With a starting price of $1,929, the Dell Latitude XT2 is unarguably one of the most expensive convertible tablet PCs on the market. It is aimed at businesses and does offer some interesting features.
System specifications of the laptop for review
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo SU9400 1.4GHz (800MHz FSB, 3MB L2 Cache)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Business (32-bit)
Display: 12.1" Premium WXGA (1280 x 800) LED-Backlight Display with Multi-touch
Graphics: Intel X4500MHD Integrated Graphics
Memory: 3GB DDR3 1066MHz RAM (2GB + 1GB)
HDD: 120GB Toshiba 1.8" 5400RPM HDD
Weight: 3lbs 13.6oz
Build and Design
The Latitude XT2 is thin and light – you can easily carry it wherever you want to. And with its sharp lines and edges its appearance is very business-like. In terms of build quality this is the best Dell laptop ever.
Screen and Speakers
The 12.1 inch screen looks gorgeous. The 1280x800 display is much better than those normally found on tablet PCs and offers good viewing angles. There is a capacitive touch-screen with a built-in digitizer. The pen is fabulous – it gives excellent traction. The multi-touch capabilities of the tablet aren’t very impressive. The zoom features aren’t very good either.
There is a single mono speaker. The sound quality is reasonably good, but headphones are a must if you are an audiophile.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard is very good and has an easy to follow layout. The primary keys are full-sized and easy to type on. The touchpad is responsive, but it could have been a bit bigger. Dell also includes a pointing stick with XT2.
Ports and Features
Port selection is good. There are two USB ports, one eSATA/USB combo, audio in/out, FireWire, VGA, LAN, and a proprietary power socket for some Dell accessories. There is a well-built docking station which gives you access to four USB ports, serial, DVI, VGA, LAN, headphone out, and an optical drive.
Performance
Performance is OK. This machine can easily handle everyday business uses. It can also decode 720p and 1080p video without any difficulty. However, it does show some signs of slowing down when you try to install large applications or move/copy files around. The integrated graphics and the power conscious processor can’t handle 3D graphics. So this isn’t the tablet to buy if you are an avid gamer. That said, this notebook can handle almost everything else.
Battery Life
At about three and half hours, the batter life is quite average. If you are not satisfied with the 42Wh battery, you are given the option of using a 45Wh slice battery, which should give you more than double the battery life.
Pros:
Good build quality
Ultra thin
Easy to upgrade
Cons:
Slow hard drive
Average battery life
Is costly
