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computerwriter.com
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Buying a notebook computer
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Pricing:
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Notebook pricing starts at around $1,400 for trailing edge brand-name
products and can rise to around $6,499 for a name-brand, state-of-the-art
system with the latest in processor technology, chipset, substantial memory,
hard drive capacity, and multimedia components.
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Top-of-the-line notebooks use up to 850 MHz Pentium III
processors. There are no Pentium 4 mobile processors, yet.
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Celeron-based systems start at just under $1,500. There are AMD
K6-based systems, but no one has been impressed by their performance
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There are no Duron or Athlon-based notebooks, yet.
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Transmeta’s Crusoe processors are so far only available in one
Sony VAIO model for $3,199 (list).
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Notebooks tend to run 50% to 100% more than a comparably
powerful and up-to-date desktop system.
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Advantages and disadvantages of notebooks for adults:
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Advantages
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Disadvantages
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Small and highly
portable
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You pay a lot extra
for the miniaturization; the technology always lags behind desktop
systems; the high portability makes them easier to steal
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Take up little room
in office or on the road
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They hurt. You can
get the screen or keyboard at the right height, but not both. Ergonomic
experts merely advise rehabilitative exercises to minimize the pain; none
I know of has recommendations for how to eliminate it.
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They look good and
impress the heck out of your friends
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It's a marvel of
engineering, looks sexy and your friends will "ooh" in delight.
But new models arrive every few months. One that's two years old draws
pity. It will be under-powered and you can't upgrade it.
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You can convince
your boss to get one so you can work harder
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You will
work harder, too. One study by the Gartner Group estimated that office
workers equipped with notebooks put in four to six hours per week of
unpaid overtime on average.
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You can pack it in
your suitcase
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Aside from ads to
the contrary and special, super-expensive "ruggedized" models,
the most common cause of premature notebook death is being dropped and/or
having the case cracked because of inadequate protection while travelling
(same study as above).
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Sales lines and realities of notebooks for students:
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Sales
line
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Reality
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It's small and
lightweight, highly portable; it won't take up much space in my room
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True, to an extent
-- and travelling to college will be easier, too. Of course, the high
portability will make it desirable to others,
too, and it won't like being surrounded by fast food bits or rough
treatment, either. The "small size" argument will reverse real
fast when Sally discovers how much fun it is to play games on a small
screen with a weird mouse. The next request you'll hear will be for a
full-sized monitor and keyboard and game controller and expensive PC card
modem to access the Internet, and . . .
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I can take notes in
class
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Sure. How fast can
Johnny type? Notebooks eat batteries like crazy. Assuming the teacher/prof
will allow students to use one in class, who gets to plug theirs in?
How many outlets do you think there are in a standard classroom and who's
going to supply the extension cords? While we're on the topic, where will
the notebook (and extension) live when it can't be taken to class (because
of that crabby teacher) or when it's inappropriate – say during gym
class? Ask Joannie how secure she thinks her locker really is (or how
quickly she could get into someone else’s locker if she really wanted
to) and where the notebook would go if left unattended for more than 10
seconds.
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I can take it over
to Susie's house to share homework
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Unless it also has
an expensive TFT screen (see below), the kids will be right on top of each
other. Less expensive DSTN screens have very narrow viewing angles. And I
really hate to raise this, but how safe will Charlie feel carrying one
through the streets, at night, in the rain and snow? The next request is
for your car keys <giggle>.
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Everyone else has
one (all my friends will envy me)
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If you can't see
through this particular sales line, I suspect you haven't been a parent
very long.
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Last, but by no
means least, we come back to the reality that notebooks hurt. Adults may
decide to put up with this because their particular profession makes using
a notebook on the road a requirement, but do you really think it's a good
idea to subject growing teenage bodies to constant strain on neck, back,
arms and wrists night after night after night? Homework, like rust, never
sleeps. And, yes, on this subject, I'm a cranky old poop.
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Other technologies:
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State-of-the art notebooks will have Intel's newest "Copppermine"
Pentium III processor (at up to 850 MHz). Less expensive systems will have
Pentium II up to 400 MHz, or mobile Celeron up to 733 MHz (there are no mobile
Athlon or Duron processors, yet). They'll have accelerated graphics chips by
either Chips and Technologies (now owned by Intel) or ATI, have at least one
Type I, II and III PC card slot, support CardBus (a faster PC card
implementation), have at least one USB (Universal Serial Bus) port, come with
a port replicator, have a built-in power converter (no more brick), have a
cursor controller that doesn't use a ball, and either have a built-in or
swappable CD-ROM, CD-RW or DVD-ROM drive, and sound system. Memory will start
at 24 MB, but should typically be at least 64 to 128 MB. 5+ GB hard drives are
available, but the average will be around 3.2 GB.
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HOT this year: CompactFlash memory slots and one-touch,
"Internet" keyboards. (And try NOT
to get one without a “WinKey.”)
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Market overview:
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Because of the intricate engineering that goes into notebook
computers, there is a high degree of proprietary design in this genre of
computer. They are not designed to be easily upgradeable. If you're lucky and
you act when a model is first released (they have a shelf-life of about the
same length as bread), you may be able to get more memory, a port replicator,
or additional batteries. Get ‘em now! After a couple of months, the extras
will vanish and in a couple of years, you'll be lucky to find replacement
parts.
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Some of the same name brand companies that make desktops also
make notebooks. In roughly this order, the Canadian market belongs to Toshiba,
IBM, Compaq, and Dell. There are others such as Packard-Bell / NEC, Panasonic,
Eurocom, Sony, and Hewlett Packard, as well as several suppliers of house
branded systems. Unlike desktops, who supplies the products (name brand or
local "brand") does make a difference – particularly when it comes
to replacing dead batteries (see below).
