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Entered CNET Catalog: 03/25/2005
SKU: X1SAPP
Manufacturer: Dell, Inc.
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Product summary
The good: Competitively priced; sleek, lightweight design; wide, 12.1-inch display; self-powered optical drive included; runs quietly; flash card reader.
The bad: Cramped keyboard; no integrated optical drive; runs hot; single, weak speaker; no PC Card slot.
The bottom line: The Dell Latitude X1 squeezes everything a business user will need (except for an integrated optical drive) into a sleek, featherweight case.
Average user rating: from 58 users
4.0 stars
CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 04/28/2005
The Latitude X1 weighs just 2.5 pounds (3.1 pounds with its tiny AC adapter)--on the lighter end of the IBM ThinkPad X40 and about 10 ounces lighter than the Fujitsu LifeBook P7010, and its screen is the largest of the three. The notebook measures 11.2 inches wide and 7.7 inches deep; its front edge is an inch thick, though the battery widens the rear to 1.3 inches.
Designed for maximum portability, the Dell Latitude X1 exacts some sacrifice with an undersize keyboard. The 18mm keys--just barely big enough to type on--took some getting used to; you wouldn't want to write the great American novel on this laptop. The touch pad has a wonderful, textured surface that makes it easy to move the cursor accurately, though it lacks a scroll bar for scanning through documents and Web pages. While we like the magnesium case and the no-latch lid, the single speaker underneath the case is inadequate for anything but listening to system sounds; bring headphones.
PCI Express to the Latitude X1, though the notebook lacks an XPress card slot for future high-speed expansion; cards are not expected to show up until 2006, and we're not convinced that this is a feature you'll regret not having. Intel's 915 integrated GPU, which can borrow up to 128MB of system memory, powers the wide-screen 12.1-inch WXGA screen; we found the screen big enough to show two or three data windows at once and even adequate for DVD viewing. The rest of the components are among the smallest and the most battery friendly available: a 1.1GHz ultra-low-voltage Pentium M processor; a big 60GB hard drive running at a slow 4,200rpm; and 512MB of 400MHz DDR memory. On the downside, none of these components is easily removable, so upgrades and component swaps will be difficult, if not impossible. Our $2,002 test unit, priced toward the high end of the Latitude X1 line, also featured a self-powered external CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive that connects to the laptop via a pair of USB 2.0 cords.
CNET Labs' benchmark tests showed that, despite its small size, the Latitude X1 is a heavy hitter. It scored a 167 in our MobileMark 2002 test, 25 percent faster than IBM's less expensive ThinkPad X40 and slightly ahead of both the less expensive Fujitsu LifeBook P7010 and the pricier Sony VAIO VGN-T150P/L.
After using the system for about an hour, we found that the bottom of the laptop got hot, likely due to the fact that the Latitude X1 does without a cooling fan. In addition to keeping the laptop quiet, the lack of a fan also helps conserve battery life: the Latitude X1 ran for 3 hours, 2 minutes in our drain test, enough to work during shorter flights but way short of the 5-plus hours offered by the LifeBook P7010 and the Sony VAIO VGN-T150P/L. If you're often away from a wall socket, we recommend Dell's $129 high-capacity battery pack, which will bolster battery life and add 5 ounces to the Latitude X1's travel weight (CNET did not test this battery).
The Latitude X1 comes with all of the ports a business user should need, with one exception: there's no PC Card slot. Instead, the notebook has a card reader that supports the Secure Digital, CompactFlash, and MicroDrive formats. Also onboard are four-pin, unpowered FireWire, headphone, and VGA-out ports, as well as a pair of USB 2.0 connectors, one of which is specially designed for powering the external optical drive. Communications are built-in with a Gigabit Ethernet port, a V.92 modem, Bluetooth, and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi.
The Latitude X1 comes with Microsoft Windows XP Pro, along with a few well-chosen utilities, including Dell's QuickSet configuration software and Sonic's CD-burning software. Our test system had a hardwired Trusted Platform Module that can generate encryption keys for hiding proprietary data. However, the system has neither a fingerprint scanner nor a smart-card reader--features increasingly found on higher-end corporate notebooks.
Dell backs the Latitude X1 with a generous three-year warranty; an extra $204 gets you accidental-damage coverage, instant access to technicians, remote troubleshooting, and notification of updated software. Dell offers all customers 24/7, toll-free tech support, as well as a terrific self-service Web site that includes FAQs, downloads, troubleshooting, and excellent update bulletins.
Mobile application performance
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
 |
BAPCo MobileMark 2002 performance rating |
Dell Latitude X1
167
Fujitsu LifeBook P7010D
158
Sony VAIO VGN-T150P/L
152
IBM ThinkPad X40
125
Battery life
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
|
BAPCo MobileMark 2002 battery life minutes |
Sony VAIO VGN-T150P/L
346
Fujitsu LifeBook P7010D
297
Dell Latitude X1
182
IBM ThinkPad X40
152
Find out more about how we test Windows notebooks.
System configurations:
Dell Latitude X1
Windows XP Professional; 1,100MHz Intel Pentium M ULV 733; 512MB DDR SDRAM 400MHz; Intel i915GM/GMS Express (up to 128MB); Toshiba MK6006GAH 60GB 4,200rpm
Fujitsu LifeBook P7010D
Windows XP Professional; 1,100MHz Intel Pentium M ULV 713; 512MB DDR SDRAM 333MHz; Intel 82852/82855GM/GME Extreme Graphics (up to 64MB); Fujitsu MHT2060AT 40GB 4,200rpm
IBM ThinkPad X40
Windows XP Professional; 1,200MHz Intel Pentium M LV; 512MB DDR SDRAM 333MHz; Intel 82852/82855GM/GME Extreme Graphics (up to 64MB); Hitachi DK13FA-40 60GB 4,200rpm
Sony VAIO VGN-T150P/L
Windows XP Professional; 1,100MHz Intel Pentium M ULV 733; 512MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; Intel 82852/82855 GM/GME Extreme Graphics (up to 64MB); Toshiba MK4004GAH 40GB 4,200rpm
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 User Rating: 
10/10
Perfect little netbook
Pros: Almost everything
Cons: Poor battery life, small CPU speed
Review: Perfect for all ages, this user-friendly netbook has only 2 minor set-backs...
1. Poor battery life
2. small CPU speed
The CPU doesn't really matter that much unless you gaming but other than that 5/5
1. Poor battery life
2. small CPU speed
The CPU doesn't really matter that much unless you gaming but other than that 5/5
User Rating: 10/10
Best laptop I've owned
Pros: Everything. Great size, good power, reliable, sturdy. No troubles its entire life until the day it died. Wife fed the power cord to the new puppy. Fried all the internal power supply gadgetry.
Cons: R.I.P. Other than that, it's golden.
Review: Shopping today, four years later, I can't find a single laptop made by anybody that surpasses the X1. 12" screen, 2 lbs, $1500... this doesn't exist today. Why are we evolving backwards???
User Rating: 
9/10
terrific, running well after 3 years
Pros: portable, really light
Cons: no replacement for it?
Review: Super light, can travel anywhere, runs well for a long time. This has been a really good investment. I have had the X1 for 3 years now, and it is still going strong. I've done a lot of audio and movie editing on it, and have written countless papers, applications on it. It has traveled all over the world (from asia to europe) and I have no issues sticking it in my carry on. I usually leave the power supply home and use the peripherals where I'm going. My two batteries (used in serial) will last me a good 6 hours (and I've had this thing for 2 years)-- which is a whole day at work if I spend other time making calls or off-line. Its ultra lightness means that I can take it with me sightseeing when I'm in a sketchy country and not worry about it being too heavy. I have not used the extra hard drive or the DVD burner much, although they seem to work okay. The DVD burner did have some problems a few times, but I have had pretty good luck making backup DVDs. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find a good replacement for this laptop.
User Rating: 9/10
Dell Latitude X1 with 2 GB of RAM
Pros: Accept 2 GB DDR2 RAM, very quiet (passive cooling - no fans), still the smallest 12-inch laptop on the market
Cons: Getting hot, which slow down the system performance
Review: I installed 2GB DDR2 memory module on my X1. So, it has 2.25GB in total (but only 2GB is available for Windows).
I also replaced its 1.8 inch hard drive with the Samsung 32GB solid state disk. Now the laptop is completely quiet.
Windows Vista Ultimate runs fine now.
If you are going to work with this laptop for a long time, you need an active cooling pad. In this case your X1 will run for 24 hours without slowing down the system performance.
I also replaced its 1.8 inch hard drive with the Samsung 32GB solid state disk. Now the laptop is completely quiet.
Windows Vista Ultimate runs fine now.
If you are going to work with this laptop for a long time, you need an active cooling pad. In this case your X1 will run for 24 hours without slowing down the system performance.
User Rating: 10/10
Great, Light Weight Laptop
Pros: very light weight, nice and small
Cons: No optical drive
Review: Since we purchased this to upgrade from a Toshiba Libretto, the small key board does not bother us.
Been great for travel. Nice ans small, light weight to boot.
Not pleased about no documentation, but that is on Dell's end.
Fabulous laptop.
Been great for travel. Nice ans small, light weight to boot.
Not pleased about no documentation, but that is on Dell's end.
Fabulous laptop.
User Rating: 
8/10
Dell X1 Best small travel laptop ever!
Pros: Small size, lightweight, fast, wide display
Cons: lacks internal cd/dvd
Review: I personally own two of these laptops. I use one on a daily basis. I read the review and disagreed with most of the negative comments. My Dell X1 runs cool. I had a 2GHz Dell D400 that was so hot you could not leave it on your lap. I particularily like the integrated memory card slots. The wide screen display which is bright and crisp is also a big benefit. Another small benefit is the lid springs close. No latches to mess with that usually end up broken anyway.
This is a great laptop for the business traveler or student that needs power, functionality and lightweight. It's the best! I prefer this over Dell's newer dual core laptops.
This is a great laptop for the business traveler or student that needs power, functionality and lightweight. It's the best! I prefer this over Dell's newer dual core laptops.
User Rating: 9/10
Had it 2 years, still can't do better
Pros: size, weight, SD and Bluetooth
Cons: external optical bay (I had to think about this)
Review: If you can still get your hands on this to buy I can endorse it. I have been very happy with mine for a couple of years. I will never go back to a larger laptop. You do need an external screen for your desk, for about $200, and use the extended desktop feature to get a really large workspace.
This laptop has been far better than expectations. Now looking for a new one (I dont like upgrading Windows) and may just wipe the drive and install Vista and new software on my current X1. I'ts not about the cost of a new laptop, I have the cash put aside, I just dont know how I could improve. I would like a tablet in the same form factor, but think I'll have to keep waiting.... unless the rumour of a Del XT is true?
This laptop has been far better than expectations. Now looking for a new one (I dont like upgrading Windows) and may just wipe the drive and install Vista and new software on my current X1. I'ts not about the cost of a new laptop, I have the cash put aside, I just dont know how I could improve. I would like a tablet in the same form factor, but think I'll have to keep waiting.... unless the rumour of a Del XT is true?
User Rating: 9/10
Awesome, small, powerful, conversation starter
Pros: very small, easy to carry, amazing battery life, faster than my Satellite Pro
Cons: runs a bit warm.
Review: I got the X1 after passing up on the TX6xx from Sony. I'm glad I made the switch. This little X1 is fast, super light, and can actually play games (halflife and such) on par with a desktop. The single speaker is weak, but you have to give something up for the size/formfactor. I use this for my MBA and work, and in a little over a year, I did not have a single problem with it. The battery lasts 4-5 hours, and I never had to break out the extended battery, even on long flights. The only problem is a single pixel that glows bright white - it's not dead, but it's a bit annoying. Fantastic laptop, I would highly recomend that you buy it if you are looking for a small, powerful headturner.
User Rating: 10/10
Wonderful durable featherweight machine
Pros: size, weight
Cons: short battery
Review: I have had my Latitude X1 for a year. I carry it in my purse where ever I go - no need for separate briefcase (a really great thing when they actually count carry-on bags). This is a very robust machine, nothing is flimsy on it or and perfect for someone who is looking for lightweight and small profile laptop. I love mine!
