Desktops and Notebooks: Dell's Latitude E6400 XFR Rugged Laptop Built to Take Abuse

Dell introduced its newest "fully rugged" laptop, the Dell Latitude E6400 XFR, on March 10. The device, designed to fulfill military standards for ruggedness and retailing for $4,299 and up, is encased in a blend of the same type of high-end polymers used in military applications. It is designed to survive, among other things, a 4-foot drop while powered down, extreme hot and cold temperatures, and various types of impacts. In addition, the laptop features a screen designed to be both blunt force-resistant and more visible in daylight. Dell competes against Panasonic's Toughbook and other manufacturers in the fully rugged notebook category, which has great potential to expand as President Obama's stimulus plan increases nationwide infrastructure spending. In addition to military use, industries ranging from construction to telecom to oil prospecting all have use for a near-invulnerable laptop for their field workers.