I realize this is a Thinkpad forum, but...

[sxr71]

Look at this: http://direct2dell.com/cfs-filesystemfi ... 5F00_2.jpg



As an owner of an x31 and an x60s, I'm not very impressed by the x200.

It weighs more than my x60s and has that nasty massive bezel.

This E4200 weighs 2.2lbs and manages to have a smaller bezel.

If the x200s does not have a similar 2.2lb weight then I might have to consider the Dell.

The lack of the trackpoint is the only thing stopping me at this point, and I would go to the ends of the earth to mod one in that Dell if I have to.

I really hope the x200s lives up to what we are expecting.

[k3davis]

Wow, and people think ThinkPads are ugly. Matter of taste I guess

I'm not finding what I want from Lenovo in this generation either, so far. I want a 13.3" that is a better balance of power and price than the current X300 (but I don't like the SL series). But I've owned enough Dells in the past to know better than to repeat that.

[dr_st]

A Latitude without a trackpoint? WTF.

And no, you cannot "mod that in", even if you go beyond the ends of the earth.

But 1kg weight is amazing. I almost don't believe it.

[Puppy]

The Dell one might be good for a low bugdet sci-fi movie But Lenovo could learn how to make thinner display bezels again from them. To be honest, both the Dell and X200 are far from perfect design. As for the bezel I hate it as well but I've seen X300 in real and it does not look that ugly like on the pictures. I fear that the X200 display will be much more "ugly" component than the thick bezel.

[sxr71]

Wow, and people think ThinkPads are ugly. Matter of taste I guess

I'm not finding what I want from Lenovo in this generation either, so far. I want a 13.3" that is a better balance of power and price than the current X300 (but I don't like the SL series). But I've owned enough Dells in the past to know better than to repeat that.

I don't know this one has metal hinges and a magnesium alloy case. It looks durable, but I don't know for sure.

This new generation of latitude looks very durable. I know for a fact that the Latitude D series doesn't come up to Thinkpads but this one might be different.

Honestly that new ultra slim and light Asus that was announced may be what I want. I just need a light web browser and e-mail checker.

[pianowizard]

sxr71, thanks for telling us about this E4200. I never knew about it until now. The weight is obviously very nice, and I've owned and played with enough Dell laptops to know that the quality of their Latitude line has dramatically improved in the last two years or so. Most Dell bashers have only used Inspirons or Dells made before 2006. If this E4200 is the same price as or even cheaper than the X200 Thinkpad, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it, especially since I prefer touchpads over trackpoints anyway. If it's pricier than the X200, then it would be a tougher decision.

This new generation of latitude looks very durable. I know for a fact that the Latitude D series doesn't come up to Thinkpads but this one might be different.

Which D series? D600, D610, D620 or D630? D600 and D610 are absolute crap. The D620 and D630, on the other hand, are very close to Thinkpad quality.

[sxr71]

More info: http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/12/dell ... -e-series/

That splashtop interface looks very useful also. They all look very solid.

[celticchrys]

I have a Dell m1210 laptop at work because they told me it had to be a Dell the last time we ordered computers. When it works, it's good, but it doesn't always work so well. It seems quite underpowered for a dual core system as well.

[sxr71]

sxr71, thanks for telling us about this E4200. I never knew about it until now. The weight is obviously very nice, and I've owned and played with enough Dell laptops to know that the quality of their Latitude line has dramatically improved in the last two years or so. Most Dell bashers have only used Inspirons or Dells made before 2006. If this E4200 is the same price as or even cheaper than the X200 Thinkpad, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it, especially since I prefer touchpads over trackpoints anyway. If it's pricier than the X200, then it would be a tougher decision.

This new generation of latitude looks very durable. I know for a fact that the Latitude D series doesn't come up to Thinkpads but this one might be different.

Which D series? D600, D610, D620 or D630? D600 and D610 are absolute crap. The D620 and D630, on the other hand, are very close to Thinkpad quality.

Well, I checked out the D600 and the D610 and they were bad. The newer Dells do look very competitive.

[sxr71]

I have a Dell m1210 laptop at work because they told me it had to be a Dell the last time we ordered computers. When it works, it's good, but it doesn't always work so well. It seems quite underpowered for a dual core system as well.

That's an XPS, so it wouldn't stand comparison to a Latitude.

I can't believe this has been already moved to off-topic. Anyway when it gets released it is a viable competitor to the x200s and I hope people talk about it in comparison to the x200s.

[pianowizard]

Well, I checked out the D600 and the D610 and they were bad.

There you go. These two Latitudes are among the worst laptops I've ever seen. Subsequent Latitudes have been miles better in quality.

I have a Dell m1210 laptop at work because they told me it had to be a Dell the last time we ordered computers. When it works, it's good, but it doesn't always work so well. It seems quite underpowered for a dual core system as well.

The m1210 is part of Dell's XPS consumer line, which is not as good as their business line (just like the Lenovo 3000 series isn't as good as the Thinkpads). The Latitude E4200 that the OP is considering is a business line model.

[qviri]

I like the clean design.

[lophiomys]

It looks like Lenovo has found it's master, at least
as far as it concerns DESIGN.

Looks like the first reasonable Dell since the Latitude XPi (1998)

I'm going to have a close look at this E-series.

[lophiomys]

A fully speced-out E6400 WXGA+ inkl. 4y ProSupp. NBD OnSite
costs about EUR 1700.- all inclusive. That's not bad.

If they only would offer it with the 4:3 form factor with an IPS LCD.

[srirams]

and the e6400 has a redesigned track point (looks like the soft rim type) + a middle mouse button.

It's also lighter and has display port. Looks like a better alternative to the T400.

[wswartzendruber]

Design can go to h***. The X200 has a magnesium top and bottom AND an internal rollcage in the base. It's designed to be durable, not pretty.

[new_user]

the picture in the op looks like it has a trackpad.

[Temetka]

It looks like that because all it has is a trackpad.

Some online reports indicate that various models of this machine will be able to handle trackpoint and touchpad but I haven't seen anything more on it.

Looks like a good competitor to the x300 series.

To be honest I am lusting over the W700 though. Now that is a mans machine.

[sxr71]

Design can go to h***. The X200 has a magnesium top and bottom AND an internal rollcage in the base. It's designed to be durable, not pretty.

The Dell does not? Most business ultraportable laptop models even the ones from HP will have magnesium alloy frames. IBM is not the only game in town for good ultraportables. The Dell D400 from 8 years ago had a magnesium frame and was as light as the IBM option at that time. I've only used IBM so far, but I've seen some surprisingly small Dells at different points.

[sxr71]

It looks like that because all it has is a trackpad.

Some online reports indicate that various models of this machine will be able to handle trackpoint and touchpad but I haven't seen anything more on it.

Looks like a good competitor to the x300 series.

To be honest I am lusting over the W700 though. Now that is a mans machine.

I'm sold if it has a touchpoint.