E4300 non backlit and backlit keyboard difference pictures

Thought it can be helpful for people, I had two models with different keyboards and made pictures for comparision - first standard, second backlit. Standard is more profiled and has grainy in touch feel, backlit is almost flat and more tile-like. Surface of backlit is satin and figerprints sensitive, when non-backlit absolutely not. Backlit K/B is much more gentle, when non-backlit quite aloud.

 

Nice!
It seems that the backlit keyboard is better.

 

I wouldn't say so. It is totally different in fact. Non-backlit feels much more dirty-resistant and "bulky" and backlit much more delicate. BTW, both are easy to interchange.

K.

 

I liked the non backlit keyboard on the M4400 a lot more than the backlit for writing! In addition it is not a grease sensitive and gives a better response during typing... If you can write with 10 fingers and don't need the backlight, I'd go for the normal keyboard.

 

I read quite a few posts but I did not see anyone who has the docking station and has two monitors actually working with the 4300? Can someone upload a pic of their 4300/docking station/multiple monitors running?

Im holding out on a purchase of the 4300.

Thanks.

 

I would love to see that docking station scenario as well. I am actually back to one monitor as it is not really convenient to use the lap monitor also due to the way my desk is. If this be the case, I would sure love a nice Dell 24 inch widescreen.

 

I have been in the IT business for quite a while and I have had a number of dell laptop spanning the entire series offered from Dell. W/docking stations & W/out. I want to really really really love this laptop. From every thread I have read on this forum it really seems to be a 50/50 split and the only thing that any one seems to agree on is that it's light weight and fast. FOR THOSE OF US who use laptops, trouble shoot them and have to support them, day in day out. WE get under the hood. WE KNOW what's good and what's bad. Stress Testing is what its all about and I applaud those who run this laptop into the ground to find its flaws because DELL sure as heck wont tell us. So listen up to those who have experience with laptops and the hype surrounded by this lil gem and how it soon became another 1st generation best try laptop full of bugs, whoops's Dell may need to fix that's.

First off a couple noticeable things. Dell had to go back and take a serious look at this laptop. They have made some significant changes including the screen. The high end 1400x1050 or 1440x900 screen resolution offering im not sure which one it was to be honest but as you will see in the that the HI-RES offering is GONE! The Intel Graphics card was just flat out a bad choice. It does this laptop no justice. Go Nvidia or GO HOME!

Again I want to love this laptop and the only reason I will probably end up buying it is because I can as MANY OF YOU have done get under the hood and strip this laptop clean. Reinstall it with Windows XP and wait for Window 7 or look for an forum such as this that has successfully got Ubuntu running on it and go that route or The ugly choice. Install Vista - then strip Vista down to a useable state.

Most of you are in the same boat as I am. Use XP Pro til Win 7 hits and hope for the best.

I will not purchase this laptop without an SSD. It seems that heat issues and bad HD issues are due to moving parts HDs. I'm leaving out the Fingerprint reader/Card reader because they are gizmos that cause more trouble than they are worth. The finger print reader requires you to be slow and exact so much so that it’s a pain. The card reader is limited in what you can do with it. Both are over the top features with featureless flexibility and usability beyond more security. If you need super security then have at it.

I have a good contact at Dell that has the 4300 in a lab my contact went and did some testing that I asked him to do. Here are the results.

This was the system used:

E4300
OS: Vista Business x86 32 bit
Memory: 2 gig DDR3 1067MHz
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo P9300 2.26GHz
Hard Drive: 150gig HDD Toshiba
Video: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500
Fingerprint/Card reader
Latitude On
Backlit keyboard

Tested dual monitor configuration with E-Plus docking station. Was able to hook up DVI cables to each monitor and to the back DVI ports on the dock. System Lid has to be closed to push video to two external displays. Bios picked up on External monitor as primary with LCD closed. Windows extended to secondary external no problem using the Windows “display properties”.

Tested LCD display during general use. LCD displayed no miss-colorations, vertical/horizontal defects, nor did it seem to have issues at any angle it was viewed from.

The hard drive did not seem to be constantly checking as the hard drive indicator led would go out as the system was setting idle, but would kick back up while the system was in use. This was compared with a D630 system and did not seem to be more frequent in running the hard drive.

The Keyboard definitely has a different feel to it. It is backlit so it does not attach to the system the way our old systems used to. It seems more secure to the system than our D-series systems.


Aagain this is a Dell Lab review/report but I think that they have shaken out some of the bugs. GET THE SSD if you dont your going to experience heat issues. The keyboard? its a preference. Yes we all want a solid feel. If you hate the squishyness of the keyboard then your not gonna like this laptop.

Final Thoughts
I will probably get the 4300 as it covers all my bases pretty well.
light
docking station dual monitor supported
portablity
fast
hardware ready for Windows 7

I would buy a MacBook Pro 13.3 if it had a docking bay. That way I could run triple OS on it but w/out the docking station and multiple monitor support Im just not that big of a fan.

 

I recently received a refurbed E4300. I got a non-backlit keyboard but I'm not crazy about it Definitely "squishier" than the backlit E6400 keyboard. Is the backlit E4300 keyboard any firmer?

Thanks.

 

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but does anyone know if you can easily swap a backlit keyboard into one that came without it? I notice they are pretty cheap on Ebay and I just spilled something on my stock non-backlit one so I figured I would upgrade if I could

 

Your answer is in this thread already.