Dell today announced the Latitude ATG D620 (All-Terrain Grade), its first semi-rugged notebook computer for customers who work in tough environments. The Latitude ATG is now available in the U.S. and will be available in other Dell regions in the next couple weeks.

The Latitude ATG meets military standards for vibration, humidity and altitude MIL-STD 810F and is designed to protect against accidental bumps, moisture, and other elements that customers encounter working in the field.

The new system features a shock-mounted hard drive, spill-resistant keyboard, port covers and high durability paint and is designed to withstand challenging conditions commonly associated with military environments, construction sites and first responders, such as police and emergency organizations.

In response to direct customer feedback, the Latitude ATG includes a 14.1-inch display with ambient light sensor (ALS), glass overlay and anti-reflective coating. The LCD display is 1½ times brighter than most mainstream corporate notebooks for better viewing in sunlight. Customers working in the military, emergency preparedness, construction and even the golf industry say seeing the display in full daylight is an important factor in their notebook computing experience.

Priced from $2499, the Latitude ATG 620 features:

* 500 NIT LCD with non-reflective coating
* 14.1-inch WXGA screen (1,280 X 800 resolution)
* Supports up to 4GB DDR2 SDRAM
* ATG task lights for keyboard lighting
* Shock mounted-hard drive and LCD
* Intelâ„¢ Core 2 Duo processors
* Microsoft® Windows™ Vista Capable
* Three-year Next Business Day On-Site Service standard
* CompleteCareâ„¢ Accidental Damage Service optional

The Latitude ATG provides hard drive image compatibility with the Latitude D620. It is also compatible with all D-family wireless and security products as well as accessories like docks, port replicators, and power adapters. Latitude ATG is designed with the environment in mind including a lead-free motherboard and chassis. It is RoHS compliant and designed to be energy efficient in multiple customer environments.

Reviews of the Latitude ATG D620

Laptop Magazine: Reviewing the Latitude ATG D620, first semi-rugged notebook from Dell, Laptop Magazine gives it 4 out of 5 stars rating and writes, “Muscling in on Toughbook territory, Dell has launched its first semi-rugged notebook, the Latitude ATG D620. With its sturdy case, data protection features, and ultrabright display, plus optional mobile broadband, this system should satisfy demanding field workers and anyone else who needs a fast Core 2 Duo notebook that can take a beating. But what separates this laptop from its competitors is the peace of mind that comes from having the same drive image and docking solutions as other Dell portables.

Durability even permeates the 14.1-inch (1,280 x 800-pixel resolution) widescreen display, which is shock-mounted to withstand 30 percent more force than traditional LCDs. The ATG D620 also sports an ultrabright screen of 500 nits (about 2.5 times brighter than the regular D620), which makes the display easily viewable outdoors. When you’re typing in the dark, two red lights glow on top of the display to light up the keyboard. The panel delivered good color saturation and generous viewing angles.

Powered by the 2-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, the ATG D620 turned in a very good score of 251on MobileMark 2005. The 9-cell battery included with this configuration provided 6 hours and three minutes of battery life with Wi-Fi off and 5 hours and 51 minutes with it on. (The standard 6-cell battery will save you only $19, so we recommend the 9-cell for extra runtime.) The Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 produced a solid 3DMark03 score of 1,704, which when paired with the 1GB of RAM in this configuration ensures a good Windows Vista experience.

Dell’s first semi-rugged notebook is a commendable effort; the ATG D620 looks more like a reinforced Latitude than a system that’s been designed from the ground up for field use, but it delivers a better balance of speed, features, and durability than other systems in its class. On the other hand, Panasonic’s Toughbook CF-74, which features a 13.3-inch touchscreen and weighs a pound less, is a better bet for frequent travelers.

Nevertheless, this machine should please buyers looking for a rough-and-tumble notebook who would rather deal with only one vendor for all their mobile IT purchases.”

PROS and CONS of the Latitude ATG D620

• Optional EV-DO/HSDPA • Port and jack protection • 4GB RAM capacity • Trackstick • Lengthy battery life • 802.11n-ready
• Lacks a memory card slots • Lightweight keys

CNET: Reviewing Dell Latitude ATG D620, CNET gives it 7.8 out of 10 rating (very good) and writes, “While broken, damaged, or otherwise banged-up systems are the bane of every laptop owner, rugged and semirugged systems (companies apply the terms loosely according to their own standards) are often hampered by limited configuration options and outdated parts. Dell hopes to energize the rugged laptop market with its first such model, the Latitude ATG D620. Rather than designing a new system from the ground up, the $2,499 Dell ATG–our review unit configuration cost $3,145–is a beefed-up version of the popular Latitude D620 laptop, adding a new outer case, a shock-mounted hard drive, and other heavy-duty extras, which tack about $1,000 onto the price of a similar, nonrugged Latitude D620. While it doesn’t look or feel as tough as the Panasonic ToughBook 74 or the Itronix Hummer GoBook VR-1, it is one of the more configurable rugged laptops you’ll find. Dell’s wide-ranging customization options make the Latitude ATG D620 an attractive system; even if it’s not the toughest laptop around, it is certainly one that can survive a really rough day at the office.

The good: Flexible configuration; shock-mounted hard drive; rugged, spill-proof design.

The bad: Some ports not protected; expensive and heavy compared to nonrugged versions of the same system.

The bottom line: Dell gives a popular system a rugged makeover with the Latitude ATG D620, making heavy-duty laptops much more accessible for business and industrial users. ”

This entry was posted on January 16, 2007 and is filed under Dell Latitude Notebooks Line, News.