User Rating: 9/10
Great laptop
Pros: Light, small, durable, widescreen, decent keybord, 2 memory card readers
Cons: Gets really hot
Review: I had my X1 since December 2005 (8 months by now). For someone who travels much it is a great computer. The widescreen makes it easy to read documents and work spreadsheets. The light weight and small size makes it easy to carry everywhere and it is durable. I just throw mine into my backpack wherever I go (does not scream "Look! Laptop!") in an airport.
The standard battery together with the 6 cell battery gives me enough energy to work for up to six hours - more than what I need on a transatlantic flight.
Before this I had a Sony Viao PCG 505 Dl which I really enjoyed using. However, the Dell is just so much lighter and the widescreen is great.
Only con. You need a book or magazine between your lap and your laptop. It gets hot.
The standard battery together with the 6 cell battery gives me enough energy to work for up to six hours - more than what I need on a transatlantic flight.
Before this I had a Sony Viao PCG 505 Dl which I really enjoyed using. However, the Dell is just so much lighter and the widescreen is great.
Only con. You need a book or magazine between your lap and your laptop. It gets hot.
User Rating: 8/10
Light weight, good looking laptop
Pros: Light weight, good screen,
Cons: battery life
Review: I received my X1 yesterday. Since then I have been playing with it all the time. Certainly it is not the fastest laptop I could have but I believe it offers a very good compromise between mobility and speed. I strongly suggest it for the road runners.
A serious con is the battery life though. It currently runs on a standard 3-cells battery for almost 2-2.5 hours with wireless on. I just wish I had bought the 6-cells battery.
A serious con is the battery life though. It currently runs on a standard 3-cells battery for almost 2-2.5 hours with wireless on. I just wish I had bought the 6-cells battery.
User Rating: 8/10
Perfect for grad student
Pros: lightweight, fast, keys on keyboard aren't smaller than others
Cons: runs hot, not a ton of plug in ports...
Review: I am a graduate student and I have a desktop at home. However, at school, I need a computer that I can take with me, go to the lab, the library, etc, with all the necessary programs. This computer is able to do everything I want it to. I wouldn't want it for a primary comptuter, but for a traveler or someone who wants portability, it's great. Not having the built in CD drive isn't a big deal. I rarely use CD's anymore, and if I do need it, I can plug in the external drive... I got mine refurbished from Dell, so I could get more bang for my buck, and so far, it's fine. Just make sure to get the "I poured soda on my computer and they'll replace it" warranty... It runs a bit hot, but I haven't had any issues with overheating... The battery doesn't last super long (couple hours), which isn't too bad. But you can always get a longer lasting battery...
User Rating: 9/10
BEST COMPUTER I'VE EVER HAD!!
Pros: FAST, GREAT KEYBOARD AND MOUSE, SCREEN IS WONDERFUL, LIGHT , THIN
Cons: RUNS HOT o, that's it
Review: I will not go on and on about how much I love this computer, but rarely do I write reviews but thought I would for this one.
It's so light weight. Taking it to work in a pouch bag is easy and lightweight.
Battery power is excellent and the screen is very nice.
For portability it's great and I love the silence of it.
It does run hot , so if that bugs you, don't get it.
Otherwise buy a wonderful computer!!
I've had the Sony and many others like it, but they don't compare.
It's so light weight. Taking it to work in a pouch bag is easy and lightweight.
Battery power is excellent and the screen is very nice.
For portability it's great and I love the silence of it.
It does run hot , so if that bugs you, don't get it.
Otherwise buy a wonderful computer!!
I've had the Sony and many others like it, but they don't compare.
User Rating: 
2/10
A lot of money for a useless peace of plastic.
Pros: I can not see any pros. Sorry!
Cons: No active cooling makes the computer slow when you need it fast!
Review: Absolutely frustrating and annoying touch pad! When you type it is all the time in the way, causing the cursor to jump all over the document. Text editing with this machine impossible!
Furthermore, the spec claims that this machine has 1100 Mhz. That is not true! In practice this laptop never runs with more than 600Mhz. This is because processor speed throttling due to the lack of active cooling.
Finally the external CD/DVD player is an unecessary annoyance.
I bought this thing because of the reviews here. And I am double disappointed. A) with the X1 B) with the community here writing uselles and uncritical reviews.
Summary
You can have much more for 4 times less money. Buy an I-pod!
If you want a laptop of this size spend just a bit more money to get one for example from Sony. I can't call this X1 Laptop.
Furthermore, the spec claims that this machine has 1100 Mhz. That is not true! In practice this laptop never runs with more than 600Mhz. This is because processor speed throttling due to the lack of active cooling.
Finally the external CD/DVD player is an unecessary annoyance.
I bought this thing because of the reviews here. And I am double disappointed. A) with the X1 B) with the community here writing uselles and uncritical reviews.
Summary
You can have much more for 4 times less money. Buy an I-pod!
If you want a laptop of this size spend just a bit more money to get one for example from Sony. I can't call this X1 Laptop.
User Rating: 9/10
This Medical Student's Super Computer
Pros: Form & Function -- Quiet, lightweight, beautiful, with enough power
Cons: Impractical "matching" carrying case
Review: I decided a few months ago to get this computer. I chose it because it's the smallest one I could afford. It has turned out to be one of the best purchases I've made for medical school. Refurbished from Dell, this computer has been an EXCELLENT tool for studies and all the other stuff I like to use my computer for (taking notes, writing papers, music stuff, internet...). A lot of my texts are online, so instead of lugging around multiple 3" thick textbooks, I bring this computer (smaller than a paper notebook), connect to the textbook websites via wireless, and it's great.
If you use an optical drive a lot, this may not be a good computer for you; I only rarely use it, and when I'm on the go, it doesn't weigh my machine (read: backpack or briefcase) down. Taking notes in class is great because it's quiet (no optical drive means no fan), and has great battery life (I have the 6 cell and 3 cell.
Although it was not really too much of a factor when I bought it (I was concerned with price & portability, not so much looks), the computer looks really great -- I still get a lot of complements on it.
I guess that if I were going to change anything, I would give the machine more USB ports, and a better Dell case. It's funny -- the computer is great (size, function, looks), but the case that Dell makes for it is much bigger than optimal, and looks somewhat clunky. I actually end up using a shoulder bag designed for portable DVD players; this works well.
If you use an optical drive a lot, this may not be a good computer for you; I only rarely use it, and when I'm on the go, it doesn't weigh my machine (read: backpack or briefcase) down. Taking notes in class is great because it's quiet (no optical drive means no fan), and has great battery life (I have the 6 cell and 3 cell.
Although it was not really too much of a factor when I bought it (I was concerned with price & portability, not so much looks), the computer looks really great -- I still get a lot of complements on it.
I guess that if I were going to change anything, I would give the machine more USB ports, and a better Dell case. It's funny -- the computer is great (size, function, looks), but the case that Dell makes for it is much bigger than optimal, and looks somewhat clunky. I actually end up using a shoulder bag designed for portable DVD players; this works well.
User Rating: 9/10
perfect for student's needs
Pros: extremely compact. keyboard is comfortable. fast computing
Cons: 3-cell battery is so short-lived it is a joke. 6-cell battery is much better, but adds very noticeable weight. AC-Adapter not very good.
Review: Okay well I'm a student and I elected to get this laptop strictly for school business (note taking on Microsoft Onenote, writing documents on Word, doing things on Excel, Powerpoint...) and internet use. Nothing like watching movies or playing music or games or anything like that (I don't think this is the appropriate laptop for that). I read reviews complaining that the keyboard is cramped on this laptop. This is not the case for me, personally. I have found it pretty fine for me to use... I am a guy, in college, with medium-sized hands (I guess), and I type at 95-100wpm. The laptop keyboard obviously is a different feel from a regular keyboard, but I feel it is easy to adapt to, and I can continue typing, probably around 90-95wpm instead. Well let's see... I also have a desktop with an AMD Athlon XP 2600+ processor with 768mb RAM. I was surprised to find this laptop starts up as fast, if not slightly faster than my PC. I... really don't understand how that happens. My own Latitude X1 however does run on 1.28GB of memory, close to double the amount of the PC.
Moving on. The 3-cell battery is a joke. I really cannot use that thing for anything unless I plan on brining the AC-Adapter around everywhere with me. The 6-cell battery is expensive, but a little better if you get it on eBay. It also noticeably changes the weight of the laptop (noticeably heftier). I feel that using the 3-cell battery makes the laptop lighter than most other 12in. laptops, and using the 6-cell battery makes it end up weighing about the same as other 12in. laptops. So I think the pros still outweigh the cons, for using the 6-cell battery instead.
The AC-Adapter that came with my X1 sucks. My friend also has an X1, but his is an earlier release of the model and so it came with the regular type of AC-adapter Dell gives out, with the rubber thing attached to make tying up the cord neat and easy. The AC-Adapter I have instead is noticeably smaller, but does not have that rubber strap thing. Personally, I am a neat freak and this annoys me. I would rather have the bigger adapter with the strap than the smaller adapter without it. Instead I have to scrunch up the cord and use a rubber band with it when taking the Ac-adapter around with me.
I rarely use CDs/DVDs, so I don't mind having to use an external drive for them. I never use a computer modem anymore. I mean... really... what percentage of the clientele for this type of laptop is going to be the kind of person who uses a 56k modem? I really don't know what Dell is thinking, but yeah. If you do use a 56k modem, you'd be happy to hear that it takes up its little space in this laptop that I think could be better used for other purposes, such as... another USB port perhaps. Everybody loves USB... why not add one more port?
Well I've had this laptop for 2 months now and use it almost every single day because it is so convenient and took it travelling as well, when I went out of the country. I highly recommend it, and your laptop will certainly get lots of admirers.
Moving on. The 3-cell battery is a joke. I really cannot use that thing for anything unless I plan on brining the AC-Adapter around everywhere with me. The 6-cell battery is expensive, but a little better if you get it on eBay. It also noticeably changes the weight of the laptop (noticeably heftier). I feel that using the 3-cell battery makes the laptop lighter than most other 12in. laptops, and using the 6-cell battery makes it end up weighing about the same as other 12in. laptops. So I think the pros still outweigh the cons, for using the 6-cell battery instead.
The AC-Adapter that came with my X1 sucks. My friend also has an X1, but his is an earlier release of the model and so it came with the regular type of AC-adapter Dell gives out, with the rubber thing attached to make tying up the cord neat and easy. The AC-Adapter I have instead is noticeably smaller, but does not have that rubber strap thing. Personally, I am a neat freak and this annoys me. I would rather have the bigger adapter with the strap than the smaller adapter without it. Instead I have to scrunch up the cord and use a rubber band with it when taking the Ac-adapter around with me.
I rarely use CDs/DVDs, so I don't mind having to use an external drive for them. I never use a computer modem anymore. I mean... really... what percentage of the clientele for this type of laptop is going to be the kind of person who uses a 56k modem? I really don't know what Dell is thinking, but yeah. If you do use a 56k modem, you'd be happy to hear that it takes up its little space in this laptop that I think could be better used for other purposes, such as... another USB port perhaps. Everybody loves USB... why not add one more port?
Well I've had this laptop for 2 months now and use it almost every single day because it is so convenient and took it travelling as well, when I went out of the country. I highly recommend it, and your laptop will certainly get lots of admirers.
User Rating: 9/10
nice nice - not bad
Pros: Size of a pocket calculator - but works like a real PC with great connectivity (esp the blue tooth)
Cons: Bit cramped but thats the tradeoff I guess for not having to tote a brick
Review:
User Rating: 9/10
I own one and all I could say is:
Pros: Light in weight, perfect size, pack and go
Cons: Heats up during long processing time but not idle
Review: This is the one to own. I pack it everyday in my backpack and head to work. It is lighter than some Microsoft books. Really fast and performance it is great. One thing to remember that this is not an entertainment machine so don't try to play games on otherwise it will cook the CPU.
I highly recommend this laptop to those who want computing at their fingertips without seeing back specialist. It's worth owning it.
I highly recommend this laptop to those who want computing at their fingertips wihtout seeing back specialist. It's worth owning it.
I highly recommend this laptop to those who want computing at their fingertips without seeing back specialist. It's worth owning it.
I highly recommend this laptop to those who want computing at their fingertips wihtout seeing back specialist. It's worth owning it.
User Rating: 
5/10
Great specs, terrible build quality
Pros: Great form factor, keyboard is actually decent when it works, decent quality screen, mediocre battery life
Cons: The thing's plastic case has started to crack from use, LCD's plastic cover caving in, hinges are getting worse, keyboard doesn't work right anymore
Review: I've owned the Dell Latitude X1 for the past 4 months or so, in that time I've used for travel, school and fun. I'm quite a demanding user in that I require very portable solutions which can survive the wear and tear of on-the-go use. The Dell Latitude X1 is, unfortunately, NOT one of those products. In the 4 months of use the hinges on the screen have become much less useful at holding the scren in place, the keyboard was initially great for a notebook of its size, now it's creaking and caving in as I type, absolutely awful typing experience. The LCD itself is 'damaged-goods' now because the plastic on the outer side of it caves in for no reason whatsoever, so I have a pair of darkened spots now, it doesn't impede day to day use, but after 4 good laptops I have come to expect more. The plastic case quality leaves much to be desired as well, it is cracked in one place (powered USB area) for no reason, I haven't dropped it (design flaw?).
Otherwise, it's a good laptop but the number of things that have gone wrong with this laptop leads me to believe that Dell has really gone on the cheap route with this ultraportable. It can't survive daily use in the ultraportable role it has supposedly been designed for, and it compares abysmally to my similarly-sized HP Tablet PC TC1100. Either keep it on a desk or don't buy it at all.
Otherwise, it's a good laptop but the number of things that have gone wrong with this laptop leads me to believe that Dell has really gone on the cheap route with this ultraportable. It can't survive daily use in the ultraportable role it has supposedly been designed for, and it compares abysmally to my similarly-sized HP Tablet PC TC1100. Either keep it on a desk or don't buy it at all.
User Rating: 9/10
The best in its class
Pros: size, weight
Cons: battery life
Review: In my position I can choose any computer that I want. My requirements is that the computer is small enough that I don't have to think whether to bring it along or not, yet is still powerful enough to run multiple programs, is sufficiently robust to be rock-solid for doing powerpoint presentations, and has a keyboard good enough for efficient touch-typing. And finally is reliable and not likely to need repairs when I am overseas. For this, this is simply the best machine I have found. And as an added bonus, the screen format makes using it in tight airplane seats so much easier.
User Rating: 8/10
Left behind the dull 8lb'er
Pros: ultralight (size of lettersize paper, weight of a shoe), super bright screen, firewire, 3 USB, tiny power adapter, internal bluetooth and wireless
Cons: tiny keys take getting used to, mediocre processor speed, expensive to upgrade, no docking system
Review: I travel weekly by plane, train and bus, and have had my laptop for over a month. I've gotten used to the smaller size. I debated smaller size vs. excellent performance, and decided to go for smaller size as I primarily use Outlook, Word, Excel and Firefox. I'm glad I did. While the DVD/CD drive is external, I find that I don't use it all that much, maybe twice a month. I would love better processing speed and higher max on memory, but in all, this has been a welcome upgrade over my old Dell laptop. I'd recommend it, except it costs nearly $3,000.
User Rating: 9/10
Best Laptop I have Ever Owned
Pros: Ultra Portable
Cons: Screen Brightness (dc)
Review: I went from a Dell 700m to the X1, the 700m was also a great machine but still a little heavy. This X1 is ultralight, great keyboard, excellent battery life, mouse pad is a little small but easy to get used to. I have had no issue with the bottom of the computer getting too hot due to the fact the computer is fanless. As mentioned this is actually a Samsung unit marketed as a Dell, ad guess what Dell was smart to do so. Three year warranty is great and although the processor is smaller than the 700m it still seems faster. Also on my opinion it's 100 times better than a Vaio. Thanks for reading, hope this helps. Oh yeah, my con about the screen brightness, when plugged in it's perfect but I can't seem to find the setting to make the screeen brighter when running of of the battery. At night it's okay, but during the day it can sometimes be tough to see.
User Rating: 10/10
Small & Lightweight - The Best UltraPortable Out There!
Pros: Super lightweight, great battery life with the 6-cell battery, nice touchpad, makes no noise whatsoever, no ports on the back (looks more professional), excellent performance with the 1.28GB RAM
Cons: Runs hot, No optical drive, but can be compromised using CD-Images and Mounting Tools
Review: This laptop may be an original Samsung design, as stated in some of these reviews, but what does it matter? Dell bought the design and made some improvements on it, then marketed it as its own. I see no problem there, and definitely don't see any problem with MY Latitude X1. That's right, I own this laptop and am not writing this review based on online summaries.
The Latitude X1 is sleek right out of the box. I don't understand why some of these people think it isn't suprisingly smooth. I don't like most of the Dell laptops (the Inspiron 6000 for instance) because of their cheap look and lack of luster. This machine is an exception. I LOVE not having a latch on the machine. It makes quick opening and closing a breeze and the hinge is THE BEST I've seen on ANY laptop: very sturdy and stops where you want it to, wherever that may be (180º, flat as a table, if that's how you like it). Sure you can buy a Powerbook and sacrafice features to get more of an eye-candy laptop, but why bother when you can get this sexy machine without sacraficing performance?
Some people immediately skip over the X1 because of it's lack of an internal optical drive. I personally saw this as an advantage because to me it is just extra weight that I rarely use. If you have the knowledge, you can take CD's that you often use, create a CD IMAGE of them (a single file on your hard drive), then use mounting tools (such a DAEMON tools, a FREE program) to create virtual drives so you can have literally four virtual optical drives containing four different CD's that your computer will recognize as real physical drives. In other words, you can insert and remove CD's from your computer without taking your hand off the touchpad, and without having a real optical drive connected! Sure this takes up some more hard drive space, but with the 60 GB drive available on the X1, it isn't much to spare.
The screen on the Latitude X1 isn't as lusterous as other laptops and doesn't have that glossy look to it, but to me it does just fine. I've watched full DVD movies in the car and never gotten a headache (and my eyes are terrible after having three muscle surgeries).
Performace wise, if you soup the X1 up with the 1.28GB of RAM, you won't be disappointed. I've yet to get bogged down with a program, and I use Adobe Photoshop CS2, Dreamweaver, and NeroVision on a regular basis, often simultaneously. Anyone with computer knowledge knows that those are a few very CPU-cruching applications.
I have to confess, the Latitude X1 does run a bit hot. After about half an hour on your lap you'll need a book or pillow to keep the heat off of you. I purchased a targus "Coolpad" for $30 to keep my X1 cooled down when sitting on my desk. It gets the job done and has proven to be a handy thing to take with me if I must use the X1 on my lap.
As far as connectivity goes, the X1 exceeds most consumer's needs. It comes equipped with Wi-Fi, gigabit ethernet, and Bluetooth. I use my Bluetooth mouse every day, without having to plug in an annoying USB adapter.
The keyboard is, to my knowledge, a normal laptop keyboard with traditional keys, none that grab your nails or mix up the right-hand Shift, Ctrl, and Alt keys. The touchpad does take a day or two to get used to but after the adjustment it sometimes is hard for me to remember to get out my Bluetooth mouse. Although not labeled on the touchpad, it incorporates the verticle scrolling by running your finger up and down the right side of the touchpad. A nice touch for the avid web-browser.
In conclusion, I applaude Dell for providing the perfect laptop for me, a college student. This machine has proven to be the best choice of all the ultraportables I researched. At 2.5 pounds, you won't even know it's in your bag. The price may be a bit steep, but I promise you it's worth every penny. If you have any questions about this amazing comptuer, feel free to contact me: wbush121@gmail.com.
The Latitude X1 is sleek right out of the box. I don't understand why some of these people think it isn't suprisingly smooth. I don't like most of the Dell laptops (the Inspiron 6000 for instance) because of their cheap look and lack of luster. This machine is an exception. I LOVE not having a latch on the machine. It makes quick opening and closing a breeze and the hinge is THE BEST I've seen on ANY laptop: very sturdy and stops where you want it to, wherever that may be (180º, flat as a table, if that's how you like it). Sure you can buy a Powerbook and sacrafice features to get more of an eye-candy laptop, but why bother when you can get this sexy machine without sacraficing performance?
Some people immediately skip over the X1 because of it's lack of an internal optical drive. I personally saw this as an advantage because to me it is just extra weight that I rarely use. If you have the knowledge, you can take CD's that you often use, create a CD IMAGE of them (a single file on your hard drive), then use mounting tools (such a DAEMON tools, a FREE program) to create virtual drives so you can have literally four virtual optical drives containing four different CD's that your computer will recognize as real physical drives. In other words, you can insert and remove CD's from your computer without taking your hand off the touchpad, and without having a real optical drive connected! Sure this takes up some more hard drive space, but with the 60 GB drive available on the X1, it isn't much to spare.
The screen on the Latitude X1 isn't as lusterous as other laptops and doesn't have that glossy look to it, but to me it does just fine. I've watched full DVD movies in the car and never gotten a headache (and my eyes are terrible after having three muscle surgeries).
Performace wise, if you soup the X1 up with the 1.28GB of RAM, you won't be disappointed. I've yet to get bogged down with a program, and I use Adobe Photoshop CS2, Dreamweaver, and NeroVision on a regular basis, often simultaneously. Anyone with computer knowledge knows that those are a few very CPU-cruching applications.
I have to confess, the Latitude X1 does run a bit hot. After about half an hour on your lap you'll need a book or pillow to keep the heat off of you. I purchased a targus "Coolpad" for $30 to keep my X1 cooled down when sitting on my desk. It gets the job done and has proven to be a handy thing to take with me if I must use the X1 on my lap.
As far as connectivity goes, the X1 exceeds most consumer's needs. It comes equipped with Wi-Fi, gigabit ethernet, and Bluetooth. I use my Bluetooth mouse every day, without having to plug in an annoying USB adapter.
The keyboard is, to my knowledge, a normal laptop keyboard with traditional keys, none that grab your nails or mix up the right-hand Shift, Ctrl, and Alt keys. The touchpad does take a day or two to get used to but after the adjustment it sometimes is hard for me to remember to get out my Bluetooth mouse. Although not labeled on the touchpad, it incorporates the verticle scrolling by running your finger up and down the right side of the touchpad. A nice touch for the avid web-browser.
In conclusion, I applaude Dell for providing the perfect laptop for me, a college student. This machine has proven to be the best choice of all the ultraportables I researched. At 2.5 pounds, you won't even know it's in your bag. The price may be a bit steep, but I promise you it's worth every penny. If you have any questions about this amazing comptuer, feel free to contact me: wbush121@gmail.com.
User Rating: 5/10
x1 has no port replicator, otherwise lightweight rules
Pros: lightweight is worth all the trades offs and then some
Cons: no port replicator for the office rules it out for me
Review: I bought Dell's x200 when it first came out and have never looked back at the laptops that weighed more than 3lbs. I upgraded to Dell's x300, and it was even better.
I have the extended battery that sticks out the back and found that I prefer it to the standard battery. The ledge on the back makes it easier to carry when it is open. I never run out of battery time any more.
I also feel that not having a DVD-drive is the *point* of buying this type of machine. I want them to strip off everything possible that contributes to the weight. Give me a wireless network connection, a hard drive, and a sturdy machine. That's all I need.
So I was planning to upgrade to the x1 BUT it does not have a port replicator that would allow me to snap it in place when I'm in my office and instantly have the wired LAN, the battery charger, a big monitor, and a mouse. For me, that makes the x1 out of the question. Both Sony and Toshiba do provide this option for their less than 3lb computers. Good bye, Dell
I have the extended battery that sticks out the back and found that I prefer it to the standard battery. The ledge on the back makes it easier to carry when it is open. I never run out of battery time any more.
I also feel that not having a DVD-drive is the *point* of buying this type of machine. I want them to strip off everything possible that contributes to the weight. Give me a wireless network connection, a hard drive, and a sturdy machine. That's all I need.
So I was planning to upgrade to the x1 BUT it does not have a port replicator that would allow me to snap it in place when I'm in my office and instantly have the wired LAN, the battery charger, a big monitor, and a mouse. For me, that makes the x1 out of the question. Both Sony and Toshiba do provide this option for their less than 3lb computers. Good bye, Dell
User Rating: 
4/10
Looks good, functionality... not that good
Pros: Light and compact
Cons: No screen latch, power
Review: The small size and light weight is very attractive for me as a mobile professional. But there are problems with this laptop and Dell in general.
