Dell Latitude Z Review

The Dell Latitude Z is one of the most innovative laptops to arrive in years, featuring a stylish, wireless-friendly design, including wireless charging capability. The Latitude Z also boasts considerable processing power, and a price tag – starting at $1700 and exceeding $2000 for the “recommended” setup – to match. While it looks impressive on paper, does the Latitude Z come through in reality?
Positives
Dell made quite a stir with the release of the Latitude Z in September ’09. With a starting weight of 4.5 pounds, and at just over half an inch thick, the Latitude Z is remarkably light and slim for a 16-inch laptop. What’s even more amazing is what the designers have managed to pack into the Latitude Z’s slim frame. Its 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 4GB of RAM are nice, but what really distinguishes the Latitude Z is its array of wireless features. Not only can you take advantage of a wireless base dock to use wireless USB and other devices, which is done without the need for a dongle thanks to the Latitude Z’s built-in Ultra Wide Band receiver, you can also charge the Latitude Z wirelessly.
The Latitude Z boasts a number of other features that increase usability. It includes Dell’s EdgeTouch panel on the side of the display, which allows users to quick launch applications, and Latitude-On, a pre-boot environment which allows users to perform limited browsing and email activities without having to wait for Windows to start up. The Latitude Z’s 2.0 megapixel webcam is paired with some useful software, too, including business card recognition.
Negatives
Considering its price, the Latitude Z had better be close to flawless, and it is. The only serious complaint about the Latitude Z is that its screen is a bit on the dull side and isn’t quite as vibrant as some other 16-inch laptop displays.
The Bottom Line
It’s pretty clear that the Latitude Z is aimed at high-end business users who aren’t subject to budget constraints; for these users, the Latitude Z is indeed everything it claims to be. While its array of wireless features may be a sign of what’s to come from laptops in general, for now, the Latitude Z is one of the only truly wire-free notebooks.

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