Monday 19 November 2012

Review: Latitude E6230


Travel light with this feature-packed Dell notebook.
ONE thing that users of ­laptops at the workplace can agree on is that ­carrying those heavy devices around can be a real pain, be it for ­meetings and presentations or from office to home.
The introduction of Dell's sleek E6230, the latest in its Latitude E series, reduces the weight of the problem, literally.
Despite being the smallest offering in E series, the compact E6230 delivers a decent punch in terms of build quality and ­performance.
Durable design
The E6230 looks and feels tough, thanks to its tri-metal casing made up of anodised ­aluminium back, magnesium alloy corners, and steel hinges along with a powder-coated base. It isn't going to win the prettiest laptop of the year award but it sure feels solid.
Upon opening the laptop, you will notice its 12.5in screen, which has a 1,366 x 768-pixel resolution. Although it is not the best screen in the market, the display is clear and crisp with its anti-glare coating.
The notebook measures 30.9 x 22.6 x 2.5cm - it felt ­comfortable to use while placed on the lap. Radiation and health-risk ­matters aside, it also didn't get unbearably hot. This is good news for those who need to use the laptop in tight spaces or while commuting.
ACCESSIBLE: The Latitude comes with a number of ports.ACCESSIBLE: The Latitude comes with a number of ports.
It has plenty for ports, ­including a HDMI out, two USB (2.0 and 3.0) ports, a VGA port, a USB/eSATA combo port and audio jack.
Connectivity options for this model include WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, a Gigabit Ethernet port and Bluetooth 4.0.
Our review unit came with an extended battery that protruded from the back, giving it a ­peculiar look.
One thing that users will notice missing is an optical disc drive - those who still want one will have to purchase an external drive.
Under the hood
Our review unit came with an Intel i53320M processor that runs a 32-bit Windows 7 Professional operating system. It also has 4GB of memory and a 500GB hard disk drive.
The device has enough ­horsepower to feel speedy and it takes around 25 seconds to boot up from the time it is switched on. It doesn't just start up fast, it also launches applications smoothly with minimal lag.
Despite using HDD as a means of storage, the device is almost silent in operation even when loading data.
On the software front, the E6230 comes equipped with the usual set of utilities, including a Trend Micro security agent and Dell's Mobile Broadband Manager.
There are a number of ­enterprise management and security features, ­including ­support for Intel's vPro ­technology and fringerprint ­sensor for authentication. There is also Dell's ControlVault, which stores security keys and credentials.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, and the E6230 is definitely not just about work. With the integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000, this laptop is able to somewhat handle ­multimedia tasks such as basic photo and video editing. However, the ­system starts to lag when ­performing such tasks heavily.
We didn't get to test any full-fledged graphics intensive games on the device, but the laptop managed to handle online Flash games without any hitches.
It also played games on Google Chrome, such as Need for Speed World without any problems. As this model is going to be targeted for office use, it is ­commendable that it can handle such games smoothly.
There weren't any problems watching high-definition (HD) movies. The frame rate was respectable and the colours were also vivid. There was hardly any noticeable lag when watching 1080p HD movies.
For a laptop that is mainly primed for getting work done, we found the speakers to be acceptable. It was loud enough and the bass was satisfactory.
One area where the E6230 really made us happy is with its keyboard, which is a joy to use.
Typing is a real pleasure - the keys have nice tactile feedback and are well spaced out, which is good news for a model that is built for office use.
The function buttons on the laptop are easy to get a hang of and it also comes with three dedicated buttons for sound control.
A PLEASURE TO USE: The keys have nice tactile feedback and are well spaced out, which is good news for a model that is built for office use.A PLEASURE TO USE: The keys have nice tactile feedback and are well spaced out, which is good news for a model that is built for office use.
The keyboard also has a backlit mode with four levels of brightness that helps typing in poorly lit environments.
In terms of battery life, our review unit came with a six-cell extended battery which ­managed to last around four hours of Internet surfing on a single charge.
However, it dropped ­significantly to slightly below two hours when engaging in battery-hungry activities such as watching movies or playing games.
Final analysis
The Latitude E6230 is a ­laptop designed for the mobile workforce and it performs the way you would expect it to.
We have no major gripes with this sleek device, aside from the less than ­spectacular battery life even with a protruding extended battery.
With all that said and done, the Latitude will appeal to those who are always on the go. It's a laptop that gets the job done without trying too hard to be fancy.
Pros: Durable; runs smoothly; ­backlit ­keyboard is comfortable to use.
Cons: Battery life not ­stunning.
Latitude E6230
(Dell)
Laptop
PROCESSOR: Intel Core i53320M processor (2.60Hz)
MEMORY: 4GB RAM
DISPLAY: 12.5in HD (1,366 x 768-pixels) LED-backlit
GRAPHICS: Intel HD Graphics 4000
STORAGE: 500GB HDD
CONNECTIVITY: WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Gigabit Ethernet port, Bluetooth 4.0
PORTS: One USB 2.0 port, one USB/eSATA combo port, one USB 3.0 port, 4-in-1 card reader (MMC, SD, SDHC, SDXC), Smart Card reader, HDMI out, VGA out, docking connector
BATTERY OPTIONS: Lithium-ion cell
OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 7 Professional 32-bit
OTHER FEATURES: Backlit keyboard, noise reducing array microphones, HD webcam
DIMENSIONS (W x D x H): 30.9 x 22.6 x 2.5cm
WEIGHT: 1.38kg
WEBSITE: www.dell.com/my
PRICE: RM4,550
RATING: 4
Review unit courtesy of Dell Sales Malaysia Sdn Bhd, 1-800-88-0301
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Manufacturer(Dell)
ClassLaptop
Other FeaturesBacklit keyboard, noise reducing array microphones, HD webcam
Dimensions (WxDxH)30.9 x 22.6 x 2.5cm
Weight1.38kg
PriceRM4,550
ProcessorIntel Core i53320M processor (2.60Hz)
Memory4GB RAM
Display12.5in HD (1,366 x 768-pixels) LED-backlit
GraphicsIntel HD Graphics 4000
Storage500GB HDD
ConnectivityWiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Gigabit Ethernet port, Bluetooth 4.0
I/O PortsOne USB 2.0 port, one USB/eSATA combo port, one USB 3.0 port, 4-in-1 card reader (MMC, SD, SDHC, SDXC), Smart Card reader, HDMI out, VGA out, docking connector
BatteryLithium-ion cell
Operating SystemWindows 7 Professional 32-bit
ContactReview unit courtesy of Dell Sales Malaysia Sdn Bhd, 1-800-88-0301

- Donovan Quek (The Star)

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