The screen does not lock down. May sound like a minor thing, but in my case it happened at the worst possible time and now it is broken.
The second thing is the lack of support from third party power supply makers. I have a very nice Targus power supply. But because Dell decided to cause trouble for their customers it will not work with later Dell equipment (will power it but not charge it).
So now with 3 power supplies and a duct tape to hold my screen on until my Linevo arrives.
The screen does not lock down. May sound like a minor thing, but in my case it happened at the worst possible time and now it is broken.
The second thing is the lack of support from third party power supply makers. I have a very nice Targus power supply. But because Dell decided to cause trouble for their customers it will not work with later Dell equipment (will power it but not charge it).
So now with 3 power supplies and a duct tape to hold my screen on until my Linevo arrives.
User Rating: 9/10
Amazing Laptop - Actual User
Pros: Light weight, THIN!!!. excellent battery life, nice size keyboard, great internal wireless card... the list goes on
Cons: The outer case seems to damage a little easily, would be nice if the on indicator, battery charger could be seen with the lid closed
Review: I have had the X1 for about 3 months now. So far this laptop has exceeded every expectation. When I first got it I was a little skeptical because I thought it might have been a little too small, but after using I realized Dell really took the time to make just about everything to perfection. It is so light and thin. Everyone is constantly coming up to me in awe at its size. The computer runs so smooth and has a very nice screen with more then plenty of backlight. I am able to get on average 2:40 mintues of continues use using powerpoint/word etc. My only two complaintis are that the outer case does scratch easily and the battery indicator/on light is hard to see when the lid is closed. However, I would not even hesitate buying this computer again.
User Rating: 9/10
Excellent essential small computer
Pros: Very lightweight, portable, fast, good connectivity, DVD writer external, fast battery charge (1 hour)
Cons: Gets a bit hot, no fan, battery just runs 2 hours, screen could be brighter
Review: This is such a great computer. As a student I take this computer everywhere, it connects pretty good to wireless networks, 12.1" screen is perfect for cruising the internet or checking documents and pictures. As many reviews told me before I bought it, the battery life is small but that's what the lightweight advantage brings. The battery charging time is excellent so the battery life isn't a big problem.
An extra battery wouldn't be a bad idea or a bigger one. The external DVD writer is a bit slow, but is excellent to have it external because its not always used and I only connect it when I need it. The downside is that this drive has a connection that is unique for this laptop.
On the keyboard, I have pretty huge fingers and can still type ok. Even has a Fn button for turning off the wireless antenna, for Stand by and Hibernate.
It is a bit pricey but its a great buy, haven't had a problem with it, except for the Windows interface which we all know crashes every now and then. The hinges of the monitor are made out of plastic and I hope they hang in there so be careful with these.
The SD slot would be nice for someone with an SD card. There are two USB, one 1394 (small), and a CF slot, and video slot. No Printer port but then, with what space? It is very small.
The sound system isn't very big, it is just a few holes on the bottom of the right side of the computer, which I think Sony has a very similar computer with a bit bigger sound system, but isn't a lot better either. Even though, this computer isn't an entertainment system, if I want to hear music, I will get a couple of earphones, the 60 Gb drive is excellent for the storage.
Hope this helps. I bought it on top of all the IBM's, Toshiba which I found all were bulky, Dell m700 and 600, and the slates and tablet pc's, which are all kind of behind their time.
An extra battery wouldn't be a bad idea or a bigger one. The external DVD writer is a bit slow, but is excellent to have it external because its not always used and I only connect it when I need it. The downside is that this drive has a connection that is unique for this laptop.
On the keyboard, I have pretty huge fingers and can still type ok. Even has a Fn button for turning off the wireless antenna, for Stand by and Hibernate.
It is a bit pricey but its a great buy, haven't had a problem with it, except for the Windows interface which we all know crashes every now and then. The hinges of the monitor are made out of plastic and I hope they hang in there so be careful with these.
The SD slot would be nice for someone with an SD card. There are two USB, one 1394 (small), and a CF slot, and video slot. No Printer port but then, with what space? It is very small.
The sound system isn't very big, it is just a few holes on the bottom of the right side of the computer, which I think Sony has a very similar computer with a bit bigger sound system, but isn't a lot better either. Even though, this computer isn't an entertainment system, if I want to hear music, I will get a couple of earphones, the 60 Gb drive is excellent for the storage.
Hope this helps. I bought it on top of all the IBM's, Toshiba which I found all were bulky, Dell m700 and 600, and the slates and tablet pc's, which are all kind of behind their time.
Updated
Haven't seen any other laptop like this for the price (1500 with extras). The only drawback until now has been the screen brightness which Sony blows away with it's Samsung LCD's. The battery is also a bit small, but it is ok if you have a desktop where to work and this one for a quick task less than 2 hours long or good for quick stand by. The DVD recorder is not that good, backed up some videos and some data was lost. But it works. The laptop gets a bit hot, and I'm afraid of someday losing the motherboard by overheating.
My friends in college envy my lightweight laptop since they all have "schlepptops" of more than 6 pounds. I can carry this one in my backpack easily and connect anything to it.
Haven't seen any other laptop like this for the price (1500 with extras). The only drawback until now has been the screen brightness which Sony blows away with it's Samsung LCD's. The battery is also a bit small, but it is ok if you have a desktop where to work and this one for a quick task less than 2 hours long or good for quick stand by. The DVD recorder is not that good, backed up some videos and some data was lost. But it works. The laptop gets a bit hot, and I'm afraid of someday losing the motherboard by overheating.
My friends in college envy my lightweight laptop since they all have "schlepptops" of more than 6 pounds. I can carry this one in my backpack easily and connect anything to it.
User Rating: 4/10
I returned it to Dell
Pros: Low weight
Cons: Limited angle vision of the screen
Review: This was my first ultraportable. I had to return it after 15 days using it because I was simply not satisfied with the product. I took me a couple of hours in the phone to get return authorization (thay charged me 15% the price + shipping anyway). The main reason: the screen. It is true that I am used to bigger screens, but my main problem was not the size, but the very limited angle of vision I had. If I moved slightly to the side or up, it starts to reflect the light. The second problem was speed. I am not a gamer and use regular Office applications. Maybe what I need is a desktop replacement (so it was my fault to buy this model), but I was not satisfied at all with the actual performance of this notebook. The extra battery is a little bulky. The separate optical disk was not a big problem for me (I use mainly the SD card).
Just consider this before buying one.
Just consider this before buying one.
User Rating: 9/10
Great little machine for the price
Pros: Very light weight and compact; good wireless capabilities
Cons: Typical ultralight problem of small screen fonts for old eyes; separate optical drive
Review: So far I really like this little machine. It was exactly what I wa looking for. Some complain about a cramped keyboard, but I have not found this to be a problem. The keys are solid and have good pressure feedback. The screen is wide and clear, but if you have eye problems you may have to increase the text size. I have the extended life battery which gives me plenty of computing time, although I have actually timed it. If you are on the go and need a light weight machine to handle your computing needs, I would suggest you look at this one. By the way, I ordered this notebook through Dell's Outlet store and saved a few hundred bucks, while still getting a full factory warranty.
User Rating: 9/10
does what it should
Pros: lightweight, great wi fi,value
Cons: no built in optical drive, no card slot, runs hot
Review: Showing my techno age, this reminds me in size of the original Sinclair. I wish that my company had let me put the needed software on this instead of the thinkpad 30 they had me carrying around the country. My wife had the x300 and now has a Vaio ultra portable, so I know the differences between them. When I went to order the x300, the x1 had just been released. I waited too long to order and couldn't get a new 300. Not disappointed in the results.The machine needed the high cap battery, but still is light enough to one hand and poses no problems being carried around.Most of my commuting is relatively short run - no cross country flights- so I run full speed and brightness without an issue.. I wish the machine had a built-in drive like the Vaio, but I can live with it the way it is. Wi-Fi was/is easy to connect with and has been reliable.
All-in-all, you get what an ultra-portable is meant to do.
All-in-all, you get what an ultra-portable is meant to do.
User Rating: 9/10
Another X1 Owner Review
Pros: Light weight, compact yet keyboard is NOT cramped, NO OPTICAL DRIVE
Cons: No real cons - see below for minor wishful thinking
Review: I've had my X1 for a few weeks now and am VERY happy with it. After lugging my 7 lbs work laptop home for a weekend, I decided to pick up the X1 and love it.
For several years I've used a Thinkpad and was skeptical about switching to a Dell. I was choosing between the Thinnkpad X41 and the Latitude X1. Although I think I would have enjoyed the X41 too, ultimately I went with the Dell because it was a MUCH better value. I would recommend doing a google/yahoo search for dell coupons and use the $600 coupon off Latitude Notebooks over $1800 (I believe was the price point). You might have to check a few websites, but the coupon is out there on several sites. I also saved some decent money buying my RAM separately. I went to crucial.com and spent around $145 for 1GB of RAM (dell wanted a lot more) and installing it myself wasn't a big deal. They have a menu system that you click through to get the specific type of RAM that they guarantee will work with your computer. The best part is, crucial is a division of Micron who supplies the same exact RAM for Dell's computers!
I was nervous I wouldn't like the touchpad, but it's really grown on me. I really like the Synaptics software that allows users to create customized tap zones and to scroll through documents and web pages. I also like the function short cut keys that allow users to raise/lower the volume and brightness of the screen and even hibernate or place the computer in standby mode by pressing the "FN" key and then the desired option (which are all labeled on the keyboard).
The keyboard is perfectly fine for typing. This is my primary personal computer and I don't feel that its size will cause a problem for everyday use.
In choosing to buy an ultra portable laptop I didn't want the extra weight associated with lugging around an optical drive all the time when I'll only use from time to time. I don't see how people think that having an external optical drive is a negative. If you want to use it just stick it in the bag with your computer, if you don't need it why transport it.
I bought the 3 cell and the 6 cell battery, because I was nervous that the 3 cell wouldn't last that long. With the Pentium M chip and the slower hard drive speed (4200 RPM) the 3 cell battery actually lasts a decent amount of time. The 6 cell sticks out of the back a little and adds a touch of weight, but its still very light. I also like how small the charger is. Takes up a lot less room in your bad when you are traveling.
As for the negatives there aren't any real ones that I've found yet. The following few are just minor wishful thinking items.
The battery doesn't rest perfectly snug in the back of the computer. No big deal.
I wish the processor was faster. Not because I consider it slow, but if other ulta portables are running 1.5 or 2.0 chips than I'd love to have the same. I'm guessing that without a fan, the computer may get too hot with a much faster processor. (By the way, the computer doesn't get that much hotter than other laptops I have used)
And lastly, I wish that the hard drive speed was faster than 4,200 rpms, but all ultra portables have the same drive speed. Not sure if it's a size issue, but I guess going with an ultra portable means that you can't get a faster hard drive. I guess I'm a speed freak and always want something faster, but the computer works perfectly fine the way it came. Anyway, hope this review is helpful.
For several years I've used a Thinkpad and was skeptical about switching to a Dell. I was choosing between the Thinnkpad X41 and the Latitude X1. Although I think I would have enjoyed the X41 too, ultimately I went with the Dell because it was a MUCH better value. I would recommend doing a google/yahoo search for dell coupons and use the $600 coupon off Latitude Notebooks over $1800 (I believe was the price point). You might have to check a few websites, but the coupon is out there on several sites. I also saved some decent money buying my RAM separately. I went to crucial.com and spent around $145 for 1GB of RAM (dell wanted a lot more) and installing it myself wasn't a big deal. They have a menu system that you click through to get the specific type of RAM that they guarantee will work with your computer. The best part is, crucial is a division of Micron who supplies the same exact RAM for Dell's computers!
I was nervous I wouldn't like the touchpad, but it's really grown on me. I really like the Synaptics software that allows users to create customized tap zones and to scroll through documents and web pages. I also like the function short cut keys that allow users to raise/lower the volume and brightness of the screen and even hibernate or place the computer in standby mode by pressing the "FN" key and then the desired option (which are all labeled on the keyboard).
