Dell Latitude X300: A Traveler's Companion

Construction — Build, Appearance, Size (continued)

The X300 is intentionally designed with a small size in mind, so we weren't too surprised at the front of the system. Sound can still be heard well enough from the system speakers, though a bit muffled since the front of the system is angled down a bit. The LEDs can also be seen slightly, but for the most part, only when looking dead on or at an angle.

Click to enlarge.

The left side of the X300 reveals more functionality. First up are the system's secure digital and a PCMCIA slot. Personally, we prefer the hanging door to the dummy PCMCIA card. It was a bit unexpected for us to see a secure digital slot on the X300, though Dell's handhelds implement it.

Next up are the audio jacks: headphone out and microphone in. The absence of line out is due to the redundancy that headphone out and line out bring together. We are glad to see the X300 come with firewire support; in this case, a 4-pin IEEE-1394 firewire port. As we have mentioned before, we would have forgiven the absence of one as a result of the system's small size.

Left of the firewire port is a USB 2.0 port and above it a “D/Bay” connector. While the “D/Bay” connector looks similar to a USB 2.0 connector, it is actually used to power external modular devices produced by Dell, such as an external DVD-ROM drive. The power rail is necessary to prevent power hungry external devices (like that DVD drive) from requiring a wall plug while operating. Also on the right side are the power in port, ethernet jack, and modem jack. As mentioned previously, Dell has finally strayed away from keyed power plugs on previous notebooks (Latitude and Inspiron) lines in favor of a circular plug which can be inserted in any direction.

Click to enlarge.

The back of the system is actually barer than the front, which is something we don't often see. The only things on the back are the battery and a lock port to the far right.

Click to enlarge.

On the right side, the X300 is home to the VGA-out port, which is usually on the back. This placement does limit the orientation of the system in relation to the external monitor. An additional USB 2.0 port is also on the right side, as well as an IR window and the system's exhaust vent. There is no actual intake vent, as air is drawn in through the various system crevices specifically the ports.

Click to enlarge.

The bottom of the X300 reveals the system's 14.8V 1.9AH Lithium Ion battery along with an access panel. The access panel in the middle of the system is home to the unit's single SODIMM slot, mini-PCI slot, and the modem. Behind the access panel is the docking station port, which is covered while not in use by two springed doors. The metal housing the docking port and at the back of the system are used as additional electrical connectors for the docking station, likely acting as grounds.

Click to enlarge.	Click to enlarge.

The Dell Latitude X300 fits nicely in the ultraportable class, measuring in at 10.8" x 9.2" and 0.9" thick. Our X300 weighs in at 2.9 pounds, much lighter than the Inspiron 8600 and noticeably less than the IBM ThinkPad X31.