Dell Latitude X300: A Traveler's Companion
by Andrew Ku on October 30, 2003 5:53 PM EST- Posted in
- Laptops
Conclusion
We continue to enjoy the use of ultraportable notebooks, even though they are taking longer to get into the market. The X300 is a great companion for any traveler, and we found it easy to take to our meetings, classes, and anywhere else. The great thing about ultraportable notebooks is their inherently small footprint, which makes the act of transporting the system hardly conscious.We concede that this is not intended as a replacement for a primary system. Ultraportable notebooks are supposed to work in tandem with a pre-existing system due to their lack of performance. While some desktop replacement notebooks may use Centrino technology, system designers of ultraportable notebooks only have the option of resorting to the lower spectrum of Pentium-M processors, due to heat, cost, and a variety of other issues. This, however, still adds up to the cost of two systems: the primary system and the ultraportable notebook. Ultraportable notebooks are not intended to replace any desktop or primary personal computer (like the Inspiron 8600 or the IBM T40p); instead they are intended to complement them. This cost issue is one of the biggest hurdles that ultraportable systems will need to face. As the cost continues to come down, though, we expect to see higher volume of sales for such mobile systems.
Perhaps the biggest focus for ultraportable systems (next to performance) is battery life, though they do go hand in hand. Concerning the two ultraportable notebooks that we have seen to date, we have to recommend the IBM X31 when it comes to battery life. Overall, Dell's X300 is a great ultraportable system, especially when it comes to performance and/or size/weight.
Our basic suggestion is to go after the X31 if battery life is a higher concern over performance and the X300 if the desire is performance and/or a small physical footprint. IBM is supposed to come out with a few minor refreshes to the X31. We expect a faster processor on an X31 (currently shipping with 1.3GHz, 1.4GHz, or 1.6GHz) to give it the upper hand (we looked at a X31 with 1.4GHz Pentium-M), though a 1.6GHz X31 ratchets up the price quite a bit. Meanwhile, the Dell Latitude X300 (currently shipping with only 1.2GHz) hands off an easier-to-swallow price tag.
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DL2 - Saturday, March 20, 2004 - link
I currently have an x300. I travel a great deal and have had a problem with a spot appearing on the screen. I have already had the screen replaced once and soon to be again. My question is would the IBM x31 be more durable than the Dell 300? I have not been able to find a x31 to compare to.Shalmanese - Saturday, November 1, 2003 - link
When anyone says Centrino, the basically mean the Pentium-M. Its just that Centrino is the more recognisable brand name. Technically, half the machines out there aren't real Centrinos since they use a 3rd party 802.11a/b/g chip.And I wasn't saying that the R50p was comparable to the X300, I just wanted it on the waiting list for reviews. IBM haven't had a serious Desktop replacement machine since the A31p over a year ago. (The G series doesn't count due to its sucky onboard graphics). It should be interesting what it brings to the table.
RichieZ - Saturday, November 1, 2003 - link
"BTW, the T40 isn't all that much bigger than the X31.... I like mine :)"Um the T40 is quite a bit bigger than the X31, I had a T40 at work and have an X31 as my personal machine.
Isn't this X300 acutally made by samsung?
Randalmaker - Saturday, November 1, 2003 - link
"Centrino technology continues to breathe a breath of fresh air into the market with a marriage of performance and portability."...omg stop this blue-eyed intelback-scratchin plz. we all know that the real innovation here is the banias only and that intel is using their marketing power and money 2 wipe out its mainboard competition once more. i shouldnt have 2 tell u that. centrino is a joke but it worxSouka - Friday, October 31, 2003 - link
R50p is a "monster" in size compared to these ultra-portables.... review, yes...comparable, no.anyways....yeah, the X31 rulz....more expensive, but going cheap on laptops is often not worth it. BTW, the T40 isn't all that much bigger than the X31.... I like mine :)
Shalmanese - Thursday, October 30, 2003 - link
"The X31 rains supreme in the battery life department."...Anyway, the feature set looks a lot like the Sony ultra-portables, right down to the blocking of the VGA port when you stick the media bay on.
quick request: would it be possible for you to review the IBM R50p when it comes out? Exected release date is november some time. Thanks