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Gotcha!
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Despite what I said above, only Toshiba makes its own notebook.
Virtually everyone else has them manufactured by a variety of ODM (original
design manufacturer) suppliers, primarily in Taiwan, Singapore and Korea. If
you insist on buying a clone brand, try to find out who made it and check out
Per Lyngemark's The Notebook Jungle: http://www.lyngemark.com/jungle/
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Many current models are not Windows 2000 Professional or
Windows Me compatible without a BIOS update and other software patches. This
can be the case with Windows 98 Second Edition, too. If you even think
you might want to upgrade to either operating system, consult the manufacturer
first!
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Other resources:
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Other Web-based research sources include:
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Steve Kropla's Help for World Travelers: http://www.cris.com/~kropla/index.shtml
(World Wide Phone Guide, World Electric Guide, International Dialing Codes,
World Television Guide, and the Corrupt Countries Index -- Learn if you
might (or might not) need a bribe to close that business deal).
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Emanuel P. Brown's Portable Computing Center Status Report:
http://www.enteract.com/~epbrown/
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James Omura's The Moving Target: http://www.pathcom.com/~jimomura/
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Scott Watson's Lapland: http://www.ccia.com/%7Ewsw/lapland/index.htm
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If one or more of these sites is down when you check, go to
www.google.com, www.yahoo.com, www.altavista.digital.com, www.dogpile.com or
other search engine to look for the keywords notebook AND computer. Then
have fun.
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Battery Fun:
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Name
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Characteristics
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NiCad (Nickel
Cadmium)
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Short lifespan
(subject to premature death from memory effect). Short time between
recharges. Oldest technology
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NiMH (Nickel
Metal-Hydride)
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Newer technology.
Slightly longer between charges, but still suffers from memory effect,
although recent advances have prolonged their lives. They still die.
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L-ion (Lithium Ion)
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Newest notebook
battery technology. Loves short charges (in fact deep discharge and
recharge will shorten the battery's lifespan). Nevertheless, like all
batteries, eventually they too succumb. Most expensive alternative, but
also most desirable.
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L-poly (Lithium
Polymer)
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A new variation of
the L-ion battery just now appearing in the marketplace. Developed
initially by Toshiba and others.The Lithium Polymer battery is mouldable
which provides lots of design flexibility (make 'em flat, make 'em
wiggly), but may lead to even more proprietary design and greater
difficulty in finding replacements two or three years after the notebook
goes out of production.
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Battery replacements: Nationwide Computer Support:
http://laptop-notebook.com/battery.html. I'm not necessarily recommending this
company, but the Web site has a long list of notebook models from which you
can judge whether finding a replacement will be possible or impossible from
other sources. For example, if it says you have to send your current battery
in to be rebuilt, instead of being able to simply order another one, start
figuring out how you'll do your work when away from a wall plug. Oh, did I
mention that some notebooks won't work, even if they're plugged into an AC
outlet, when the battery is missing?
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Screen Fun
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TFT
(Thin-Film Transistor) also known as Active Matrix
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Preferable and most
expensive, available in 15" diagonal or more. Each Pixel (picture
element) is composed of three LCD (liquid crystal diode) cells (red,
green, and blue), each with its own transistor to supply power for the
cells to twist (letting more or less backlight through the cell and
affecting its colour). Because each transistor can be working virtually
simultaneously with all others, the screen refresh is quite fast. Colours
are sharp and there is a wide viewing angle. They also munch batteries.
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STN
(Super-Twist Nematic) also known as Passive Matrix
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Least expensive
alternative. Like the TFT screen above, each pixel is composed of three
LCD cells, but the transistors powering them are laid out in a row across
the top of the screen and a column down one side. The result is a screen
that's slower to refresh (your cursor gets lost). Colours are dimmer and
unless viewed head-on, the image may vanish. Also has trouble showing a
good image in brightly lit environments. Some models have an extra row of
transistors across the middle of the screen so that both halves can be
refreshed simultaneously. They're known as Dual STN or DSTN screens.
Others, in an attempt to make you think you're getting something
special, are called FSTN (Fast STN). I can't tell the difference.
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The challenge for the consumer, particularly when it comes to
TFT screens, is to find out precisely what the manufacturer covers in its
warranty. Individual LCD cell transistors sometimes burn out and occasionally
a whole pixel will go. A cyan dot (i.e., the red cell went to heaven) in the
upper left corner may be something you can live with. Three of them in the
middle of the screen may be something else. Unfortunately, some manufacturers
are more forthcoming about their policy than others. If it concerns you, get
it in writing at the time of purchase.
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Finding the Presenter … and getting more information:
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Myles White is associate editor of CandaComputes.com, a
columnist in the Toronto Star, a contributor to various other computer-related
publications (including Your Office magazines), radio, and television
programs, and author of "How to Buy
a Computer (2nd edition)" and "How
to Avoid Buying a New Computer," both published by McClelland and
Stewart. He may be reached by fax at 416-425-4644 or by Internet e-mail at myles@computerwriter.com or on the Web at: http://www.computerwriter.com
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His consulting rate is $150 per hour, plus expenses (not
available to technology manufacturers or software publishers) and he is
available for speaking engagements at negotiable rates.
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Copyright Notice:
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This handout is protected by international copyright (© Myles
White, 2000, 2001). It may not be reproduced except for personal use or quoted
in whole or in part in any medium, for any reason, without the permission of
the author (in other words, if you want to make one copy for your brother, go
ahead. If you want to make 50 copies for some other reason, post it on your
own Web site, or republish it in your newsletter, you have to ask me, first.
Fair enough?).
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