Dell launches Latitude range of business laptops

Dell just announced a bunch of laptops, but these two are particularly interesting to us because we love ultra-portables (who doesn't?). The 12.1" Latitude E4200 weighs only 2.2 Lbs (thanks partly to its SSD drive), making it the lightest Latitude laptop ever. And it does that while preserving a size that allows to have a comfortable keyboard. Secondly, the E4300 is a 13.3", which is probably the best compromise between portability and work comfort. It weighs 3.39lbs. Both laptops feature a 1280x800 resolution display
The Latitude E6400 and E6500 are replacing the Latitude D630 and D830 as the new 14- and 15.4-inch form factors, respectively. Both have a magnesium-alloy backbone like their predecessors, but you'll notice that Dell has moved away from a matted silver finish in favor of brushed aluminum paint. Dell understands that design, especially in this age, is an important business element, which is why red-and-blue-color schemes will also be available in the September 2008 timeframe. Other notable features include dual-pointing devices, as the E6400 and E6500 have both a pointing stick and a touchpad; an RFID SmartCard sensor rather than an actual slot; and a one-screw-remove-plate at the base, so getting to the innards of the laptop is as simple as removing one screw. One of the most memorable things about the D630 was the impressive battery life and multiple battery options. With both laptops, you have the option of a 9- or 12-cell battery.

Dell's new Latitudes feature:

• All-day computing on the E6400 with breakthrough battery life of up to 19 hours
  
• Full-frame magnesium alloy construction and all-metal hinges
  
• Sophisticated keyboard design
  
• Ease of use with Dell ControlPoint, centralizing control of user settings for power management, connectivity configurations and security management in a single application
  
• First business-class laptop with an intelligent backlit keyboard that automatically adjusts to ambient light levels
  
• Exclusive ControlVault solution - intelligent security sub-processors with embedded non-volatile storage that centralizes and helps protect user credentials and security keys in a single hardened security ''vault'' away from the systems main drive
  
• The E6500 is the only laptop with both a contact-less Smart Card reader and a fingerprint readers that complies with Federal Information Processing Standards
  
• Simplified IT with compatible peripherals, adapters, docking and robust manageability features across the entire portfolio.