First Look: Dells 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.