Dell gets tough with Latitude E6400 XFR
Dell has made rugged Latitude notebooks for a while, but the latest Latitude E6400 XFR model looks to be the toughest yet. Aimed at "the military, first responders, oil & gas environments, manufacturing floors, field technicians and homeland security" (phew), this 14.1in. Core 2 Duo/vPro system is 5.6cm thick and weighs 3.86kg — so it could probably be used as an effective offensive weapon in its own right.
All rugged notebooks come with a list of tough-guy standards that have been passed, and hard-sounding technologies that lurk within, and the E6400 XFR is an excellent example of the genre. Its Ballistic Armor Protection System gives 25 percent better impact strength than magnesium alloy, according to Dell, allowing it to handle drop tests from four feet rather than MIL-STD-810F's customary three. PrimoSeal technology does roughly what it says on the tin, providing protection against dust and liquid (to IP65 level). There's also the QuadCool Thermal Management System and a DirectVue display that's sunlight-visible and impact-resistant.
If you need a square-jawed notebook such as this, be prepared to pay £2,679 and upwards. We'll try and get our hands on one as soon as possible and put it through an assault course. Here it is getting a bit sandy (tin hat optional):
