What a difference a year makes! In June 2002, you could expect to pay more than EUR3,000 for a reasonably powerful machine and you would be lucky to get away with paying less than EUR2,000 for an entry-level model. Only a year later it is possible to pick up powerful notebooks for under EUR1500.
Inevitably, you have to make some sort of trade-off to get machines at this price. Typically, performance is sacrificed through the use of older or slower microprocessors, but if you look closely at this sector you can see some excellent deals that may suit your requirements down to the ground.
Toshiba: Satellite Pro 2100
Processor: 2GHz Celeron
Memory: 256Mbyte
HDD: 30Gbyte
Screen: 14.1in TFT
Size (W x D x H): 33 x 29 x 4cm
Weight: 3.4kg
Battery Life: 2.7hr
Price: EUR1,199 ex-VAT
Toshiba: +353 (0)1-2481248
The Satellite Pro 2100 qualifies as an excellent budget notebook at just under EUR1200 ex-VAT. It is basically a desktop replacement — at 3.4kg, you wouldn’t want to carry it too far or too often, which is just as well because the battery life at 2.7hr is at the low end of the scale.
Powered by a 2GHz Intel Celeron processor, the cut-down version of the Intel CPU family with a smaller on-chip cache and an older instruction set than mainstream mobile Pentiums, the Satellite Pro 2100 is not the most powerful notebook on the block. However, with its cleverly positioned raised speakers, nVidia graphics chips and ample connectivity options, it provides more than adequate multimedia performance at a reasonable price.
Features include a combination read/write CD and DVD drive, built-in floppy drive, two PC Card slots (type II), three USB ports and built-in Ethernet and modem as well as a video output port and standard VGA connector. A fast infrared port can be used to transmit data wirelessly over short distances.
Visually the Satellite Pro has an appealing black finish and a good-sized keyboard. Mouse operation is by a standard trackpad with two buttons.
Overall, the Satellite Pro is a reasonably powerful machine at a very reasonable price. Bottom line: Very good.
Iqon: Qompanion 8600
Processor: 2GHz Celeron
Memory: 256Mbyte DDR RAM
HDD: 20Gbyte
Screen: 15in
Size (W x D x H): 33.5 x 28.5 x 4cm
Weight: 3.2kg
Battery Life: 2.5hr
Price: EUR999 ex-VAT
Iqon: +353 (0)42-9386100
The Iqon Qompanion 8600 is powered by a 2GHz Celeron, which means it gives off quite a lot of heat and has a noisy cooling fan that can be disconcerting. It gives the impression of being intended as a desktop replacement.
The unit tested here came preinstalled with Windows XP Home Edition, an operating system that is obviously targeted more at the home rather than corporate user. The Qompanion comes with a combined CD rewriter and DVD ROM drive, and offers graphics on the chip. Connections include four USB ports on the rear of the machine and an IEEE 1394 port. Users can also use the infrared data port to transfer files over short distances. Four easy start buttons can be programmed for the most frequently used applications, allowing users to access certain programs at the touch of a button.
The overall verdict was that while the Qompanion has a reasonable spec, it doesn’t really cut it when compared to other budget notebooks particularly when it comes to the choice of operating system. Bottom line: Adequate spec and plenty of connectivity options.
Hyundai: HY-732
Processor: 2.4GHz Pentium 4
Memory: 256Mbyte DDR RAM
HDD: 40Gbyte
Screen: 15in
Size (W x D x H): 33 x 28 x 3.7
Weight: 3.2kg
Price: EUR1,500 ex-VAT
www.ctsystemsonline.com
The Hyundai HY 732 is built around the standard Pentium 4 processor, as opposed to the mobile version, Hyundai’s own literature, which describes this machine as an ‘alternative desktop tool’, makes no bones about the fact that this is intended to sit in your office and only make the occasional foray outside.
The HY 732 has ample connectivity options including four USB ports, a type II PCMCIA slot, one S-video output and a parallel port. It also has a CD-RW/DVD combined drive, and Ethernet and modem connections.
The 15-inch screen is as big as anyone is likely to need and overall, the spec is reasonably good. However, while the HY 732 Is certainly powerful enough, its 3.2kg weight may mean that it remains office-bound. Bottom Line: Good technical spec, but unlikely to travel well.
