Are Latitudes really built better than Inspiron?

Is this really true, or just one of those myth/perception things that gets traction?

 

I use an Inspiron 6400 at a client's place and it is definitely of a lesser build quality than the D820 in my sig.

Plastic versus magnesum (I think).

 

I bought a d620 for my friend and as much as it pains me to say so, its build quality is superior to my e1705. They really are nice machines with good build quaility and impressive warranty. I know that in the past ASUS has designed Latitude models which speaks well for the line.

 

Last I heard, Asus had been contracted to design and build a 14" widescreen laptop for Dell, but I don't know if it's supposed to be XPS, Latitude, Inspiron, Precision, or what. Still, whould be nice. Finally, a mid-size Dell with a decent GPU (maybe x1650 or Go7700?) would be nice.

As far as build of the Latitudes vs. Inspirons, from all accounts the Latitudes are better. Even my M90 which is built from the same chassis as the E1705 seems to be better built, but because they use a solid magnesium lid from what I can tell. I can say that my old Latitude C640 is broken... broken hinge. Not too sturdy if you ask me, but it is pushing 4-5 years old now. And Dells of the past are nothing compared to the Dells of today.

 

ADV
It is more durable and resistant to flexion.
Its battery charges faster.
It has a dual pointer.
3 year warranty, Standard.
No junkware.
Less prone to keyboard spills.
Better customer service

DISADV
Not for multimedia (D620 with 1 speaker and no 1394)

 

I just configured a similar Latitude and it cost nearly double from what I paid. Granted that was without searching for deals... but still.

 

It is true I have ordered both lines and the lattitude is a much better built

 

Not ALL Latitudes have dual pointers. My D520 doesn't. It does have two speakers and 1394. Cost about 50% more than a similarly equipt E1505...I priced out both before I bought, about a month ago.

 

In a word: Yes.

 

Latitudes are better built except for the screens.

There are some real problems: backlighting, poor clarity, poor color accuracy, viewing angles, especially on the D620.

 

I just ordered a Latitude D820 to replace a 4+ year old Toshiba 5105 S607. I was told the Latitude had more metal in the case than the consumer machines. I'm easy on equipment so this is not so important but I'm on my computer from dawn to dusk.

Dell divides up the product line the wrong way. The distincition is not business vs consumer. It's owner operated vs corporate. I buy my own computers. I want the build quality and higher resolution screen option of the so-called business machines with consumer features like Audigy sound. I would have spent several hundred more if an even better video card had been available on the Latitude. If the display screen is subpar i'll return the machine. I'm annoyed I couldn't get Audigy sound, a 160GB drive or use the #2 battery bay for a HD.

I would have bought the consumer machine but I couldn't find where it was available with a UXGA screen (1200x1920). I ruled out the 17" class machines. The extra size and weight does not come with enough claimed benefits for me. Here's what I ordered a few days ago for delivery near the end of October.

*Sales Tax: $112.25

Shipping and/or Handling: $0.00


Product Sub Total : $1,871.00
Total Order Amount: $1,983.25

**Associated Order Number: ***********

Order Detail

Qty Part # Description
--- -------- ---------------------------------------------
1 222-5633 Latitude D820, Intel Core 2 Duo T7200, 2.00GHz, 667Mhz 4M L2 Cache, Dual Core
1 320-4611 15.4 inch Wide Screen WUXGA LCD for Latitude D820
1 311-5687 2.0GB, DDR2-667 SDRAM, 2 DIMM for Dell Latitude Notebooks
1 310-7270 Internal English Keyboard for Latitude Notebooks
1 320-4613 512MB NVIDIA Quadro NVS 120M TurboCache, Latitude D820
1 341-3511 120GB Hard Drive 9.5MM 5400RPM for Dell Latitude DX20
1 310-7418 Standard Touchpad for LatitudeD820
1 340-8854 No Floppy Drive for Latitude D-Family Notebooks
1 465-2039 Windows XP Professional, SP2 with media, for Latitude English, Factory Installed
1 430-1487 Dell Wireless 350 Bluetooth Module for Latitude
1 310-7284 90W AC Adapter for Latitude D-Family
1 313-3883 8X DVD+/-RW with Roxio CreatorDell Edition Digital Media andCyberlink Power DVD, for Latitude 120L
1 430-1961 Intel 3945 WLAN (802.11a/g) mini Card for Latitude
1 313-3935 Resource CD w/ Diagnostics andDrivers for Latitude D820 Note
1 312-0390 9-Cell/85 WHr Primary Battery for Latitude D820
1 982-5768 Thank you for choosing 3 Year Economy Plan
1 980-0350 Type 7 Contract - Mail-In Service, 1 Year 24x7 TechnicalSupport, Initial Year
1 984-7477 Dell Hardware Warranty Plus Onsite Service, Initial Year
1 970-4122 Type 7 Contract - Mail-In Service, 24x7 Technical Support, 2YR Extended
1 984-7478 Dell Hardware Warranty Plus Onsite Service, Extended Year
1 900-9987 Standard On-Site Installation Declined
1 310-8314 Intel Centrino Core Duo Processor
1 465-1360 Thank you for choosing Dell
1 310-8314 Intel Centrino Core Duo Processor
1 462-4506 Purchase is NOT intended for resell

 

Audigy is just software...you can download it from soundblaster.

 

Not to dilute the message but...What about XPS's and Inspirons. Are they pretty much the same build quality with a few more lights and some higher spec hardware?

