The Dell Latitude D410 is a serious business machine that puts a premium on data protection. It comes with not one but two hardware-based security systems to ensure that only authorised users can access the sensitive information in the laptop.
However, this portable machine is hampered by its lack of FireWire and S-video ports. Support for memory cards is also curiously missing. The only interesting feature of this notebook is a button that lets you check on the battery charge level without having to power on the machine.
Design
With a footprint of just 278 x 238 x 31.9mm, the D410 is roughly 28mm wider but 19mm shorter than an A4 sheet and about the thickness of two DVD cases, making it extremely handy for those who travel frequently. At 1.74kg, it's a tad heavy for its size, though. The Acer TravelMate 3000 with similar dimensions tips the scale at only 1.4kg.
The Latitude is certainly designed with the serious business user in mind, with its matt silver exterior and black borders along the sides. The 12.1-inch display is not transflective, hence it does not have the problems of distracting reflections. However, the display's lower brightness levels may make it hard to view the screen, particularly in brightly-lit environments. A row of lighted indicators above the keyboard shows Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, number lock, caps lock and scroll lock status.
Like most notebooks, the battery is securely held by two independent clasps located at the front of the device. With the extended battery option, it protrudes out the front of the unit.
One of the unique features on the D410 is its DualPoint option which allows users to choose between a touch pad and the track stick. The keyboard is a standard notebook layout with comfortable full-sized keys and good pitch depth. Typing long articles is not a problem with this machine.
Features
The notebook's key features lie in its two onboard security options, the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) security chip and Smart Card slot. The TPM stores important passwords and encryption keys on the chip instead of the hard drive. This means that an unauthorised user cannot extract sensitive data by removing the hard drive and reading it using an external enclosure. The Smart Card slot allows the use of third-party security software which requires an authorised Smart Card for notebook access.
The Latitude D410 offers a basic set of connectivity options, including three USB2.0 ports, monitor out port, one PC card slot as well as Dell's proprietary D/bay port. The standard package comes with a standard D/Bay External Modular Bay that houses a swappable optical drive.
Users can also purchase the optional MediaBase which adds an optical drive as well as legacy ports such as PS/2, serial and parallel to the setup. A power button enables the docked notebook to be switched on without lifting the cover while an undock-and-go button allows for seamless undocking without disrupting ongoing programs.
Strangely enough, FireWire, memory card slot and S-video ports are missing from the equation. Our gripe is not so much on the missing card readers or FireWire port, which is commonly used for transferring video footage from camcorders to PC. Rather, it's the lack of an S-video link that we think will be a hindrance to those who want to do presentations on external displays such as the television.
The Latitude notebook comes with three wireless options: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and infrared. The Gigabit Ethernet allows up to 1000Mbps network connection speed whilst the built-in modem has data and fax functions. Sound is produced through a single speaker located on the top of the keyboard. Audio levels are reasonably loud for most office environments, though music playback is best heard through headphones as the onboard speaker lacks bass.
An interesting feature on the D410 is its battery charge indicator which is located on the battery module itself. By pressing the indicator button, the power status of the battery is displayed as a row of LED lights with each light representing about 20 percent charge. This is particular useful for users with multiple batteries as it allows the battery status to be checked without turning on the notebook itself.
Performance
The review unit comes with an Intel Pentium M 760 2.0GHz processor on an Intel 915GM chipset. Utilising 512MB of DDR2 RAM and an integrated graphics chipset, the Dell Latitude D410 gave a MobileMark2002 2002 score of 224. This is an average performance considering that the ThinkPad X32, with a slower processor and bus speed, managed a score of 209 which is only 6.7 percent lower than the Latitude D410.
| BAPCo MobileMark2002 performance rating (Longer bars indicate faster performance) |
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The battery life was slightly below expectations. Lasting only 239 minutes, it falls behind other test machines in its class such as the Acer TravelMate 3000 series which managed 263 minutes of computing time.
| BAPCo MobileMark2002 battery life in minutes (Longer bars indicate longer battery life) |
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NOTE: Products in this test are for comparative purposes only and are not necessarily available in the Australian market.
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