Nikon P7000 Camera Battery Pack is high-quality replacement battery pack for Nikon Coolpix P7000 Batteries, guaranteed compatibility with all cameras that use the Nikon P7000 battery. The Nikon P7000 Camera Battery Pack is 100% compatible with Nikon P7000. Power rating of 7.4V, 1030mAh. It has a battery life of approximately 300-500 times 

Tags: Nikon Coolpix P7000 Battery

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Back in February I was invited along to Canon’s launch event for its “Spring Collection”, in which the company unveiled a range of new A-series and IXUS models, including this little beauty, the new Canon Digital IXUS 70 battery. This 7.1-megapixel model is replacing the IXUS 60 launched last year as the entry level model in Canon’s five-model Digital IXUS range.

Measuring just 85.9 x 53.5 x 19.4mm and weighing only 125g minus battery and card, the IXUS 70 is distinctly ultra-compact in style and usage. Its direct competition consists of high-fashion models such as the Casio Exilim EX-S770 (£160), the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W80 (£175), the Fuji FinePix Z5fd (£179), the new NIKON EN-EL8 battery (£179) and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30 (£234). The IXUS 70 costs around £179, so it’s on a par with most of its rivals, making that Panasonic look a little overpriced.

Measuring just 19.4mm thick, the Canon Digital IXUS 70 is the slimmest compact camera in Canon's extensive lineup. Inspired by the original IXUS model, the new Canon IXUS 70 offers a 7.1 megapixel sensor, 3x zoom lens equivalent to 35-105mm, and a 2.5 inch LCD screen. Canon's DIGIC III image processor, which is also used in the DSLR range, powers the Digital IXUS 70 battery behind the scenes, and also provides the camera's Face Detection and Noise Reduction technologies. There's also a new Red-Eye Correction feature on offer in Playback mode. There are a range of ISO speeds up to 1600 and a new ISO Auto Shift function to help avoid image blur whenever camera shake is predicted. So the retro-looking Canon Digital IXUS 70 has quite a lot of new tricks up its sleeve, but is it the perfect marriage of old and new? Read my review to find out.

Specifications / Features:

• 7.1 Megapixels CCD Sensor
• 3x optical zoom (35mm - 105mm equivalent)
• 4x Digital Zoom with Safety Zoom
• Compact, stylish design available in two designs: silver and black or silver
• DIGIC III Image Processor
• Face Detection AF/AE
• Red-eye correction
• 2.5" LCD, 230,000 pixels
• 17 shooting modes including My Colours
• ISO 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and High ISO Auto for flash-free indoor shooting
• 15 – 1/1500 sec (Shutter speeds of 1 sec. and more available in Long Shutter Mode only)
• Video at VGA, 30fps with sound - digital zoom available, Time Lapse Movie
• 3cm macro mode
• Supports SDHC memory cards

Box Contents:

• Digital Camera
• Wrist Strap
• Battery Pack
• Battery Charger
• USB Cable
• AV Cable
• Software CD Rom
• Full Manual on CD Rom
• Basic User Guide
• 32mb SD Memory Card

Starting with my three outdoor tests I can see that when it comes to focusing the IXUS 70 does a good job. Many cameras are able to focus well in the centre, but then the sharpness of the photo reduces as you move towards the edges. The IXUS 70 manages to retain most of the sharpness up to the edge. It does find focusing harder in the second shot where the lens is zoomed out and the scene becomes more distant.

Other points to note are a small amount of detail lost through sun glare in the first shot. Also in this shot some of the blue lines on the boats have a slight purple tinge.

Aside from the slight purple tinge colours are generally strong. They are not overpowering, but the IXUS 70 is capable of producing very vivid photos.

Last year marked the 10th anniversary of Canon's IXUS cameras. The line started with a film camera, though the company's IXUS line of digital compacts still carries the Digital IXUS moniker. Canon positions the Digital IXUS 70 as a replacement for last year's SONY NP-FS11 battery, which puts it below the new Digital IXUS 75 in the company's line.

