Notebook Computers

Why Notebooks?

According to ComputerWorld, a subsidiary company of the International Data Group, May 2003 marked the first time that sales figures of notebook computers surpassed sales of desktop systems in U.S. history. Gartner Incorporated released research findings indicating that notebook sales actually propelled the computer industry toward its second consecutive quarter of double-digit growth in the 3^rd quarter of 2003. Clearly the notebook market in the U.S. and worldwide seems far from stagnation or even a slow-down. With Wi-Fi hotspots integrated into hotels, bookstores, coffee shops, and restaurants, the proposition of mobile computing gains a stronger foothold on a daily basis. Consumers can choose among countless options in the notebook PC market as manufacturers now utilize both desktop grade processors as well as scaled-back more efficient notebook engineered CPUs in their various models. Notebook sizes and form factors continue to evolve along multiple paths offering users a choice between ultraportable freedom, desktop replacement workhorses, and a compromise of platforms creating a thin and light yet very capable notebook PC. More recently, the Tablet PC entered the market as a niche product but has seen impressive expansion and category growth. Each category supports a typical feature set with certain manufacturers often offering upgrades or cost-cutting measures.

Processors/RAM

Though the physical size and shape differs, RAM in notebook PCs functions in basically the same way that it behaves in desktop PCs. Some budget based systems max out at 640MBs of memory where you typically find one module permanently installed in the unit. Others can achieve near desktop limits allowing for a possible installation of 2GBs of RAM. For general business computing, Internet browsing, word processing and spreadsheets, start with 512MB of RAM. If your tasks require much more RAM then you should consider either a large desktop replacement model-or for a better value, a desktop PC. When configuring a notebook for on-line purchase even slightly tech savvy users may want to configure the lowest possible amount of notebook RAM, or SoDimm modules, with the intent to add more later for an overall savings. Crucial Technology, a leading supplier of desktop and notebook RAM, offers a helpful guide for installing RAM at: http://images.crucial.com/pdf/sodimm_install.pdf   

                                      

Choosing a processor for a notebook computer can actually prove more difficult than choosing one for a desktop PC mainly because of the wide variety of options and configurations. Notebook users not only have the option of selecting from 4 notebook processor types from Intel, 2 from AMD, and a handful of other manufacturers’ proprietary brands, but also actual desktop processors which offer the full computing power of a desktop system in a much more portable package. The Celeron, the Pentium 4-M, and the Mobile Pentium 4 make-up the notebook processor

classes offered by Intel, while the Pentium 4 brings the familiar desktop CPU to the notebook market. AMD, long renowned for providing lower cost alternatives to the Intel line offers the notebook version of their Athlon XP line and in March 2004 announced the debut of their Athlon 64-bit processor in HP notebooks with other manufacturers to follow. Basically, processors in notebook computers each attack their computing tasks differently. For example, a low voltage processor like the Mobile Pentium 4, or Centrino, seeks to use only the necessary amount of power to complete a given task and therefore it can scale back its processor when not in use to conserve battery life.  The desktop version of the Pentium 4 works with much the same vigor and force when applied to the notebook platform, especially when equipped with Intel’s Hyperthreading Technology which emulates a dual processor for amplified output. Value based processors like the Intel Celeron trim hundreds of dollars from the price of a new notebook by utilizing a smaller cache (256Kb rather than 512Kb) and fewer performance enhancing features that some users may never take advantage of. The AMD processors can offer the best of both worlds, incorporating value with 2-3GHz+ of processing power designed to outrun Intel’s chips in similar price categories. Furthermore, consumers must try to avoid one common misconception involving Intel processors. Due to the plethora of names and CPU architectures currently supported by Intel, confusion about specifications runs rampant. In an extremely basic sense, the Pentium M with its low power consumption properties and efficient architecture can actually outperform Pentium 4M CPUs with a higher clock speed. For this reason, Centrino systems, a brand containing 3 specified Intel devices, (M CPU, 855 chipset, and Intel Pro 2100 Wireless chip) which run at roughly 1.6GHz should actually be compared with performance and output from a Pentium 4M 2.4GHz machine. For more facts and information about comparing CPUs, see our CPU section in Chapter 2: Hardware.                           

