excited we got. Within its slim and sturdy case (Dell calls it 'Road Ready'), the Latitude D630 houses Intel's latest Santa Rosa platform. Those new components (and the optional nine-cell battery) helped our Latitude D630 review unit post impressive performance scores as well as the longest battery life we've seen in a thin-and-light system. The notebook also incorporates a thorough set of features for business- — including corporate-level security measures and optional WWAN — for a lower price than competitors such as the toshiba satellite 2410 battery. It's enough to tempt even longtime ThinkPad users to make the switch. Businesses can't go wrong choosing the Dell Latitude D630.

We like the subdued design of the Dell Latitude D630; its grey exterior and black interior will fit into even the most buttoned-up corporate environments. More important, the notebook's magnesium alloy case brings an extra sturdiness that you don't see on consumer systems, and its display hinges are reinforced for the long haul. With its standard battery, the Latitude D630 weighs 2.3kg, but our review unit included an extended battery that brought its weight up to 2.6kg. That's near the outer limit for a thin-and-light system, though just 181g heavier than the Lenovo ThinkPad T61. With its AC adapter, the Dell hits the road at 3kg, which is manageable for travel but not something we'd want to carry with us every day.

Dell's popular Dell Latitude D620 battery deservedly won many plaudits and awards with its excellent blend of features, price and performance. The question for Dell was, when the time came for a refresh would it be able to make its successor just as popular with the corporate buyer?

The answer seems to a resounding yes, and the D630 seems destined to carry on what the D620 started.

Intel's latest mobile technology, code-named Santa Rosa and now known as Centrino Duo, was the catalyst for the refresh and in the time-honoured fashion of "if it ain't broke don't fix it", Dell just jacked up the D620, removed the old chipset and CPU and replaced it with the Centrino Duo parts.

Our review sample (E-value Code UKBSDONL-L07632) is the flagship of the 630 range coming with an Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 processor running at 2.0GHz with 4MB of L2 cache and an 800MHz FSB. As with all things Dell the whole machine can be built to your own needs: there are two faster CPUs available should you want more oomph, for example, the T7500 2.2GHz (additional £58) or the T7700 2.4GHz (add on a whopping £225).

The Dell Latitude D630 will be a 14.1" widescreen notebook with the new Intel Santa Rosa chipset. It will be released at the end of April to beginning of May timeframe.

Our test laptop had Windows XP Pro installed and, unlike others with their fingerprint readers, the Dell instead sports a smart card slot for security. But a fingerprint reader can be added for $41. There’s also an ambient light sensor beneath the 14.1in screen for dynamically adjusting the brightness, and the choice of touchpad or trackpoint – along with the comfortable, well laid-out keyboard – puts the Dell Latitude D630 battery replacement top of the pile for comfort and ease of use.

A PC Card slot sits on the left side beneath a mini-FireWire port and Wi-Fi on/off switch, while Gigabit Ethernet allows for fast wired transfers, and there’s a VGA port on the back for hooking up to a projector.

Like any notebook, though, the Dell has a few minor niggles. The 1280 x 800 screen’s colours are slightly lifeless next to its glossy rivals, and the single mono speaker is disappointing, as is the lack of a media card reader.

But it costs a very-reasonable $2349, so when you factor in the three-year on-site warranty, the great build quality and the ergonomics, the Dell D630 battery quite rightly takes over from the D620 on the A-List.

Machines like the Dell ATG are interesting. They represent high volume manufacturers' acknowledgement of the market for durable/semi-rugged and rugged notebooks. And, as notebooks become more and more part of the overall work experience of millions, that is a rapidly growing market. One that the likes of Panasonic, GETAC and General Dynamics-Itronix have been mining for years.

Companies like Dell may not have the decades of experience in making rugged machines, but their design expertise and sheer product volume mean they have access to the latest technology at the best possible prices, and they can ruggedize an existing platform without the cost of starting from scratch. The question is whether a retro-fitted ruggedized machine is as good as one that was designed as a rugged device from the start.