The IXUS 70 has a standard feature set for a Canon compact camera, but this is by no means a bad thing. There are white balance presets as well as a custom mode and ISO sensitivities extending to ISO 1600. The burst mode performs about average, capturing shots at 2.4 frames per second. You can pick from a variety of colour and metering modes as well, but sadly there are only six scene modes for novice users. The best feature on this model is once again the face detect focus mode, which picks up any human faces in the shot and makes them the focus point. This is excellent for people who regularly take snaps of family and friends, as it ensures people always come out crisp and clear.

The white balance and metering systems in the canon eos-300d Battery produce warm and well-exposed shots. There is a slightly worrying tendency for image quality to fall off towards the edges of the frame however, with images softening and demonstrating noteworthy fringing, although this would only be an issue on prints that are above A4 in size. Noise is also noticeable at sensitivities above ISO 400, yet generally leaves detail intact.

The Canon Digital IXUS 70 is very compact with a stylish and smooth body available in two colours. The camera has a very good 2.5" screen. The camera feels sturdy and is comfortable to hold. The camera is fairly easy to use, thanks to the mode switch. There is a good layout of buttons and controls, although some of the options may take a little time to get familiar with. The camera speed is good, with a very good switch on time, rapid focusing time, quick shutter response, quick playback mode, quick menus, and excellent continuous shooting (without flash), although this becomes slightly sluggish when using the flash. The camera has a large range of features, plus a lot of imaging options, such as Vivid colour mode, Sharpness, Saturation, Contrast, Custom White Balance etc. Some people may appreciate the optical viewfinder, however I found it too small to be comfortable to use. Battery life is average to good for an ultra compact.

Tags: CANON-Digital-IXUS-70 Digital-IXUS-70 digital-camera canon camera

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• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T7400 (2.16 GHz/4MB L2 Cache)
• OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Hard Drive: 100 GB SATA @ 5400RPM
• Screen: 15.4" WXGA BrightView Widescreen (1280 x 800)
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400, 128 MB Dedicated + 128 MB Shared
• RAM: 1GB DDR2 SDRAM @667 MHz (2 x 512MB)
• Optical Drive: Super Multi 8X DVD+/-RW w/Double Layer
• Battery: 6-cell lithium ion
• Wireless: Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11 a/b/g
• Weight: 6.09 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0” - 1.69” (H) x 14.05” (W) x 10.12” (D)

Tags: HP Pavilion DV6000T,Pavilion DV6000T

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Tags: HP Pavilion dv8000,Pavilion dv8000

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This is a replacement rechargeable Canon NB-5L battery for the Canon Powershot SD700 and Ixus 800. Since it is an original Canon product, compatibility and quality is guaranteed. The lithium-ion chemistry makes the battery free from memory effect, yielding approximately 240 shots (LCD on) and 700 shots (LCD off) on a single charge and 360 minute playback time.

This nb-5l battery is made specifically for your digital camera and to meet or exceed the original manufacturer specifications. Spare canon rechargeable Li-ion 3.7V 1150mAh capacity nb-5l battery pack. With a fully charged battery pack nb-5l, you will never miss the important snap moment when you're just about to capture the perfect moment! Best choice to get extra power for your digital camera. Our digital camera battery for canon nb-5l provide a full 1 year warranty and 30 days refund! Why go somewhere else and pay more? Get the quality and reliability that you need at the fraction of the OEM cost.

Specifications:
Product Type : Li-ion
Volt: 3.7V
Capacity: 1150mAh
Color : Grey
Dimension : 50.8 x 25.4 x 12.7
Net Weight : 27.5(g)
Battery Code : Canon NB-5L
Condition: Brand New with 1 Year Warranty!


Feature:
* CELL From JAPAN
* High Capacity of 1150mAh (The Highest in the Market)
* No Memory Effect, you don't have to fully drain it to recharge  
* Lithium - Ion rechargeable battery
* 100% Compatible with your camera

Tags: Canon NB-5L,NB-5L,digital camera battery

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Sony VGP-BPS9 laptop battery is a high quality rechargeable replacement battery which can 100% compatible with the OEM VGP-BPS9 battery which can works with a lot of sony notebook laptop computer. sony VGP-BPS9 battery are warranted for a full year to ensure your complete satisfaction.

