Comments on: Dell Latitude E4300: 9 Months Later http://www.digitalrig.com/hardware/dell-latitude-e4300-9-months-later/ Product and services opinions and reviews from the trenches of Silicon Valley. Sun, 11 Jul 2010 16:40:48 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Will http://www.digitalrig.com/hardware/dell-latitude-e4300-9-months-later/comment-page-1/#comment-97 Will Sun, 11 Jul 2010 16:40:48 +0000 http://www.digitalrig.com/?p=124#comment-97 same here, i got problem sometimes with the mouse pas buttons, the left click, i have to press 5 or 6 times to work. beside that great laptop same here, i got problem sometimes with the mouse pas buttons, the left click, i have to press 5 or 6 times to work. beside that great laptop

]]> By: Bob MacLeod http://www.digitalrig.com/hardware/dell-latitude-e4300-9-months-later/comment-page-1/#comment-93 Bob MacLeod Mon, 03 May 2010 15:12:40 +0000 http://www.digitalrig.com/?p=124#comment-93 I have had an E4300 for 18 months and am happy with it. I just upgraded to Windows 7 two weeks ago, which has tremendously improved performance. I had some early problems--one being that the SD card reader would not be recognized. The tech on chat (at Dell) said my computer didn't have one. I know this sounds stupid--really stupid--but I had the computer for more than two weeks before I realized it was in the front of the computer. I was looking all over both sides. But once I did find it, I couldn't get it to work, and a lengthy tech call had me walking through a BIOS setup to turn it on. Is this something an average user could do on their own? I think not. I had a motherboard replaced and a new monitor as well. Because my company traffics in Dells, we get next day service on everything. My last two Dells had similar "needs", so I don't consider this any different. It has not failed on my during a trip and I travel frequently. I particularly appreciate the light weight and integrated DVD player. It is these two that put this laptop head and shoulders above my previous laptops. I have had an E4300 for 18 months and am happy with it. I just upgraded to Windows 7 two weeks ago, which has tremendously improved performance. I had some early problems–one being that the SD card reader would not be recognized. The tech on chat (at Dell) said my computer didn't have one. I know this sounds stupid–really stupid–but I had the computer for more than two weeks before I realized it was in the front of the computer. I was looking all over both sides. But once I did find it, I couldn't get it to work, and a lengthy tech call had me walking through a BIOS setup to turn it on. Is this something an average user could do on their own? I think not.

I had a motherboard replaced and a new monitor as well. Because my company traffics in Dells, we get next day service on everything. My last two Dells had similar "needs", so I don't consider this any different. It has not failed on my during a trip and I travel frequently.

I particularly appreciate the light weight and integrated DVD player. It is these two that put this laptop head and shoulders above my previous laptops.

]]> By: allen http://www.digitalrig.com/hardware/dell-latitude-e4300-9-months-later/comment-page-1/#comment-92 allen Fri, 30 Apr 2010 02:17:22 +0000 http://www.digitalrig.com/?p=124#comment-92 guys I feel your pain I have the e5400 & the same lock up & mouse issues- have had nearly everything replaced palmrest/memory/motherboard however problem still persists :( I think some so called engineers/ technicians are slacking in their product testing/design stage..shouldnt these problems occur during rigorous testing before/at prototype stage? Just imagine the amount of money DELL could save by having units that actually work like theyre supposed to...the amount of money wasted on so called DELL tech guys coming out to replace parts..its beyond a joke. guys I feel your pain I have the e5400 & the same lock up & mouse issues- have had nearly everything replaced palmrest/memory/motherboard however problem still persists :( I think some so called engineers/ technicians are slacking in their product testing/design stage..shouldnt these problems occur during rigorous testing before/at prototype stage? Just imagine the amount of money DELL could save by having units that actually work like theyre supposed to…the amount of money wasted on so called DELL tech guys coming out to replace parts..its beyond a joke.

