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5 Road Worthy Notebooks
According to many veteran expediters we've talked to, leaving home has grown more difficult over the last few years, and staying out on the road for a few weeks or even months, even more so. The loneliness and the pain of separation from family, friends, home and especially....THE COMPUTER!
For those of us who now spend a good deal of home time in front of a monitor, the absence of computer access while on the road can be frustrating. Sure, one can find a Kinko's or someplace with rental time, but how many of us have seen the other expediters out there with their own laptops and envied that driver who doesn't have to leave his favorite electronic tool/toy back at the house?
Until recently, acquiring a laptop or notebook computer involved a serious investment, in most cases, $1500 -$2500 and more. As with most areas of the computer market however, the constant updating of technology and wider consumer acceptance brings the prices down. The buyer now has a number of completely functional notebook computers available starting at around $1,000.
The notebooks' portability and convenience does come at a price; the average home personal computer has substantially more memory and features as the notebooks, readily available at about half the price of the notebooks. But then again, it's tough to put the home PC in the sleeper or the back of a cargo van.
For the professional driver, the notebook's portability is already a given; probably the two most important features to the driver would be screen visibility and battery life. Both of these areas are given attention in the following reviews.
We assume that the memory capacity in all these devices featured will be sufficient for most drivers' requirements, i.e. spreadsheets, routing programs, games, etc. (And for those with online access, visiting Expediters Online on a regular basis!)
The specifications, prices, and comments come from different sources listed at the end of this article. The five notebooks featured are listed in no particular order or preference.
1. CompUSA AmeriNote RL
List Price: $999
The good: Exceptionally long battery life; solid specs; supercheap price.The bad: Skimpy amount of video RAM.The bottom line: This is one of the best notebook bargains you'll find.
Low Price, High-End SpecsIf notebooks with similar specs begin their bids at $1,499, how can CompUSA offer a competitive alternative for $500 less? On paper, the AmeriNote seems to fulfill most of the top requirements for a bargain laptop: 32MB of RAM, an interchangeable 24X CD-ROM and floppy drive (which makes for a decent 6.9-pound base weight), an integrated 56k modem, and a (slightly undersized) 3.2GB hard drive.
In reality, the system's got one noticeable price saver: the 12.1-inch, passive-matrix screen. Although this display technology is usually inferior to active matrix, the CompUSA's display was bright and clear. This $999 notebook still offers as much as many of its competitors, if not more.
Battery, Style, and Usability PerksSolid specs aren't all the AmeriNote's got going on: this notebook also has battery life, style, and usability on its side. If your work takes you beyond the two-hour mark, fear not. The AmeriNote's nickel-metal-hydride battery provides a remarkable 163 minutes of continuous use.
Finished in a chrome color, the chassis's shell presents an attractive package for prospective buyers. The keyboard features a roomy set of the most commonly used keys but leaves little room for the function and arrow keys found around the perimeter. But the palm rest provides hours of wrist-relaxing use, and the touchpad works smoothly.
Created for money-minded folks who crave the portability of a notebook, the AmeriNote RL 366C offers a solid package at an unbeatable price. Look past the passive-matrix display and lack of software, and you'll behold the new leader of truly bargain-priced notebooks.
2. Apple iBook (Blueberry)
List Price: $1,379
The good: Very sleek styling; innovative ergonomic touches; good software bundle; nice price.The bad: Maximum 800-by-600-pixel screen resolution; loud fan and hard drive; not much RAM.The bottom line: Perfect low-cost solution for mobile Mac users, as long as their needs don't extend to business presentations or high-resolution graphics editing.
Enter the iBook, a notebook computer that Apple is marketing as a "consumer portable" but that actually has more than enough power and flexibility for most general business applications. Design InnovationsLike its iMac cousin, the blueberry iBook is a visual treat. Translucent plastics, rounded edges, and neat ergonomic touches make the system a standout among notebooks. (The color schemes could be a matter of taste, however. One reviewer says that, "The only thing missing from the new Apple iBook is the Barbie logo.")
A very cool, soft, pulsing light on the iBook's hinge lets you know that it's asleep, while a continuously glowing LED surrounds the power port and indicates that the unit is correctly plugged in. The iBook sports USB, a headphone, a 56k V.90 modem, and Ethernet ports that don't have any covers, but they are recessed a bit more than usual into the side of the case, offering ample protection yet easy access. Carrying on the iMac tradition, the iBook doesn't have a floppy drive, but it does have a built-in 24X CD drive.
The iBook automatically goes into sleep mode when you close the case and springs to life again when you open it--no hunting around for a tiny sleep/suspend key.
You also won't need to fumble with lid latches, as the system doesn't have one, but it stays closed when you want it to. The keyboard response is a little on the soft side, but the letter and number keys are fairly generously sized. The function and arrow keys are merely half-sized.