This sony VGP-BPS9 laptop battery has passed strict quality assurance procedures to achieve international standards such as CE, UL Listed.Brand new, never refurbished, 100% compatible, No memory effect.Brand New Replacement VGP-BPS9 Battery for Sony Vaio VGN-SZ55, VGN-NR12H, VGN-CR11H, VGN-CR13, VGN-CR15, VGN-CR21, VGN-AR48C, VGN-SZ54, VGN-SZ65, VGN-SZ56, VGN-SZ561N, VGN-SZ562N, VGN-SZ57N, VGN-SZ58N, VGN-SZ64, VGN-CR23 Laptop Battery.

This special Sony VGP-BPS9 Laptop Battery are made from the finest cells and parts.and Lithium-Ion Sony VGP-BPS9 Battery are longer lived than conventional batteries and do not require replacement as often. There is no battery memory effect with a lithium-ion battery -you can charge the battery whenever you like without fear of reducing its charge capacity. Moreover, you do not need to drain a lithium-ion battery completely before recharging it. This battery allows you to work for longer periods without having to connect your handheld to a power outlet.

Sony VGP-BPS9 replacement laptop battery is designed to meet or exceed the original VGP-BPS9 battery in quality, durability, and performance. Comes with a one year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Specifications:

• Type: li-ion
• Color: Black
• Dimension: 195.00 x 105.00 x 135.00 mm
• Capacity: 4800mAh
• Net Weight: 500 g
• Volt: 11.1 V
• Condition: Brand new with one year warranty

Tags: Sony_VGP-BPS9 VGP-BPS9

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It was Canon's "XL" range of so-called pro-sumer DV camcorders that had managed to steal the thunder from Sony's market-opening DCR-VX1000 and VX2000 series 3CCD camcorders, but as Sony forged ahead with new professional-standard kit like the HDR-PD170 DVCAM model it was clear that Canon had to do something to win over new and upgrading clients. The XL2 fitted the bill, and thanks to Canon's lending us the first UK review sample soon after launch, freelance BBCTV director/cameraman Robin Davies-Rollinson took on the job of providing our first in-depth insight into the XL2. Here's his review.

First Impressions

Having used neither a Canon XL1 nor its later XL1S variant before, my knowledge of the model was limited to whatever I had gleaned from the SimplyDV forums and others. I'd seen them on display in the more enlightened camera retailers and on one occasion I was even lucky enough to hold one! That was when I was in the market for a digital camcorder to take over from my old Sony Hi-8. I ended up buying the Canon XM2 battery - basically because it was less expensive and also because I'd read that the difference in picture quality between the two cameras was not that great.

In my day job working for BBC TV (among others) as a drama director / cameraman, my usual camera is a Sony DVW-790 - the ubiquitous Digital Betacam - which has set a standard for broadcast video. Very often, for inserts into non-drama programming, we'll use a DVCAM format camcorder, often the Sony DSR-570. High Definition (HD) is, of course, on the horizon, but we're still going to see a lot of Standard Definition (SD) footage on our screens for quite a while yet.

After more than a year of speculation, during which time we have seen much debate about whether or not the new camcorder (whatever it would be called) would have Progressive Scan, "true" 16:9 widescreen, High Definition, and so on, we were at last able to see and handle for ourselves the new Canon XL2. Immediately after the Europe launch at London's infamous Pinewood Studios, SimplyDV was fortunate enough to be offered the first review sample on condition that we would return it within only a few short days. In that all too short acquaintance, I'd found that the camera adapted well to my shooting style and needs - or had I adapted to the XL2? Whichever - let's just say that it was a pleasant symbiotic relationship. Perhaps not love at first sight, but a definite attraction and an appreciation that just grew and grew.

On the face of it, the differences between this and its predecessor aren't all that great; the basic body styling is the same (to the surprise of many). The main physical differences include the infamous (and, it would appear, much disliked) shoulder pad of the canon lp-e5 battery, which has now been replaced by a better-fitting one. More notably, the camera has now been given 2 XLR sockets at the rear, and the viewfinder assembly (with integral colour LCD monitor which is accessed by flipping up the viewfinder eyepiece) has now been shifted to make left-hand access to the lens zoom toggle easier. Other major additions and changes - and there are several exciting new functions - are electronic rather than physical. 

