The next generation core processors from Intel–codenamed “Ivy Bridge”–are slowly making their way into desktops and laptops. Dell shared details of new Latitude laptops that incorporate the Ivy Bridge processors and are designed from the ground up to be productivity workhorses for business customers.
Dell is bringing a lot more to the table than just the Ivy Bridge architecture. The new laptops include a plethora of features that make them more durable, improve performance, and enhance security.
Laptops can take a beating. They can be dropped. They are banged around in transit from one place to another. Cords are tripped over and laptops are yanked off conference room tables to crash on the ground.
Dell has put some features in place to help protect your laptop investment. The Latitude laptops have a StrikeZone shock absorber to help cushion the fall and prevent significant physical damage. Dell also protects the hard drive with a Fast Respose Free-Fall Sensor and a rubber bumper for the hard drive to protect data from being corrupted or destroyed.
Performance
With the battery options maxed out, the Dell Latitude line is theoretically capable of delivering nearly 33 hours of battery life. ExpressCharge enables you to get the batteries up to 80 percent with only an hour of charging. Dell also offers an optional 128GB SSD drive which can improve boot speeds and performance for reading and writing data.
Security
The Latitude laptops offer options to enhance security for business users as well. The laptops offer a TPM (Trusted Platform Module), and Dell’s exclusive Hardware Encryption Accelerator.
The lineup of Dell Latitudes includes the E6230, E6330, E6430, E6530, E5430, and E5530. The laptops come in 12.5-inch, 13.3-inch, 14-inch, and 15.6-inch varieties, and also include management tools to make it easier for IT admins to optimize, monitor, and protect the laptops.
If you’re in the market for new business-class laptops, the Dell Latitude line is certainly worth taking a look at. It still might make some sense, though, to wait a few months to see what other Ivy Bridge systems hit the street, and what ultrabooks, or Windows 8 laptops might add to the mix.
As for pricing and availability, the Dell press release for the new systems states, “Availability information and pricing for Latitude and OptiPlex systems will be released in the coming weeks.”