One of the smarter features on the iBook is the spring-loaded carrying handle that lets you tote the 6.6-pound, slightly wide (13.5 inches) notebook around like a small briefcase. Actually, this is not the only laptop that sports a handle, but the iBook's is comfortable and practical, perfect for carrying the unit on short trips around the office or to the car.
The power cord also winds around a smart, little AC power adapter, so you don't have to deal with tangles. Detach the cord, and Apple estimates that the iBook provides a long six hours of battery life with intermittent usage.
Another nice touch is the smooth trackpad, which lies flush with the rest of the case, and the huge mouse button. Most notebooks have mouse buttons that are too small for their own good, but the iBook's button is a gigantic and comfortable 3.5 inches across.
Unfortunately, the 3.2GB hard drive is on the loud side and makes a distinct whine when it spins up. With only 2.3GB of free space, it might come up a bit short for business users or graphics pros who log a lot of big files.
The iBook's 300-MHz PowerPC processor is boosted by 512K of backside cache and communicates with the rest of the system via a 66-MHz bus. Compared to previous PowerBooks, these specs made for slightly below-average performance on our applications tests. Still, the processor provides plenty of power for basic applications.
The standard 32MB of RAM might be cutting it close for users wishing for more speed, but the single RAM expansion slot supports up to a 128MB SODIMM. Unfortunately, Apple's online store doesn't offer alternate RAM or hard drive configurations, so users will have to rely on third-party solutions for expansion.
Screen, Software, and Connectivity Smarts The system's 12.1-inch, active-matrix screen is bright and easy on the eyes. The iBook's 4MB ATI Rage Mobility chip can crank out a maximum 800-by-600-pixel resolution, which will limit the iBook's appeal to graphic artists, even though it supports 24-bit color depth. But this is more than enough color for Web browsing and other general applications.
Apple's hot, new wireless network connection, the AirPort, is available for an extra $99. The instructions for installing it were included in the manual, and a helpful diagram was even printed under the keyboard. The keyboard lifts out very easily via two small, retractable tabs that give users easy access to what looks like a very simple upgrade.
The iBook comes with a solid software bundle that should get the average college student or home user off to a good start. AppleWorks 5.03, Apple's integrated software package, is the main application, and it includes word processing, spreadsheet, drawing, and painting programs.
PalmPilot users will be glad to find Palm Desktop loaded on the hard drive, as well. And Web surfers will appreciate that Apple has preinstalled both Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Netscape's Communicator.
If you're a business user who gives plenty of presentations or a professional graphic artist, you're better off going with one of Apple's higher end notebooks. But there's no doubt that the iBook is another well-integrated, eye-catching piece of hardware from Apple. And at only $1,379, it's a pretty good buy, considering the styling and processor power.
3. Toshiba Satellite 1625CDT
List Price: $1,199
The good: Very long battery life; low price.The bad: So-so performance.The bottom line: A notebook with great features and usability at a low price.
Toshiba hits the value sweet spot with the Satellite 1625CDT. Its polish and balance of features make it a pleasure to use, while its price still beats the competition's. No Speed DemonAs with the other AMD K6-2-based notebooks, the Toshiba was left in the dust by comparably priced machines using Intel's Celeron CPU. However, with a price of only $1,199, a slight sacrifice in performance may be worth it for the savings. The system has a 475-MHz processor and 64MB of RAM, but you'll need to put up with a relatively small 4.3GB hard drive. The Toshiba sports a built-in floppy drive, a CD-ROM drive, and a 56k modem, though none of the drives are upgradable
At 7.2 pounds, the Satellite is no lightweight, but those with strong backs will love its 219 minutes of battery life. The full-sized keyboard is laid out well, and the keys have a solid feel to them. A pencil-eraser-style joystick and two buttons below the keyboard provide mouse functionality.
The system's 12.1-inch, active-matrix display is sharp and clear at 800-by-600-pixel resolution. Though it's slightly reflective and is therefore easy to view only at certain angles, the Satellite's screen is light-years ahead of the dual-scan displays found in comparably priced notebooks. The ATI Rage LT Pro graphics chip with 4MB of memory provides limited 3D acceleration, while the stereo speakers mounted on the right and left sides of the system offer decent sound quality.
The system comes bundled with Lotus SmartSuite Millennium Edition, Quicken Basic 2000, Norton AntiVirus, as well as your choice of two software titles. In terms of support, there's a one-year limited parts and labor warranty. In addition, Toshiba provides either a pickup-repair-return service with a three-day turnaround, or you can bring your notebook to a local authorized service center.
It's hard to beat the Toshiba 1625CDT's value. Though it's not as fast as Celeron-based notebooks, such as Acer's TravelMate 507T, this notebook's performance and smart selection of features make it an excellent portable solution.
