 | Home > Off Topic > ruggedised laptops (Dell E6420 XFR) |
 
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| couplands Member Since: 31 Aug 2011 Location: Peak District & Cornwall Posts: 1826   
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Don't have one, but I historically thought of Dell as slightly less robust than HP or other premium brands.
What do you use the Toughbook for, is it in the Defender or some other hazardous task..? Cheers Simon |
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6th Jul 2013 6:51am |
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| mrandmrsh Member Since: 31 May 2010 Location: Huddersfield Posts: 692 
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I have experience of Dell products. I am managing a small team and have bought spare units because more often than not one of them is not working. Buy HP and forget it is there, it is just a tool that you use, like a good spanner. Buy a Dell and be prepared for problems.
I have also found this with their printers. Others may have better experiences but this is my experience of having about 20 people using them. We use the non ruggedised version of the unit you are looking at. C 2015 110 USW XS in Santorini with premium contrast leather seats in tan/black, black headlining and with Dual Finish alloys (in the garage, now on Wolf rims with Goodyear MT/Rs) 2012 '62' 2.2 X-Tech 110 USW now gone ... 1984 90 soft top with full roll cage, 200 tdi engine etc now sold 2012 USW XS 2.2 "FUU" now gone.... |
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6th Jul 2013 7:20am |
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| bpman Member Since: 21 May 2008 Location: Oslo Posts: 8069 
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thanks guys. I pretty much agree with you both, the toughbook is mainly used for travel and navigation. Nothing wrong with the old CF18 but I'd like to use photoshop and Nikon NX2 software, this will not run very quickly on the CF18.
I have an HP nc6320 too, but it's over due replacement, so consolidate both laptops onto one ? I will have another look at the toughbook range, maybe there's a ruggedised i7 one |
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6th Jul 2013 8:15am |
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| couplands Member Since: 31 Aug 2011 Location: Peak District & Cornwall Posts: 1826
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Might be worth getting a laptop with SSD, probably better (and faster) in a rugged environment.
I have an HP Spectre XT (not rugged, but very light and fast). cheers simon |
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6th Jul 2013 8:20am |
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| mrandmrsh Member Since: 31 May 2010 Location: Huddersfield Posts: 692
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SSD is a great idea, better battery life too.
C 2015 110 USW XS in Santorini with premium contrast leather seats in tan/black, black headlining and with Dual Finish alloys (in the garage, now on Wolf rims with Goodyear MT/Rs) 2012 '62' 2.2 X-Tech 110 USW now gone ... 1984 90 soft top with full roll cage, 200 tdi engine etc now sold 2012 USW XS 2.2 "FUU" now gone.... |
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6th Jul 2013 9:29am |
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| me@td5.org Member Since: 16 Jan 2011 Location: Warwick Posts: 856 
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The type faults with the E6410 and E6400, such as fragile screens and poor keyboards, don't seem to be a problem on the rugged XFR ones. Having an optional native Serial port is useful in the field (and if you have a 1st gen Nanocom)
I've a E6420 now which has a redesigned case but no experience of the new XFR version. We have a couple of thousand of these Dells in our field force and more Toughbooks. I'm not convinced about ruggedised devices, the cost doesn't always pay back when you could just replace 4 non rugged, similarly spec'd laptops for the same money. www.td5.org |
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6th Jul 2013 9:57am |
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| bpman Member Since: 21 May 2008 Location: Oslo Posts: 8069
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Simon - HP Spectre ..mmmmm but the i7 is only available in the USA
SSD ... great idea especially now they have found the way of resetting the memory using heat so it will last. I bought an ssd for the HP laptop, good quality, reasonable money but bought too early, the technology is about ready now. I was to run Oracle and SQL server 2008/12 and 14 when the CTP is released, so i7, 8gb or more and fast ethernet and rugged.... thanks m5@td5 ... good to hear some feedback, shame dell can't realistically rival toughbooks |
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6th Jul 2013 3:15pm |
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| TR51 Member Since: 17 Apr 2012 Location: Dorset UK Posts: 333  
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One brand that I'd never really heard of is Lenovo, but having now seen them in use offshore and recently bought one for myself, I would definately recommend them... Its taken a load of abuse and still not only works without fault but looks like new!
Have a look at this for one reason: (and as mentioned earlier, a SSD is worth it if your going to require complete ruggedness). |
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6th Jul 2013 3:36pm |
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| JR Member Since: 07 Dec 2012 Location: Auchtermuchty Posts: 532  
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I'm not much of an IT guy but Lenovo is IBM.
I've got a HP like that and I'm keeping liquids well and truly away from it having seen that clip!!! |
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6th Jul 2013 4:01pm |
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| Xcelsius Member Since: 19 Jun 2011 Location: Stowmarket Posts: 17
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I have used the Panasonic Toughbooks previously and my company has recently replaced mine with a Dell XFR. In my opinion, the Dells are way more rugged and compact, whereas the Dells are way ahead in performance and screen clarity. The Dell is pretty big and heavy, and it uses a fan based cooling system that sounds like a turbine engine when it kicks in. I prefer the Toughbooks passive cooling system. I dont get to choose, so Dells are likely to continue in my future as my company has now swapped to them as a whole business provider.
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7th Jul 2013 6:03am |
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| Nick-St Member Since: 23 Apr 2013 Location: Surrey Posts: 267 
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I have an E6420 XFR... Its an excellent laptop. There are plenty of deals to be had on refurbished ones - mine came from ITC Sales at a fraction of it's new price (it was an ex demo). Came with an i3 CPU / 4Gb RAM / 500Gb HDD, but I put an i5 / 8Gb / 256Gb SSD in it - lots of screws on the base, but all easy upgrades (and still <£1000 ex VAT all in).
As mentioned, it does sound loud when the fan kicks in. Mine has the squishy keyboard too - fully waterproof, but not great to type on and only available in the US layout. (Although that's easy enough to work with.) |
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9th Jul 2013 10:13am |
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| Sonarmender Member Since: 04 Apr 2013 Location: Guz Posts: 338  
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I have used Dell a lot at work, they are just as good as any other when they are working, which I have to say isn't very often but that is more down to the operating system than the actual hardware!.. I just fancy an Apple.
 You only have one life, live it....forget the cost.
90XS Hardtop |
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9th Jul 2013 7:56pm |
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| Nick-St Member Since: 23 Apr 2013 Location: Surrey Posts: 267
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iTunes regularly decides not to play anymore on my Mac Mini...  |
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9th Jul 2013 9:16pm |
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