Dell Precision M4300

In a late addition to its notebook introductions, Dell this afternoon formally rolled out the Precision M4300, a new mid-range moblie workstation designed to split the difference between ultraportables and 17-inch high-end models. Like the Inspiron updates, the 15.4-inch M4300 adds a full range of Santa Rosa-based Core 2 Duo CPUs that peak at 2.4GHz. Backing its core market, however, the Precision always features a 512MB Quadro FX 360M video chipset for better 3D and a module bay that stores anything from a DVD drive to a second battery.

Dell prices a factory-standard model at $2,034 with a 1.8GHz Core 2 Duo, 1GB of memory, an 80GB hard disk, and no optical drive. Vista Business is standard but can be replaced with Windows XP for those companies wary of updating too soon to the new OS. Custom orders can add typical upgrades for CPUs and storage but also have the choice of sharper LCDs (up to 1920x1200), a 32GB solid-state flash hard drive, and mobile broadband for most US cell carriers.

By Electronista Staff