Dell announces new Latitude Rugged Extreme series laptops

Dell has today announced two ruggedized additions to its Latitude series. Comprising a 12-inch laptop-tablet convertible and a 14-inch notebook, the Latitude Rugged Extreme series is built to withstand harsh outdoor conditions and geared towards professionals working in military, public safety and first response.

Both devices are constructed using impact-resistant ultra-polymers and magnesium alloy and are, according to Dell, drop-tested from a height of 6 ft (1.82 m). Sealed ports combine with Dell's fourth-generation QuadCool thermal management system to enable use in temperatures ranging from -20 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit (-29 to 63ºC).
"These new rugged form factors have been developed with feedback from our user base in the field," Patrick Seidensticker, Director of Rugged Mobility Marketing at Dell tells . "These devices are dust-proof and rated for use in wind and rain."
Both devices are powered by Intel's Haswell CPU, with memory options ranging between 4 and 16 GB and up to 512 GB of storage. They both feature a Full HD webcam, while the 12-inch convertible sports an 8-megapixel bottom camera with flash.
Dell hasn't been afraid to get imaginative with its convertible design in the past. The Latitude XT3 released back in 2011 used a bi-directional hinge to rotate the display and switch between tablet and laptop form. With the Latitude Rugged Extreme convertible, Dell is taking an equally unique, but perhaps a more straight-lined approach. The LCD display being held in a frame while a "turbine flip" side hinge inverts the screen as the notebook closes.
The 12-inch display also features resistive multi-touch functionality, designed to recognize the user's gestures even when wearing thick gloves.
Pricing for the Latitude 12 Rugged Extreme will start at US$3,649, with the device available from early May. The Latitude 14 will be available from mid-May with prices starting at $3,499.