Features

The XL2's main selling point is in the package of features now offered by Canon as a means of staving off the competition. Its three CCDs each produce a resolution of 800,000 pixels (effective 410,000 in PAL 4:3 mode and 550,000 in PAL 16:9 mode) and facilitate what Canon describes as "true" 16:9 widescreen recording thanks to the allocation of more pixels at the left and right extremes of each CCD in the generation of the 16:9 images which aren't used in its 4:3 mode (more of that later).

In keeping with market expectations, the XL2 now delivers 50i (60i in NTSC) and 25p (24p/30p in NTSC) frame rates, a 20x "L-series" optical zoom with full Optical Image Stabilisation and the now-standard XL interchangeable lens system, with the Flourite component lens incorporating two independent Neutral Density (ND) filters. The XL2 not only offers full manual control over all settings, but it also provides a full range of professional audio and video connectivity in the form of 4 audio channels with 2 built-in XLR connectors, 48v Phantom Power and a very handy BNC composite video output. For set-up purposes, it also offers Colour Bars and Audio Tone line-up signals.

Just as notable is the provision of SMPTE time code, with Record Run (where the timecode advances only when the tape is running), Free Run (where the timecode runs continuously on a "time-of-day" basis if required - this is useful where synchronisation with other cameras is required) together with a range of user-definable preset settings, such as identing tape number using the "hours" digits, etc.

The XL2 can be connected to a laptop or desktop PC (Windows) for software control of the camcorder using supplied software. Using a FireWire cable, recordings can be made direct to the computer's hard drive, and it's also possible to copy settings from one camera and port them to another via the FireWire link (though the software was unavailable to us for review).

Handling

What's immediately noticeable about this camcorder is its distinctive shape. The XL2 battery is evidently a camcorder whose design is a compromise between a shoulder-mounted broadcast camera and a hold-it-in-front-of-your-face camcorder like Sony's DSR-PD170. Whilst Canon has included what purports to be a shoulder pad at the rear of the camera, its overall design means that the camera just wants to fall forward due to its centre of gravity. In practice, however, it's possible to get used to holding the camcorder in such a way that very long takes become possible with practice.

Of course, all our bodies are different, but I found that tucking my right elbow firmly into my side and keeping my forearm vertical provided a very stable and comfortable main support for the camera. Coupled with an excellent Optical Image Stabilizer, shots were surprisingly steady. What is noticeable is the positioning of the controls in addition to the number and range offered. White Balance and Gain controls have nice little knurled knobs that pop out when pressed. Shutter speeds and Iris controls are easily reachable with the left hand during recording and, when used on a good tripod, the XL2's operation is excellent, resembling as it does a traditional film camera in this configuration. In a change to the design of the XL1 and XL1S, Canon has now re-designed the viewfinder assembly to allow forwards and backwards movement in addition to lateral adjustment. This slightly raised position makes it easier for the operator to gain access to the zoom controls on the other side of the body.

Performance

Since I work in the broadcast sector, the main consideration for me is that a camera will provide good 16:9 ratio widescreen images, so I had high expectations for that feature. I was not disappointed. Those devotees searching for the Holy Grail of the "film look" will be ecstatic with 25p Progressive Scan (PAL, 24p on the NTSC version) and more control over the image than you can shake a stick at.

Undeterred by the fact that our review sample came with no user manual, I approached the camcorder's operation on the assumption that one camera is much like any other camera, and so I dived straight in and switched the camera on. One's first reaction is the put one's eye to the viewfinder only to notice how big and chunky it is, the reason being that it's actually two viewfinders in one. In its normal position it's a standard colour viewfinder with a nice big lens. However, by pushing a button on the base of the viewfinder, it's possible to swing the lens and eyepiece assembly up and open it out to reveal the 2" Colour TFT screen (resolution 200,000 pixels).

