XT2 from Dell

The Dell Latitude XT2 is a business-grade convertible notebook, offering multi-touch finger and digitized pen controls. With a slim and boxy chassis it might not look as cool as some consumer tablets, but it ends up being easier to carry and smaller to travel with. With a starting price of $1,929 it is easily one of the more expensive tablets on the market, but it does include some not-so-common features.

* Intel Core 2 Duo SU9400 1.4GHz (800MHz FSB, 3MB L2 Cache)
* Microsoft Windows Vista Business (32-bit)
* 12.1" Premium WXGA (1280 x 800) LED-Backlight Display with Multi-touch
* Intel X4500MHD Integrated Graphics
* 3GB DDR3 1066MHz RAM (2GB + 1GB)
* 120GB Toshiba 1.8" 5400RPM HDD
* 8X CD / DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive) through docking station
* Intel 5100AGN WiFi, Bluetooth, and 1Gb Ethernet
* 6-Cell 42WHr Battery
* Limited 3-year standard parts and labor warranty with on-site service
* Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.7 x 1.1"
* Weight: 3lbs 13.6oz
* Price as configured: $2,253

Build and Design
The Dell Latitude XT2 has a very professional, business-like appearance with sharp lines and edges, all dark-grey design, and even exposed screws. This notebook is definitely not targeted towards those looking for the next designer notebook. Instead, it is aimed squarely at those who just want to get down to business. The brushed metal surfaces are actually specially painted covers that give the look of metal but with the ease of maintenance that paint gives. The finish resists smudges and is much easier to wipe clean than most brushed metal exteriors. If it was painted matte black and had a Lenovo logo printed on it, you would swear it was a ThinkPad.

I personally love the side profile of the Latitude XT2, which is almost perfectly square at all corners. It has no sloped surfaces, no rounded sides, and sits very low to the desk surface. If you are carrying the tablet around in one arm it takes up such a small amount of space that you really don't mind holding.

Build quality is excellent, and probably the best construction I have ever seen on a Dell notebook. Panels feel solid with very little creaking or squeaking plastic, and fit and finish is impeccable. Surfaces meet with clean lines and nothing feels out of place. Paint quality is great on every part of the body, with no specs of dust, unpainted edges, or really any type of imperfection. The screen hinge is durable and rugged, giving you the sense that it should hold up well over time. The chassis feels very rugged with barely a hint of flex if you squeeze the palmrest or put heavy pressure on the keyboard. The screen lid has some minor wiggle, but doesn't show any signs of color distortion unless you really try to twist the panel

Access to user-serviceable components is easy through two areas. The hard drive is located underneath the battery, with four screws and a frame holding it in place. The RAM, WiFi-card, and WWAN-card are located under a single access panel held in with two screws. For most upgrade needs it should take no more than five minutes to swap out any component. One interesting component that Dell puts front and center under the access panel is a user removable BIOS chip (with a handy pull tab). This lets companies replace it in the event of a failed BIOS update, instead of sending the entire machine in for repair.

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Adamo against the odds

The Dell Adamo laptop has now received an in-depth review including an abundance of clear pictures from the guys over at Engadget Mobile. The guys even put up the Dell Adamo against an Apple MacBook Air laptop and an X301 for kicks.

The guys say if you were to simply judge the Dell Adamo by the cover it would be a best seller with its sleek and sophisticated packaging.

But then it’s not just judged on appearance is it, so the guys got down to the nitty gritty and gave the Dell Adamo a good going over, which you can read all about and view all those images by hitting the source.

http://www.cheaplaptops.org.uk/

Mini 10 Dell arrived in town this week

The marketable advancement of the small size "netbook" PC takes into a next level with the launch of the Dell Inspiron Mini 10. Response evetually were vary according from the sources John Stokdyk

The computer were planned to be on market in UK region on Thursday 26 February.The computer is eal\rly seen in US shopping channel QVC and powered by 1.33GHz or 1.6GHz Intel Atom processors, and also comes with 160GB hard drive, webcam of 1.3 mp and also built-in Wi-Fi.
The mini computer looks alike were not come up to a standard as everyone expected.. In a company blog, Dell executive Lionel Menchaca explained, "Initially, all Mini 10s will come with 1GB fixed RAM (which means it will not be upgradable), the Windows XP operating system, and a 16:9 edge-to-edge put on view that supports a maximum resolution of 1024 x 768." The screen dimensions will default to 1024 x 576, which is a improved fit for widescreen viewing, he added.