The keyboard is perfectly fine for typing. This is my primary personal computer and I don't feel that its size will cause a problem for everyday use.
In choosing to buy an ultra portable laptop I didn't want the extra weight associated with lugging around an optical drive all the time when I'll only use from time to time. I don't see how people think that having an external optical drive is a negative. If you want to use it just stick it in the bag with your computer, if you don't need it why transport it.
I bought the 3 cell and the 6 cell battery, because I was nervous that the 3 cell wouldn't last that long. With the Pentium M chip and the slower hard drive speed (4200 RPM) the 3 cell battery actually lasts a decent amount of time. The 6 cell sticks out of the back a little and adds a touch of weight, but its still very light. I also like how small the charger is. Takes up a lot less room in your bad when you are traveling.
As for the negatives there aren't any real ones that I've found yet. The following few are just minor wishful thinking items.
The battery doesn't rest perfectly snug in the back of the computer. No big deal.
I wish the processor was faster. Not because I consider it slow, but if other ulta portables are running 1.5 or 2.0 chips than I'd love to have the same. I'm guessing that without a fan, the computer may get too hot with a much faster processor. (By the way, the computer doesn't get that much hotter than other laptops I have used)
And lastly, I wish that the hard drive speed was faster than 4,200 rpms, but all ultra portables have the same drive speed. Not sure if it's a size issue, but I guess going with an ultra portable means that you can't get a faster hard drive. I guess I'm a speed freak and always want something faster, but the computer works perfectly fine the way it came. Anyway, hope this review is helpful.
User Rating: 9/10
Great Laptop for Mobility
Pros: Extremely light and compact
Cons: Runs hot, mediocre battery life
Review: PRICE: The Latitude X1 can be obtained for an extremely competitive price from the Dell Outlet. It is considerably cheaper than its competitors, such as the Panasonic Toughbook Y2. Dell Outlet is reliable and provides a warranty.
AESTETHICS: It's extremely compact and fits in my handbag. The light weight permits long-term carrying.
SCREEN: Large viewable area for a small size. Tolerable except for extremely long usage.
KEYBOARD: Althought the X1's keyboard is not full-sized, I have no promblem using it, and I have big hands.
NOISE: The X1 runs silent because it doesn't have a fan. However, this does cause it to be hot.
BATTERY: One of the few drawbacks to this laptop is that it has a mediocre battery life. Dell does sell a higher-capacity batter pack, though.
OPTICAL: Optical drives are external.
In short, the X1 provides about as many features as you would expect to find on an ultraportable at a fair price. Great buy for professionals and students using it as a secondary computer.
AESTETHICS: It's extremely compact and fits in my handbag. The light weight permits long-term carrying.
SCREEN: Large viewable area for a small size. Tolerable except for extremely long usage.
KEYBOARD: Althought the X1's keyboard is not full-sized, I have no promblem using it, and I have big hands.
NOISE: The X1 runs silent because it doesn't have a fan. However, this does cause it to be hot.
BATTERY: One of the few drawbacks to this laptop is that it has a mediocre battery life. Dell does sell a higher-capacity batter pack, though.
OPTICAL: Optical drives are external.
In short, the X1 provides about as many features as you would expect to find on an ultraportable at a fair price. Great buy for professionals and students using it as a secondary computer.
User Rating: 9/10
powerful, fabulous and only 2.5 lbs!
Pros: size, wieght, wide screen, SD card reader, bluetooth,
Cons: needs a built in camera! battery life could be longer...
Review: i had to get one after seeeing my friend's. this goes everywhere with me. i got the 60g hd and 1g ram. i am very happy with performance. save money - buy it referbished directly from dell's outlet and wait till they have big savings... it is worth it. i have 2 other laptops and a desktop. i only use this now.
User Rating: 9/10
just about perfect except for only one thing.....
Pros: super lightweight design, nice quiet operation, fair price
Cons: battery life
Review: I just recently purchased my Dell Latitude X1 and I absolutely love it! As I always seem to be on the go with my laptop, the super lightweight design feels awesome. Also, I think it has been granted a pretty fair price tag. The only thing this baby is lacking is in the battery run time department. My perfect solution for this only short comming turned out to be picking up an ultra high capacity external lithium battery pack from batterygeek which has given me an additional 8 hours per charge of battery run time. I would recommend this Latitude X1 laptop to anyone interested in a lightweight high performance laptop.
User Rating: 
7/10
Very good Light Weight Laptop
Pros: 2.7lbs and fast...
Cons: No Card BUS slot
Review: Without a Card Bus slot requires access to a wireless LAN. If it had a CARD BUS slot you could use a Sprint card to access the web, etc. Other wise good unit all around. We just need a Card Bus slot for us as a company to purchase them....
User Rating: 9/10
Got mine two weeks ago. Love it
Pros: Quite a few
Cons: Not so many
Review: Highlights:
- even though I was expecting small, I was still shocked. This is tiny. And the D-bay isn't two thirds the size of the notebook as mentioned in a pvs (otherwise excellent) review - it's about 52% of the width and 90% of the height, so overall a little less than half the size.
- the touchpad is an improvement on my old C640; after configuration I can do all the tricks (scrolling, dragging etc) which I couldn't with the C640. The rough texture is nice, but takes a little getting used to.
- the screen is great, but not for people with poor eyesight. You can, of course, adjust font sizes in your apps, and tweak the desktop settings, but it's not ideal and changing the screen resolution doesn't seem to work well.
- the keyboard is fabulous - I'm a trained typist and had some migivings from pvs postings, but if anything it's better than my C640 in tactile feedback, and the size is fine for all but the biggest hands.
- the speed is a surprise - much better than the specs would suggest. I do have 700+Mb of RAM, tho.
- love most of the other things mentioned - quietness (it's not so hot underneath!), good layout, case doesn't show fingerprints etc.
Lowlights:
- I was surprised to find the X1 doesn't have an infra red port. Are they going out of fashion? I use them for several peripherals, like my PDA and heart-rate monitor. Had to buy an interface for the latter, and now have to carry the cradle for the former.
- although it's mentioned by others, you should be aware that there's no PC (PCMCIA) card slot. I never used one previously (except, briefly, for a fire-wire port - built into the X1) but now find myself lusting after the new GPRS cards for linking to the cellular network for downloading email, as I do from my PDA
- also, there's no built-in microphone. Not a biggie, but it means one more thing to carry, and plug in before I can talk to my wife on Skype.
- also mentioned in the review - only one built-in speaker. Enough for me, because I use headphones for music and video
- is it only me, but the audio playback volume seems to be somewhat lower than my pvs machine. Boosted by pushing up all the sliders on the equalizer..
Bottom line
It's perfect for me - super portable, long battery life (with six-cell battery pack), ideal for taking notes during meetings (and recording with WavePad); internet access; synchronising my PDA and downloading WAV and JPGs (directly, thanks to both SD and CompactFlash card readers) and writing reports.
- even though I was expecting small, I was still shocked. This is tiny. And the D-bay isn't two thirds the size of the notebook as mentioned in a pvs (otherwise excellent) review - it's about 52% of the width and 90% of the height, so overall a little less than half the size.
- the touchpad is an improvement on my old C640; after configuration I can do all the tricks (scrolling, dragging etc) which I couldn't with the C640. The rough texture is nice, but takes a little getting used to.
- the screen is great, but not for people with poor eyesight. You can, of course, adjust font sizes in your apps, and tweak the desktop settings, but it's not ideal and changing the screen resolution doesn't seem to work well.
- the keyboard is fabulous - I'm a trained typist and had some migivings from pvs postings, but if anything it's better than my C640 in tactile feedback, and the size is fine for all but the biggest hands.
- the speed is a surprise - much better than the specs would suggest. I do have 700+Mb of RAM, tho.
- love most of the other things mentioned - quietness (it's not so hot underneath!), good layout, case doesn't show fingerprints etc.
Lowlights:
- I was surprised to find the X1 doesn't have an infra red port. Are they going out of fashion? I use them for several peripherals, like my PDA and heart-rate monitor. Had to buy an interface for the latter, and now have to carry the cradle for the former.
- although it's mentioned by others, you should be aware that there's no PC (PCMCIA) card slot. I never used one previously (except, briefly, for a fire-wire port - built into the X1) but now find myself lusting after the new GPRS cards for linking to the cellular network for downloading email, as I do from my PDA
- also, there's no built-in microphone. Not a biggie, but it means one more thing to carry, and plug in before I can talk to my wife on Skype.
- also mentioned in the review - only one built-in speaker. Enough for me, because I use headphones for music and video
- is it only me, but the audio playback volume seems to be somewhat lower than my pvs machine. Boosted by pushing up all the sliders on the equalizer..
Bottom line
It's perfect for me - super portable, long battery life (with six-cell battery pack), ideal for taking notes during meetings (and recording with WavePad); internet access; synchronising my PDA and downloading WAV and JPGs (directly, thanks to both SD and CompactFlash card readers) and writing reports.
User Rating: 9/10
It is almost perfect
Pros: Almost everything
Cons: lack of a full PC card slot
Review: While the magazine Laptop complained about the lack of brightness and when questioned about their settings they claimed they took it off "auto", I find the screen the best of any ultraportable I have ever owned. The keyboard is great, despite its smaller size and much better than the Sony T series. The computer behaves much faster than its ratings. I can't say enough about it.
User Rating: 9/10
I Actually Own One - And I Love It
Pros: Light As a Feather, Sleek & Sexy, Quiet
Cons: Hot on the Thighs
Review: I admit I was turned off by the initial reviews of this new Dell. But then I realized that the people who were giving it such low marks didn't own one. I do, and I couldn't be happier with the X1.
I looked at some ultraportable competitors from Toshiba, Panasonic, IBM & Sony, but none could beat the combination of price, size, looks, & support of the X1.
PRICE - The trick is to buy from the Dell Outlet site. My X1, with expanded memory, DVD+-/RW, 60MB HD, Bluetooth & Intel wireless, XP Office Pro & Adobe, plus 3 year/next day on-site support was $1750 including tax and shipping. New, it would have cost $2,800. I've had excellent experience with prior Dell outlet purchases, and this price blew away the competition.
LOOKS & SIZE - The matte silver cover is sleek and professional. It's light as a feather and the size of a piece of paper. I just pop it into my briefcase or tuck it under my arm and go.
SCREEN - The widescreen format eeks out as much real estate as one can hope for from a 12.1" screen, and gives the option of having two pages side-by-side. Especialy when combined with the Windows zoom feature, it's quite readable for short stints. I chose the matte screen, although I believe there is an XBrite version available.
KEYBOARD - It's not full-sized, but fits my normal-sized hands fine and has a solid feel. The touchpad is textured, and I needed to adjust the sensitivity at first. I don't like the loud clicking of the keys, but for long sessions I use a mouse anyway.
NOISE - The X1 uses a fanless technology, so it is whisper quiet. Contrast this with the Sony Vaio, which has a persistent fan that drove me so crazy I returned it.
OPTICAL MEDIA: The DVD is separate, as it is on most of its competitors except the Sony. The drive is actually 2/3 the size of the laptop.
QUICKSET - This Dell feature works with the Windows power management system to make short work of shifting between Max Performance, Max Battery Life, Wireless Off, and Presentation modes. I thought it was a gimic at first, but I find myself using it all the time.
BATTERY - I get about 2.5 hours on the smaller battery. You can double that if you buy the extended battery, which adds a few ounces and sticks out an inch in the back. Dell has it's own battery monitor, which you access with one of the function keys. It's a bit more user friendly than the Windows monitor.
EXPRESS CHARGE - I love this feature. Turned off, the X1 recharges the battery to around 80% within an hour.
WIRELESS - The system picked up my wireless internet without a hitch. There's an option to turn off wireless using the Quicket feature. Or you can toggle it on and off using Fn and the F2 key, which also turns the Bluetooth on and off.
HEAT - Because there is no fan, the bottom of this machine gets hot, hot, hot. I put a magazine under it on the table, and wouldn't recommend wearing shorts if you're laptopping it. I thought it might burn itself out, but I've had it on for hours at a time with no problem.