In what appears to be another halfway solution on Canon's part, the picture's fine in the ocular position, but a 2" screen? It's certainly not possible to perform any serious manual focusing on a screen that size though, of course, it couldn't be any bigger without compromising the ocular position. In practice, however, it's only what Digital Betacam operators have to do when shooting low angle shots, and usually on a wide angle. The solution is to flip the lens away and look straight at the screen in order to judge framing only.

It's when mounting the XL2 on a tripod that it really comes into its own. The best support I could offer in this respect was my Manfrotto 503 head, which is fine for my trusty canon XL2 camcorder battery, but I soon felt this camera needed something a little better, especially if we were take advantage of the 20:1 lens supplied with it. It was difficult to get really steady shots at the long end of the zoom. With a prior booking to shoot a local dance group's Summer Show as a favour to a sound-recordist colleague of mine, I used the occasion to put the camera straight to work.

The XM2 was relegated to a general covering shot of the performance area, whilst the XL2 was used to provide the main coverage. I found that my Canon Lanc zoom controller interfaced perfectly with the XL2, leaving my left hand free for focusing and exposure stop changes. The manual iris control, in the form of a little multi-function switch that rocks up and down and is depressed in order to access the wide range of menus, was surprisingly effective and I soon found myself modifying the exposure stops in vision. True, it still comes in a series of steps since it isn't the true mechanical motion to be found on interchangeable lenses, but with so much action on stage, it was actually possible to disguise the changes. The lighting was typical of stage lighting – lots of nice vibrant colours, but with hot spots throughout the scene.

At times, I was shooting at an aperture of f4, and at other times f2. Everything was shot without gain, except for some unlit audience cutaways at +12db. These were, of course, somewhat grainy though more than acceptable. The 2" TFT viewfinder continued to be a cause of concern and often made manual focusing difficult due to the limited resolution employed. However, later reviewing of the footage on a domestic widescreen television revealed a superb sharpness overall, with the amount of detail that the new CCDs can resolve in 16:9 being very impressive indeed. I really had to keep playing it over and over – even dragging my wife, bless her – to "look at the detail in those shots – even the wide shots.

Whenever the South Wales weather had cleared sufficiently to allow me to take the camera out for further tests, I was quick to take advantage. All the tests were shot in 16:9 widescreen mode, apart from one occasion when the subject was shot using the same set-up in both 4:3 and 16:9 in order to demonstrate how much more of the image is visible horizontally. The 16:9 mode will use more of the pixels available on the three CCDs. There is no cropping and stretching as with the XM2 and other similar camcorders, and what you see is what you get. Indeed, it's quite an eye-opener to view the 16:9 frame grabs from both the XM2 and the XL2 respectively. Frame Mode coupled with Cine Gamma certainly produces the intended cinematic feel, although it could be argued that this is a subjective judgment only; were we to ask a number of people what a so-called "cinematic look" actually is, it's clear that a wide and diverse range of answers would be obtained.

Sound

Due to the limited opportunity for thorough testing of all the XL2's functions, we had little time to perform subjective tests of its audio recording capability via the built-in MS system stereo electret capacitor microphone. However, on the face of it the onboard mic does a very good job, although it was only used as a means of supplying a guide track for the concert recording since the stage routines were performed to a pre-recorded playback track. It's mounted high enough and far enough away from the camera body to pick up any motor noise which, on the sample we were provided with, was not noticeable it should be noted.

Conclusion

The canon xl2 battery was with me for too short a period of time, and I was sorry that it had to be returned to Canon so soon after receiving it. In our short time together, I had come to appreciate the high quality of the images it produces. Even in its normal settings, it handles difficult contrast ranges with a kindness that I really didn't expect. I could easily imagine shooting a broadcast TV drama wqith the XL2 - even with the standard, fully automatic lens. Given the range of other lenses available, as well as the P+S Technik Mini35 adapter (which we tried at the camcorder's Pinewood launch), the capabilities of this camera are awesome. Whilst the jury is still out on the matter of whether the XL2 is yet capable of knocking the mighty Sony PD170 and Panasonic DVX100 off their pedestals, we have to speculate as to how long it will be before BBC Television starts issuing this camera to production staff in preference to both the DSR-PD150 and DSR-PD170. For me (as a working director / cameraman), it's not so much as the whether I can afford to buy an XL2, but can I afford not to? An excellent camcorder.

