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On May 31, Dell announced new Latitude and OptiPlex business laptops and desktops that speak to the consumerization of IT trend. That is to say, a demand for business-use devices that are powerful and feature richhere, Dell has incorporated Intels new Ivy Bridge processorsbut also as well-designed and pleasant to use as the devices one buys for personal use.
Dells newest machines were inspired, says David Lord, Dells director of marketing, by desires to improve productivity, give people access to the data they need, and to make no sacrifices on the device side, while making devices folks really want to use.
Lord adds: Its pretty exciting. The 6430s is the thinnest and lightest 14-inch commercial notebook out there.
The Dell Latitude E6430s features a 14-inch display in a 13.3-inch chassis. And while super portable at 3.75 pounds and dimensions of 13.2 by 1.06 by 8.8 inches, its built around a Tri-metal casing with an anodized aluminum display back, magnesium alloy wrapped corners, steel hinges, a powder-coated base, a spill-resistant keyboard and an LCD coating to protect from spills. A StrikeZone shock absorber, Fast Response Free-Fall sensor and rubber hard drive isolation are further measures to keep the realities of mobility from slowing down workers.
We have a little [metal] shell we carry around, to give people a sense for the rigidity, the structure [of these machines], Lord told eWEEK. Were really proud of the Latitudes durability.
Another source of pride should be the nearly 33 hours of battery life that its possible to get with the optional nine-cell battery and a battery slice. This gets paired up with Intels third-generation processors, 2GB of memory, integrated graphics, an optional 128GB solid-state drive and a Dells ExpressCharge technology, which charges the battery 80 percent in an hour.
Also on board are Intels vPro and Active management Technology 8.x and Dells vPro extension, which support remote BIOS management and remote hard drive wiping. There are USB 3.0 ports, optional Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and Bluetooth connectivity, and money-saving conveniences like common accessories, such as docks and AC adapters that can be shared across the E line of laptops, and optical drives, hard drives and batteries that can be shared between select machines.
The OptiPlex 9010 is Dells first commercial all-in-one (AiO), says Lord. It features a 23-inch WLED display with anti-glare coating and resolution of 1920 by 1080. It has a Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) mount and a wireless keyboard and mouse that can be tucked beneath the display for space savings. The chassis measures 15.2 by 22.6 by 2.7 inches.
Users can choose up to two small-outline dual-in-line memory module (SODIMM) slots and up to 16GB of double data rate type 3 (DDR3) synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM); there are four USB 3.0 ports; an 8-in-1 media card reader; options of a 3.5-inch hard drive with up to 1TB or 2.5-inch drives that are a 500GB hybrid, with a 320GB 7,200 rpm Federal Information Processing Standard Self-Encrypting Drive (FIPS SED) and a 128GB solid-state drive. Also optional is a 1.3MP Webcam with a sliding door (so you know its off).
And of course, there are Dells integrated solutionsDell data protection and encryption, desktop virtualization solutions, and cloud solutions that can be paired with pay-as-you-go options that scale to the needs of a business.
To have a PC virtualization ready, says Lord, for IT guys, it makes a big difference.
Added to these machines, Dell has announced enhancements to its Latitude E6230, E6330, E6430 and E6530, with 12.5-, 13.3-, 14- and 15.6-inch displays; 14- and 15.6-inch E5430 and E5530 budget-friendly laptops for professionals; and a ruggedized Latitude E6430 ATG laptop with a reinforced 14-inch display and easy-to-carry handle.
The new OptiPlex line also includes 3, 7 and 9 seriesultra small, small and a mini tower form factor, in addition to the AiO.
Today we offer our strongest-ever portfolio of products, integrated solutions and services, building upon our history to help organizations of all sizes do more than ever, Sam Burd, Dells vice president of PC Products, said in a May 31 statement.
Availability and pricing information for the new PCs, says Dell, will be announced in the coming weeks.