Dell Latitude D630

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Our verdict

With mobile broadband, numerous security options and a robust design, the Dell Inspiron D630 is a first-class business notebook.

To the

Robust magnesium alloy body

Excellent productivity performance

Discreet graphics

Very good endurance with 9-cell battery

Lots of security features

Against

Battery is in front of the machine

Heavier than Lenovo T61

Not the best wireless range

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The update to the hugely popular D620, the Dell Latitude D630 offers everything you need to stay productive on the go: a fast next-generation Intel Core 2 Duo processor, excellent WiFi throughput and blazing-fast mobile broadband , courtesy of Verizon Wireless. Add in the extensive security options, 120GB hard drive (with Dell's patented StrikeZone shock absorption technology), solid battery life and discrete Nvidia graphics, and you have an excellent notebook for the demanding business user.

The D630 offers the same ergonomics we loved about the D620: a pointing stick, dedicated volume and mute buttons, and a spacious, spill-resistant keyboard with minimal flex. The attractive black and gray chassis feels comfortable with its magnesium alloy and sturdy, reinforced hinges as solid as a tank. The only oddity is the battery; it protrudes from the front of the notebook rather than the back.

Between the small mouse buttons is a biometric fingerprint reader, which in combination with a TPM circuit and a SmartCard slot ensure enterprise-level security. As an additional expansion option, we would have liked a dedicated ExpressCard slot (the D630 offers ExpressCard connectivity via USB) and a webcam for video conferencing. Mobile professionals should note that the D630 is slightly heavier at 5.8 pounds than the 5.2-pound Lenovo T61.

When viewing our

Batman begins

DVD we found that the matte 14.1-inch display (with a resolution of 1400 x 900 pixels) produces bright images, although colors lack vibrancy. The film looked fine from most horizontal angles, but that Moving the LCD up or down resulted in a distorted image. The D630 is equipped with surprisingly loud speakers that are good enough for presentations.

The D630's 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 2GB of RAM allowed the system to achieve a strong PCMark05 score of 4,568. That's slower than the ThinkPad T61 we tested, but this system had one more powerful 2.4 GHz processor. The Nvidia Quadro NVS 135M graphics card (with 128 MB of memory) achieved a 3Dmark03 score of 3,256, which is double the performance of an integrated graphics solution.

In our DVD rundown test, the D630's 9-cell battery lasted 3 hours and 22 minutes, which is enough for a full-length movie or two and is a lot better than the average thin-and-light system. Users can expect even longer battery life while completing typical business tasks. Users wanting more endurance can swap out the 8X DVD+/-R drive for a six-cell battery ($119) to nearly match the D630's runtime double.

Our model came equipped with Verizon's EV-DO Rev. A 3G Mobile Broadband ($179), which allowed us to download a 1MB file from our FTP server in a lightning-fast 13.2 seconds. Speeds are quite good too; our 1MB file posted to the server in 17.1 seconds. Buyers can also upgrade the D630 with Sprint EV-DO ($179) or AT&T HSDPA ($219) connectivity at the time of purchase US dollars).

The D630's 802.11n connection delivered solid WiFi performance, but not the best. We got a data throughput rate of 16.2 Mbps at 15 feet from our access point and 13.1 Mbps at 15 meters away. The ThinkPad T61 Notched achieves over 18 MBit/s from both distances. A particularly nice extra is the included Wi-Fi catcher (activated by sliding the Wi-Fi switch all the way to the right), which you can also use when the Notebook can see the available Wi-Fi networks around it.

Our configuration came with Windows Vista Buisness, which ran smoothly in our tests, but you can also choose Windows XP Professional or Windows XP Home as your operating system of choice. The device also comes with a 90-day trial version of Embassy Trust Suite anti-virus protection Wave included. Dell offers a generous three-year warranty with toll-free 24/7 technical support.

Overall, the Dell Latitude D630 makes good use of the new Centrino platform and is a worthy successor to the D620. We prefer the Lenovo Thinkpad T61 for its unique screen protector, lighter weight and stronger wireless range, but the D630 offers all the security, durability and performance that a business user could want at a reasonable price.

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