Dell is no stranger to thin and sleek notebook designs. After all its Dell Adamo 13 is still the thinnest PC on the market, but this time around it decided to slim down a massive 16-inch notebook, and the results are quite impressive.
The new Latitude Z600 features a 16-inch 1,600×900 panel, and a Core 2 Duo CPU neatly packed in a sleek, 14mm chassis weighing just a tad over 2kg. Its trackpad offers multitouch support and a new ‘EdgeTouch’ sensor on the side can be used to gain access to quick launch apps.
The Z600 also features a quick boot OS called Latitude ON that doesn’t share any data with Windows. Latitude ON is Linux based and runs on a built in ARM processor with its own dedicated 802.11g WiFi adaptor (while there’s 802.11n under Windows).
Another interesting feature is the UWB (Ultra Wide Band) radio used for communication with an optional wireless dock that features DVI and USB connectivity. The Z600 also features contacts on the bottom for induction charging, which isn’t strictly wireless as was suggested by some, as you’ll have to place the notebook on a special charging dock which is still attached to a wall socket.
Due to its slim-line profile, Dell has done away with most common ports and you’ll only find a headphone jack, a single USB port, a combo USB/eSATA port and a DisplayPort connector on the right hand side of the Z600. However, Dell has also managed to squeeze in an angled Ethernet port on the rear, much as what Acer did on some of its Netbooks and CULV notebooks.
The Z600 features the SU9x00-series of Core 2 Duo processors and the Intel GS45 chipset, although it seems like it’s not possible to upgrade the memory. The SKU with the SU9400 processor comes with 2GB of DDR3 memory, while the SU9600 SKU comes with 4GB of DDR3 memory. Interestingly, it seems like Dell in regions outside of the US, offers the Z600 with the SU9400 processor with 4GB of memory.
Other features include space for a pair of SSD drives ranging from 64 to 256GB each with the 128GB and 256GB options offering encryption. For those in need of mobile broadband, Dell is offering either a HSDPA or an EV-DO 3G modem, depending on what country you live in.
There’s also a contactless Smartcard reader (for corporate security systems) and a finger print scanner option. Bluetooth is of course also part of the package and the 2 Megapixel auto focus web cam doubles as a business card scanner. The backlit chicklet style keyboard looks comfortable to type on and the touch pad does of course support gestures. Accessories also include an external optical drive with eSATA connectivity and you can chose between a DVD or Blu-ray drive.
Dell is offering either a 4-cell or an 8-cell battery for the Z600, although there’s no word on battery life as yet. Unfortunately, with prices expected to start at over $1,799 (€1,499 in Europe), describing any Z600 SKU as entry-level might not be a good idea. You can find the US product page here and don’t forget to check out the videos below.
