Dell Latitude D420 review

A portable performer with a long-life battery

Small and lightweight, this laptop is ideal for travel use

TechRadar Verdict

If you're looking for a solid, stable and portable business system, this comes highly recommended

Pros

  • +

    Good usability

    Long-life battery included

Cons

  • -

    Average performance

    No optical drive

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Despite limited performance, the Dell Latitude D420 (£1,291 inc. VAT) is an ultraportable that delivers impressive security, stability and connectivity for business users.

Small and lightweight, this laptop is ideal for travel use. With a battery life of 198 minutes, mobility is basic. However, a long-life battery is included in the price. Adding an extra 329 minutes of mobile use, it protrudes slightly from the front of the chassis.

Usability is excellent. Both a touchpad and pointing stick are fitted, offering a choice of control for onscreen actions. To make room for this, the keyboard is pushed quite far back on the chassis. However, all keys are full-sized and responsive, providing a comfortable typing action.

Widescreen TFT

Becoming more common on corporate laptops is the use of a widescreen TFT panel. The screen displays at a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, allowing ample space for all office tasks. With no glossy screen coating, reflections are eliminated, improving visibility in all conditions.

Wireless broadband access is provided by an integrated HSDPA module. A Vodafone SIM card slots under the battery and high-speed internet can be accessed on the move. Tariff prices range from £25 to £95 per month, depending on your required download allowance.

Web browsing, downloading email and even sharing large files is quick and easy. Vodafone's Mobile Connect software makes wirelessly connecting to the internet a simple one-click process and is accessible to even first-time users. Due to the compact chassis, an Intel ultra-low voltage processor is in place. This prevents the chassis getting too hot, but its low power leads to limited performance. Although fine for most home and office use, the Dell struggles when multi-tasking.

Due to its slim design, an optical drive isn't included. CDs or DVDs can only be accessed by attaching the Dell to its included docking station. When connected, data can be written to compatible discs, although the extra weight means the dock is best suited to desktop use.

For safeguarding data, a fingerprint reader is fitted for adding biometric security. Improving usability is Dell's pre-installed Quickset software. Allowing easy access to essential laptop settings, you can tailor your system to your exact needs.

Although performance is low, the Dell more than compensates for this with its strong design and corporate stability. With an affordable price tag, the Latitude D420 is ideal for the mobile business user with a need for always-on connectivity.

Tech.co.uk was the former name of TechRadar.com. Its staff were at the forefront of the digital publishing revolution, and spearheaded the move to bring consumer technology journalism to its natural home – online. Many of the current TechRadar staff started life a Tech.co.uk staff writer, covering everything from the emerging smartphone market to the evolving market of personal computers. Think of it as the building blocks of the TechRadar you love today.