Dell Latitude E6420 Review: Great Notebook With a Multitouch Option Discussion

The Dell Latitude E6420 is a good-performing 14-inch business notebook with stellar build quality and a lot of neat options. Users can configure the notebook to have a multitouch display, a fast Intel quad-core processor, discrete-class (higher-end) graphics, up to 4GB of memory, and a 256GB capacity solid state drive.

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The E6420 got off to a rocky start last spring, and with Ivy Bridge around the corner, we should all be anticipating an E6430. Maybe Dell is falling behind in the traditional spring hardware cycle, but there again, Ivy Bridge fell somewhat behind schedule and Windows 8 might not be launched until late 2012 or 2013.

There might be industry specific applications for the touchscreen E6420, but the indifferent brightness, low contrast and limiting viewing angles make it irrelevent to the average Latitude user.

Overall, I'm not enthused about a Latitude notebook reaching the end of its product cycle and I'm not even that sure that I'm even interested in a next generation model sharing the same case design and screen options - with or without the orange pinstripes and huge Dell medalion on the screen cover. Disco isn't dead; it's still alive in the Dell Latitude line.

 

This review's pretty accurate as far as my experience goes. I will say that the high resolution screen can vary widely on quality depending on which vendor you get: Mine was pretty bright, almost too bright but I loved it.

Interesting take on the trackpad: I personally turned off the multi-touch gestures. Totally disappointing, yet not surprising for being an Alps product.

I will say that the physical design of this generation remains one of my favorites of the Latitude line though. It's conservative but also modern.

 

Historically, the 900P screen option in the E64x0 has been very bright, although vertical viewing angles have been poor. Quallity varies widely between screen manufacturers, something didn't change with the change in aspect ratios. When you buy a new Latitude, it's basically a crap shoot.

I've found that intitial quality for the Latitude E-series to be hit-and-miss, driver support to be very slow in coming and warranty service to be willing but very inept.

Dell does have a great policy regarding initial returns and does honor the standard 3 year warranty.

With the last Dell driver update, Alps touchpad performance has improved tremendously. I'm not sure why it's taken since 2010, or why gesture support seems to be off by default, but it's finally acceptable, at least based on my experience. Better late than never, although it's very, very late.

It's also larger and heavier that the previous model. I personally don't understand some of the retro early 2000s design references, since it seems to early for last decade nostalgia, and I really don't think the giant Dell medalion and orange stripes look professional. The visual details just scream consumer or gaming.

The irony is that the past two generations had very sedate styling that couldn't be confused with anything other than a business notebook. They looked professional. This one doesn't. The E6x20 looks like somebody broke their ThinkPad, the IT department wouldn't give them another one, so they had to bring their personal notebook to work.

 

The early e's were super plain. Yeah i know its a business notebook but the later d series systems managed to stand out style wise among the HP and Lenovo systems. Compared to a elitebook, the e6400/10 couldn't hold a candle style wise.

Its refreshing to see a return to that, that there can actually be some style in this segment.

I will say that the color options on those early e-series were cool though.

Glad to hear that the touchpad's been improved, it was a great size and had good feel, just too iffy in the multitouch department.

 

I dunno, I'd have to side with SemiExpert on this one.

If I wear a neon track suit to my Wednesday morning meeting, I'll certainly stand out amongst the business crowd... but that doesn't mean it's a good style choice.

 

Hey now...if you worked for a sportswear company, maybe you'd fit right in! :lol: XD