Dell Latitude D620

The Dell Latitude D620 is a 14-inch widescreen business notebook equipped with the latest Intel Core Duo processor. The D620 replaces the D610 and provides quite an overhaul in both design change and internal components. The new industrial charcoal grey and black look of the D620 conveys its strong build, which Dell calls "Road Ready", and with a slew of available built-in wireless communications this notebook is road ready in more ways than one.

Quick Specs of D620 as Reviewed:

* Intel Core Duo T2400 1.83GHz
* 1GB 533MHz DDR2 RAM (2 x 512MB config)
* 80GB 5400RPM HD
* 14.1-inch WXGA screen
* Integrated graphics (Intel Media Accelerator 950)
* 24X CDRW / DVD Combo
* Windows XP Pro
* Dell Wireless 1490 802.11 a/g and built-in Bluetooth

Detailed Specs and Configuration Choices for the Latitude D620

* Processor: Intel Core Solo & Duo processors 667MHz Front Side Bus & (2M L2 Cache)
* Audio: High Definition Audio codec 2.0W (4 ohms), integrated omni-directional microphone
* Wireless LAN Intel Pro/Wireless 3945 WiFi 802.11 a/b/g, Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g, Dell Wireless 1490 802.11a/g
* Wireless WAN (cellular broadband) choices:
o Dell Wireless 5505 Mobile Broadband 3G HSDPA (Vodafone UK, France, Germany)
o Dell Wireless 5500 Mobile Broadband 3G HSDPA ( Cingular US)
o Dell Wireless 5700 Mobile Broadband CDMA EVDO ( Verizon WirelessUS)
* Security Hardware: Integrated Smart Card reader, TPM 1.2 Security chip, Optional UPEK fingerprint reader
* Dell Wireless350 BlueTooth internal wireless card (optional)
* Docking and Port Replicators: D/Port, D/Dock, D/View Notebook Stand, D/Monitor Stand
* Chipset: Choice of Intel 945GM or Intel 945chipset PM chipset
* Memory: Supports 256 MB to 4056 MB of 667-533MHz DDR2 SDRAM shared
* Displays: 14.1"WXGA (1280 x 800 resolution) 14.1"WXGA+ (1440 X 900 resolution)
* Graphics Chip: Choice of Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (Up to 224MB shared) or 256 MB NVIDIA Quadro NVS 110M with TurboCache
* Hard Disk Drive: 40, 60, 80 & 100GB primary; 80 GB secondary
* Modular Media Bay: 24X CD-ROM, 8X DVD-ROM, 24X CDRW/DVD, 8X DVD+/-RW, Floppy Disk Drive, Secondary 6-cell/56 WHr "Smart"Li-Polymer battery, 2nd80GB hard drive, or TravelLite module
* Modem: Internal 56K V.92 modem
* Networking: Internal 10/100/1000 network interface adaptor
* Ports: Serial, docking connector, 4 USB, VGA, 1 PC card slot type I/II,headphone/speaker out, infrared port, RJ-11, RJ-45, AC power
* Battery
o Primary 4-cell/35 WHr "Smart"Li-Ion battery featuring ExpressCharge
o Primary 6-cell/56 WHr "Smart"Li-Ion battery featuring ExpressCharge
o Primary 9-cell/85 WHr "Smart"Li-Ion battery
o Secondary 6-cell/56 WHr "Smart"Li-Polymer battery featuring ExpressCharge
* Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2, Microsoft Windows XP Home SP2
* Dimensions HxWxD (32mm/1.26"x 337/13.27"x 238mm/9.37")
* Weight: Starting at 5.00lbs/2.27kg with 6-cell battery and CD-ROM (depends on configuration and manufacturing variability) --preliminary weight
* Service & Support: 3-year Limited Warranty* with Next Business Day On-Site Service

Design and Build

The D620 is most interesting in that it adopts a widescreen format, a feature that hereto date really has been pushed more in the consumer channel of notebooks. Dell reckons that business-types will prefer this format too though. After all, a widescreen (available in WXGA and WXGA+ resolution) does allow you to more easily have two windows open next to each other at the same time. Side-by-side comparison of documents, web pages or spreadsheets is an example of common business tasks more easily done on a widescreen.