Connectivity
ExpressCard 54 slot occupant
ExpressCard 54 slot occupant
The interfaces are virtually identical with the E5540 sister model that, however, has an additional USB port on the rear. Only three of these ports are installed in the E5440. Naturally, a docking port is on the underside, and we discovered an ExpressCard 54 slot for expansion cards on the left. None of the three contenders offer ExpressCard, and instead provide a SmartCard reader (E743 and ProBook 640).

Keyboard
The keys are submerged in a flat recess, and a one-millimeter gap separates them. Unlike the commonly used island-style, a homogeneous key area is created that provides accuracy because every key is on a base. The keys feature a concave surface, clear pressure point, and medium drop. The stroke is soft, and the keys sit firmly almost everywhere. We only ascertained a slight yielding in the 1 - 6 number area.

Display
An important feature of the Latitude is its matte HD+ screen with a resolution of 1600x900 pixels (131 ppi). This resolution provides a clearly arranged screen without exaggerating with too high of a pixel density. Dell also has an HD version available (1366x768 pixels). The matte AUO screen (B140RTN, Dell P/N: M4RTT) is a TN (Twisted Nematic) model that does not promise perfect viewing angles.
The TFT's brightness makes a good impression with over 300 cd/m², and surpasses all tested devices' total average by approximately 50 cd/m².