Dell Latitude E6400 "true" weight

No I'm not in US. I wonder if they think we've different hands here in EU or what. It's so uncomfortable to type on those kbds (where you press enter with your pinky on normal keyboard is ~)

Enduct: is that uneven lighting on the F5-F9 keys?
If that's uneven, what is the "B" button then?

 

No, they do it because if they don't the people who are used to that keyboard design in the EU throw a royal fit. When pictures of the US version were shown on the tech blogs, they already did, as if it hasn't been the same story of different keyboards on different sides of the pond for many years.

I have to admit though, if I lived in the EU I would rather have the option to go either way. You can always order the keyboard part from the states like I've seen people do with older inspirons, but that's a bit much.

 

European keyboards have one more key and various keys get moved around. Different manufacturers do different things to the layout.

The camera tends to make brightness variations look worse than in real life.

I've not given it any heavy work to do yet but I had to put my ear up to the fan exhaust to hear if it was running. The HDD is a Samsung HM160HI and that is also very quiet. The optical drive is the noisiest component. And my first impression of the speakers is that they are relatively good.

John

 

AWESOME!! Thanks for taking the time John to answer everyone's drooling questions and in the process tremendously helping us all make an educated decision. I just love the power of forums.... many many many thanks.

AJ

 

Thanks John for taking the time to share with us more about the E6400

Please tell us how you're finding the battery life?

 

Thanks John!

I note you were bang on with your pre-delivery estimate

CNET had a configuration with a 9 cell battery and the Nvidia GPU at 2.59kg/5.7lb. Assuming everything else is roughly equal (and assuming CNET weighed their system correctly!) that's a weight difference of about 0.28kg/0.6 lb. The difference between the 9 cell battery and 6 cell battery is 0.18kg/0.39lb. That gives an approximate additional weight for adding the Nvidia GPU of 0.1kg/0.21b.

Therefore adding the Nvidia GPU to John's system should raise the weight to about 2.4kg/5.3lb.

 

John, how do you find the "robust metal hinges?" Is it as stiff as, say, ThinkPads?

Hinges strength/stiffness is one of the parts I'm particularly concerned about.

 

...assuming everything else in the two configurations are more or less the same... which they're probably not

 

By the way, I don't know if anyone has discussed this before but from the manuals...

The E6400 with UMA graphics, 6-cell battery, and optical drive -> ~ 2.15 kg

The M2400 with discrete graphics, 6-cell battery, and optical drive -> 2.18 kg

The discrete graphics on the Latitude are around 0.1 kg (rough estimate) so...

the Precision is lighter than the Latitude!

I guess the wavy lid weighs less than the brushed aluminium look.

 

A first look at power consumption indicates 9 to 11W with wireless on and the display brightness on one notch above minimum. six hours of light usage should be feable, particularly since I haven't explored the full benefit of Dell's extended power management. A quick test of DVD playback showed 16 to 17W power drain with the display at half brightness, so 3 hours of playback should be feasible.

I had estimated 2.25kg, so it is a little heavier than anticipated but not enough to merit sending it back. I don't have a full set of internal components. A second RAM module will add another 8 grammes!

At the moment the hinges feel they are strong enough to stop a barn door from moving in the wind. Moving the display is a two handed job.

John