4. Fujitsu LifeBook C-4235
List Price: $1,299
The good: Sleek design; good value.The bad: Awkward pointing device; short battery life.The bottom line: If you can overlook a few quirks, the Lifebook is a well-designed system at a good price.Fujitsu LifeBook C-4235
Encased in a cool-looking silver shell, the Fujitsu LifeBook C-4235 is a solid bargain notebook that delivers excellent features. Fujitsu, however, has tossed in innovations that may be more distracting than useful.
Built around AMD's 450-MHz K6-2 CPU with 64MB of RAM, the LifeBook kept pace with its similarly equipped competitors, though all of the K6-2 systems we tested fell behind Celeron-powered systems. Priced at $1,299, the Fujitsu also includes a decent-sized 6GB hard drive, an integrated CD-ROM and floppy drive, and a 56k modem. None of the drives are easily upgradable.
Pointed CriticismThe vast majority of laptops feature either a touchpad below the keyboard or a small tracking stick (similar to a pencil eraser) in the middle of the keyboard's second row; a few higher-end laptops hedge their bets by including both.
Fujitsu has opted for innovation with its ErgoTrac pointer. Placed below the keyboard, you rock this plastic disk to position the cursor. Unfortunately, the disk was imprecise, requiring several tries to place the cursor over an icon, and it was especially difficult to maneuver with the thumb. Don't buy this laptop until you've had the chance to evaluate this novel pointing device for yourself.
On a more positive note, the LifeBook's built-in 24X CD-ROM drive is cleverly designed, allowing you to play audio CDs even when the system is turned off. The clear-sounding Pioneer stereo speakers are well placed, so your hands don't obstruct them when typing.
The 12.1-inch TFT display provides very crisp, clear text and graphics at 800-by-600-pixel resolution. The 2.5MB Cyber9525DVD graphics chip, however, provides only very limited 3D graphics support.
Tipping the scales at just more than 7 pounds and with slightly larger-than-average dimensions of 12.1 inches wide by 11.1 inches deep by and 1.75 inches high, the LifeBook isn't a traveler's dream machine. Its mediocre battery life of 138 minutes, as measured by CNET Labs' drain test, doesn't make things any better.
However, the system comes with a nice software bundle that includes Microsoft Works, Quicken 99, and McAfee VirusScan. The Fujitsu also has a one-year warranty, allowing you the option of sending the notebook into a central service center or bringing it into a local provider.
The Fujitsu LifeBook is very similar in price, features, and performance to the Toshiba 1625CDT. The Toshiba wins our nod thanks to its longer battery life and a more traditional pointing device, but the LifeBook is still certainly worth serious consideration as a good bargain notebook.
5. Acer TravelMate 507T
List Price: $1,399
The good: Very fast; lightweight.The bad: Springy keyboard; so-so speakers.The bottom line: Though it's fast and quite light for this price, the Acer cuts some corners to get there.
Acer's TravelMate 507T is about as plain a notebook as you can get, and in some areas it could use more fine-tuning. However, if performance at a bargain price is what you're after, this notebook is hard to beat.
Speed DemonPowered by a 466-MHz Celeron CPU with 64MB of memory, the TravelMate's performance was the best of the bargain notebooks we tested, far outpacing laptops based on AMD's K6-2 chip. At $1,399, the notebook has a somewhat small 4.8GB hard drive, internal floppy and 24X CD-ROM drives, and an integrated 56k modem. As with many notebooks in this price range, none of the TravelMate's included drives are easily swappable or upgradable.
So-So ComponentsThe TravelMate's 12.1-inch TFT LCD display provides crisp text and graphics, but it is slightly more reflective than others, which makes it harder to view from an angle. The system's 2MB NeoMagic MagicGraph 128XD graphics chip is enough to provide true color display at 800-by-600-pixel resolution, but it doesn't offer any 3D acceleration.
The stereo speakers also disappoint, with a tinny sound and limited range. Though the keyboard is full-sized and well laid out, the keys have an annoyingly unsure and springy feel. Located below the keyboard, a touchpad with two buttons provides good mouse functionality.
Weighing in at only 6.3 pounds, the TravelMate is quite light for a system with a built-in CD-ROM and floppy drive. And with dimensions of 12 inches wide by 1.71 inches high by 10 inches deep, it's also very compact. Unfortunately, the system's battery life doesn't live up to Acer's claims. It lasted only 141 minutes in CNET Labs' drain test, putting it near the bottom of the bargain notebooks.
The system's software bundle offers the latest version of Lotus SmartSuite, PC-Doctor, PC-cillin 98, and other utility programs. There's also a one-year desk-to-desk warranty, with which Acer will pay to ship the notebook to its customer service center, repair it, and ship it back.
If you're looking for decent performance at a low cost, it's hard to beat the Acer TravelMate 507T. However, the system's cheap-feeling keyboard and lack of 3D acceleration may be enough to turn away those seeking bargain-basement speed.
In compiling this review, we used the comments and descriptions from a variety of sources, including: