eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.
Dell took the wraps off its family of Latitude 7000 Series Ultrabooks and Latitude 5000 Series and 3000 Series notebooks.
The new Latitude offerings have touch display options and are crafted using brushed aluminum, reinforced magnesium alloy, steel hinges, woven carbon fiber, powder-coated underside, spill-resistant keyboards and LCD seals.
The Latitude 7000, 5000 and 3000 Series touch displays offer Corning Gorilla Glass, which is designed for higher scratch resistance compared with soda lime glass, which is the common material used in many notebook screens. Latitude laptops also come armed with StrikeZone shock absorbers, Fast Response Free-Fall sensors and rubber hard drive isolation.
The Latitude 7000 Series begins at $1,049 and is currently available worldwide, with touch-enabled systems available starting Sept. 12. The 3000 Series begins at $599 and is also available on Sept. 12, while the Latitude 5000 Series will be available in October, a company release stated.
The Latitude 12 and 14 models of the 7000 Series Ultrabooks offer encryption with Dell Data Protection and Intel vPro extensions for remote BIOS management and hard-drive wipe, even when systems are powered off. This platform is paired with Dell automated tools and utilities for deploying, monitoring and updating systems. The 7000 series is also available with WiGig wireless docking, allowing users to connect the Ultrabooks to another display or other peripherals without cords.
The Latitude 14 and 15 5000 Series are designed with 14.1-inch or 15.6-inch display options and other features, including Intel Core i7 ultra-low-voltage processors for extended battery life, a discrete graphics option for more processing power and a higher quality visual experience, and solid-state drive (SSD) or Performance Solid State Hybrid Drive options.
Other features include mobile broadband, Bluetooth and Wireless local-area network (LAN) options for enhanced mobility and connectivity, as well as an HD webcam and microphone array. The notebooks are also compatible with Latitude E-family docking, which is designed to connect with Dell monitors, wireless keyboards or a wireless mouse.
“These exciting new additions to the Latitude line provide our commercial customers with what they’ve been asking for by bringing touch capability to the workspace at desirable price points,” Kirk Schell, vice president of Dell’s commercial computing group, said in a statement. “The new Latitude 7000 Series builds on the success of the award-winning XPS and Latitude 6430u to redefine the corporate laptop, complete with security, manageability, reliability and beautiful design. And with the Latitude 5000 and 3000 Series, we’ve addressed the needs of today’s dynamic workforce by enabling easy entry into business-class computing.”
Finally, the Latitude 14 and 15 3000 Series notebooks, which provide a choice of 14-inch and 15.6-inch Anti-Glare LCD or optional touch displays, boast fourth-generation Intel Core processors with Turbo Mode for accelerated data processing, discrete graphics with up to 2GB3 video memory. The chassis has also undergone Highly Accelerated Life Testing, including hinge testing, keyboards and shocks, to ensure design robustness.