Acer: TravelMate 281LC
Processor: 1.8GHz Pentium 4
Memory: 256Mbyte
HDD: 30Gbyte
Screen: 15in TFT
Size (W x D x H): 31.5 x 27 x 3.5
Weight: 3.14Kg
Battery Life: 2.5hr
Price: EUR1,599
www.acer.ie
Acer’s TravelMate 281LC is a high performance budget notebook that offers plenty of bangs for your bucks.
Powered by a 1.8GHz Pentium 4 Mobile processor and coming with a number of connectivity options, the only downside to this machine is its limited battery life.
The TravelMate is equipped with a read/write CD-RW/DVD drive, built-in Ethernet, floppy drive and modem; two PC Card slots, two USB ports and a VGA interface. The notebook also comes with four direct operation keys for easy access to email and other popular applications.
Acer’s notebook comes with an Intel 82845G graphics controller and has two front speakers, which offer reasonable, but not spectacular sound. The notebook also has the Windows XP Professional operating system and comes loaded with Norton anti-virus software.
The TravelMate is by no means the most attractive notebook on the market. In fact, compared with others we’ve seen, the 281LC is a bit chunky looking. However, mouse operation is easy and overall the notebook offers great value for money. Bottom line: High performance for the price.
Maxdata: ECO3100
Processor: 2GHz Celeron
Memory: 128Mbyte SDRAM
HDD: 20Gbyte
Screen: 14in
Size (W x D x H): 33 x 28 x 3.7cm
Weight: 2.7kg
Battery Life: 2.9hr
Price: EUR1,183 ex-VAT
www.Maxdata.com
The processor speed, memory and hard drive capacity may not be the best on offer in this review, but the Maxdata ECO3100 distinguishes itself by virtue of its lighter weight (compared to similarly priced machines) and its connectivity options.
Powered by a 2GHz Intel Celeron processor with 128Mbyte of RAM and a 20Gbyte hard drive, the basic performance of this model is no more than reasonable. It is upgradeable, with two DIMM slots for increasing memory capacity further.
The ECO3100 certainly has a good selection of connectivity options, including two USB ports, an infrared port, a standard VGA connector and an internal LAN modem.
It has a combination read/write CD and DVD drive, one PC card slot but lacks a built-in floppy drive. However, the 15in screen is very welcome at this price.
The notebook comes with an IEEE 1394 port built-in as standard, which allows fast data transfer between the notebook and a DV camera or portable storage drive.
At 2.7kg, it won’t be too much of a burden to carry around, but not too far beyond the confines of the office. Visually, it looks the part, with a dark metallic cover and a reasonably sized keyboard. Bottom line: Very good for the money.
Fujitsu Siemens: Lifebook C1020
Processor: 2GHz Pentium P4-M
Memory: 256Mbyte DDR SDRAM
HDD: 30Gbyte
Screen: 15in LCD XGA WLAN
Size (W x D x H): 26.6 x 33 x 3.4
Weight: 2.9kg
Battery Life: 2.52hr
Price: EUR1,460 ex-VAT
www.fujitsu-siemens.ie
The Fujitsu Siemens Lifebook C1020 is an attractively presented, powerful budget notebook. Visually, the Lifebook C1020 is appealing, with a blue and silver finish.
Powered by a mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor, the Lifebook C1020 also comes with 256Mbyte DDR SDRAM and a 30Gbyte hard drive. The memory can be expanded to a maximum of 1Gbyte DDR SDRAM, with two SO-DIMM slots.
On start-up, users get to choose between Windows XP Professional and Windows 2000 Pro operating systems.
Users also have wide choice of connectivity options, with two USB ports, an Ethernet port, an IEEE 1394 port to transfer data at high speeds and wireless LAN capabilities built into the machine. An infrared port on the rear of the machine can be used to wirelessly transmit data between compatible devices.
The notebook has a combined CD Rewritable and DVD ROM drive, plus a built-in floppy drive — providing the user with a number of ways to store and transfer data.
Sound is controlled by Fujitsu VIA2 audio, with speakers located on the front of the machine. The end result is exactly what you’d expect from a notebook; it may not be spectacular, but it certainly does the job.
The 15-inch LCD screen is bright and clear; graphics are powered by S3 Graphics ProSavage DDR, with 32Mbyte of video memory.
Mouse functions are controlled by a touch-sensitive pad, with two mouse buttons and two scroll buttons. One-touch buttons control Internet and e-mail access.
At 2.9kg, the notebook is reasonably portable; however, limited battery life could hamper the Lifebook’s ability to be used on the road. Bottom Line: Good performance at a reasonable price.
01/08/2003
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