Dell's Latitude 2100 brings Netbooks to schools
Dell's sorta-rugged Latitude 2100 Netbook.
(Credit: Dell)Aiming to bring small, low-cost laptops to schools, Dell has just announced the Latitude 2100, a Netbook specifically targeted to educational markets. We recently got a chance to take a brief hands-on look at the Latitude 2100--and we think its appeal will go far beyond the classroom.
Dell's Mobile Computing Station for storing and charging Netbooks.
(Credit: Dell)The basic components are similar to what you'd find in almost any other Netbook--Intel Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM, Windows XP--but the chassis of the Latitude 2100 is specifically designed with young users in mind. Somewhat thicker and heavier than typical consumer Netbooks, the system has a semi-rugged feel and a thick rubberized cover, along with an optional anti-microbial keyboard.
The entire package reminded us in some ways of the original Intel Classmate laptops, which were the first examples of Netbooks. One new feature that seems especially intriguing (but may tax the Intel Atom processor) is an optional touch screen.
To appeal specifically to educational buyers, the systems include a handful of unique features, including a small light on the back of the lid, called the Network Activity Light. It can interact with third-party software or simply turn on when students are surfing the Web (instead of working on classwork), which can help teachers keep track of the status of everyone in the classroom.
Another interesting feature is an optional rolling storage cart, called the Mobile Computing Station, which can sit in a classroom and hold 24 Latitude 2100 Netbooks. Students can slide their systems into what is essentially a giant docking station after class, where the Netbooks can be recharged and even remotely updated via LAN by the school's IT administrators.
By adding this kind of business-like remote management, we can see the Latitude 2100 crossing over into mainstream corporate environments, where the options for business-class Netbooks are very slim (although they include the excellent HP Mini 2140). The system is available now, starting at $369.
New York native Dan Ackerman, a former radio DJ turned journalist, has written about technology and music for publications including Spin, Blender, The Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. He hosts the weekly Digital City podcast and the New York edition of Editors' Office Hours. Dan's new album, Tales Out of Night School, is available now. E-mail Dan. 
garbage in, garbage out?
What an utter lack of vision.
What about acting as their favorite character in a book and filming/editing their favorite scene or monologue?
or
How about taking and editing photos into a slide show that shows off their science project?
or
Recording voice and uploading (Podcasting) a fake radio show in their favorite class.
What a huge opportunity missed because of a cheap junk that can't power much anything past office work and webpages.
lemonade stand is one of those "funducational" flash games I think
@ikramerica
it has Windows, Windows has flash, it runs flash games
Secondly, why would a touch-screen "tax the Atom processor"? Touchscreens have been around since before processors hit the 500MHz mark. I also thought that touchscreens used their own hardware rather than piggybacking the CPU's power.
Thirdly, why run Windows XP rather than the XO's operating system? The XO system has a number of features designed to enhance application security, prevent misuse of the laptops, roll out software to a large range of machines, share an internet connection over ad-hoc networking, and "killswitch" any machines that are stolen and don't report to the base station on schedule.
And many schools already have killswitch programs like this in place.
See http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/museum/personalsystems/0031/index.html
Unfortunately, as a coworker at the time said, "HP couldn't market the best technology on the planet if they had it. If they had to market Sushi, they would advertise it as cold dead fish."
- by Firehazel May 19, 2009 7:24 PM PDT
- too bad it's only available to education markets... i like the looks of this one.
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