I Love my new Dell Latitude Notebook
Written: Jul 10 '00 (Updated Mar 16 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: dual pointing devices; SpeedStep battery saver
Cons: heavier than some notebooks
The Bottom Line: My Dell CPx notebook computer has been a solid performer from the beginning. The more I use it, more I love it.
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| johnwc937's Full Review: Dell Latitude CPx |
I have put my old laptop computer (NEC Versa 4050C) to rest. My new Dell Latitude CPx could take the place of several of those. I'll explain why I love this new notebook PC.
The actual model I purchased is the Dell Latitude CPx J650T. The CPx series (as of 7/10/00) has 3 different processors ranging from 500Mhz to 750Mhz. My model is 650MHz. I have it nicely loaded with memory -- 256MB. It comes standard with 64MB and is expandable to 512MB. My system has a 6GB hard drive, but you can order up to an 18GB drive if you so choose.
Why I Love the Processor
The processor in my system, as well as those with the 750MHz systems, is a Pentium III. What makes this chip different than most though is the use of Intel SpeedStep technology. The processor in this notebook PC can effectively downgrade itself from a 650MHz system to a 500MHz system to conserve battery life when operating the system remotely.
To utilize this feature, you must be certain power management features are activated. Do not assume the settings are valid just because you have them set-up within the Control Panel. Go to Start / Programs / Intel SpeedStep Technology Applet and verify the performance when operating on battery power. You should choose to optimize the battery life when operating in battery mode. I have my system configured in this manner. I have not been able to detect any performance difference when operating on battery versus operating "plugged in". (Note: Because I have just come from a 90MHz environment, I might not be able to detect the degradation as much though because anything is faster than my old system.)
Why I Love the Graphics
I considered connecting my old 13" external monitor to this system when I have the system docked. However I would be selling myself short if I did. The Dell Latitude CPx has a 14.1" active color matrix display. The documentation indicates the display has a maximum resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels and 16 million colors. I'm not overly fluent on the display terminology. All I can say is that the display is brighter and clearer on this display than it is on my old NEC Versa system and the display is better than my old NEC 13" monitor. Why would I need a monitor if this display is so good? The display is crisp. I can see fine when looking directly at the display as well as looking at it from various side angles.
Why I Love the Pointing Devices
Dell has listened to its customers. The Latitude CPx notebooks have both touchpad and touch stick pointing devices. Dual "clickers" also are set-up -- one set directly beneath the spacebar for touch stick use and one directly beneath the touchpad for touchpad use. I have used the touch stick on an older Toshiba laptop in the past. The Dell touch stick is more sensitive and, hence, more responsive. I do not use the touch stick too often because I am more comfortable with the touchpad, however, my daughter will use nothing but the touch stick. The touchpad is more responsive than the touchpad I used on my NEC system. I had problems with the NEC model if I had any moisture or sweat on my fingers. The Dell system operates efficiently regardless.
When you get your system, be certain to try out the ability to use the pointing devices as clicking devices. I disabled the feature on my system because an errant tap of the touchpad would sometimes activate unintended actions. I have spoken to others that love the capability. Try it out and see if you like it. It's not for me, but I'm also not a touch typist -- so it might be fine for someone with a little better control of their fingers.
Why I Love the Drives
The Latitude CPx comes with a 24x CD-ROM and a 3.5" floppy drive. Only one of these units can be installed in the modular bay at any point in time. The feature I really love though is that the 3.5" floppy drive can be connected to parallel port and used even while the CD-ROM is installed. In other words, you can use both devices simultaneously. The 3.5" drive, which I rarely use, can just be hooked to the back of my notebook PC whenever I need it. No more swapping of devices. Love it!
Why I love the Batteries
One of the biggest gripes I've had with previous laptop or notebook PCs is that batteries take awhile to charge. I've had several instances that I tried recharging batteries between flights and I find that it has never been worth the effort because 30 minutes of charging typically equated to 10 - 15 minutes of usage. The Dell Latitude CPx uses lithium batteries that can be recharged in about an hour. I drained a battery completely and it was fully recharged in 70 minutes. Not bad. I still purchased a second battery -- just in case -- but I doubt I'll need to use it.
Other Stuff
I could probably go on and on about this system, but I'll probably bore all of you. Let me just mention a few other fine features....
The system has 16 bit stereo sound. The speakers are built into the base of the system near the front. Sound quality is good considering the size.
The system is quiet. With exception of a very light hum due to the built-in fan, the system is nearly noiseless. Unlike some of my previous systems, you can barely hear the heads reading / writing to disk. This may change over time, but I like it so far.
The system weighs about 6 pounds -- according to the specifications. I know there are lighter PCs available -- but 6 pounds is light enough in my book.
Closing
I love the Dell Latitude CPx notebook PC. Can you tell? It was easy to set-up and it performs wonderfully. If you have a need for a notebook PC with good performance, good graphics, and good power management, I'd suggest you take a hard look at this model.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): approx. $3000
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Intel Pentium III
Processor speed: 601-700
Screen Size: 14"
RAM: 256
Internal Storage: CD-ROM
Hard Drive (GB): 4-6
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Epinions.com ID:
johnwc937
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Member: John
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Reviews written: 36
Trusted by: 20 members
About Me:
Highly educated manager with scores of hobbies and travel experiences.
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