The complete specifications are obtainable from Dell's US site. The US price will be $399, with the UK price anticipated to start from £299 .The non-upgradable RAM in the initial models were among of the dislikes for the people who responded to Menchaca's blog.

One commentator called ShakataGaNai quote the the case: "Dell: People buy machines here because they want customised based on their own need. By abandoned from that services (not telling when features will be available, and making items like RAM non-upgradeable), customers will likley goes away. Why would I pay $399 for a Mini 10 that doesn't have everything I want, and won't for an unknown amount of time, when I can have an Eee PC tomorrow, for cheaper?"

Dell apply to revoke Netbook Trade Mark

Computer giants Dell have applied for the revocation of the 'netbook' trade mark on the grounds that it is a generic term for small, cheap computers that are designed for wireless communication and access to the internet.

'Netbook' is owned by Dell's rival Psion, they have registered the mark in both the US and also as a CTM. It is believed that Psion stopped using the mark in the US in 2004 and in Europe around the same time, however recently they have made attempts to assert their rights by sending various cease and desist letters.

Dell are arguing that "Psion has abandoned the 'Netbook' mark,". Under trade mark law if a brand name becomes so synonymous as to be merely a generic name for a kind of product then it is possible to file for it's revocation.

By way of example consider 'escalator' originally this was a registered trade mark but was revoked on the grounds that it was merely a generic name for a kind of product.

This case shows the importance of protecting your trade marks through constant vigilance, consider for example 'Tannoy' or 'Hoover' both of which it could be argued are now generic names but both brand owners have strictly regulated their use so as to ensure that they are considered as trade marks.

By Ben Evans
Ben Evans is an Intellectual Property Executive at Lawdit and can be contacted at ben.evans@lawdit.co.uk
http://www.lawdit.co.uk/reading_room/room/

Dell to Launch Adamo as MacBook Air Competitor

Comes out in early 2009
Back in January this year, Apple released what it described as the “world's thinnest notebook,” officially known as the MacBook Air. Since its release, the MacBook Air has experienced some modifications, along with the official unveiling of the company's updated line of portable computer systems, which have also switched from Intel's integrated graphics to a solution that is provided by the Santa Clara, California-based NVIDIA.


On the 15th of January 2009, the MacBook Air will celebrate a year since it has been released, but the celebration might be shadowed by a possible release of a new notebook from Dell, said to be dubbed Adamo, and expected to become the next competitor for Apple's thin MacBook Air.

There aren't many specifications to go on for the time being but, according to available details, the Adamo is expected to be marketed as the “world's thinnest laptop.” That statement alone makes Dell's mysterious portable computer system a direct competitor to Apple's MacBook Air. However, Dell isn't the first PC maker that tries to provide its customers with a PC alternative to the MacBook Air.

According to additional details regarding said laptop, Dell is expected to debut the system sometime in early 2009, although according to earlier reports, the Adamo was slated to be released this month. Also, the Adamo is expected to boast a black and silver color scheme.

Despite no solid specifications available at this time, Dell could potentially release a product that will be meant for a niche market segment. Given that it will compete with Apple's MacBook Air, the Round Rock, Texas-based Dell might have a better chance of recording a market success if the Adamo is priced considerably lower than its rival. An alternative would be to release a notebook that can also provide improved specifications compared to those of Apple's product.

http://news.softpedia.com

Dell adds to Linux notebook range

Inspiron 1525 latest to run Ubuntu

Dell has added the Inspiron 1525 notebook to its range of Linux-based Ubuntu products.

The vendor is including built-in DVD playback capabilities in line with its other systems running Ubuntu 7.10.

The Ubuntu-powered Inspiron 1525 is available today for customers in the UK, France, Spain and Germany starting at £299.