]]> By: JL. http://www.digitalrig.com/hardware/dell-latitude-e4300-9-months-later/comment-page-1/#comment-91 JL. Mon, 05 Apr 2010 05:35:33 +0000 http://www.digitalrig.com/?p=124#comment-91 I got my new E4300 for about a month now. In first two weeks the computer would suddenly wakes up from Hibernation/Sleep mode by itself for no reasons and in less then 3 weeks I had to replace my mother board because the computer fails to power up the next morning. I have tried powering up on the docking station with the original PSU and I tried using the portable original PSU that came with the notebook without any success. Each time I plug in the power cord into the computer the blue light on the power cord would go off. After the motherboard replacement I still experience the same problem of the computer waking up by itself. I got my new E4300 for about a month now. In first two weeks the computer would suddenly wakes up from Hibernation/Sleep mode by itself for no reasons and in less then 3 weeks I had to replace my mother board because the computer fails to power up the next morning. I have tried powering up on the docking station with the original PSU and I tried using the portable original PSU that came with the notebook without any success. Each time I plug in the power cord into the computer the blue light on the power cord would go off.

After the motherboard replacement I still experience the same problem of the computer waking up by itself.

]]> By: guest 4300 user http://www.digitalrig.com/hardware/dell-latitude-e4300-9-months-later/comment-page-1/#comment-89 guest 4300 user Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:47:48 +0000 http://www.digitalrig.com/?p=124#comment-89 I'm using a 4300 with a docking station, XP Pro, dual display, core 2 duo, 4 GB RAM. I don't have the lockup problems with the touchpad or ambient light sensor or otherwise and have been generally very happy with the machine. I don't like the Dell ControlPoint software for managing wireless connections, but since I frequent the same several places, I've got all the networks stored and it eventually finds one of the "favorites" and gets connected. I appreciate some of the features very much, such as the function key to disable battery charging, to facilitate keeping the battery cool and in a low state of charge to maintain capacity. No hardware problems have manifest and build quality is good. Overall, I'm satisfied. I'm using a 4300 with a docking station, XP Pro, dual display, core 2 duo, 4 GB RAM. I don't have the lockup problems with the touchpad or ambient light sensor or otherwise and have been generally very happy with the machine. I don't like the Dell ControlPoint software for managing wireless connections, but since I frequent the same several places, I've got all the networks stored and it eventually finds one of the "favorites" and gets connected. I appreciate some of the features very much, such as the function key to disable battery charging, to facilitate keeping the battery cool and in a low state of charge to maintain capacity. No hardware problems have manifest and build quality is good. Overall, I'm satisfied.

]]> By: David http://www.digitalrig.com/hardware/dell-latitude-e4300-9-months-later/comment-page-1/#comment-75 David Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:04:05 +0000 http://www.digitalrig.com/?p=124#comment-75 I have had a fan/cooler replacement after 13 months it was intermittently doing horrible grinding noises (sounded like the bearings were shot). It's the 3rd dell laptop I have, and the one with the most blue screens of death (running XP- Pro), although this happens 'only' a few times a months. Now I have an issue with the trackpad: the cursor moves randomly on the screen, and it messes up everything I type (and no, I am not touching the trackpad), anyone else has this ? I have had a fan/cooler replacement after 13 months it was intermittently doing horrible grinding noises (sounded like the bearings were shot). It's the 3rd dell laptop I have, and the one with the most blue screens of death (running XP- Pro), although this happens 'only' a few times a months. Now I have an issue with the trackpad: the cursor moves randomly on the screen, and it messes up everything I type (and no, I am not touching the trackpad), anyone else has this ?

]]> By: Andrew http://www.digitalrig.com/hardware/dell-latitude-e4300-9-months-later/comment-page-1/#comment-73 Andrew Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:41:32 +0000 http://www.digitalrig.com/?p=124#comment-73 My only issue with my E4300 is the mouse pad will completely lock up and stop working, the only thing that works is the tracking.. nub(?) in the middle of the keyboard. Maybe this is the lockup problem everyone talks about? My only issue with my E4300 is the mouse pad will completely lock up and stop working, the only thing that works is the tracking.. nub(?) in the middle of the keyboard. Maybe this is the lockup problem everyone talks about?

