I've been meaning to write this review for a long time now. The Dell Latitude Cpi A300ST is a great machine. Here's why I have one now, and here's exactly what I think of it.

Let me start by saying that I ordered a (Dell) desktop and used it without any problems for about 3 months. However, it became evident that I really needed a laptop since I was traveling so much. I decided that I needed a stable, resilient, and usable machine.

For the last 6 months or so, I've used my Dell Latitude Cpi A300ST with virtually no problems. I have Xircom network card in my laptop that allows me to jack directly into our network, or I can dial in. The Xircom card is a winner. It was a hassle to get installed because Dell didn't have the correct drivers installed for it (that's my fault since they didn't know that I was going to use that card). Within a day or two, the support people at Dell helped me out. I did have to get the driver myself from the Xircom site, but Dell worked with me to get things straight. So, Dell support was there for me. This is an important consideration and I'll touch on it in a moment.


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Good Stuff
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The good stuff is obvious. It is lightweight, tough, and the battery lasts for a reasonable time (2.5 hours is about the average on my machine with my workload). The keyboard is well designed and I would even say I prefer it to a regular keyboard. It works well with my docking station, and I rarely have problems related to it. By the way, I'm running Windows NT on this laptop. Some people laugh at this but it has served me well. My machine is stable and performance is generally excellent. I have only had to reboot my machine about 3 times due to system errors (Blue Screen of Death). That's much better than my colleagues. In part, I believe this stability is due to my machine being a Dell. I don't know if that is true, but it is how I feel.


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The Major Usability Issues
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Issue #1
The screen is small on the machine (12.1"). That's pretty small. The controls for the monitor are not well designed and they are built into the software. So, if you want to adjust the monitor settings, you've got to use some commands using keystrokes, not a dial or slider bar. This is an issue for me since so many people look over my shoulder during demos and the like.

Issue #2
The machine uses a touch pad. I think most if not all Dell laptops use touch pads. I don't like them. For some reason, the cursor jumps around the screen at odd times. If more than one finger is near it, the cursor is prone to jerking way off to the corners of the screen. I wish I had had the option for the nub in the center of the keyboard. Oh well, it isn't a huge issue since I generally use my <a href= http://www.epinions.com/cmd-review-6E2A-E57E895-37FD5970-bd3 > Microsoft Intellimouse</a>.


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Dell Support
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When you buy a laptop, you will very likely need support in the first year or so of operation. It is just a fact of life. A driver is needed, the hard drive starts acting funny, the screen starts to flicker. Something almost always happens, at least in my experience. The key to satisfaction is the support.

Dell has better customer and machine support than any other computer company I know. First, if you correctly use your machine number (e.g., on the site), they tailor their support down to the level of your machine. That's right. They help you keep track of your driver updates, and more. They list typical problems related to your kind of machine. Over the phone (after a reasonable wait), they work you through your issue. The support is incredible. The small extra price you pay for a Dell is rewarded. And as I said, the support for a laptop is very important.


Bottom line: It's a great machine from a great company.

John S. Rhodes
Web Site -- http://webword.com
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Recommended: Yes