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(Source: Dell)

Product: Dell Latitude D420
Type: Notebook

Typical Configuration:

* Intel Core Solo U1300 (1.06GHz, 533Mhz) [Ultra Low Voltage]
* 1GB (533MHz) DDR2 SDRAM [Up to 1x 1.5GB]
* 6GB (4200RPM) hard disk drive
* 12.1″ WXGA TFT LCD display
* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
* Up to 8x DVD+/-RW drive
* Intel 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card
* Optional Bluetooth module available
* Optional Biometric Reader available
* Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Edition

Reviews:
None Yet.

News:

1. This 12.1″ widescreen ultraportable was hinted at around a month back, but only today was it officially announced by Dell. Featuring a Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) Intel Core Solo U1300 (1.06GHz) processor, it will probably be slightly weaker performance-wise in comparison with Acer’s upcoming 12.1″ offering, the Ferrari 1000 (AMD Turion 64 X2). Of course, this will only be the case if Acer decides to ramp up the GHz on their model.

   However, given the starting weight of 3.0 lbs for the Latitude D420 (when equipped with a 4-cell battery), it’ll compete well on weight since the F1000’s weight has been reported to start at around 3.7 lbs. Admittedly, you’re not going to be getting much style with the Dell - with its standard greyish silver finish awaiting you. But its battery life can be expanded to a whopping seven hours if you are willing to lug a 9-cell battery-equipped D420.

   Early adopters will also be pleased with a couple of features Dell has thrown in with the D420. It’s 802.11n-ready, and features a Wi-Fi Catcher which can help you find wireless connections without booting up your notebook. Nothing spectacular, but it does add value to a rather simple notebook in a burgeoning ultraportable market.

   It does seem though that Dell are prepared to battle its competitors on price instead of features, with a starting price of US$1,149 after an instant savings coupon. Of course, this price gets you only 512MB RAM, a 30GB 4200 RPM hard drive and a 24X external CD-ROM drive. Up your budget to US$1,642 and you’ll get the “standard” (that is, if you want to run Windows Vista) 1GB RAM, 60GB HDD (also 4,200RPM) and an external DVD-RW optical drive.

   Overall, we’re not too thrilled with this new model, though it does round up Dell’s business-level Latitude notebook series. We’d say buy it only if you’re looking for a simple and effective ultraportable on the cheap.

2. When Dell launched the 12.1″ Latitude D420 notebook last month, one of the key features touted was that it was ready for Draft 802.11n technology (“ready” means it doesn’t automatically come with an 802.11n card, and currently, you can’t add one to it when customizing configurations). That was probably Dell’s idea of a soft launch since only yesterday was a full press release on the subject published.

   For the benefit of those who haven’t heard of the Dell Wireless 1500 or the 802.11n specification before this, let’s do a short recap. One: 802.11n is up to five times faster and has up to twice the range of 802.11g (which is one of the most widely used Wi-Fi standards currently). In hard figures, this means that the Dell Wireless 1500 Draft 802.11n Mini-Card transfers up to 270 megabits per second (Mbps) compared to the 54MBps of current 802.11g cards. Two: This is only a draft specification as it has not been industry-approved. Three: Dell’s card is backward compatible with the 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11a standards. Four: It’s priced at US$59. Five: It’ll be available to all XPS notebook and some Inspiron notebook configurations (this probably means the Latitude D420’s 802.11n-readiness was for the final 802.11-spec only).

   So, is this good or bad for us consumers? Well, for most of us, it means nothing, and stripping it out of customized configurations would probably be my first move. Why? Because, like its predecessors, you’ll need 802.11n routers before you’ll gain anything from the new draft standard. In addition, while the Dell Wireless 1500 is backwards compatible, no guarantee has been given that it’ll be upgraded when the final specification is accepted.

   Why not just wait till the 802.11n standard is out and accepted?