SUPPORT - People have a love or hate relationship with Dell support, but I've had good luck the few times I've used it with other machines. I love the next-day, on-site repair option, as this is a business machine and I don't have to worry about being on the road without a screwdriver.
SUMMARY - Know you're buying an ultraportable and that means they'll be compromises on size and features. But for a solid machine that looks good, I recommend the X1.
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I looked at some ultraportable competitors from Toshiba, Panasonic, IBM & Sony, but none could beat the combination of price, size, looks, & support of the X1.
PRICE - The trick is to buy from the Dell Outlet site. My X1, with expanded memory, DVD+-/RW, 60MB HD, Bluetooth & Intel wireless, XP Office Pro & Adobe, plus 3 year/next day on-site support was $1750 including tax and shipping. New, it would have cost $2,800. I've had excellent experience with prior Dell outlet purchases, and this price blew away the competition.
LOOKS & SIZE - The matte silver cover is sleek and professional. It's light as a feather and the size of a piece of paper. I just pop it into my briefcase or tuck it under my arm and go.
SCREEN - The widescreen format eeks out as much real estate as one can hope for from a 12.1" screen, and gives the option of having two pages side-by-side. Especialy when combined with the Windows zoom feature, it's quite readable for short stints. I chose the matte screen, although I believe there is an XBrite version available.
KEYBOARD - It's not full-sized, but fits my normal-sized hands fine and has a solid feel. The touchpad is textured, and I needed to adjust the sensitivity at first. I don't like the loud clicking of the keys, but for long sessions I use a mouse anyway.
NOISE - The X1 uses a fanless technology, so it is whisper quiet. Contrast this with the Sony Vaio, which has a persistent fan that drove me so crazy I returned it.
OPTICAL MEDIA: The DVD is separate, as it is on most of its competitors except the Sony. The drive is actually 2/3 the size of the laptop.
QUICKSET - This Dell feature works with the Windows power management system to make short work of shifting between Max Performance, Max Battery Life, Wireless Off, and Presentation modes. I thought it was a gimic at first, but I find myself using it all the time.
BATTERY - I get about 2.5 hours on the smaller battery. You can double that if you buy the extended battery, which adds a few ounces and sticks out an inch in the back. Dell has it's own battery monitor, which you access with one of the function keys. It's a bit more user friendly than the Windows monitor.
EXPRESS CHARGE - I love this feature. Turned off, the X1 recharges the battery to around 80% within an hour.
WIRELESS - The system picked up my wireless internet without a hitch. There's an option to turn off wireless using the Quicket feature. Or you can toggle it on and off using Fn and the F2 key, which also turns the Bluetooth on and off.
HEAT - Because there is no fan, the bottom of this machine gets hot, hot, hot. I put a magazine under it on the table, and wouldn't recommend wearing shorts if you're laptopping it. I thought it might burn itself out, but I've had it on for hours at a time with no problem.
SUPPORT - People have a love or hate relationship with Dell support, but I've had good luck the few times I've used it with other machines. I love the next-day, on-site repair option, as this is a business machine and I don't have to worry about being on the road without a screwdriver.
SUMMARY - Know you're buying an ultraportable and that means they'll be compromises on size and features. But for a solid machine that looks good, I recommend the X1.
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User Rating: 8/10
it makes life easier
Pros: light,weight, good screen, fast, easy to work on
Cons: battery could last longer, some keys too small
Review: This is a great machine for someone who needs mobile computing or who likes to lie on their sofa or by the pool and surf the web or write a document. I had to call Dell
customer service when it arrived because the wireless turned itself off when the unit was on battery power. A man with an Indian, but completely understandable accent gave me step by step instructions which solved the problem. That was the only glitch. The screen is easy on the eyes and typing is no problem at all
(at least for small to medium size hands). Some keys that I use alot are too small though, like the up and down arrows. It does get a bit hot on the lap but its not going to burn your skin. I have the 6 cell battery but still run out of juice occasionally. If your looking for mobile computing in a lightweight machine that won't give you headaches, this is a safe bet. Make sure to upgrade the RAM, the hard disk and get the larger battery.
customer service when it arrived because the wireless turned itself off when the unit was on battery power. A man with an Indian, but completely understandable accent gave me step by step instructions which solved the problem. That was the only glitch. The screen is easy on the eyes and typing is no problem at all
(at least for small to medium size hands). Some keys that I use alot are too small though, like the up and down arrows. It does get a bit hot on the lap but its not going to burn your skin. I have the 6 cell battery but still run out of juice occasionally. If your looking for mobile computing in a lightweight machine that won't give you headaches, this is a safe bet. Make sure to upgrade the RAM, the hard disk and get the larger battery.
User Rating: 9/10
beautiful, incredibly portable, silent computer
Pros: very very light; sleek & pretty; beautiful, bright widescreen; only 7-some inches deep so you can carry it around open or fit it anywhere
Cons: small trackpad buttons will take a little adjusting, as will the small space for your palms (but a worthwhile tradeoff for its minimal depth!)
Review: it just arrived - makes the latitude x200 it's replacing seem dull, clunky, tiny-screened, and even heavy. because it's a widescreen and not even 8 inches deep, the x1 isn't backheavy at all when you carry it around or set it down open. the screen is absolutely beautiful. keyboard is small, but i have small hands, so i actually prefer it. everything is working great, and i'm so much happier even than i thought i'd be. it does get warm under the right palm, and there are only about 3 inches of palm-space in front of the keyboard, but i think i'll get used to that pretty soon. trackpad seems to be working fine now that i fixed the settings (it's synaptics, which i was glad to see, since i've known people to be unhappy with some of dell's other trackpad mfgr choices).
Updated
after a month with this laptop, i still am extremely happy. it truly weighs nothing and works well - and with the wide screen, i can have two windows open side-by-side.
i have only two complaints. (1) the speaker is very quiet at max volume. i wouldn't expect it to be a good enough speaker to play music, but i listen to streaming NPR archives and i can't walk very far from the computer without straining to hear. (2) the right "Ctrl" key is way too small (half-height), which is a nuisance if you want to be able to log on (Ctrl-Alt-Delete) with one hand. somehow they dedicated more space to a stupid key that drops down your "context menu", which just replaces a right-click and thus is much less important (read: i've never used it, have you?) than the "Ctrl" key.
i saw someone talking about inability to use a sprint wireless web card through this laptop. i know this doesn't solve the data-only-plan problem, but if you have a bluetooth-enabled sprint phone with a "vision" plan you can use your cell phone as a modem, assuming you have bluetooth enabled on your X1 as well. it's really slow for browsing, but more than adequate for downloading/sending email or for instant messaging - i use it when i travel to places without wireless.
after a month with this laptop, i still am extremely happy. it truly weighs nothing and works well - and with the wide screen, i can have two windows open side-by-side.
i have only two complaints. (1) the speaker is very quiet at max volume. i wouldn't expect it to be a good enough speaker to play music, but i listen to streaming NPR archives and i can't walk very far from the computer without straining to hear. (2) the right "Ctrl" key is way too small (half-height), which is a nuisance if you want to be able to log on (Ctrl-Alt-Delete) with one hand. somehow they dedicated more space to a stupid key that drops down your "context menu", which just replaces a right-click and thus is much less important (read: i've never used it, have you?) than the "Ctrl" key.
i saw someone talking about inability to use a sprint wireless web card through this laptop. i know this doesn't solve the data-only-plan problem, but if you have a bluetooth-enabled sprint phone with a "vision" plan you can use your cell phone as a modem, assuming you have bluetooth enabled on your X1 as well. it's really slow for browsing, but more than adequate for downloading/sending email or for instant messaging - i use it when i travel to places without wireless.
User Rating: 9/10
One for the road
Pros: light-weight, good battery life, powerful for its size, sleek & sexy
Cons: single loudspeaker (use headphones instead), more RAM would be good (2 GB).
Review: I've had the Dell Latitude X1 for a month now and I'm simply "over-the-moon" about it.
I've always bought Dell's Inspiron notebooks (9100, 8500, etc.) with all the "mod-cons" for work (and a little pleasure). This is the first time I buy an ultra-light portable. I've always shied away from the lighter notebooks as they've always lacked power enough for me to use them for work, but these last couple of years have seen some improvements regarding power in a smaller package.
I opted fot the Dell Latitude X1 in fierce competition with Toshiba, Sony, Samsung and IBM. The X1 delivers a lot more "bang-for-the-buck" than the competitiors.
I've always been sceptical of Dell's Latitudes and always opted for the Inspiron line instead as the quality in the Inspiron line has always been better. This time I wnet for a "leap-of-faith" and I'm very happy I did.
The only caveats I have:
- loudspeaker is not adequate for...anything.
- I could use more RAM, though 1.2 GB is good a full 2 GB is better.
The X1 is light-weight (as compared to the 4 KG Inspiron 9100) which means I have no issues carrying it around with me, wherever I go. Thanks to the extended battery I can wring out 5+ hours of use in one charging of the battery and this is good enough for my business needs. The WLAN, Bluetooth and NIC provide me with ample connectivity both at home, work and when "on-the-run". Being used to the 15.4" (1920x1200) screen of the Inspiron 9100 I thought I'd have a problem with the smaller screen on the X1, and I do, though I'm getting used to it. The fact that it's wider helps quite a lot as I enjoy reading two pages at a time on the screen. I highly recommend this portable to any "Road Warrior" and anyone else in need of a sleek & sexy, yet powerful, ultra portable.
I've always bought Dell's Inspiron notebooks (9100, 8500, etc.) with all the "mod-cons" for work (and a little pleasure). This is the first time I buy an ultra-light portable. I've always shied away from the lighter notebooks as they've always lacked power enough for me to use them for work, but these last couple of years have seen some improvements regarding power in a smaller package.
I opted fot the Dell Latitude X1 in fierce competition with Toshiba, Sony, Samsung and IBM. The X1 delivers a lot more "bang-for-the-buck" than the competitiors.
I've always been sceptical of Dell's Latitudes and always opted for the Inspiron line instead as the quality in the Inspiron line has always been better. This time I wnet for a "leap-of-faith" and I'm very happy I did.
The only caveats I have:
- loudspeaker is not adequate for...anything.
- I could use more RAM, though 1.2 GB is good a full 2 GB is better.
The X1 is light-weight (as compared to the 4 KG Inspiron 9100) which means I have no issues carrying it around with me, wherever I go. Thanks to the extended battery I can wring out 5+ hours of use in one charging of the battery and this is good enough for my business needs. The WLAN, Bluetooth and NIC provide me with ample connectivity both at home, work and when "on-the-run". Being used to the 15.4" (1920x1200) screen of the Inspiron 9100 I thought I'd have a problem with the smaller screen on the X1, and I do, though I'm getting used to it. The fact that it's wider helps quite a lot as I enjoy reading two pages at a time on the screen. I highly recommend this portable to any "Road Warrior" and anyone else in need of a sleek & sexy, yet powerful, ultra portable.
User Rating: 9/10
Excellent, light computer
Pros: Lightweight but functionally complete
Cons: 60 Gb max disk size
Review: I wanted a lightweight functional computer for programming and communication on the go. I got more. A wide screen, a fast computer (if only 1.1 Ghz), very fast graphics, for what it is. Obviously it isn't a 3lb computer with a 19 inch screen with a 200 Gb disk and the latest screaming ATI or Nvidia graphics. If that's what I needed I wouldn't have bought this.
In fact, as an experiment, I loaded World of Warcraft. To my amazement it runs perfectly !
If from time to time you need a large screen and a complete keyboard (very good keyboard for it's size) go out and buy them as extras.
I'm giving 9/10 because nothing is perfect.
In fact, as an experiment, I loaded World of Warcraft. To my amazement it runs perfectly !
If from time to time you need a large screen and a complete keyboard (very good keyboard for it's size) go out and buy them as extras.
I'm giving 9/10 because nothing is perfect.
Updated
After having read some reviews, I get the impression that people misunderstand what selling is : I went to the Dell website, read the specs for this computer, decided that it was for me, bought it and found that I got what I paid for (if not more). What more is required ?
Okay, I agree that Dell should have given it to me free, with a few dancing girls and a free subscription to Playboy for the rest of my life. In fact I shouldn't have given 9/10 just 1/10, because I didn't get the extras. And Michael Dell didn't send me a personal letter of thanks. What is the world coming to.
