Slashdot Media Product Review
Flexibility is the key attribute of Dell’s popular Latitude 7285 two-in-one, but the performance may surprise you as well.
By Michael Krieger, Slashdot Media Content Editor
Dell recently asked us to review the new Latitude 7285 2-in-1, so we obliged by putting it through its paces. Here’s what we found when the box arrived.
Out of the Box:
The first thing we noticed was the packaging, in that there wasn’t very much of it! Dell’s design team has absolutely minimized the amount of waste thanks to smart engineering of corrugated board – no mountains of Styrofoam to struggle with here.
The model we ordered came with the productivity keyboard, the Active Pen stylus, power supply, and little else to dispose of. We plugged it all in and up came Windows 10, ready for deployment. After startup, which was remarkably fast thanks to the 256GB SSD, we were prompted to download some freebies including CyberLink PowerDirector 16 & PhotoDirector 9 Ultra. We also opted to use the Office 365 trial during our testing to speed things along.
This display was crisp and clear, with the 12.3” 2880×1920 detachable screen thin and light – only about 1.5 pounds. We were also impressed by the performance keyboard’s built-in battery, which helps extend the time between charges for users who do their computing on cross-country flights (which I try to avoid but can’t).The specifications for the model we tested were:
- Intel® Core™ i5 processor 7Y57 Dual Core
- 8G of 1866MHz LPDDR3 main memory
- 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Windows 10 Pro
- 12.3-inch touch display
- Performance keyboard
- Active Pen stylus
- One-year hardware warranty with Onsite/In-Home service
Although this model is equipped with the Intel® Core™ i5 processor 7Y57, CPU options go all the way up to the Intel® Core™ i7 processor, and many other configurations are available with a broad range of memory, CPU, SSD and keyboard options to choose from. As tested, the Dell 7285 2-in-1 has a list price of $1611.
Two-in-One, Four Modes
Although the 7285 is billed as a 2-in-1, it actually has four different operational modes: as a traditional laptop, as a slate, tablet with stylus, or ‘tent’ for presentations or tight squeezes like small airline trays. As today’s users continue the march to mobility, many will find that the 7285 is the only computer they need for office, home, client presentations or on-the-go.
Two unique features of the 7285 are the keyboard we tested and the Active Pen. Since it is self-powered, the keyboard doesn’t drain the battery of the 7285, and the light, slim design still has enough juice for even the longest flights.
We really liked the Dell Active Pen, which offers a natural writing experience, and its pressure-sensing smarts let you draw straight lines and small lettering accurately and easily. One added benefit – you can even take notes over the lock screen using the Active Pen.
In the Workplace
The 7285 offers a myriad of accessories to further enhance productivity in the office, including a wireless charging mat and both wired and wireless docks for connecting monitors, office ethernet, optical drives, or any other USB device. And, for those like me who aren’t a fan of touchpad mice, Dell offers optional wireless mice of their own and Logitech design. The result is, enhanced office productivity – in the office or on-the-go.
Just as important as hardware features are software capabilities designed for business users, and Dell has you covered there with built for IT features including encryption for the SSD to keep information safe even if the 7285 is lost or stolen, remote management capabilities through the Dell Client Command Suite, and support for biometrics for the highest degree of security. Of course, Dell provides a wide range of support options from remote diagnostics to on-site support for every business user.
On the Road
Having logged almost five million air miles, I’ve spent a lot of time trying to work on airplanes. One thing I can tell you for certain is that the distance between rows of seats on planes continues to shrink. As a result, using my older 15-inch laptop on a plane has become nearly impossible.
So, I took the opportunity to carry the Latitude 7285 on my last business trip. Here’s where smaller is really better. The 12.3” screen fit nicely on my lap, but even on the shrunken tray table there was still room for a beverage next to the 7285 while I was working, and when the person sitting in front of me reclined his seat, I just switched to tablet mode and was able to continue writing without skipping a beat.
I was also impressed by the clarity of the display, which I initially thought might be too small for my MS-Word and PowerPoint work. The 12.3-inch display was more than big enough, and the 256GB SSD offered enough room for all the files I needed on the road, a half-dozen feature-length movies, which in total barely made a dent in the storage capacity of the 7285.
Connectivity Options abound
In a world where everyone is connected to everything, communications options matter. The Latitude 7285 2-in-1 offers support for virtually any communications protocol you can think of from Wi-Fi (both dual band and tri-band including WiGig), Bluetooth, and two USB Type C Thunderbolt3 for everything else.Other ports include a USB 3.0 memory card reader, a Noble Wedge Lock slot, and support for all three major mobile carriers with optional mobile broadband support and a microSIM slot supporting that option.
Peripherally Speaking
As most peripheral functions have migrated to USB over the years, the need for a huge array of ports has faded, which is a boon to users. No longer relying on serial, parallel, and ethernet ports to get our jobs done, we can instead turn to a broad range of peripheral devices that ease our business or personal computer use. However, Dell also offers some unique peripheral technology for the 7285.
First, there are multiple keyboards – both optional. The model we tested includes the Performance keyboard; there is also a wireless keyboard that doubles as a charging mat for simple charge-at-home use.
Then there is an innovative hybrid AC adapter that doubles as a USB power bank. Using your phone as a mobile hotspot and running out of juice? No problem, just plug you phone into the AC adapter’s USB port and you’re back in business and online again.
I particularly liked the Dell Dock WD15, which not only provides power but enables connection of up to two full HD displays and other devices through a single, DisplayPort over USB Type C cable. We were able to put a PowerPoint display on the monitor while showing the speaker notes on the 7285 screens with ease.
What the Experts Say:
The Dell Latitude 7285 2-in-1 has received some accolades to date, including the IF World Design Guide Gold Award, CRN’s 2017 Report Card, and Red Dot 2017 Product Design, all impressive wins for a category that is quite crowded. Here’s how we sum it up: The Latitude 7285 delivers business-class power in a sleekly designed 2-in-1 that belongs in the office, in the den, and on-the-go. If you’ve got a Dell Latitude 7285 2-in-1, you’ve got all the computer you need.
Find Out More:
Dell makes five versions of the Latitude 7285 2-in-1, all preloaded with Windows 10 and ready to use out-of-the box. Its brilliant display and thin bezel make it light, easy on the eyes, and easy to work with. Want to find out more? Click here and configure your own Dell Latitude 7285 2-in-1.
Ultrabook, Celeron, Celeron Inside, Core Inside, Intel, Intel Logo, Intel Atom, Intel Atom Inside, Intel Core, Intel Inside, Intel Inside Logo, Intel vPro, Itanium, Itanium Inside, Pentium, Pentium Inside, vPro Inside, Xeon, Xeon Phi, Xeon Inside, and Intel Optane are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries.
