Dell introduces Latitude 3330 laptop for students and small businesses

After scoring some success with its Latitude 10 Windows 8 tablet in the education and business markets, Dell hopes to have a follow-up hit with its brand-new Latitude 3330 laptop.

Being marketed to schools and small businesses, the new notebook starts at just $419, though it provides the usual array of upgrades that could send prices soaring. For instance, processor options range from the Intel Celeron 1007U all the way to an Intel Ivy Bridge Core i5–3337U, and you can equip the Latitude 3330 with either 2GB, 4GB, or 6GB of RAM. Storage options include a 128GB solid-state drive, 320GB or 640GB hard drives, or a 500GB "hybrid" hard drive with a small amount of solid-state storage for quick startups. 

As with many systems that cater to non-consumer markets, the Latitude 3330 is offered with either Windows 8 or Windows 7 options for the OS, and continuing Dell's embrace of Linux, there's also an option for Ubuntu 12.04. The 13.3-inch screen has a resolution of 1,366x768, and the anodized aluminium body is relatively light at 3.4 pounds with a 4-cell battery, and 3.9 pounds with a 6 cell battery.

Dell is touting security and management features of the Latitude 3330, including support for Dell Data Protection | Encryption (starting this summer, but not available in all countries), which allows remote data encryption over multiple devices from a single console. You also get Trusted Platform Module v1.2 support, optional support for Bitlocker and Computrace, and Dell Data Protection | Access features (again, not available in all countries). 

Dell is also releasing an updated version of its Mobile Computing Cart, which is designed for classrooms and other environments where a large number of mobile devices need to be stored and updated. The cart can hold up to 30 tablets or laptops, which can be charged and remotely managed (as a more expensive option) via built-in power and Ethernet cables. The unmanaged version of the cart costs $1,899.99, while the managed version runs $2,799.99.