After having read some reviews, I get the impression that people misunderstand what selling is : I went to the Dell website, read the specs for this computer, decided that it was for me, bought it and found that I got what I paid for (if not more). What more is required ?
Okay, I agree that Dell should have given it to me free, with a few dancing girls and a free subscription to Playboy for the rest of my life. In fact I shouldn't have given 9/10 just 1/10, because I didn't get the extras. And Michael Dell didn't send me a personal letter of thanks. What is the world coming to.
User Rating: 9/10
Small, fast, and everything works
Pros: Long battery life, full featured
Cons: no available dock
Review: Bought this to replace a Dell C400, 3.5 years old with no major problems and lots of use. The X1 is lighter and the extended battery lasts around 4 hours, including an hour of DVD-watching. Keyboard is really confortable. The USB 2.0 OTG/high speed is strong and reliable, a big worry because that and heat were the main problems with the C400. Good graphics support for a small box, screen is bright and easy to read. Fast enough with 500MB memory. Since it was new some Dell people were not very familiar with it. Wish it came with a docking mechanism, but power and speed were my top 2 criteria, and I plugged the one (1!) high speed USB port into a high speed hub, and all drivers, etc worked flawlessly. I had it up and running from the old machine in under a week!
User Rating: 9/10
Great machine for anyone desiring convenience..
Pros: Size, screen, quiet (fanless), bluetooth, WiFi reception
Cons: 2 1/2 hour battery life with standard battery.
Review: After many attempts to find the right laptop, I settled on this one. I am very happy. The processor is plenty fast and surfing the web is very quick. The fanless design is wonderful. I can sit in the living room and be with the family and have the X1 on my lap. It is easy to type on and I do not find the keyboard too small. The WiFi reception is superior to anything else I have used and the bluetooth is easy to configure and connects every time. I did purchase the extended battery, and though I have yet to run it all the way down, the power meter tells me that at 53% charged I still have 2H 45M left to go. I can't say enough good things about this unit.
User Rating: 8/10
Hot workhorse
Pros: Size, weight, design, Dell
Cons: Runs pretty hot when working, batterytime, no docking
Review: For two years the Dell D600 has been my best friend in the electronic work. No PC or laptop has made my work - or private - computing easier.
But those days are over. My D600 are in a bag. Probably mad at me - but I am the very happy owner of the X1 now.
The big difference between D600 and X1 is SIZE. It really is small. And it can be a little hard in the beginning to get used to it.
Actually I had like half a day of doubt - was it really my size? Was it not just a little too small?
But now - a few days after out first meeting - the X1 is just what I have been dreaming about.
It performs just as quick and good as my D600 does. It is also faster because I have the highest amount of RAM installed.
The keyboard is excellent. I have average hands (sizewise) and the keyboard fits just fine. It acts quickly and has a feelings of high quality.
The pad takes a little adjustment before it works perfectly. The settings from the factory is not very good, so the pad does not react very fast. But just adjust it and then the pad is fine. The two buttons under the pad are not the best, I have seen. A little too much plastic for my taste.
The rest of X1 is designwise and materialwise just great. I like the grey colour and the Dell touch.
I have bought the extra large batterypack. And U should too. Because the standard - as well as the extra large - are not performing a whole working day.
Actually I only pushed three-four hours out of the big battery. But again - I used W-LAN and full power on the light in the display.
I am not so happy about the fact that X1 is not able to dock. Thats a big NO NO. D600 does and I love it. I hate to put all the cables into the notebook every morning at work.
As other users have noticed this notebook really gets hot. After 10 hours of work U can fry an egg on the bottom. But X1 keeps working at full speed and do not seem to be influenzed by the heat. The only problem is when U have to work with X1 in your sofa on your lab. Mind your skin - it gets HOT!
However - all in all X1 is a blast. And the cons are less than the big pros. I know that both my bike and my back are happy, that we do not have to drag the D600 on our back anymore. Actually I bought a smaller bag - do not need so much more space anymore.
But those days are over. My D600 are in a bag. Probably mad at me - but I am the very happy owner of the X1 now.
The big difference between D600 and X1 is SIZE. It really is small. And it can be a little hard in the beginning to get used to it.
Actually I had like half a day of doubt - was it really my size? Was it not just a little too small?
But now - a few days after out first meeting - the X1 is just what I have been dreaming about.
It performs just as quick and good as my D600 does. It is also faster because I have the highest amount of RAM installed.
The keyboard is excellent. I have average hands (sizewise) and the keyboard fits just fine. It acts quickly and has a feelings of high quality.
The pad takes a little adjustment before it works perfectly. The settings from the factory is not very good, so the pad does not react very fast. But just adjust it and then the pad is fine. The two buttons under the pad are not the best, I have seen. A little too much plastic for my taste.
The rest of X1 is designwise and materialwise just great. I like the grey colour and the Dell touch.
I have bought the extra large batterypack. And U should too. Because the standard - as well as the extra large - are not performing a whole working day.
Actually I only pushed three-four hours out of the big battery. But again - I used W-LAN and full power on the light in the display.
I am not so happy about the fact that X1 is not able to dock. Thats a big NO NO. D600 does and I love it. I hate to put all the cables into the notebook every morning at work.
As other users have noticed this notebook really gets hot. After 10 hours of work U can fry an egg on the bottom. But X1 keeps working at full speed and do not seem to be influenzed by the heat. The only problem is when U have to work with X1 in your sofa on your lab. Mind your skin - it gets HOT!
However - all in all X1 is a blast. And the cons are less than the big pros. I know that both my bike and my back are happy, that we do not have to drag the D600 on our back anymore. Actually I bought a smaller bag - do not need so much more space anymore.
User Rating: 9/10
A REVIEW FROM AN ACTUAL OWNER!!!!
Pros: Small and light --- great screen and built in feature --- the keyboard it large enough for long term typing --- fast enough for any non gaming user.
Cons: Short battery life (with 3 cell battery)
Review: First off: This review is written by someone who OWNS this computer, not by a nerd who spends his or her time ripping into things just because it's 4am, they can?t sleep, and they hate there life. Furthermore, computer selection is a personal thing. No one computer will be right for everyone, especially in the ultra compact market. But if you're tired of lugging around a monster computer when really all you need is a perfect compact laptop then the X1 is right for you.
The way technology is going you don't need a top of the line computer to run almost all applications. I am not a gamer and find it funny that people invest $3000+ dollars on computers that gets used for gaming. If you like videogames then get an xbox. If you need a computer for work and school then you don't need to get the latest video card or processor.
The 1.1 M processor has really impressed me. When I bought this computer I was worried that I was downgrading from a 1.6 Pentium 4 Sony, but all in all I think the X1 is faster. I opted to not buy the larger HD or extra ram because I am planning on upgrading the ram myself and using an external drive for at home storage that won't be needed on the road.
This is my first Dell and I am very impressed with the quality. The laptop feels really solid (not cheep like so many people say). The screen is nice and bright and the resolution makes it so there is lots of useable space. The keyboard is not small at all in my mind. Some laptops make important buttons (like tab and comma keys) ultra small for some reason. This is not the case with the X1 and I know I will have no problem writing for hours on this computer. But please note that I do not have monster hands.
The battery life isn't great. I stayed with the 3 cell battery because I didn't have extra cash to put into the machine right away. The six cell battery does bulge out the back of the machine but I have not tried it and don't really wish to comment about it.
One last thing I wish to talk about is the fact that Dell licensed the design of the X1 from Samsung. From the pictures I've seen the Samsung machine is far sexier with blue lights everywhere and a strong metal case. Some people have ******* about this calling Dell a bunch of silly names. Again I don't understand why people feel this is such a problem Dell has licensed the design to a great looking machine and has made it cost effective enough for the masses to buy. Plus, the Samsung model is not available in North America and costs over $1000 more for a very similar product.
I can say that if you?re in the market for an Ultra compact computer then this is a great option for you. It has all the most important features built into a strong and sleek little package. Plus for just $170 (CAN) I have a warranty that will protect my investment for the entire time I expect to be using the computer even from drops and spills.
Enjoy your purchase!
The way technology is going you don't need a top of the line computer to run almost all applications. I am not a gamer and find it funny that people invest $3000+ dollars on computers that gets used for gaming. If you like videogames then get an xbox. If you need a computer for work and school then you don't need to get the latest video card or processor.
The 1.1 M processor has really impressed me. When I bought this computer I was worried that I was downgrading from a 1.6 Pentium 4 Sony, but all in all I think the X1 is faster. I opted to not buy the larger HD or extra ram because I am planning on upgrading the ram myself and using an external drive for at home storage that won't be needed on the road.
This is my first Dell and I am very impressed with the quality. The laptop feels really solid (not cheep like so many people say). The screen is nice and bright and the resolution makes it so there is lots of useable space. The keyboard is not small at all in my mind. Some laptops make important buttons (like tab and comma keys) ultra small for some reason. This is not the case with the X1 and I know I will have no problem writing for hours on this computer. But please note that I do not have monster hands.
The battery life isn't great. I stayed with the 3 cell battery because I didn't have extra cash to put into the machine right away. The six cell battery does bulge out the back of the machine but I have not tried it and don't really wish to comment about it.
One last thing I wish to talk about is the fact that Dell licensed the design of the X1 from Samsung. From the pictures I've seen the Samsung machine is far sexier with blue lights everywhere and a strong metal case. Some people have ******* about this calling Dell a bunch of silly names. Again I don't understand why people feel this is such a problem Dell has licensed the design to a great looking machine and has made it cost effective enough for the masses to buy. Plus, the Samsung model is not available in North America and costs over $1000 more for a very similar product.
I can say that if you?re in the market for an Ultra compact computer then this is a great option for you. It has all the most important features built into a strong and sleek little package. Plus for just $170 (CAN) I have a warranty that will protect my investment for the entire time I expect to be using the computer even from drops and spills.
Enjoy your purchase!
User Rating: 9/10
Can we skip the opinions of non-owners and users?
Pros: Solid, fast, great keyboard, great screen.
Cons: Too many people who have never even seen it lobbing idiotic, uniformed criticism. Get a life. The optical drive being separate is the only possible criticism I can see at this point.
Review: This is a superb machine. I've had a love/hate relationship with Dell over the years, and in my role at our company, I've had 8 laptops (I use them and pass them along to employees every six months.) Finally, I've got one I want to keep. I'm sorry for those people who think they're going to use it as some sort of multimedia powerhouse, but that's not what it's for. It's for those of us who travel on business but can't leave our work behind and don't want to haul around an 8 pounder. I had a D610 for about 4 weeks and the minute the X1 came out, I passed the 610 to a colleague who liked it, and I couldn't be happier about the switch. Check this machine out before you look at any other ultraportable. Good Luck!
User Rating: 9/10
Super Portable, Super Cool
Pros: Integrated Wifi, Bluetooth, SD card slot, CF card slot, Wide Screen, Super Light, Long Battery Life
Cons: Touchpad takes some getting used to
Review: I recently upgraded from the X300 to the X1 and I love it. The X1 is smaller, lighter and faster. I've been using it for about 2 weeks and I love it. The battery life is great. The screen is very nice. I watched 2 hours of Divx encoded video at full screen while waiting for a flight and still had plenty of battery-life left. Haven't installed any games yet, but then that's not the reason you buy this laptop.
I have only one minor complaint. The touchpad buttons are closer to the touchpad than in the X300 and it is taking some getting used to.
I have only one minor complaint. The touchpad buttons are closer to the touchpad than in the X300 and it is taking some getting used to.
User Rating: 10/10
I love to play Mafia on the plane! - pathetic American tech-brand
Pros: Silent, good for older games, future-proof
Cons: It's from Dell
Review: People here and everywhere claim that notebooks with integrated graphics are no good for games - this is only true for the latest stuff such as halflife2 or farcry.
Older games run perfectly smooth on Intel's GMA 900, which was built into this notebook.
Furthermore, the graphics-adaptor is future-proof since it's compatible to directX9 required by Longhorn.
