Review: Dell Latitude E4200

July 7, 2010

After an August 2008 product announcement, Dell made its Latitude E4200 12-inch widescreen notebook available for ordering in September 2008. The E4200 is based on Intel's Montevina/Centrino2 notebook platform and replaced the Latitude D430 as Dell's smallest and lightest Latitude. This review is a significantly revised follow-up to an earlier review from January 2009.

Unlike the 13-inch, 14-inch, and 15-inch E-series Latitudes, the Latitude E4200 will not be receiving an upgraded model with Intel's Core i chipset. Rather, it continues with ultra low voltage versions of the Core 2 Duo processor. Information Systems & Computing (ISC) does not expect the E4200 to be significantly revised until early 2011.

Design and Changes

The Latitude E4200 weighs 2.3 pounds and its enclosure is approximately the same size as the Latitude D430 it replaced. Travel weight (which includes power adapter) is 2.8 pounds. Along with all of Dell's E-series Latitudes, the E4200 has a brushed black and aluminum look and feel and includes ports such as eSATA and SmartCard. In casual use, it may feel almost too light to those familiar with the dense feel of many enterprise class 12-inch and 13-inch notebooks. Over time, most users will feel gratified with the E4200's light weight (even the power supply is notably thin and light).

A backlit keyboard is optional and multiple color options are available at extra cost. An integrated web camera was not offered on introduction but is now available.

The Latitude E4200 includes a significant software enhancement from previous generation 12-inch systems, but this change is as yet incomplete and comes in two types.

• Latitude ON Reader, only available with the 1.6 GHz processor, uses a dedicated low-voltage sub-processor and a Linux-based operating system that allows access to locally cached Exchange-based email, calendar, and address book without booting the installed Windows operating system. This saves both time and battery life when quick access to an email message or meeting information is needed.
• Latitude ON, only available with the 1.6 GHz processor, is far more capable than ON Reader. It includes some network connectivity capability (though it cannot currently connect to AirPennNet) and a full Linux-based desktop, but is notably slower to boot than Latitude ON Reader (though still somewhat faster than booting into Windows 7).

When appropriately configured, the Latitude E4200 is EPEAT Gold-compliant and Energy Star 5.0-certified. Power usage information for the E4200 and other notebooks and desktops in use at the University is available here.

Ordering Notes

Several notes when ordering a Latitude E4200 through Dell's Premier Page for the University:

1. All E4200s include ultra low voltage Penryn versions of Intel's Core 2 Duo processor. ISC suggests the 1.6 GHz version, which is the fastest available.
2. An integrated web camera is optional on the E4200. However, ISC suggests adding the web camera unless there is a specific local policy or security reason to exclude one.
3. Having 3.0 GB to 4.0 GB RAM is essential for the optimal functionality of a modern lightweight notebook.
4. Like Lenovo's ThinkPad X301 13-inch widescreen, the E4200 offers only solid state drives (SSDs) - there are no "traditional" hard disk drives available. This increases initial cost by about $250, though not nearly as much compared to late 2007 when SSDs first became available.
5. As with any lightweight notebook, ISC suggests that LSPs consider purchasing both a mid-capacity (6-cell) and a low-capacity (4-cell) battery along with an extra AC power adapter for the E4200. Providers may also wish to consider Dell's range of docking solutions, including a port replicator and a mini dock.
6. The E4200's connectivity options include 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, Gobi multi-vendor WWAN connectivity, and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR. ISC believes that Bluetooth is a relevant protocol for most notebook users and that WWAN connectivity is useful for many "road warriors".

See ISC's Notebook Purchasing Guide for more configuration advice. As of July 2010, configuring a Latitude E4200 to the lightweight notebook specification can be done for approximately $1,950. A configuration that meets and sometimes exceeds this specification is available from the Computer Connection.

Windows 7 Performance

ISC tested a Latitude E4200 with 1.6 GHz Core 2 Duo ULV, 1066 MHz 3.0 GB RAM, integrated Intel 4500MHD graphics, a 128 GB solid state drive, and Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit. It received a Windows Experience Index base score of 3.2, with individual scores of:

• Processor: 4.8
• Memory (RAM): 4.9
• Graphics: 3.2
• Gaming graphics: 3.2
• Primary hard disk: 6.5

These scores suggest that Windows 7 performance will be acceptable to good for most users of a Latitude E4200 configured in this manner. The primary hard disk score reflects the speed of the solid state drive.

Analysis

ISC sees the Latitude E4200 as being a competitive choice among lightweight notebooks available in mid 2010, especially for the traditional thin and light customer (someone who is replacing an older lightweight Latitude or ThinkPad). Pricing with the solid state-only E4200 continues to be higher than 12-inch notebooks that are available with hard disk drives, so price sensitive 12-inch buyers may wish to consider Lenovo's ThinkPad X201 and X201s, which are available with hard disk drives.

When correctly configured to the lightweight notebook specification in the Notebook Purchasing Guide, the Latitude E4200 continues to be approved for general use at the University.

Latitude E4200 graphic courtesy of Dell

--John Mulhern III, Lead for Client Technologies, ISC Technology Support Services (July 7, 2010)