The Mac Observer: AAPLTalk System Shootouts - US$1,600 Laptop System Shootout

	DATES CONFIGURED: 11/01/02 - 11/06/02 Must Include: 14"+ Display, DVD, CD-RW Note: Read the AAPLTalk System Shootout FAQ before procededing!!! All images and logos are copyright to the respective companies listed.
Total must be within $25 of $1,600 INCLUDING SHIPPING!

Company

Apple

Dell

HP/Compaq

Gateway

Sony

Toshiba

BOLD

= Best of Field

14" iBook

Inspirion 8200

Pavilion ze5000

450S

VAIO PCG-GRS100

Satellite 2410-S204

Dimensions:

175 cubic in.
12.7" x 10.2" x 1.35"

253 cubic in.
1.8" x 13.0" x 10.8"

250 cubic in.
1.8" x 13.0" x 10.7"

168 cubic in.
13.2" x 10.6" x 1.2"

235 cubic in.
1.7" x 12.9" x 10.7"

244 cubic in.
1.7" x 11.2" x 12.8"

Weight:
(all bays filled)

6.0 lbs

7.9 lbs

7.5 lbs.

6.0 lbs

7.5 lbs.

7.8 lbs.

Battery Life:

6 hrs.

2-3 hrs.

2.5 hrs (?)

2.5 hrs. (?)

2-5 hrs.

2.5 hrs.

Processor:
Rating Notes

900 MHz P4
800 MHz
PowerPC G3

1.7 GHz P4
1.7 GHz
Intel Pentium 4-M

2.0 GHz P4
2.0 GHz
Intel Pentium 4-M

1.7 GHz P4
1.7 GHz
Intel Pentium 4-M

1.8 GHz P4
1.8 GHz
Intel Pentium 4-M

L1 Cache:

64k

32k

L2 Cache:

512K on-chip

256K on-chip

256k on-chip

L3 Cache:

Memory Type:

SDRAM PC100

DDR PC2100

SDRAM PC133

Frontside Bus:

100 MHz bus

400 MHz

Memory Amount:

256 MB (2 x 128)

512 MB (2 x 256)

256 MB (1 x 256)

256 MB (2 x 256)

Max RAM:

640 MB (1+1 open)

1.0 GB (2 slots)

512 MB (2 slots)

1.0 GB (2 slots)

Hard Drive Capacity:

30 GB

Hard Drive Type:

Ultra ATA 66

Ultra ATA 100

Ultra ATA 66

Hard Drive Speed:

4200 rpm

CD-Rom:

24x CD

CD-RW:

16x8x CD-RW

24x10x CD-RW

8x8x CD-RW

16x10x CD-RW

8x8x CD-RW

DVD-Rom:

8x DVD

DVD-RW:

Floppy Drive:

Yes

Zip/Other Drive:

Memory stick port

PC Card Slot?

802.11b Card Slot

Yes

Type of Bays:

Fixed

Swappable

Fixed

Swappable

Fixed

USB Ports:

Firewire Ports:

Legacy Ports:

1 Par; 1 Ser; 1 PS/2

1 Par.

1 Par; 1 Ser; 1 PS/2

1 Par.

Graphics Card:
Rating Notes

ATI Mobility
Radeon 7500

nVIDIA
GeForce4 440 Go

ATI Mobility
Radeon

ATI Mobility
Radeon 7500

nVIDIA
GeForce4 440 Go

Video RAM:

32 MB

32 MB DDR

16 MB

32 MB DDR

16 MB DDR

16 MB

VGA Out:

Yes

S-Video Out:

Yes

Composite Out:

Yes

DVI Out:

Display:

14.1" TFT XGA

15" TFT Ultra XGA+

15" TFT XGA

14.1" TFT XGA

15" TFT XGA

Native display resolution:

1024x768

1600x1200

1024x768

Microphone/
Line In:

Built-in microphone
Digital audio-ready

Line in port
Digital audio-ready

Headphone/
Audio Out:

Yes
Digital Audio-ready

Stereo Speakers:

Yes

10/100 Ethernet:

Yes

Gigabit Ethernet:

56k Internal Modem:

Yes

802.11b Wi-Fi Card?

802.11b Antennae?

Yes (integrated)

Bluetooth Card?

Hardware Extras Included:

HP DeskJet 3820

Spare Battery

Included OS:

Mac OS X 10.2;
Mac OS 9.2;
BSD Unix;
Apache Web Server

Windows XP
Home Edition

DOS/Windows Support:

DOS/98/ME/2000/XP
(via Virtual PC)

DOS/95/98/ME/2000/NT/XP (Native)

Mac OS Support:

Mac OS 8,9,X (Native)

Mac OS 8 (via emulation)

Linux OS Support:

Various flavors (Native)

UNIX OS Support:

Various flavors (Native)

Java 2 Support:

Native

(Must be downloaded)

Zero-Config
Networking:

Rendezvous

Word Processor Included:

AppleWorks 6.2
(Word compatible)

MSFT Word XP

WordPerfect 9

MSFT Word XP

Save-as PDF:

Native (any file)

(requires 3rd-party app.)

