Dell Latitude 6430u - finally a manufacturer that gets the business ultrabook!

Looks like the SOHO links don't have it, while the medium business ones do. Weird.

EDIT: both are missing Verizon WWAN options, which is the other thing I am waiting for.

 

I've got my 6430u and finally completed the installation.
I've found the fan to be fairly nasty and the notebook not compliant with the W7 cpu speed configuration: I've set it to 50% speed max yet the cpu is clocked at 2.5GHz [edit] seems to be the computer properties that is not getting aligned with the cpu speed, resource monitor gives the actual frequency.
The notebook arrived with A01 BIOS; upgrading to A02 first and A03 then did not changed the fan and CPU behavior.

[edit] the fan is noisy even with max cpu speed set at 30% (reported by resource monitor as being applied ) and 50% usage with wifi on and charger plugged in


Expansion is easy to do (I've doubled the memory to 8GB)
Anyone knows if the Option 382 3G card would work with it? The necessary antennae are already in place and it would be nice to be able to reuse the card.

 

Is this your blog post?
6430u | marcoullasci

 

Yes, it's mine.

 

Can't you just bring it back and get a new one? Sounds to me you have a defective unit.

 

I'd love to, but it's a bit complex for two reasons:
1) there it is no published spec about fan noise (level, measurement condition): hard to demonstrate it's a defect.
Maybe it's by design (as annoying as I may find it), maybe it's just my tolerance to noise that is low. I had no opportunity to hear another 6430u configured in a similar way to compare.
2) it's a company notebook
3) italian laws give less protection to the buyer compared to other countries

 

Marco, thank you for the posting. I am still using the exact same old Dell you had, a D630 for 5 years now, and talked my company's IT department into letting me pick a 6430u for my refresh. My IT department will install their Win7 Enterprise edition, so hopefully all the drivers will work. I am glad someone else has gone down this path before me. The key decision maker for me was real memory DIMMs instead of soldered to board, up to 16G in an Ultrabook; a real VGA monitor connector for prezo's in older AV equipment at conferences; and a RJ45 Ethernet jack for older hotels without in room WiFi. I hope the screen is bearable. I also hope the fan control gets remedied in an update.

 

The 16G upper limit was a deciding factor also for me as when I started begging to a light notebook the XPS13 only had 4GB.
I believe that the restore from hibernate timing imposed by inted did a disservice to the consumers as this led a number of manufacturers to limit early generations ultrabooks to 4GB.

For the real ports I would consider ok to have dongles as with the XPS 13, expecially if you don't use it often in an home-office environment where you connect an externa monitor and wired network.

The screen is a business screen with no frills. I did not had the opportunity con make a direct compare with my Acer3810, but I' under the impression that the folix antireflection protector I used made the Acer a bit better.

I have W7 Ultimate on the 6430u.
The XPS is half a Kg less and now comes with 8GB: unless you have a real need for 16GB in the useful lifecycle of the machine I'd seriously consider it if you travel a lot and have any influence on the IT.

BTW I've posted the diary of my first trip with the 6430u

 

Yes, I considered the XPS13, especially with the new FHD IPS screen. However, several hurdles. First, IT would not approve it. Second, I really do need 16G memory for work. Third, I do not like dongles for business travel and speaking engagements. However, I am considering the XPS13 for home use, as my home computer is over a decade old!

Disappointed to hear that hibernation on low power warning did not capture all the memory, though glad to hear you did not lose any work.

I can't wait for mine to arrive. Still a couple weeks to go.

 

For home use, if you don't need games, the Acer3810T is a nice machine (slightly thicker than the 6430u) but lighter and you should expect to get it almost for free.
I paid mine 600€ including an SSD and the expansion to 8GB of memory in november 2010. You're better aiming at the dual core version and it will give better realworld performance than the stock D630.

Once you get your 6430u I'd really appreciate if you can share your experience.