Tags: Canon DM-XL2,camera,DM-XL2

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The Canon DM XM2 has a slightly longer and slimmer body styling than its predecessors with increased access to its controls. The DM XM2 offers ClearScan, a utility used by many professional cameras to drop a computer screen into their shots without wild flickering. Other features include a 16.9 widescreen, internal microphone and a LCD screen that can be flipped to a frontal view as well as being able to slip back into its housing while displaying outwards. The Canon XM2 battery renders impressive images in any weather conditions, and features a media card slot for SD. The Canon DM XM2 is of professional standard with superb image quality, designed for the serious user, and has great functionality.

The XM2’s advanced technology delivers unrivalled image quality in its class
The XM2 improves on the market leading and successful XM1 in a number of key areas. It comprises of a brand new 1/4" 470,000-pixel 3CCD increasing image quality. Not forgetting a new manual control in picture adjustments and shooting adjustments even for professional users.



Technology
The XM2 includes a new high-sensitivity ¼” 470,000-pixel 3CCD for superb 540-line horizontal resolution and super low light performance. A new generation camera signalling processing LSI improves approximately 3dB in S/N ratio from the XM1. The result is an improvement in colour, low light performance, resolution and dynamic range.
Pixel shift

The XM2 is equipped with a pixel shift system that boosts both resolution and sensitivity and allows users to achieve superb picture quality results.

Picture adjustments
The following picture adjustments have been greatly improved in the XM2.
· Colour gain adjustments, colour phase adjustments, sharpness adjustment and black level can be adjusted to desired value and up to 1 type of preset registration is possible.
· Custom preset – after picture adjustments, settings can be stored as a custom
· Slow shutter speed – XM2 can be set to slow shutter speeds to 1/6 of a second
· Gain control – gain can now be increased up to a maximum of 18dB
· Frame movie mode – frame mode can make progressive shooting at 25 fps. Footage with 1/50 slower shutter is very similar to fine cinema.
· 16.9 guides – allows accurate 16.9 framing when shooting so that image can be cropped.
Improved sound

The XM2 supports a direction-accurate stereo microphone that includes two non-directional microphones to give more precise stereo reproduction. Users can choose three types of frequency characteristics for the built-in microphone: normal, voice and wide-screen mode.

Additionally, a 2-channel manual audio level control where input level can be adjusted by a special dial and L/R level can be set for 2 channels. Audio-level meter with right-and-left independent 24-segment peak holder and the audio-level meter can be displayed in LCD and EVF.

An optional MA -300 microphone adapter allows the simultaneous recording of 2 independent channels from microphones with XLR connections. A BNC picture Out Terminal is also present.

PC connectivity
The XM2 is equipped with a DV terminal for non-linear editing. By using a USB terminal, transmission of still images from a JPEG file to a PC is easy.

A fully featured 3CCD camcorder, delivering vibrant colour reproduction and clean video. Looks more professional than Sony or Panasonic machines, but doesn't outperform them.

The canon XM2 battery carries an almost identical chassis to its predecessor, the XM1. But this model addresses two of the most common complaints regarding the XM1 by introducing manual audio controls and analog video inputs.

The machine sports three CCDs, designed to provide brilliant colour reproduction and high levels of detail. It also has well-placed, accessible manual controls, and a comfortable zoom ring.

Conclusion

The XM2 is a major improvement over the XM1 with the added bonus of manual audio controls and solid-state memory card capabilities for stills.

The lens produces excellent detail - helped by the optical image stabiliser - and feels good when focusing, although it does need end-stops. We'd like to see an iris ring, rather than an exposure dial, but using the dial isnít a big problem. Although the LCD screen is too small for serious monitoring, the colour viewfinder is good, and nearly compensates.

Having analogue in/outputs, FireWire and USB means there's good connectivity, plus there's effective analogue-DV-analogue pass-through. We were impressed with the stereo audio quality from the onboard microphone, and felt that the controls over the gain, sharpness, phase and black levels of the picture are professional features worth having.

