The Dell Latitude D630 is a 14-inch widescreen business notebook equipped with the latest Intel Core Duo processor. The new industrial charcoal grey and black look of the D630 conveys its strong build, which Dell calls “Road Ready”, and with a slew of available built-in wireless communications this notebook is road ready in more ways than one.
Quick Specs of D630 as Reviewed:
- Intel Core Duo T2400 1.83GHz
- 1GB 533MHz DDR2 RAM (2 x 512MB config)
- 80GB 5400RPM HD
- 14.1-inch WXGA screen
- Integrated graphics (Intel Media Accelerator 950)
- 24X CDRW / DVD Combo
- Windows XP Pro
- Dell Wireless 1490 802.11 a/g and built-in Bluetooth
Detailed Specs and Configuration Choices for the Latitude D630
- Processor: Intel Core Solo & Duo processors 667MHz Front Side Bus & (2M L2 Cache)
- Audio: High Definition Audio codec 2.0W (4 ohms), integrated omni-directional microphone
- Wireless LAN Intel Pro/Wireless 3945 WiFi 802.11 a/b/g, Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g, Dell Wireless 1490 802.11a/g
- Wireless WAN (cellular broadband) choices:
- Security Hardware: Integrated Smart Card reader, TPM 1.2 Security chip, Optional UPEK fingerprint reader
- Dell Wireless350 BlueTooth internal wireless card (optional)
- Docking and Port Replicators: D/Port, D/Dock, D/View Notebook Stand, D/Monitor Stand
- Chipset: Choice of Intel 945GM or Intel 945chipset PM chipset
- Memory: Supports 256 MB to 4056 MB of 667-533MHz DDR2 SDRAM shared
- Displays: 14.1″WXGA (1280 x 800 resolution) 14.1″WXGA+ (1440 X 900 resolution)
- Graphics Chip: Choice of Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (Up to 224MB shared) or 256 MB
- Hard Disk Drive: 40, 60, 80 & 100GB primary; 80 GB secondary
- Modular Media Bay: 24X CD-ROM, 8X DVD-ROM, 24X CDRW/DVD, 8X DVD+/-RW, Floppy Disk Drive, Secondary 6-cell/56 WHr “Smart”Li-Polymer battery, 2nd80GB hard drive, or TravelLite module
- Modem: Internal 56K V.92 modem
- Networking: Internal 10/100/1000 network interface adaptor
- Ports: Serial, docking connector, 4 USB, VGA, 1 PC card slot type I/II,headphone/speaker out, infrared port, RJ-11, RJ-45, AC power
- Battery
o Primary 4-cell/35 WHr “Smart”Li-Ion battery featuring ExpressCharge - Weight: Starting at 5.00lbs/2.27kg with 6-cell battery and CD-ROM (depends on configuration and manufacturing variability) –preliminary weight
Design and Build
The D630 is most interesting in that it adopts a widescreen format, a feature that hereto date really has been pushed more in the consumer channel of notebooks. Dell reckons that business-types will prefer this format too though. After all, a widescreen (available in WXGA and WXGA+ resolution) does allow you to more easily have two windows open next to each other at the same time. Side-by-side comparison of documents, web pages or spreadsheets is an example of common business tasks more easily done on a widescreen.
Aesthetically the D630 looks nice and professional. It is mostly a dark charcoal-grey (almost black) inside with silver accents and silver lid. This provides for an industrial and muscular look, quite the opposite of the light-grey and white design of the Dell Inspiron line of notebooks. All of the new Latitude notebooks (D420, D620 and D820) carry this new color scheme, in my opinion it is distinctive and professional looking — it’s not exactly elegant and sleek like an Apple or Sony, the Latitude favors deep and noticeable grooves as opposed to an Apple smooth all over look, but the look works. And it’s certainly an improvement over the former D610 look which was business boring and all too typical with its grey and boxy appearance.
The industrial looking aesthetics are true to the actual build of this business laptop. The D620 is very sturdy; it uses an all magnesium-alloy case. This results in strong overall physical protection of the notebook, worry-free of case cracks appearing or problems with excessive flexing. The hinges are constructed of steel, Dell claims they have been tested for up to 20,000 cycles (openings and closings) to assure freedom from loosening and wobble. The D630 hinges also have a new barrel design to withstand vibration better than past Latitude notebooks. Another moving part on the D630 is the screen latch, this is also constructed of metal to provide durability and a nice look to boot.
The D630 weighs about 5.6lbs with a 6-cell battery, optical drive installed and the power cord and adapter. Given the fact this notebook is a magnesium-alloy casing and not too much plastic is used, the weight is pretty impressive. It’s not the lightest thin-and-light by any stretch, and it is thicker than the ThinkPad T-series of notebooks for example, but it’s still fairly comfortable to carry around in say a backpack without feeling the weight too much.