Displays                                                    

The display or LCD screen of a notebook computer greatly contributes to its functionality as well as the PC’s overall size. Notebooks use a thin film transistor screen, or TFT, which shares little in common with desktop based CRT monitors. Aside from the ability to multisync and output a variety of screen resolutions, CRT monitors do not outperform LCDs in any other specification or category. LCDs require less power and give off less heat. They also triumph over CRTs in that they cause far less eye fatigue from prolonged or even short-term usage. Cost and native resolution form the two negative side effects of notebook screens and desktop based LCD displays. In general, LCDs do cost more to produce, though those costs diminished steadily and rapidly over the last year.  The native resolution of a TFT display presents one problem few users fully understand. Unlike a CRT which has the ability to adjust to display resolutions from say 800 x 600 all the way to 1600 x 1200 pixels, TFT displays exhibit the best quality and actually should not waver from their native resolution. Setting an LCD display or notebook screen to run below its native resolution, whether through interpolation or by using only a portion of the available pixels can result in blurry, difficult to read images. Because the native resolution forms the foundation for a notebook’s display regardless of what graphics card may be in place, consumers must understand what resolutions the different screen specifications refer to.

	Outdated	Standard (Good)	High Resolution (Better)	Widescreen (Best Quality)
Specification/Resolution	VGA 800x600	XGA 1024X768	SXGA 1280X1024	WXGA 1366X768
			SXGA+ 1400X1050	WSXGA+ 1680X1050
			UXGA 1600X1200	WUXGA 1920X1200

Networking 

The days of dial-up’s dominance vanished long ago. Now businesses and homes alike run local area networks both wired and wireless for resource and connection sharing. All new notebooks incorporate an integrated Ethernet connection right on the motherboard, much like desktop systems so that users may simply plug in a standard cat5 cable to connect to their router/hub and ultimately the internet. However, wireless connectivity continues as a highly sought after feature among notebook computer users. Of the three standards, 802.11g is backwards compatible with 802.11b, but 802.11a uses an entirely different frequency range (5GHz as opposed to 2.4GHz).  Each standard excels and lags in different areas. Regardless of the standard used in your home or office, several options exist for wireless connectivity in notebooks. Currently, many notebooks offer integrated wireless much like they support integrated wired Ethernet. In the case of wireless, a mini-PCI card containing the necessary chipset and hardware connects to a receiver antenna inside your computer for wireless communication.

Though many reputable vendors offer mini-PCI cards for about $50 with which you can self install integrated wireless, PCMCIA cards present a simpler solution. Installation of this simple device bestows wireless connectivity on any notebook computer as the card itself contains the antenna and all necessary hardware for $30 to $70.

 

                                            

New for 2005

While the new Pre-N or MIMO wireless standard has emerged, computer manufacturers will be slow to adopt the devices for the sole reason that the standard in fact has no standards and was released as a stepping stone while the 802.11n standard is still pending. For now Intel's A/B/G card or any Wireless-G equipment will suffice.

Drives 

As in desktops, consumers should consider notebook hard drives essentially etched in stone. Though some notebooks may support two hard drive bays, and nearly all allow the consumer to add additional external storage, software for upgrading the size of a hard drive as well as the physical switch itself limits the practicality of such a procedure. Users should therefore initially purchase more than an adequate amount of hard drive space or prepare to store non-essential data on removable media like writable CDs, DVDs, or USB flash drives.  Whatever your choice, storage capacity remains basically fixed. Optical drives on the other hand require a bit more consideration when dealing with notebook computers. Due to the limited amount of drive bays, sometimes 1 or none, allocation of space in notebook PCs deserves thoughtful planning. Due to the waning popularity and support of floppy disks, many notebooks no longer contain floppy drives as standard, though modular bays for extra batteries or optical drives often accommodate quick and easy insertion of a specialized floppy drive. Other options include the addition of an external floppy drive attached via USB cable or some other standard. A CD-Rom drive is a must for adding programs, games, or any large data or files. The ability to write to CDs can obviously come in handy when distributing reports, presentations, and generally sharing information. Furthermore, a relatively small notebook that can also serve as a portable DVD player in essence becomes two remarkable devices in one. The reconciliation of all these devices and purposes among competing needs and resources once posed a conflict. Now however, many notebooks offer a DVD/CDRW combo drive standard or offer one as additional equipment. The power to maintain mobility yet play CDs, DVDs, and author writable CDs as well remains a miracle of the modern notebook computer. High-end notebooks now offer the same peripheral options as desktop systems in that some optionally include DVD writable drives as well.

