Dell moves into fully ruggedised laptops

The new Latitude E6400 XFR is built to survive

Dell has introduced its most rugged Latitude model yet, claiming that it has a greater level of dust and moisture protection than any rival model in its class.

Available immediately in selected markets, the Latitude E6400 XFR is built for harsh environments and is designed for users including field technicians, the military, emergency services and workers on the manufacturing floor.

Dell said that the new model makes use of several protection features, including a Ballistic Armor Protection System said to have twice the impact strength of magnesium alloy, and PrimoSeal technology to guard against dust or moisture. It has a higher level of protection than any system in its class with an IP65 rating, Dell said.

The company already sells systems for harsh environments, such as the Latitude D630 ATG, but these are classed as 'semi-rugged'. The Latitude E6400 XFR meets the US military's MIL STD 810F standards.

The new system is based on Intel's vPro platform with up to 4GB memory, and comes with a shock-mounted 80GB hard drive or a solid state Flash drive. It has a 14.1in impact-resistant screen designed for visibility even in direct sunlight.

Dell is clearly gunning for Panasonic's well-known Toughbook range, claiming that the Latitude E6400 XFR is up to up to 90 per cent faster than Panasonic's CF30 and can recharge its batteries twice as fast.

Other options include an in-vehicle docking cradle, and a 12-cell rugged battery slice for longer use in the field. Pricing starts at £2,679.

The Latitude E6400 XFR is currently available in the UK, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, the US and Canada.