Please Take Note: Minor Cosmetic Imperfections.
The Latitude 3550 belongs to Dell's business lineup, and the notebooks of this series represent the entry-level devices in the business world. However, they are not only designed for business users but also private customers
Case
While some chassis parts of the old Latitude 3540 were made of metal, the new Dell Latitude 3550 only gets a black plastic chassis. Dell uses a simple chassis design without frills and the surfaces are usually smooth. Only the display frame has a roughened surface. The battery is fixed inside the chassis, but it is still easily accessible thanks to the large maintenance hatch.
The build quality of the device does not cause any serious criticism. You can feel a slightly protruding plastic edge at the front of the base unit. Pressure is not a big problem for the base unit; you can only really dent it right next to the keyboard. It could, however, be sturdier, since it is pretty easy to twist. This is an even bigger problem for the lid, and you can also hear creaking in the process. Pressure on the back of the lid will only result in picture distortions at some points. The hinges keep the display well in position but cannot prevent some bouncing. It is possible to open it with one hand when you shake it a bit.
Connectivity
The port selection of the Latitude is fairly standard. Three USB ports (2x USB 3.0) and two video ports (HDMI, VGA) are available. The 3550 does not have an optical drive anymore, so the port layout is much better compared to the predecessor. All ports are located at the rear of the sides, which means the areas next to the palm rest are not occupied by cables.