 

For most people the screen will be fine. Build quality is good I think it's tons better then the Compaq i had before which just felt like a large plastic tray.

Here are some alternatives and their possible issues:
T60p
http://www.notebookforums.com/thread169447.html
MacBook
http://www.mobiletechreview.com/ubbt...s&Number=25136
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=619157&tstart=0
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2512330#2512330

 

Australian PC World stress tested the new dell latitudes. Here's the video. http://www.dell.com/html/us/products/latitude/test.html

I have a dell latitude(older model) and a inspiron. I was contemplating the latitude d620 until I read about the screen problems.

 

that is a problem with some of the consumer dell's right now as well.............. same stuff is going on in the hp/compaq consumer camp.

 

Loved the video! Was waiting for the Computer vs Horny Gorilla match up...oh well.

 

I've had a Latitude 820 for some weeks now and I'm a satisfied customer.

There is reletively new inspiron available to me for comparison of the construction. The inspiron seems thicker and heavier. I think the quality of construction between the two is comparable and if anything the inspiron has more beef than the Latitude. Other things being equal i'd take the Latitude style construction over inspiron but that's not because the Latitude is better built.

I have a 15.4" UXGA Latitude screen. I like it just fine. I can see the back lit areas when the screen is displaying all black but i don't notice it in normal use.

I am having a problem with keystroke doubling- "thee" instead of "the". I never had this probem with any other computer or keyboard. It slows down my typing. Adjusting the repeat rate and delay makes no difference. I haven't noticed there is a driver upgrade that might address this.

There were quite a few upgraded drivers available and I needed those to make several programs function properly.

 

Where? Link please ... I would love to price it ...

 

The latitudes do seem sturdier. We order Inspirons and Latitudes at my office, and the latitudes just seem to be higher quality.

With that said, the inspirons are pretty good as well.

 

Audigy is hardware too, not just software. I have an Audigy PCMICA notebook card that has worked well for digitizing open reel and casette tapes. For $20 it would have been nice to have it built in but that's not available on the Latitude so the card stays in the case. The onboard latitude sound hardware seems good enough for general uses. I'll stay with the card for recording and wish it could have been built in.

 

I just bought a D820 for me and an e1505 for my wife - personally, I think the build quality and the look and feel of the D820 are far superior to the e1505. I'm just not a big fan of the white plastic trim on the e1505 - personally I think it makes the machine look cheap.

I will say, though, that I have a little bit of screen envy for my wife's TrueLife screen - it's much brighter and easier on the eyes!

 

I am still using a beat up Inspiron 2650, approaching 4 th yr...


Sure they will surive after years of toture
(I bought it w/ me during bathing)

But the plastic case is cracked and is **** heavy.....



it really depends on the user, as long as the mobo stays out of liquid(humid is fine ), hard drive stays out of bumps and vibrations.

They should be fine.

 

if ur even considering a latitude, buy a thinkpad, the build quality of those laptops match and exceed the latitudes as far as features and build quality are concerned, especially the thinkpad z61m which has x1400 graphics card, and an array of features that the lattitudes dont have including multimedia options and titanium lid...

 

but if money is a concern then u cant go wrong with the inspiron line, which is where im at

 

I got the laptop in my sig for $1250 with a 3 year warranty. Can't beat that with a stick.

 

I'll second that. It's what I ordered at work -- they just take a LONG TIME to build. I'm still waiting.

 

most thinkpads are made by quanta

all lattitudes are made by quanta

That doesnt mean quanta makes only durable notebooks. They also make real crap like oh i cant even think, some averatecs.

They are the worlds largest notebook maker. Something like 1/3 of the worlds notebooks are made by quanta.

Mac book pro as well. They are quite simply the most advanced manufacturer of metal in notebook chassis. They are the only company with the manufacturing volume to make dells computers.

Even asus which is a huge company, could only make 1 model of dell. They could make 1 model which would be really intense compared to dells other line but they could not crank out an inspiron or a lattitude line up.


It is not really a question of best or worst or whatever. Quanta owns the factories that can churn out a huge quantity of metal notebook chassis.

Youll note their tech specs are often way behind all of their competitors. There purpose is to make 1 thing and make 1 billion of it, and update it once a year.


compal makes the inspirons. again they are one of a very few companies that own the manufacturing plants that could make 10 million plastic notebook chassis a year.

 

Jesus ****, let me get to the point,

Inspiron e1505/9400 is made of plastic.

E1705 is made of magnesium alloy, the EXACT same Chasis as XPS1710.

don't know what Latitudes are made of.

i ****ing hate it when someone asks about the build quality of a notebook,
so many ****ing supercial noobs simply makes the generalizing statement: "the build quality is beautiful...adj....adj....adj", while not saying anything specific such as the build MATERIAL which is the #1 thing when it comes to build quality.

 

So iWant, are you saying that since E1705(which you say is built from magnesium alloy) has the same build quality as say the D620(which also has a magnesium alloy chassis)?

I am typing this on a friends E1705 and a 620 which I use at work is 5 feet away. There is no way that these two machines have the same build quality.

So let me make the "superficial n00b" generalized statement, the latitudes have better build quality that the inspirons.

 

For today's Dell notebook lineup, I think it is fair to say that the Latitude line is generally more durable than the Inspiron line. The Latitudes use magensium alloy components in their structures, while the Inspirons generally do not.

 

I don't have a Latitude but my Precision M90 is way far superior to my XPS M140 in build quality. After about 10 months the XPS is showing it's age big time. I don't like the cheap plastic... it scratches easy.