Back to School Teacher Picks: Dell Latitude 3300 for Education

Dell Latitude 3300 for Education
The Dell Latitude 3300 for Education is rugged enough for most learning environments.

www.dellemc.com/k12 ■ Starting at $619 ($892 review unit as configured)

The 13.3-inch Dell Latitude 3300 for Education laptop is a well designed and rugged device for teachers who still prefer to use Windows devices but don’t want to break the bank. The device for this review came with 4 GB of RAM (upgradeable to 8 GB), a 7th Generation Core i3, 2.3 GHz processor (upgradeable up to Core i5), 128 GB solid-state hard drive, 1080p touchscreen, Dual Band AC wireless, and USB Type-C charging. It also sports all of the necessary external ports such as HDMI, two USB 3.0 and C ports, micro-SD, 3.5mm audio, and RJ-45 port. 

The Latitude 3300 is designed and built to withstand the day-to-day needs of today’s modern learners who need a rugged device for various environments, yet it’s powerful enough for collaboration, creating, and consuming content. It has an advertised battery life of just under 17 hours (the time varied with my usage), so it can definitely fit into any school’s 1:1 program for a full day’s use.

The device starts up and logs in quickly and seems very responsive to everyday classroom tasks and collaboration. The solid-state hard drive starts programs and accesses data very quickly. The track pad can be adjusted to meet the user’s individual needs. 

One feature that makes this unit stand out is the available support package. Dell SupportAssist is an automated support feature that gives users 24/7 access to technicians as well as onsite service for both hardware and software issues. The system automatically detects hardware and software problems and sends system alerts by email when they occur. For any school that needs to manage a fleet of computers, this can be a time- and money-saving feature. 

Although the Latitude 3300 has several hardware configurations, the most creative features are in its design and build. This laptop is lightweight and durable. The case and components are not flimsy and the shell does not feel like cheap plastic but has a nice look and feel, with rubber trim for drop resistance. The computer runs fairly cool and is well ventilated. The touch screen is bright and responsive in a variety of lighting scenarios. 

This unit is designed to be used in and out of the classroom, with the right ports and collaborative features for use in a variety of learning environments. Plus, it can stand up to the rigors of the backpack and the locker. Add in the optional SupportAssist features to make your school technician’s job a little easier, and you have a winning combination. 

The Dell Latitude 3300 bridges the gap between a solely cloud-based computer and a networked Windows PC. This product can meet both the cloud and standard Windows environment needs of any student or teacher. Its rugged design, long battery life, configuration, support options, and price make it an excellent option for schools.

OVERALL RATING:

The Dell Latitude 3300’s rugged design, long battery life, configuration, support options, and price make it an excellent option for schools.

TOP FEATURES

• Rugged design.
• Lightweight & durable.
• Long battery life.

Frank Pileiro is the former Supervisor of Technology & Data for the Linwood Public Schools in Linwood, NJ.  He speaks at the local, state, and national levels about empathy, educational innovation, and instructional technology.