]]> By: Dan http://www.digitalrig.com/hardware/dell-latitude-e4300-9-months-later/comment-page-1/#comment-71 Dan Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:06:45 +0000 http://www.digitalrig.com/?p=124#comment-71 I have had the E4300 for just about a year now. I have experienced all the problems mentioned above as well. The MOST frustrating though, is that they sold this laptop by pushing the InstantOn feature. That has yet to be released. When I called Dell a couple of months ago they still had NO IDEA when that feature would be available. I am running on XP. I have had DELL laptops for the past 15 years. Based on my experience with this one I would NOT purchase another one. I have been eyeing the HP's recently....... I have had the E4300 for just about a year now. I have experienced all the problems mentioned above as well. The MOST frustrating though, is that they sold this laptop by pushing the InstantOn feature. That has yet to be released. When I called Dell a couple of months ago they still had NO IDEA when that feature would be available. I am running on XP.

I have had DELL laptops for the past 15 years. Based on my experience with this one I would NOT purchase another one. I have been eyeing the HP's recently…….

]]> By: Regit http://www.digitalrig.com/hardware/dell-latitude-e4300-9-months-later/comment-page-1/#comment-69 Regit Fri, 24 Jul 2009 15:28:03 +0000 http://www.digitalrig.com/?p=124#comment-69 The Dell techinican thought I might have the wrong power adapter attached__to the docking station. There is one for direct connection to the laptop and__another for the docking station. We determined that I am using the correct__power adapter for the docking station. I asked if it might be possible that__the power adapter could be underpowered as the one I have is 130 watts,__whereas a web search indicates a power adapter of 210 watts for the Dell __model PRO3X that I have. The tech says 130 watts is the correct one, but__I wonder. __Anyway after a couple of tests, like reboot in safe mode, the technician says__it appears the problem is the docking station and will have a replacement__sent. I will report if that solves the intermittent lockup problem.__The screen locked up even as I was typing this post - I call it the 10 second__lockup, takes that long to "unfreeze" :-) The Dell techinican thought I might have the wrong power adapter attached__to the docking station. There is one for direct connection to the laptop and__another for the docking station. We determined that I am using the correct__power adapter for the docking station. I asked if it might be possible that__the power adapter could be underpowered as the one I have is 130 watts,__whereas a web search indicates a power adapter of 210 watts for the Dell __model PRO3X that I have. The tech says 130 watts is the correct one, but__I wonder. __Anyway after a couple of tests, like reboot in safe mode, the technician says__it appears the problem is the docking station and will have a replacement__sent. I will report if that solves the intermittent lockup problem.__The screen locked up even as I was typing this post – I call it the 10 second__lockup, takes that long to "unfreeze" :-)

]]> By: David http://www.digitalrig.com/hardware/dell-latitude-e4300-9-months-later/comment-page-1/#comment-68 David Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:28:19 +0000 http://www.digitalrig.com/?p=124#comment-68 Your comments on the E4300 are appropiate. After a failed Seagate drive after 4 weeks and living with single core operation for months due to the locking up problem, I have now had three motheboard replacements (one dead on arrival), one with bad power connection which resulted in battery not charging and now the so called final one. Hopefully now the machine one read about eagerly when it was announced this time last year ..... Having used my old reliable D400 as a backup and having a C300 that still runs, I very disappointed with this E series. Would I buy the next series of Dell Latitudes - probably not until it had been on market 6 months. Your comments on the E4300 are appropiate. After a failed Seagate drive after 4 weeks and living with single core operation for months due to the locking up problem, I have now had three motheboard replacements (one dead on arrival), one with bad power connection which resulted in battery not charging and now the so called final one. Hopefully now the machine one read about eagerly when it was announced this time last year …..

Having used my old reliable D400 as a backup and having a C300 that still runs, I very disappointed with this E series. Would I buy the next series of Dell Latitudes – probably not until it had been on market 6 months.

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