Hands On with the Dell Latitude E6400 XFR

Dell may not be as seasoned as Panasonic or GeTac in the fully rugged space, but when opportunity knocks at your front door, you greet it with open arms.

The Latitude E6400 XFR is still relatively new to what might be called the "practically indestructible laptop market", as the notebook was launched a year ago. Despite flying under the radar during that time, however, Dell is by no means holding back. Dell has upgraded the ruggedized Latitude line to the Latitude E6400 XFR with Ballistic Armor, which supposedly can withstand hurricanes and desert storms.As with all fully rugged laptops, the frame is built like a safe, and is just as heavy. The E6400 XFR tips the scales at 8.5 pounds, although the heft was absolutely necessary from a design standpoint. The previous version was surrounded by a thick magnesium alloy frame; the new XFR shows off a new armoring technology, a Dell-exclusive, PR481 material that Dell refers to as its "Ballistic Armor." It's a similar polymer hybrid base to that used in cryogenics and the automotive industry, with a high strength-to-weight ratio.

In addition to meeting MIL-STD 810F and IEC specifications – in each case, military certified tests rated for scenarios such as 3-foot drops, extreme temperatures, and high dust and moisture levels – the E6400 XFR takes it beyond the standard tests: It achieved a 5 rating in independent specifications such as IP64 and IP65, in which water, for instance, is jetted into the XFR at 50 MPH. Not only can it withstand accidental drops and spills, but it can also last through a hurricane and a desert storm, according to Dell.

Other cool design features include a single Dell Quadcool fan, at the base of the system, that pulls heat from a series of metal pipes that run through the motherboard. The notebook's hard drive hard drive (either a solid-state disc or standard hard drive) is also protected in three layers: by a thermal elastomer material located on the corners of the laptop, a hard case shock mount, and by rubber shock mounts within the chassis. Like almost every fully rugged laptop, a carrying handle, equipped with zinc anchors, is fused with the XFR's front bezel.

Naturally, with an outdoor machine, you'll need an outdoor screen. The 14-inch LED widescreen is different from a typical one in that it's three times as bright (750 cd/m2 ) and uses a special anti-reflective surface. It even features a resistive touch-screen option, so that your fingers can do the walking in times when they're needed.

The XFR's features are basically the same as the non-ruggedized Dell Latitude E6400. You'll receive the standard array of connectivity ports, including three USB and FireWire connectors, an eSATA port, an ExpressCard slot, and a multi-media card reader. In addition, wireless technologies such as WWAN, WLAN, and Bluetooth, and a SIM card reader are included. Also present is an illuminated keyboard, which is one thing no outdoor laptop should be without.

Performance parts also reflect the entire Latitude line in that an assortment of Intel processors, up to 8 Gbytes of memory, and an Nvidia Quadro graphics card can be ordered with the system. Though the $4,200 Latitude E6400 XFR isn't cheap, the Dell Latitude E6400 XFR caters to a specific market, and it ships today.