Another good thing about the item is that it won't be upgraded in in its basic definitions, cos its thermal design, as pünkröck calls it, is perfectly well-balanced. So the x1 Dell is offering will most probably only become cheaper over time, but not better(I always hate to see my precious notebook lose out to a pseudo-successor with minimal updates (e.g. new graphics, higer cpu-speed) - this will not be the case with the x1, cos according to one of Dell's product managers, they first wanted to implement the 1,2 ulv cpu, but couldn't because of too much heat in the fanless system. And for graphics, there simply is no alternative.
This makes the machine a technically-mature product and simply perfect for me. Except that I don't like Dell since it's stands for poor american engineering (comparable to the car industry). But it's based on Samsung's designs, so no real need to worry.
Older games run perfectly smooth on Intel's GMA 900, which was built into this notebook.
Furthermore, the graphics-adaptor is future-proof since it's compatible to directX9 required by Longhorn.
Another good thing about the item is that it won't be upgraded in in its basic definitions, cos its thermal design, as pünkröck calls it, is perfectly well-balanced. So the x1 Dell is offering will most probably only become cheaper over time, but not better(I always hate to see my precious notebook lose out to a pseudo-successor with minimal updates (e.g. new graphics, higer cpu-speed) - this will not be the case with the x1, cos according to one of Dell's product managers, they first wanted to implement the 1,2 ulv cpu, but couldn't because of too much heat in the fanless system. And for graphics, there simply is no alternative.
This makes the machine a technically-mature product and simply perfect for me. Except that I don't like Dell since it's stands for poor american engineering (comparable to the car industry). But it's based on Samsung's designs, so no real need to worry.
User Rating: 9/10
Diminutive form-factor with a great thermal design and a big keyboard clad in ugly shades of grey
Pros: Fanless, affordable, big keyboard, Korean engineering, being taken serious by business people
Cons: The lack of an express-card slot might hurt some users sometime in the future, Dull colors (why not black?), Dell's a dull (sorry), conservative, boring brand
Review: I need a laptop for the library where I like it to be quiet. For many years, I was a convinced IBM Thinkpad user - then, when I read about the Q30's design, I wished I could afford to switch to Samsung (being located in Germany means that dealers ask for $5200 for this miracle of Korean engineering).
When I was thinking about a fanless system, the fan in my T42 suddenly began to sound awfully loud.
Then Dell brought out their version of the Q30 (one year ago, they did the same thing with the Q25, so there's no need to become hysteric) and I ordered one without having to get a second job cause it'll cost me a mere 2000 bucks.
Please note, people: the small 1,8" harddisk, the external second spindle and the slow cpu are all concessions the engineers had to make for a thermal design that works without moving parts! If you don't understand that, no wonder many of your complaints are misplaced.
The second great thing about this notebook is the almost normal size of the keyboard - in a small and incredibly lightweight form-factor.
Since I don't care much about colors or fanciness of a brand (contrary to "vladinecko", I am not interested in making love to an item), I have only one small complaint: There is no express-card slot, which might be a problem as soon as hdtv-dv or other data-intensive technologies become more important. But then again, I'll be using my desktop for that stuff anyway.
Since it seems to be inportant for many, one more word about the difference of the outward design between the Q30 and the X1: Dell markets their notebook as a business item. Samsung, by contrast, targets fashion victims with rich daddies (at least in my country).
Dell knows that buyers of the X1 are boring, calculating business guys clad in grey. For this group, the colors of an item can't be boring enough. I'll put a red sticker over the Dell logo on mine as soon as it arrives -my mom told me red and grey make a great contrast
When I was thinking about a fanless system, the fan in my T42 suddenly began to sound awfully loud.
Then Dell brought out their version of the Q30 (one year ago, they did the same thing with the Q25, so there's no need to become hysteric) and I ordered one without having to get a second job cause it'll cost me a mere 2000 bucks.
Please note, people: the small 1,8" harddisk, the external second spindle and the slow cpu are all concessions the engineers had to make for a thermal design that works without moving parts! If you don't understand that, no wonder many of your complaints are misplaced.
The second great thing about this notebook is the almost normal size of the keyboard - in a small and incredibly lightweight form-factor.
Since I don't care much about colors or fanciness of a brand (contrary to "vladinecko", I am not interested in making love to an item), I have only one small complaint: There is no express-card slot, which might be a problem as soon as hdtv-dv or other data-intensive technologies become more important. But then again, I'll be using my desktop for that stuff anyway.
Since it seems to be inportant for many, one more word about the difference of the outward design between the Q30 and the X1: Dell markets their notebook as a business item. Samsung, by contrast, targets fashion victims with rich daddies (at least in my country).
Dell knows that buyers of the X1 are boring, calculating business guys clad in grey. For this group, the colors of an item can't be boring enough. I'll put a red sticker over the Dell logo on mine as soon as it arrives -my mom told me red and grey make a great contrast
User Rating: 9/10
My future toy
Pros: WXGA monitor, small, light, silent
Cons: Like all ultraportables, it's not cheap
Review: sorenmd, I know that this laptop is based on Q30 like the X300 was based on the Q20 and the X200 on the Q10. But so what? You claim that it's got old technology, but when I checked, the Q30 had a Intel 855GME chipset, not the brand spankin' new i915 used in the Latitude X1.
haragr: X1 and Q30 have the same body. It's the Dell Inspiron series that are known for their rather poor quality, not the Latitudes.
nikeswooshguy: You have to admit that 1280 pixels horizontally is quite a benefit over the X300.
enderend: *sigh*
I'm looking forward to recieving my X1 in a few days, knowing that I'll have a small, silent (fanless), well-performing and not half bad looking ultraportable computer.
It won't fall apart like a VAIO, and It'll have one more mouse button than any MAC will ever have. That's just worth the money.
haragr: X1 and Q30 have the same body. It's the Dell Inspiron series that are known for their rather poor quality, not the Latitudes.
nikeswooshguy: You have to admit that 1280 pixels horizontally is quite a benefit over the X300.
enderend: *sigh*
I'm looking forward to recieving my X1 in a few days, knowing that I'll have a small, silent (fanless), well-performing and not half bad looking ultraportable computer.
It won't fall apart like a VAIO, and It'll have one more mouse button than any MAC will ever have. That's just worth the money.
User Rating: 
3/10
Am I the only one who knows that this is really a SAMSUNG?!
Pros: Its not a real DELL so it might last more than 2 weeks.
Cons: DELL just bought the licensing rights to put their name on the SAMSUNG Q30, and tried to pass it off as a DELL
Review: I have to give this 3 just because DELL is trying to pull another "fast one" on the consumer market. All DELL did was buy the rights to put their name on the SAMSUNG Q30 and sell it as their laptop. Real slick. How do you get around DELL's horrible reliability and cheap materials? Simple, BUY SOMEONE ELSES technology! If you don't believe me, just click this link:
http://www.dynamism.com/q30/index.shtml
More Pictures
http://www.dynamism.com/q30/gallery.shtml
And this laptop has been out for quite a while, so the technology is older than you might think. I laugh at you DELL.
http://www.dynamism.com/q30/index.shtml
More Pictures
http://www.dynamism.com/q30/gallery.shtml
And this laptop has been out for quite a while, so the technology is older than you might think. I laugh at you DELL.
User Rating: 7/10
An unneeded trade-off from the latitude X300
Pros: Thin, light, low power chip, wide screen
Cons: Not as thin as X300, more expensive, low capacity battery, seems weak
Review: So you have the X300, an established, ultra thin, .8 inch, 12.1 screen with 1.4 ghz pentium M technology at 2.8 lbs. Now chop of .3 lbs, add .2 inches, drop the chip to an "Ultra Low Voltage" pentium at 1.1 Ghz, and add a wide screen, you have the X1.
While a wide screen is a plus, the screen, like most ultra portables, is only 12.1 inches, wide-screen really won't make much of a difference.
Additionally I see the chip as a weak point. 1.1 ghz might be fine for basic Word, Internet Explorer and PowerPoint, but I could easily see that slowing down basic Windows XP functions. And for those .3 fewer pounds, you get a puny capacity battery. Unless that ULV chip really conserves power, your ultra portable may not get more than 2 hours of battery life.
My advice: Think twice about any ultraportable. A 12.1 inch screen can be uncomfortable for many, and the reduced size means a less powerful chip for a smaller battery, which usually translates into just average battery life. Also options can be very expensive.
If you want to get an ultra-portable, I certainly hope that an additional .3 pounds won't bother you seeing that in a sleeker package, the Dell X300. You'll get a slimmer unit, with more power, larger screen area for less. Now what could be better than that?
While a wide screen is a plus, the screen, like most ultra portables, is only 12.1 inches, wide-screen really won't make much of a difference.
Additionally I see the chip as a weak point. 1.1 ghz might be fine for basic Word, Internet Explorer and PowerPoint, but I could easily see that slowing down basic Windows XP functions. And for those .3 fewer pounds, you get a puny capacity battery. Unless that ULV chip really conserves power, your ultra portable may not get more than 2 hours of battery life.
My advice: Think twice about any ultraportable. A 12.1 inch screen can be uncomfortable for many, and the reduced size means a less powerful chip for a smaller battery, which usually translates into just average battery life. Also options can be very expensive.
If you want to get an ultra-portable, I certainly hope that an additional .3 pounds won't bother you seeing that in a sleeker package, the Dell X300. You'll get a slimmer unit, with more power, larger screen area for less. Now what could be better than that?
User Rating: 8/10
Easy to travel with
Pros: Good screen, touchpad
Cons: Lack optical drive?
Review: Enough already! Stop bashing that great laptop. Very few sub-notebooks presently have an integrated optical reader. I only found one model that does. Hopefully the next generation will have it for the same weight. It will keep engineers around the world awake at night just trying to find a way to do it. I personally don?t want to carry around an optical drive if I don?t use it. I use portables to write and not to view movies on a plane or on a train. It?s a distraction I can do without.
I find the Dell X1 a better design than Sony?s X505. The 12 inch screen size is just the right size to write. Anything below that is too small to work efficiently. And it has a touchpad to help you move around and do your work. It?s not everywhere that you can use a mouse. I take a commuter train everyday. I don?t recommend that you use your neighbour?s space to use your mouse.
I want one!
I find the Dell X1 a better design than Sony?s X505. The 12 inch screen size is just the right size to write. Anything below that is too small to work efficiently. And it has a touchpad to help you move around and do your work. It?s not everywhere that you can use a mouse. I take a commuter train everyday. I don?t recommend that you use your neighbour?s space to use your mouse.
I want one!
User Rating: 10/10
since the post comment doesn't work i have to write an opinion
Pros: looks nice and small, wxga
Cons: neve seen one
Review: I was trying to write a comment for the rest of the reviews but the link doesn't work. Anyways, I can't see how people can write such useless, lame reviews. Why would someone complain about not having a built in optical drive when that's one of the features of the laptop that you don't have to carry it around all the time when you don't need it. It's like buying a Toyota Prius and complaining about the lack of towing capacity. I think people should either write something useful or not write at all. And the asus dealer guy should stay away from this site as well.
User Rating: 2/10
Not worth your money
Pros: Small, light
Cons: Too expensive
Review: The Asus S5N is better configured, cheaper, and it includes free external DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, free carrying bag, and free wireless mouse. It only costs $1599 and you can find it for $1450 at some retailers. Also, the optional 9 cell battery lets you use the computer for 8.5 hours.
User Rating: 2/10
They must be kidding!
Pros: Sets a good example of what a laptop should NOT be
Cons: Ugly, Missing important features, so so performance, Ugly, Ugly, Ugly!
Review: Whoever called this laptop "sexy" has some twised sense of what's sexy. Apple PowerBook or iPod, Sony Vaio Z Series, or BMW M5 2006, that's sexy!! Not this boxed motherboard+cpu combo from DELL! Most of ugly laptops are at least exceptionally outstanding in some areas like features, performance, or price. This laptop, however, lacks it all or doesn't even come up to already established standards. DELL desktops are alright, nothing impressive but the price. The laptops though are simply unattractive-looking, with only average performance, horrible usability and absolutely no inovation. Both thumbs down!
User Rating: 3/10
Are you kidding?
Pros: Good feature set
Cons: No Optical Drive!
Review: Are you kidding me? No optical drive. Doesn't seem so portable when you have a to lug around a external DVD/CDR drive with it just to get some functionality. They would have to drop the price significantly to make this big hindrance seem acceptable.
