Dell SA announces new Latitude packed with cutting-edge features

Today Dell announced the reveal of its latest, prestigious Latitude D-series range of notebook computers - combining the most up to date technology with rich design features focused on improving several key areas of the already respected product set.

"Our latest generation Latitude notebooks are quite simply the best we have designed to date," says Gavin Slevin, Client Product Manager at Dell SA. "From the feedback we`ve already been getting in from our customers, we`re confident that customers in all the markets we service will be quick to migrate to this newest technology."

In addition to the two premium-brand D series offerings, Dell will release a new value-focused L series notebook, the Latitude 120L, which benefits from many of the advanced features embedded in the new Latitude D620 and D820 models.

These class-leading products pack a whole new platform. Featuring the latest Intel Core Duo processors on dual-core enabled 945GM or 945PM Intel chipsets, the new D series features all the processing power demanded even by the most tech-savvy mobile professional. The increased Front-Side Bus (FSB) speed to 667MHz with Dual-Channel DDR2 RAM matching this operating frequency provides the data delivery backbone needed to exploit the full potential of these new mobile multicore processors.

The D series also ushers the market easily into the new era of widescreen mobile computing, offering a choice of stunning high-resolution widescreen display options. The D620 can be ordered with a 14.1-inch WXGA (1280 X 800) or WSXGA+ (1440 X 900), while the D820 features a stunning 15.4-inch WXGA, WSXGA+ (1680 X 1024) or WUXGA (1920 X 1200) widescreen display.

Switching to widescreen provides the end-user with 30% more desktop real-estate for 5% less footprint on their physical desks. High-end graphics subsystem options are provided through either the latest integrated Intel 3D graphics chipset the GMA950, or two flavours of graphics leader NVidia`s latest Quadro NVS discrete graphics solution featuring either 256 or a whopping 512MB of video RAM.

Dell is also delivering on its HyperConnectivity promise by incorporating the most complete range of data communications options yet seen on a mobile system. High-speed Gigabit wired LAN connectivity is built-in, along with a V.92 modem and the choice of Intel or Dell Wireless solutions compatible with 802.11 a/b/g. Support for the latest Bluetooth PAN protocol is provided courtesy of the Dell Wireless internal Bluetooth adapter, and even wireless broadband in the form of a 3G WWAN adapter - currently in the process of gaining regulatory approval in the local market.

"We anticipate having ICASA approval for these cards by June/July, ensuring that our local customers can remain fully productive wherever they may roam," comments Slevin. And regardless of the connectivity being used, the strongest signal strength is assured through powerful antennae embedded behind the LCD screen itself ensuring the best signal attenuation on all wireless frequencies.

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Thanks to its culture of continuous improvement, the company has taken heed of input from its own rigorous testing regime results, and feedback from both technical experts and its users in the global market. The results of this process culminating with several design features which position the new products even more firmly in the leadership position.

Using an all-new Magnesium-alloy chassis, the latest Latitudes are substantially more rigid than their predecessors - and despite the massively increased computing power they conceal manage to be substantially lighter as well! The D820 has shed a tangible 700 grams over the D810 model.

The Dell torture test is possibly the most rigorous in the world; the company destroyed at least 300 of the latest Latitude offerings to be certain that the product a customer receives is the last world in reliability and robust design. This testing regime includes the customer-suggested "Train Test" for checking the strength of the new reinforced steel hinges in a severely bumpy environment, and the net result an astonishingly resilient computing platform which the professional person can rely on every time.

For this newest range, Dell has updated its QuickSet software solution to ensure the average user can access the latest technologies and productivity-enhancing features built into the hardware for maximum business benefit. QuickSet provides a convenient, easy to understand application through which to tweak the display to most effectively make use of that wide screen, automatically configure and switch between multiple network connections when on the move, or customise power settings to achieve the best battery life (a stunning 11 1/2 hours in fact with the optional nine-cell battery and additional D/Bay battery pack).

Explains Slevin: "All of this innovation is focused on making the rich functionality built into the machine easily useable by every user. After all, if the user you are selling the solution to can`t access the functions themselves it would be useless to be taking these revolutionary steps forward in the underlying technology."

This thought process extends to the keyboard itself, where critical new functions such as LCD stretching, an enhanced power monitor, and manual manipulation of screen brightness (normally handled automatically via an integrated light sensor) have been added.