Ports and Docking

In order to make notebook computers more ergonomic and functional in areas of prolonged use many consumers decide to utilize a docking station or port replicator. The lighter and more mobile notebooks often only contain a few USB ports, possibly one Firewire port, a D-sub or VGA port for external monitor display, but rarely any legacy ports like a PS2 or serial port for mice or a parallel port for older printers. Make sure the notebook you choose has enough ports to support all your devices. Otherwise you may need to purchase a docking station or port replicator. The smallest notebooks or ultraportables may not contain a CD or DVD optical drive. These units require the use of an additional “media slice” containing the extra drive, ports, and often room for a spare battery. Some medium to large sized notebooks offer the unique ability to exchange drives and high capacity batteries through the use of modular bays. In these systems battery life may improve by an additional 3 hours or more, however; portability suffers as the dense batteries increase the overall system weight. 

Size and Weight and Length?

Unlike their desktop counterparts, notebook computers do not necessarily boil down to specifications. They do not easily compare based on processor speeds, amounts of RAM, and hard drive sizes alone. Notebooks actually classify in one of many broad lifestyles or usage patterns that led to their overall design. The negative impact of this classification resides mainly in the fact that a notebook remains roughly how you bought it for the duration of its brief life cycle. Of course you can expand the RAM, add a mini-PCI Wi-Fi card, or even a high-end graphics card for games, but extensive customizations and upgrades happen less often in notebooks than in their less portable desktop brothers. To combat the limited availability and practicality of system upgrades, many notebook add-ons come in the form of external peripherals like floppy disk drives or port replicators. The benefits of this arrangement based on overall purpose stems from consumers’ ability to graft the desired components onto a system type that easily integrates with their lifestyle or business plan. Some users find that a powerful notebook can address all their computing needs. Others place the utmost importance on portability and the ability to conduct business efficiently from an infinite number of locations. Select businesses and consumers may find that the most efficient way to conduct field operations, adjustments, and observations requires the use of a simpler interface than a keyboard allows, opting instead for the interactive writing surface of a Tablet PC or slate design. Basically, traditional notebook computers breakdown into complex categories based on screen size, weight, general processing power, and battery life. The length of time a notebook can operate on battery power significantly contributes to its functionality as a mobile computer system. Though different manufacturers may incorporate advanced features to make their systems more appealing, the basic categories follow a general specification pattern so as to clearly distinguish their intended role.

System Specification Guide by Notebook Category	Ultraportable	Thin and Light	Desktop Replacement
Weight	4.5 lbs. or less	5 - 7 lbs. roughly	7 lbs. or more
Display Size and Resolution	10” – 12” XGA	12” – 14” XGA   SXGA possibly WXGA	15 “ to 17” SXGA+ WXGA  WSXGA+
Processor	Pentium M, Athlon XP-M, Celeron M	Pentium M, 4-M, 4, Celeron, Athlon XP	Pentium 4, desktop Pentium 4, Athlon 64
Networking	Integrated Ethernet Integrated Wireless	Integrated Ethernet Wireless optional	Integrated Ethernet Wireless optional
Optical Drives	CD or combo (rare)	DVD/CDRW combo	DVDR, CDR, modular bay
Hard Drive	20-30GB (4200 - 5400rpm)	30-60GB (4200 - 5400 rpm)	60GB+ (5400 - 7200rpm)
Graphics	Integrated	Integrated or 32mb card	64MB -128MB card
Ports	2 USB, Ethernet, Replicator, Docking Station often required	3-4 USB, Ethernet, Docking Station typical	Multiple 4+ USB, Firewire, Parallel, PS2, Serial, S-video out
Keyboard layout	Tighter to fit overall size 17-18mm spacing	Generally standard layout 18.5-19mm spacing	Standard with 19mm spacing
Price Range	$699-2000	$700 - $1400	$1,500 – $2,800
Examples	Averatec 3270 $849 XP-M 2800 12.1" 80GB HD 512MB RAM DVD Burner Wi-Fi SD/MMC card reader	Dell 6000 $749 1.6GHz 15.4 WXGA 512MB RAM 40GB HD DVD/CDRW Wi-Fi 64MB graphics	Toshiba P25 $2,799 2.0GHz 17" Truebrite WXGA+ Dual 60GB HDs 1GB RAM TV tuner card Wi-fi, Bluetooth DVD Burner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warranty Plans

Extended manufacturer warranty coverage for notebook computers requires careful deliberation. Buying an established brand from a reputable dealer should provide all the necessary insurance against device failure and defective parts. However, notebook PCs notoriously live shorter lives than their desktop counterparts, which themselves need replacement roughly every three years. Notebooks rarely remain stationary; therefore, they run additional risks of getting into accidents or becoming dented or damaged. The added strain to which many users subject their notebooks necessitates the purchase of additional warranty coverage, preferably from the manufacturer at the time of purchase.

