It's quite uncommon to find laptops that are built like battle tanks. This month it was a pleasant surprise to get our hands on the robust Dell Latitude D531 which means serious business.

FEATURES: Encased in a reinforced magnesium-alloy chassis, the Latitude 0531 is aimed at mobile business users. This mainstream laptop is built around AMD's mobile platform featuring the AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-60 dual-core processor and the ATI M690T chipset. Combined with 1 GB DDR2-667 memory and a 120 GB hard drive, the Dell Latitude D531 promises to deliver uncompromising performance. If you're a power user, you can opt for hybrid and encrypted hard drive options and additional memory for a few thousand rupees more. The D531 is available in two display sizes-14.1-inch and 15.4-inch. The unit which we received from Dell was configured with a slick 15.4-inch widescreen display at a native resolution of 1440x900. Other features include Wi-Fi 802.11 a/g, a DVD-writer, four USB ports, Gigabit Ethernet and a PCMCIA slot. The optional components you can select while customizing your configuration are Microsoft Office 2007, a docking station, spare 6- or 9-cell batteries, a Bluetooth adapter, security software, a range of mice, external storage devices, and Kensington locks. The laptop comes covered with three years onsite support for hardware maintenance. Optionally, you can also opt for three, four, or five years of technical support over the telephone at an additional cost.

BUILD QUAlITY: Like all laptops belonging to the Latitude series, the D531 has a robust body for added durability. The screen is held firmly within a sturdy frame and the housing is made of metal. For a business laptop, this one scores a perfect ten for its aesthetic appeal.

PERFORMANCE: With 1 GB of memory, the performance of the laptop is more than sufficient for office applications and media playback. However, for demanding applications such as imaging, audio/video encoding and heavy multitasking, you need to spend a little extra and go in for at least 2 GB of memory Although the Latitude D531 's 15-inch display's resolution of 1280x800 is decent enough, spending Rs 3,382 for a high¬resolution display (1440x900) is worth it only if you're into imaging or if you are a multimedia buff. The laptop's default 6-cell Li-ion battery rated at 5400 mAh offers an excellent four hours of battery life. Priced at Rs 725 more than the selling price, a 9-cell battery would be a boon for frequent travelers. In short, if you're planning to buy this laptop, ensure the configuration meets your applications' requirements.

VERDICT: Buy this laptop if you're looking for a robust business machine for crunching numbers while on the move.
FOR: Robust build, excellent display, good value for money.
AGAINST: None.




Specifications
Dimensions IWxHxD): 360.7x35.3x262.6 mm;
Weight: 2.71 Kg;
Processor: AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-60,
2 GHz;
Chipset: ATI M690T;
Memory: 1 GB DDR2-667;
Hard disk: 120 GB SATA,
7200 rpm;
Graphics: ATI Radeon X1270;
Display: 15.4-inch wide,
1440x900;
Dptical drive: DVD writer;
Dthers: 4 USB ports,
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/g,
Gigabit Ethernet;
Dperating system: Windows Vista.