Dell Latitude ATG D620 – Semi Rugged

Despite the exploding laptop PR fiasco of 2006, Dell still managed to gain significant ground in the notebook market, thanks partly to advancements in the XPS line, and the unexpected acquisition of gaming brand Alienware. Now Dell have decided they want a slice of ruggedized action with the announcement of the Latitude ATG D620.

This sector is currently dominated by Panasonic’s Toughbook line and Twinhead’s Durabook range. However the new Dell Latitude ATG boasts a number of features that should appeal to those shopping for a new rugged notebook in 2007.

The ATG’s 7 pound chassis houses a 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4GB of DDR2 SDRAM and a 14.1 inch display. This Latitude’s stand out screen sports an ambient light sensor, and anti-reflective coating. What does that jargon mean to your typical Joe Soap laptop user? A sharp display that can be nicely viewed by a geologist recording her stratigraphic roll-front uranium findings, and updating her Myspace profile in glaring daylight, that’s what.

The ATG offers a similar form factor to a standard Latitude D620. Indeed the older “Road Ready” D620 had a shock mounted hard drive and spill resistant keyboard, but that’s where similarities end. as the ATG meets military standards for operating in conditions of extreme altitude, humidity and vibration.

Rugged notebooks are usually the fare of firefighters, oil workers and police officers, professionals who need to operate a laptop under the harshest of conditions. It’s nice to see another player moving into the ruggedized sphere, as ultimately more competition can only mean improved prices and technology for end users.

By Todd Gold – Laptopical

Saturday, January 20, 2007