Often two to three years of additional service costs only $300 to $400. Pay attention however, to the terms of service and whether they specify on-site support or require you to mail in your notebook for repair.

Tablets and Innovation

Recently the notebook PC market underwent an interesting change as Tablet PCs debuted as an alternative to the normal keyboard interface. Instead of typing on a traditional keyboard, users of Tablet PCs may write directly on the notebook screen itself which incorporates special touch sensitivity and reacts to a stylus. The user can then convert the handwriting into text or simply take notes directly on an existing document just like editing a sheet of paper. Microsoft XP Tablet Edition, the standard operating system for Tablet PCs makes use of many of the devices’ text recognition and note-taking features. The new interface offers a wealth of possibilities both to the average consumer as well as specialized industries. Tablet PCs often feature a screen that swivels to cover the keyboard and form a makeshift writing pad, while slate designs typically allow the keyboard to disengage from the screen creating an even thinner and more portable computing device. Due to the new technology implemented in tablet designs, their compact and convenient form factor, extreme functionality, and their recent introduction Tablet PCs often cost $1,000 to $1,500 more than a comparably equipped notebook computer. The Toshiba Portege R200 for example contains 256MB of RAM, a 30 GB hard drive, and a Celeron processor running at 800MHz, yet still costs $1,849. If the market for Tablet PCs can mature enough to allow for lower prices or increased feature sets at the same price point then Tablet may become a viable alternative to notebooks. More likely though, they will remain a niche product for specialized industries and mobile or gadget-oriented consumers.   

Tablets do not constitute the sole groundbreaking notebook innovation of the past few years however. In late 2003 Sharp Systems, the giant consumer electronics and appliance manufacturer, introduced a revolutionary new screen technology in its RD3D series notebooks which actually displays a 3D LCD image without the use of special glasses. The sense of depth granted by this new technology demonstrates that the notebook market continues to grow and evolve though not just in terms of size, weight, and battery power, but also new frontiers for computing in general.

 

Where to Buy

As with desktop computers, and generally speaking most technology products, the Internet presents the greatest overall value when shopping for notebook PCs. Though notebook systems do allow for some modification, they seldom prove as user-customizable as desktops. Instead of planning to upgrade several options after purchase, users should maintain a basic set of guidelines or performance requirements they expect from a notebook computer. First and foremost, consider the overall purpose and style, whether desktop-like or ultraportable. Basic research and comparisons at manufacturer sites and reference sites like Amazon.com and Pricegrabber.com will prove quite useful. When your choices become sufficiently narrow, the actual shopping may begin. Remember to pay attention to special discounts and rebates as well as any bundled offers like carrying cases or an extra keyboard or mice which make for a more comfortable experience. For a more in depth look at buying everything from notebooks to Tivo's, read our section "How to get Insane Deals: The Ultimate Tech Challenge".

Recommendations

  q     Consider a second battery for any system to enhance mobility and time away from power outlets
  q     Purchase additional warranty coverage from the manufacturer
  q     Always utilize available coupons and rebate offers
  q     Buy on the Internet, or at least use it as a basis for comparison shopping on the phone or in stores
  q     Any system is capable of Internet browsing, word processing, and general recordkeeping duties, don’t
             overbuy if this is all you need
  q     Make sure you get 2 optical drives (preferred) or at least one writable drive: CDR/W or DVD-R/RW
  q     If you are unsure which style is right for you, start with the thin and light, or mainstream category
  q     For duplicating office work at home or any other 2 locations, multiple desktops present a far more efficient
             solution at a greater value to the consumer

Links

LCD screens explained - http://compreviews.about.com/library/weekly/aa-crtvlcd.htm
Notebook tips to remember- http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1159123,00.asp
Deals on Notebooks and Technology – http://www.techbargains.com
Understanding Pentium M and Centrino - http://compreviews.about.com/library/weekly/aa-pentiumM.htm

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