Desktops & Notebooks - eWeek

Desktops & 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 Panasonics 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.
 
  • First Look: Dell's Latitude E6400 XFR Rugged Laptop
    by Nicholas Kolakowski
  • Dell's second-generation Latitude E6400 XFR can withstand a drop-and-impact from 4 feet (as opposed to 3 feet for the first generation), thanks to an outer shell crafted from the same polymer used in ballistic armor.
  • A provided stylus allows users to interact with the touch-screen even while wearing heavy gloves. It also helps avoid smearing the screen with oil, dirt or other contaminants picked up in the field.
  • The Latitude E6400 XFR moves heat away from the core areas via a heat pipe system to the sealed thermal bay, which uses a heat exchanger to exhaust the hot air through vents. Dell says the device is capable of operating in temperatures of 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • In order to qualify for military-grade "full ruggedness," the laptop had to undergo 13 required tests for extreme temperatures, impacts, etc., plus two additional ones.
  • Two anchor points on the underside of the device keep it firmly locked in the vehicle dock. The laptop has also been crash-shock tested, meaning it can still operate after a particularly bad fender bender.
  • Dell designed the hard drive to be removed in less than 5 seconds. In our test, it took around 3 seconds.
  • The Latitude E6400 XFR can run for over 6 hours on the provided six-cell battery. An extra battery that attaches to the exterior of the device, and also ruggedized, will extend that life to over 13 hours.
  • Compression gasketing keeps the laptop sealed tight against dusty or moist environments. Theoretically, it can even survive a hurricane-caliber torrential downpour.
  • By reducing its reflectivity while simultaneously boosting the backlight, the screen boasts increased daylight visibility.
  • The second-generation version of the laptop is 15 percent thinner than the first-generation one.
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