Latitude E series long term ownership thread

All of my desktop keyboards have a buildup of finger grease just like my laptops if I don't clean it off...

 

I used dell chat yesterday and mentioned the scratches and squeaky spacebar, the dell tech is supposed to come today and replace the bezel, palm rests and the keyboard.

After, they offered me complete care (accidental coverage) for $160 ($180 w/tax) until April 2012...seemed like a good deal so I got that in addition to my existing 3 year NBD on site.

 

I have noticed after using the newer plastic palm rests that it tends to scratch just a bit less than before. It also has a different texture than the original palmrest that came with the model. This one is a bit more textured so it feels better when your hands are on it. Still not as good as more bumpers but I'll take it.

 

Yes, I noticed the same thing. Shame they did not fix the bumper on the palm rest. Well my trick to insert a small peace of black plastic (I used a black cable tie that came with the power adapter of the laptop), and slit it under each pads. Then I put a segment of a thin black sticky pad in the screen lock hole to elevate the screen at the center, all without block the lock system.

 

It's been a little less than a year and a half now, and I'm quite happy with the machine.

I had a key fall off within the first 3 months I believe, but I stuck it back on and it wasn't an issue again until about 4 months ago. I had a new keyboard sent to me, along with a new bottom access panel, as I had lost a couple of the rubber feet.

Very easy to replace the keyboard in this machine, probably the easiest of any laptop I've done do on.

There is some light scratching around "Latitude | E6400" because of the screen bezel, but nowhere else because of that. I am losing a fair bit of paint from the metal chassis along the front mostly.

I had the hard drive fail, but it was being used as an external at that point anyhow.

My battery is still holding at about 85% or so, and I'm quite happy with that. I'm also very pleased with the drivers. This laptop really has transformed since it was launched via driver and bios updates. There were countless issues and annoyances back then that are now gone.

I did notice a little crack in my screen bezel the other day, if it gets any worse I'll have it replaced, but at this point I can only tell it's there if I run my hand up the side of the display. I'll have it replaced for sure before the warranty is up or if I decide to sell, same with the scratched chassis.

I do wish that Dell would update the Intel graphics drivers so that I didn't have to use the Intel ones that screw up the screen brightness. Premiere doesn't run at all with the Dell drivers.

Greg

 

8 months now, no problems except for the bezel scratches that everyone else has. For people that have the screen wobble, try to re-tighten your screws on the hinges. My Dell tech mentioned that I should do that every once in a while to keep it stiff. I think I've done it once this entire time and I have no wobble at all.

Really solid body an internals, this thing travels with me all day every day *knock on wood* and its held up great.

I'll buy another one in a heartbeat *if* they start putting switchable graphics in the 13 inch models. If not, I'm going to have to at least consider some of the other machines out there.

 

Just curious here, what do you think that groove along the palm rest on the E series is for? It doesn't appear to do anything except collect dust in there sometimes which is a pain in get out.

 

that would be the contactless smart card reader ;-)

 

i think he's talking about the groove that runs the entire outline of the palmrest.

 

Yes, that's what I am talking about. It doesn't seem to serve any function? Not like the groove for the Macbooks which support the lid when closed.