But, from the samples we've seen, we can't recommend the XM2 battery over Sony's TRV950. The Canon may have better audio, but colour reproduction is far less natural than that from the Sony, which also offers better still images (plus a built-in flash), and costs slightly less.

Tags: Canon_XM2 XM2 Camcorder

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The Dell Latitude D630 includes most of the ports and connections we'd expect on a thin-and-light, plus a few extras. Though it lacks S-video-out and a multiformat card reader (neither of which is essential to business), the Latitude D630 does add one more USB port than average, plus a serial port for use with older, specialized peripherals. In addition, the Latitude D630 piles on corporate-level security measures, including not only a fingerprint reader but also a smart card slot and an internal Trusted Platform Module. Another feature of note is the Latitude D630's Wi-Fi On/Off switch, which incorporates a Wi-Fi finder. Sliding the switch past the On position lets you test for nearby Wi-Fi networks, whether you're booted up or powered down--you don't even have to turn your system on to find a network.

The $1,913 Dell Latitude D630 we tested was built on Intel's hot-off-the-presses Centrino Duo platform. It also runs Windows XP, the better to help enterprise users who haven't yet made the switch to Vista (though Windows Vista Business is available at no extra cost). We certainly have no complaints about its performance. On CNET Labs' application benchmarks, the Latitude D630 showed modest gains over a Lenovo 3000 V100 running Windows Vista Business on Intel's previous-generation Centrino platform, and the Dell vied for dominance with a similarly configured (though Vista-based) Lenovo ThinkPad T61. Most notably for business users, the Latitude D630 battery bested its competitors on our Office productivity module, which measures the computer's ability to multitask with Microsoft Office applications.

Our configuration came with Windows Vista Buisness, which ran smoothly in our tests, but you can also choose Windows XP Professional or Windows XP Home as your operating system of choice. Also bundled with the machine is a 90-day trial of Wave's Embassy Trust Suite virus protection. Dell offers a generous three-year warranty that includes toll-free, 24/7 technical support.
 
Overall, the Dell Latitude D630 leverages the new Centrino platform well and is a worthy successor to the D620. We prefer the Lenovo Thinkpad T61 because of its unique display protection, lighter weight, and stronger wireless range, but the D630 offers all of the security, durability, and performance a business user could want for a reasonable price. 

Pros
The D630 model combines the best of all worlds:
- high resolution screen
- light weight
- great processor
- incredible expandability via the drive bay
- MANY D-series parts are on the market already
- No problems booting ubuntu linux CD to change the OS :-)
- With docking station, makes for great portability and allows HUGE monitor on my desktop (Dell 24" 1920x1200) and I set up ergonomic workstation with external keyboard and mouse.
- Dell's incredible website with full instructions about servicing the laptop. All of the diagrams give me so much confidence installing more memory (or if I need to replace the drive).
Cons
I can't think of any...

Review
I did not even boot this laptop to the installed windows operating system. The first thing I did was install ubuntu. There are a couple of "gotchyas" when installing linux on any computer, so search ahead of time for any special commands or settings or to learn how other linux users have their D630s set up.

I chose to run 64bit version, which initially made things more difficult than needed, but compile times are blindingly fast.

Packing mobile broadband, a host of security options, and a sturdy design, the Dell Inspiron D630 battery is a top-notch business notebook battery. The Dell Latitude D630, the update to the very popular D620, packs in all the essentials needed to keep road warriors productive on the go: a speedy Intel Next Generation Core 2 Duo processor, excellent Wi-Fi throughput, and blazing-fast mobile broadband, courtesy of Verizon Wireless. Factor in the rich security options, the 120GB hard drive (with Dell's patented StrikeZone shock-absorption technology), solid battery life, and discrete Nvidia graphics, and you have an excellent notebook for demanding business users. The D630 sports the same ergonomics that we loved about the D620: a pointing stick, dedicated volume and mute buttons, and a roomy, spill-resistant keyboard with minimal flex.

Tags: DELL_LATITUDE_D630 LATITUDE_D630

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