Dell Latitude X1 Ultraportable Laptop Released (pics, specs)

The new Dell Latitude X1 ultraportable carries a sporty name to match its sporty look. People are used to seeing Dell try to beat the competition on price, so when Dell told us they're out to beat them on looks and form factor too -- we had to do a double take. The X1 brings us a 2.5lb notebook with a widescreen display, reinforced LCD backscreen for durability, sealed anti-spill keyboard, Pentium M 733 1.1GHz Ultra-Low Voltage processor, built-in Wi-Fi + Bluetooth and SD card reader among other goodies.

The Dell Latitude X1 weighs in at 2.8lbs and is less than an inch thick

Specs

• Intel Pentium M processor 733 (1.1GHz ULV) combined with the Intel 915GMS chipset
• 12.1-inch WXGA (1280 x 768) Super Bright display
• 256MB to 1.28GB of DDR2 400MHz shared SDRAM
• Choice of 30GB or 60GB hard drives
• Standard internal Intel PRO wireless 2200 802.11b/g and Dell Wireless Bluetooth 350
• Choice of optional external 8X DVD-ROM, 24X CD-RW/DVD combination and 8X DVD+/-RW optical drives, floppy disk drive, and 40GB second hard drive
• Integrated 10/100/1000 Gigabit5 Ethernet and 56K12 V92 modem
• Ports include: two USB 2.0, VGA, headphone and microphone, SD/Compact Flash cardreader, IEEE 1394 (FireWire)
• Optional 6-cell, 53WHr Smart Lithium Ion Battery
• Choice of Windows XP Home or Windows XP Professional Operating System
• Three Years Next Business Day On-site Service
• Dimensions: 0.98-inch high, 11.26-inches wide, 7.7-inches deep; (25.0mm high, 286mm wide, 196.8mm deep)

Latitude X1 left side

Latitude X1 right side

Dell Latitude X1 / Samsung Q30 with optional external optical drive

A little bit of insider information on this laptop is that the Latitude X1 is actually a Samsung designed notebook.  Samsung has become renowned for its excellent styling in consumer electronics of late, so Dell is doing well to partner with Samsung in releasing what is actually the Samsung Q30 notebook as the Dell Latitude X1.  The X1 is not exactly the same as the Q30, Dell has included built-in Bluetooth (great move!) and an option for 60GB hard drive, at last check 40GB was the limit the Q30 could be configured with.

The Dell Latitude is based on the design of the Samsung Q30 ultra portable laptop

Dell is claiming up to six hours of battery life in this road warrior of a laptop if you configure it with a extended life six-cell battery, the standard battery is 3-cell so you'll more likely be looking at 2.5 - 3 hours with the standard battery.  If you run out of juice and need to plug in, you'll be happy to know Dell has made the effort to scale down the size of the AC adapter setup too -- it's 50% smaller and lighter than any existing Latitude.

The downside of having a laptop this light and thin is that you don't get a built in optical drive, you have to carry that seperately.  Also, Dell went with a 1.1GHz chip instead of the newer and faster 1.2GHz Pentium M Ultra low voltage processor.  Too bad when other companies are releasing ultra portables with this processor right now, the Fujitsu Lifebook P7020 is such an example.

The irony of ultra light laptops is you get less size but pay more dollar.  However, the price of the Dell Latitude X1 isn't through the roof, it starts at $1,699.  Considering it competes with the Sony VAIO X505 that costs $3,000 (and is admittedly smaller and thinner yes) there is still that Dell price advantage built in.

We look forward to bringing you more infomation and a review of the Latitude X1!