Shane McGlaun03 April 2009, 12:00 PM
Now with travel budget-busting integrated video conferencing software and all the sex appeal of Margaret Thatcher.
Business class notebooks may not be as sexy or slick as many of the machines aimed at the consumer market, but they often meet the needs of businesses and of the boss ordering laptops for an office full of workers.
Cubicle monkeys may prefer a sexy Dell Adamo to carry around with them on the road, but the reality is that in today's tough economy business are looking for functionality over style in many instances. And let's face it, even in the best of times, for some reason, IT people actually seem to positively discriminate in favour of the most boring, chunky and heavy devices possible. At least Dell is sneakily doing some interesting stuff with its latest business notebooks on the inside, if not the outside.
The updated line of Vostro laptops for small businesses now include complete video conferencing solutions ready to go right out of the box. The new models include the 13.3-inch Vostro 1320, the 15.4-inch Vostro 1520, and the 17-inch Vostro 1720. According to the Texas-based computer manufacturer, the new machines will be available in America starting today with wider availability in Europe, Middle East, and Africa on April 7. Other countries in Asia (including Australia presumably) will get the new line of notebooks in May.
Above: Dell Vostro 1320 Notebook -- all the sex appeal of Margaret Thatcher, and the ability to video-conference with her if you happen to be a personal friend!
Dell believes that the included video conferencing solution installed on the line of notebooks will make it easier and cheaper for companies with workers spread across the country to hold meetings and keep in touch without having to resort to traveling. The computer maker cites IDC data predicting that by the end of 2009 nearly 35% of small businesses will be using video conferencing of some sort -- research data that rings true as businesses slash costs whereever they can, including travel budgets.
The new systems have been built specifically to meet the needs of business users concerned with data security, with new security options available including solid-state drives (SSDs) with "worry free data protection", fingerprint readers, and encrypted hard drives with Wave systems software allowing for data encryption with claimed zero impact on system performance. (I have to wonder why Dell chose software encryption over simply going with any of the available bulk data encryption hard drives already on the market, though.)
The new Vostro line offers a break from the time honoured task of deleting crapware from your new computer by installing only the software specified by the buyer on the machine.
The LCD on the new machines also includes a Premium Panel Guarantee, promising zero bright dots on select systems during the limited warranty period. Starting prices for the new machines are low with the Vostro 1520 starting at $US569 ($788), the 1320 starting at $US629 ($871), and the 1720 starting at $US649 ($899) -- however, as always in the Australian tech industry, expect those prices to be 10-20% higher in Australia to account for difference in market size, local tax, etc.