X-bit labs

A True American: Dell Latitude D620 Notebook Review

Category: Mobile

by Alexander Britvin

[ 12/07/2007 | 10:40 AM ]

This notebook boasts superb ergonomic and functional properties. Targeted at active users for whom it will make a trustworthy traveling companion, the notebook features a reinforced case made of magnesium alloy and a waterproof keyboard. Read more about it in our review!

Table of contents:

• Package and Accessories
  
• Design and Ergonomics
  
• Configuration
  
• Test Methods
  
• Performance
  
• Conclusion
  

There are two different approaches to the customer, one of which puts a focus on the exterior of the product and another, on its functionality. A pretty product is going to be demanded even though it lacks some features or performance. On the other hand, a humble-looking but functionally advanced device is going to be appreciated by experienced users.

The Dell Latitude D620 is an example of the second approach. Far from being an aesthetic masterpiece, this notebook makes up for that with its superb ergonomic and functional properties. Targeted at active users for whom it will make a trustworthy traveling companion, the notebook features a reinforced case made of magnesium alloy and a waterproof keyboard (the senior model with the ATG abbreviation in its name is protected against the elements even more).

The Intel Core 2 Duo processor is quite an ordinary thing for a notebook while the Nvidia Quadro NVS 110M is something new to us. This graphics card is among mainstream products with its performance but its nView technology may be valuable for some user categories. It allows outputting the Desktop on multiple display devices (two displays in this case). This is going to be helpful for people who often work with many documents at once, especially as many users connect an external large monitor to their notebook at home or in the office. The Latitude D620 also features a sensor of ambient lighting to automatically adjust the matrix brightness depending on it. That’s a good ergonomic as well as economic feature.

The notebook represents the currently popular modular design. The optical drive can be easily replaced with a special cover to reduce the weight, with an additional HDD or with a battery for a longer battery life.

The Dell Latitude D620 comes to market with two types of the LCD matrix: WXGA (1280x800) and WXGA+ (1440x900). The latter version is additionally equipped with a fingerprint scanner built into the touchpad between the buttons. The two versions of the notebook are absolutely identical visually and have exactly the same size and weight.

So, we will now check out the exterior and interior design of the Latitude D620 and test it in comparison with the Sony VAIO VGN-C2ZR/B that has a similar configuration. The only significant difference between them is in the graphics subsystem. The Sony comes with an Nvidia GeForce Go 7400 while the Dell with an Nvidia Quadro NVS 110M. So, we’ll be able to check out the capabilities of the junior model of the Quadro NVS series in practice as it’s hard to determine them from the specifications provided at the developer’s website.