Dell gets rugged with laptops

 

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By Simon Aughton

Posted on 17 Jan 2007 at 15:57

Dell has announced the release of its first ever semi-rugged laptop, the Latitude ATG D620.

Designed for users who work in what Dell describes as 'tough' environments, the portable meets US military MIL-STD-810 standards for vibration, humidity and altitude and is designed to prevent damage from accidental bumps and moisture.

It features a shock-mounted removable hard drive, spill-resistant keyboard, port covers and high durability paint and in addition to being suited to military use, Dell says the laptop is equally suited to construction sites and for use by the emergency services.

The 14.1in inch display (with ambient light sensor) has a glass overlay and anti-reflective coating. Because it will often be used outside, it is designed to be one and a half times brighter than standard notebook screens.

'The Latitude ATG is a prime example of Dell's commitment to customer-driven innovation,' said Jeff Clarke, senior VP Dell Product Group. 'We have heard from customers loud and clear that a tougher, highly protective notebook with a screen that is easy to see outdoors is necessary in many lines of work. We're glad that we could meet that customer request with a product distinguished by industry-leading features.'

In addition to the 500nit, 1280x800 WXGA screen, those features include up to 4GB of DDR2 SDRAM, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and three-year Next Business Day On-Site Service as standard. The machine is Windows Vista capable, but ships, for the moment, with XP.

The ATG also provides hard drive image compatibility with the Latitude D620 and is compatible with Dell accessories including docks, port replicators and power adapters.

The Latitude ATG is now available in the US from $2,499 and will be available in Europe within the next fortnight. For more information visit the Dell website.