Computer hardware firm Dell unveiled its first ultrabook aimed at business users, the Latitude 6430u.
At a press conference on Sept 19, Dell revealed that the Latitude 6430u is one of few business class ultrabooks that has a replaceable six cell battery, so it can be replaced by the customer when it reaches the end of its life cycle.
Running Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8 operating system (OS), the Latitude 6430u has a 14in matte-effect HD screen supporting 1366×768 resolution, is 20mm thick and weighs 1.7kg. Under the hood it's got two DDR3 memory slots for up to 8GB of SDRAM, support for an Intel third generation Core i3, i5 or i7 CPU, integrated Intel HD4000 graphics and up to 256GB of SSD storage.
To ensure that the laptop is durable and resistant to the eventual office mishaps, Dell has kitted out the Latitude 6430u with a spill resistant keyboard and a drop support feature, where it detects the change of gravity and subsequently turns off the hard drive to protect user data.
Connectivity-wise it has an option for 3G as well as your standard WLAN, Bluetooth, HDMI, VGA, and USB 3.0 ports.
Dell said that while offering a full business class system and being "a desirable option for mobile workers", it also appeals to "users' aesthetics needs" helped by its soft-coat paint finish that makes it easier to grip while feeling high-end and resisting smudge marks.
Dell gave no dates for release of the Latitude 6430u across European markets, but said it will be available soon after the launch of Windows 8, which is due for release on 26 October.
