Dell Latitude D410 review

What you need to know

Reviewed by: Stephanie Bruzzese

Reviewed on: 22 April 2005

Tags: Dell, Dell Latitude D410, DVDs, productivity, battery life

We like:

Fast mobile performance; long battery life; small, light case; lengthy, three-year warranty; includes security and manageability features

We don't like:

Small keys and mouse buttons

You might also need:

The optional Media Base makes up some ports and connections that the D410 lacks

CNET UK judgement:

A good choice for travellers, the Dell Latitude D410 is light, long-lived, and quick with basic office tasks

Full review:

In the litter of refreshed Dell Latitude business laptops, the D410 is the runt -- but by no means is it meek. On the strength of its new Intel Sonoma parts, the updated Latitude D410 raced through our benchmarks, earning our fastest mobile performance score to date for an ultraportable. With a reinforced frame and new features such as a Trusted Platform Module chip, the Latitude D410 is a speedy, secure, and smartly designed notebook for executives. At 33mm thick, the Latitude D410 is slightly stockier than its predecessor, the D400. Otherwise, the two laptops are about the same size, measuring 280mm wide and 240mm deep. Weighing 1.8kg, the Latitude D410 still falls within the range of ultraportable laptops. Like with the desktop-replacement D810 and thin-and-light D610, Dell has made some satisfying enhancements to the D410's design. For one, the lid has been reinforced to better protect the screen. The keyboard has also been made sturdier, resulting in a more solid feel as your fingers strike the keys; as with many ultraportables, the D410's keys may be too small for some users. The decently sized touch pad and pointing stick each have two matching mouse buttons; unfortunately, the touch pad's mouse buttons are somewhat cramped. Helpful status lights show when Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are activated. Finally, the D410 has a double dose of security: a Trusted Platform Module chip, which sits on the motherboard and serves as a virtual storage locker for your data, and a dedicated slot for smart cards, which can carry clandestine information such as passwords. The system offers an average number of connectors, with Ethernet, modem, two USB 2.0 ports, VGA output, and one PC Card slot, as well as headphone and microphone jacks. Continue Reading...