Small, light, and versatile
Written: May 21 '02
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Pros: Lightweight, durable, dual pointing devices, built-in NIC and modem
Cons: Only one USB port, Small FN, DEL, INS, etc. keys, no parallel port
The Bottom Line: Versatile and durable. Good solution for business travelers. If you use a lot of peripherals you may need a port replicator or USB hub.
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| tl098711's Full Review: Dell Latitude C400 Notebook |
The Dell Latitude C400 is Dell's PIII successor to the Latitude LS. We still have an LS, which works just great for the traveler. Here are the basic specs:
CPU: PIII 866 MHz or 1.2 GHz
RAM: 128 MB-1 GB
12.1 XGA display
HD: 20-40GB
Optical drive: CD, DVD, CDRW, or DVD/CDRW combo (external)
The C400 has an unusual look, kind of rounded. I find a lot of the Dell laptop displays to be very thin and flexible, raising concerns about durability. The C400 has a rounded edge which seems to make the display a bit more rigid. The image is clear and bright and the native resolution is 1024x786.
Some people like the little pencil eraser pointer, others prefer the touchpad. The Latitudes all have both, so you don't have to compromise. This is great if you want to make this a standard solution for your group or company.
The PIII Processor is plenty of power for your basic traveler, and a maximum capacity of 1 GB of RAM will keep this laptop usable for a very long time.
To keep the weight down (3.6 lbs) and the unit thin (1"), there is no room for an internal optical or floppy drive. An external drive bay will support either of these, but not both simultaneously. If you travel a lot and must have a floppy or CD at all times, you will have to carry one along with you.
The built in speakers are fine for system sounds, but don't plan on listening to CD's or movies without headphones. I have not played a DVD on this unit so I cannot comment on DVD performance. As with all Dells, volume and mute commands require a function key combination. I prefer Toshiba and IBMs which have dedicated buttons for volume/mute, so you aren't fumbling around when the system starts blaring noises.
The I/O Ports provide an unusual issue. There is no parallel or PS/2 port (there is a 9-pin serial) and only one USB port. You will quickly run out of ports if you want to use a printer, external keyboard or pointing device, and other peripherals. You'll have to either buy a port replicator or at least a USB hub. They really should have put at least 2 USB ports on it. It does have built-in modem and 10/100 ethernet in the rear, which is great.
As with most laptops in this size category, there is only one PC Card slot which will accept one Type II or one Type II card (but not the fat Type III cards).
The keyboard is adequate, but a bit cramped in the corners. The ESC, F-keys, and Home/End/Insert/Delete are lined across the top and are only half-height. You will get used to this, but at first it requires a little careful searching. I am glad they include a Windows key (IBM doesn't). Also, Dell don't put the FN key in the bottom corner (IBM does); when the FN key is in the corner, I hit is all the time when I mean to hit CTRL.
All in all, this laptop looks very versatile and durable. It think it makes good sense for business travelers. Be aware of the I/O port configuration if you use a lot of peripherals (printer, PDA, digital camera, external keyboard and/or mouse, etc.) as you may need a port replicator or USB hub.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 2250
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Intel Pentium III
Processor speed: 801-900
RAM: 256
Hard Drive (GB): 21-30
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Epinions.com ID:
tl098711
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Reviews written: 18
Trusted by: 5 members
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