AUGUST 2019 PCWorld 85Screen, Home, End, Insert, and Delete keys
left for the function keys in the upper row. Of
note is a key to disable the mic—a personal
concern of mine (go.pcworld.com/dsmc)—
with a small LED to alert you when that
particular function is active. Each key is
backlit, with a two-step gradation: on,
brighter, and off.
The Latitude 7400’s precision touchpad is
a bit small because of the compact chassis.
Clickable throughout all but a fingerbreadth
at the top of the trackpad, it proved both
smooth and comfortable to use. I performed
a number of two-, three-, and four-finger
gestures easily.
As you may have noticed in the spec list,
the Latitude 7400 2-in-1 ships with a generous
selection of ports. Though our review unit
didn’t include either, the Latitude 7400 can
be configured with a fingerprint reader
embedded in the power button, as well as aactivate until you’re farther away.
ExpressSign-in isn’t that much
better. It automatically turns off your PC
within three minutes if it can’t detect
anyone in range. (In testing, it took 1
minute, 3 seconds in an empty office.)
If someone wanders by and triggers
the sensors before then—poof! your PC
is back on, unlocked. Manually locking
your PC is more effective, though you
can always forget.
ExpressSign-in’s complementary
“wake on approach” technology is
somewhat gimmicky: As you (or anyone else)
nears, sensors detect your approach and ready
Windows Hello for immediate login.
(Otherwise, you’d have to tap the spacebar or
power button, like a savage.) I love Windows
Hello, but ExpressSign-in is the PC’s equivalent
of waving your foot under an SUV’s bumper to
raise the back hatch. Do you need it? Probably
not, though it’s fun and convenient.
A SOLID TYPING
EXPERIENCE
Like many people, my day-to-day work is
performed upon a laptop keyboard, where I
prefer comfortably spacious keys and medium
key travel. While the Latitude 7400’s keys are
a bit small for my taste, I found the laptop’s
keys pleasingly springy.
Dell’s keyboard layout is pretty standard,
using the conventional “cross” of arrow keys
in the lower right-hand corner, with the Print
There’s a dedicated key (with an LED) to disable the mic.