Dell's Latitude laptop brand is specifically targeted at the business market which means that standardized parts are used throughout the line and are available for several years for support purposes, as opposed to the Dell Inspiron which is aimed at the consumer market and whose specifications change regularly. Whereas Inspiron may switch vendors on components several times over the course of a single model, the Latitude line generally retains identical components throughout its production. This design is intended to simplify maintenance and support tasks for large corporations, allowing components to be easily swapped between models.

Dell Latitude computers are also built to Dell's RoadReady specification which includes a durable magnesium-alloy casing, internal metal frames and Strike Zone shock protection in case the computer is dropped or suffers a severe impact. Many models also feature free-fall sensors or solid-state drives. Latitude models are also generally regarded^{[weasel words]} to be more durable and higher quality than the consumer Inspiron line, and even above the premium Studio and XPS models. Latitude models have 3 year US-based support, as opposed to the 1 year warranty on other models. This, however, results in a price premium in the hundreds of dollars as opposed to the consumer models.

Latitude computers are also differentiated in their feature sets, due to their business focus. For example, they often include security features such as smartcard and contactless smartcard, and TPM security, which are not usable for most consumers. A lid clasp (as opposed to a magnetic latching system), DisplayPort video out (as opposed to HDMI), and support for legacy standards are all results of the requirements of the business market.