Sunday, May 19, 2013
Dell Latitude E6420 ATG Review
Dell Latitude E6420 ATG seems familiar, it should. Its the semi-rugged version of the business-centric Latitude E6420, which has a stylish, durable design and a great keyboard. Dell has built on those strengths by beefing up the systems durability and ruggedness, and adding a solid state drive for even greater performance. Our configuration even includes a touchscreen, which field workers might appreciate. But do those improvements warrant the $3,012 price tag?
Design
the E6420, the E6420 ATGs MIL-STD810G tested, Tri-Metal chassis is designed to withstand almost anything business users can throw at it, including drops, extreme heat and cold, and dust. Its lid is covered in sharp gray, anodized brushed aluminum that is bordered by a black, textured scratch-resistant hard plastic, which helps make the lid feel exceedingly sturdy. The lid also has two conveniently placed status lights in the upper right-hand corner that turn on when the system is in use and running low on battery power. The underside of the unit is protected by the same black, powder-coated magnesium base found on the E6420. Other features carried over from the E6420 are the systems metal hinges and sturdy closing latch, but on the ATG, the ports are protected by rubber covers.
Open the E6420 ATGs lid and what youll find is essentially a carbon copy of the E6420. It features the same comfortable, spill-resistant keyboard, complete with adjustable touch-activated backlight and pointing stick. A bright orange pinstripe surrounds the keyboard and adds some personality to the Latitudes design.
The E6420 ATGs matte-black deck offers a comfortable palm rest and includes a set of volume buttons on its right-hand side. On the decks upper left-hand corner are three indicator lights that give the status of the systems battery, hard drive, and wireless signal. To help protect the E6420 ATGs display, Dell has reinforced the screens frame and equipped it with a spill-resistant seal.
The price you pay for all of the E6420 ATGs protective features is its sheer size. Measuring 4 x 9.7 x 1.5 inches (with its port covers) and weighing in at 6.6 pounds with its nine-cell battery, the 14-inch E6420 ATG is larger and weighs 0.4 pounds more than the E6420 (which includes the same battery back) and 2 pounds heavier than Toshibas Tecra R840 (S8430)
Design
the E6420, the E6420 ATGs MIL-STD810G tested, Tri-Metal chassis is designed to withstand almost anything business users can throw at it, including drops, extreme heat and cold, and dust. Its lid is covered in sharp gray, anodized brushed aluminum that is bordered by a black, textured scratch-resistant hard plastic, which helps make the lid feel exceedingly sturdy. The lid also has two conveniently placed status lights in the upper right-hand corner that turn on when the system is in use and running low on battery power. The underside of the unit is protected by the same black, powder-coated magnesium base found on the E6420. Other features carried over from the E6420 are the systems metal hinges and sturdy closing latch, but on the ATG, the ports are protected by rubber covers.
Open the E6420 ATGs lid and what youll find is essentially a carbon copy of the E6420. It features the same comfortable, spill-resistant keyboard, complete with adjustable touch-activated backlight and pointing stick. A bright orange pinstripe surrounds the keyboard and adds some personality to the Latitudes design.
The E6420 ATGs matte-black deck offers a comfortable palm rest and includes a set of volume buttons on its right-hand side. On the decks upper left-hand corner are three indicator lights that give the status of the systems battery, hard drive, and wireless signal. To help protect the E6420 ATGs display, Dell has reinforced the screens frame and equipped it with a spill-resistant seal.
The price you pay for all of the E6420 ATGs protective features is its sheer size. Measuring 4 x 9.7 x 1.5 inches (with its port covers) and weighing in at 6.6 pounds with its nine-cell battery, the 14-inch E6420 ATG is larger and weighs 0.4 pounds more than the E6420 (which includes the same battery back) and 2 pounds heavier than Toshibas Tecra R840 (S8430)