Dell claims to have based its latest Ubuntu-based products on feedback from more than 100,000 visitors on the company's IdeaStorm website, set up last year to canvas customer opinion on their preferred Linux-based laptop.

Dell took its first Ubuntu steps in the US last May when it preloaded the OS on two desktop systems and an Inspiron E1505n laptop.

Written by Guy Dixon
http://www.vnunet.com

Dell Latitude ATG D630

Dell's Latitude ATG (All Terrain Grade) D630 is full of surprises, including a solid-state hard drive, but for $3,211 we expected a few extras, like mobile broadband or a DVD burner, for example. More importantly, we expected a semi-rugged notebook that could handle a few ounces of water.

Stylish Enough
The 6.3-pound gun-metal-gray ATG D630 comes with rubber bumpers but is generally appealing enough to take out in public. Beneath the sturdy magnesium-alloy lid is a bright 14.1-inch widescreen display with a 1280 x 800-pixel resolution and a sensor that adjusts the screen's brightness depending on lighting conditions. Two red task lights in the display's upper bezel provide sufficient illumination to see the keyboard in the dark without annoying those around you.

Comfortable Keyboard and Touchpad
The full-sized keyboard was roomy and comfortable, with large auxiliary keys. We wish the keys had a little more spring, but they're plenty good for most users. We love that Dell includes a trackpoint cursor controller and a touchpad, which you can disable when you're not using it. A biometric fingerprint reader is also part of the package, and the system has a nice assortment of connectivity ports, including four USB ports, a FireWire port, SmartCard and PC Card slots, and modem and Ethernet ports.

Damage-Protection Features
Reinforced lid hinges, rubber port covers, and a shock-mounted hard drive help protect the ATG D630 from drops and debris, while a water-resistant keyboard deck is supposed to protect against spillage. The ATG D630 meets the MIL-STD-810F specs for vibration, humidity, and altitude, and Dell claims the system can handle multiple angle drops from a height of 29 inches (a typical desktop height). The company also claims that the keyboard can take up to three ounces of liquid spilled over three different places.

Dell Latitude ATG D630 Durability
While the ATG D630 made it through our drop tests without a hitch, it didn't fare so well when it came to our spill tests. As soon as the first ounce of water touched the keyboard, the screen went black. It bounced back quickly, but after we poured the remaining two ounces of water, the system shut down completely. Even after wiping the keyboard down and letting it drain for four hours, the ATG D630 continued to shut itself down and wouldn't start Windows until three days later.

Respectable Processor Speed and Graphics Performance
Our configuration came with a 32GB solid-state hard drive, not the most spacious, but it speeds up the boot sequence. Additionally, the lack of moving parts means it's much less susceptible than a traditional hard drive to failure due to sudden shock. With its 2.2-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 processor and 2GB of memory, the ATG D630 turned in a respectable score of 4,231 on our PCMark05 tests--the best of the group--but its integrated Intel GMA X3100 graphics card managed a score of only 1,761 on our 3DMark03 tests, the lowest of all the semi-ruggeds we tested. Battery life results were much better; the system lasted a strong 4 hours and 2 minutes with Wi-Fi enabled, which led the pack by a good margin.

Wireless Connectivity
The ATG D630 can be configured with various wireless components, such as an 802.11a/g/n wireless adapter, which was included in our test system and turned in solid throughput scores of 18.3 and 15.1 (15 feet and 50 feet from our access point, respectively), as well as Bluetooth, GPS, and EV-DO.

Dell's Damage Service Plan
For $149, you can upgrade Dell's standard support package for a more comprehensive three-year CompleteCare Accidental Damage Service plan, which protects against drops and spills, which is odd, given that a semi-rugged notebook is designed to endure such mishaps. Still, considering how it performed on our tests, this may not be such a bad idea.

Dell Latitude ATG D630: Tough Enough?
There's no doubt that the ATG D630 is tough enough to handle the occasional drop, and it certainly has the muscle to handle whatever business apps you throw at it, but if you're prone to keyboard spills, this notebook may not be the best choice.

Strengths:

• Wide screen easily readable in bright daylight
• Solid-state hard drive
• Speedy startup

Weaknesses:

• Didn’t pass spill tests
• Slow integrated graphics card
• Pricey