Dell Latitude D630 (Core 2 Duo T710 Processor 1.8GHz, 512MB RAM)

Performance And Battery Life
The S$2,663.85 (US$1,912.04) Dell Latitude D630 we tested was built on Intel's hot-off-the-presses Centrino Duo platform. It also runs Windows XP, the better to help enterprise users who haven't yet made the switch to Vista (though Windows Vista Business is available at no extra cost). We certainly have no complaints about its performance. On CNET Labs' application benchmarks, the Latitude D630 showed modest gains over a Lenovo 3000 V100 running Windows Vista Business on Intel's previous-generation Centrino platform, and the Dell vied for dominance with a similarly configured (though Vista-based) Lenovo ThinkPad T61. Most notably for business users, the Latitude D630 bested its competitors on our Office productivity module, which measures the computer's ability to multitask with Microsoft Office applications.

Our Dell Latitude D630 included a nine-cell battery that extends 1 inch in front of the machine (a bit awkward, considering batteries usually extend off the back); a six-cell battery is available and would knock S$24.15 (US$17.33) off the price. The extended battery served the Latitude well in our taxing DVD battery-drain test, where it held out for 4 hours 45 minutes, the longest life we've seen (to date) for a thin-and-light. The Latitude ATG D620, which also included the extended battery but was built on Intel's previous-generation platform, fell off 50 minutes before the D630, while none of the competitors' laptops we tested--which had smaller, six-cell batteries--last much more than 2.5 hours. If you can stand the extra weight and depth, the D630's extended battery is well worth it, especially if your work involves a lot of time on planes and other locations away from a power outlet.




System configurations:

Dell Latitude D630
Windows Windows XP Professional SP2; 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300; 2,048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 384MB Mobile Intel 965GM Express; 120GB Hitachi 5,400rpm

HP Compaq 6515b
Windows Vista Business Edition; 2.2GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile TL-64; 2,048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 128MB ATI Radeon Xpress 1270; 120GB Toshiba 5,400rpm SATA/150

Lenovo Thinkpad T61
Windows Vista Business Edition; 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300; 2,048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 128MB Mobile Intel 965GM Express; 100GB Seagate 7,200rpm

Lenovo 3000 V100
Windows Vista Business Edition; 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo T7200; 2,048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 32MB Mobile Intel Express 945GM ; 100GB Hitachi 5,400rpm

Service And Support
Dell offers a three-year local warranty for its notebooks. However, the battery comes with only a one-year warranty period. The warranty covers both parts and labor. Should there be a problem with the notebook, the company will send a technician onsite within the next business day. Updated drivers and other documentation can be downloaded from Dell's Web site. Users can also purchase additional warranty packages such as HelpDesk phone support and international coverage online.

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