Spreadsheet Software Included:

AppleWorks 6.2
(Excel compatible)

MSFT Works 6.0

Quattro Pro 9

MSFT Works 6.0

Presentation Software Included:

AppleWorks 6.2

Database Software Included:

AppleWorks 6.2

MSFT Works 6.0

Drawing/Painting Software Included:

AppleWorks 6.2

Handwriting Recognition

Inkwell

Calendar/PIM Software Included:

Address Book/
iCal / iSync

MSFT Works 6.0

Planning/Project Software Included:

Web Browser Included:

Internet Explorer 5.2

Internet Explorer 6

E-Mail/Address Book Included:

OS X Mail;
OS X Address Book

Outlook Express 6

Media Player Included:

Quicktime 6
DVD Player
Media Player 7 avail.
RealOne Player avail.

Media Player 8; DVD Player
Quicktime 6 avail.; RealOne Player avail.

Quicktime 6.0
Media Player 8
DVD Player
RealOne Player avail.

Media Player 8
DVD Player
Quicktime 6 avail.
RealOne Player avail.

Financial Software Included:

Quicken 2002 Deluxe

Money 2002

Quicken New Users

Money 2002

Quicken 2002

Quicken Basic

Reference Software Included:

World Book OS X

Encarta 2001
Streets & Trips 2002

Encyclopedia Britannica

Encarta 2002
Streets & Trips 2002

Digital Photo Management:

iPhoto 1.1; PixelNhance

Image Expert 2000
PictureIt! 2000

Arcsoft Funhouse
Photo impressions4

Picture It!

Photoshop Elements LE
PictureGear Studio
Smart Capture

Digital Video Editing:

iMovie 2

MovieMaker 2

Power Director Pro VE

MovieMaker 2

Sony DVGate
Sony MovieShaker
Pico Player

MovieMaker 2

Music Software/
CD Burning Software:

iTunes 3
Disc Burner

MusicMatch 6.0
Adaptec EasyCD

MusicMatch 7.0
HP RecordNow

Unknown (?)

Sony SonicStage
ScreenBlast ACID
SoundForge

Unknown (?)

Games Included:

Chess
Otto Matic
Deimos Rising

Mine Sweeper, Asstd. classic games

Mine Sweeper, Wild Tangent My Games, Asstd. classic games

Mine Sweeper, Asstd. classic games

Additional Software Included

FaxSTF
Palm Desktop
Asstd. system software

Asstd. system software

Asstd. system software
"Two software titles" (?)

Free ISP/
Other Services

1 month EarthLink

6 months Earthlink

1 year AOL

3 Months AOL

Virus Susceptibility/
Security Issues

45 known viruses

50,000+ known viruses

50,000+ known viruses
Norton AntiVirus

Built-in Firewall?

Yes

Warranty:

1 yr. ltd./mail-in
90 days phone

3 yr. ltd./mail-in
3 yr. phone

1 yr. ltd./at-home
90 days phone

1 yr. ltd./mail-in
1 yr. phone

1 yr. ltd./mail-in
90 days phone

Quality of Products & Service:
Consumer Affairs

"Good Guys"

"Rogues Gallery"

"Poor"

Navigation?

Easy

Poor

Easy

Fair

Poor

Customization Allowed?

Some

Full

Some

Full

Little

None

Subotal:
(includes rebates, add-ons, etc.)

$1599

$1,563

$1,560

$1,558

$1,579

$1,599

+ Ground Shipping:

No Charge

$45

$50

$49

No Charge

$10

Total Price
as configured:

$1599
tax not included

$1,608
tax not included

$1,610
tax not included

$1,607
tax not included

$1,579
tax not included

$1,609
tax not included

The information above is as accurate as I could make it based on a reasonable time studying the respective companies' Web sites. There is no guarantee that these configurations, prices, and features are the best that one could come up with; assorted bundles, free internet access, free extra memory, and so on can most likely be found for any of the above systems. The point of this chart is to demonstrate that Apple's lineup holds its own against any brand-name computer, even in areas in which it has traditionally had resistance. In short, do not base your purchasing decisions solely on this chart or information. Neither I, nor The Mac Observer will be held responsible or liable for any purchase decisions you make based on this presentation.

Charles Gaba started the AAPLTalk System Shootouts at AAPLTalk.com, and has brought them to TMO. Charles is the creative talent behind Brainwrap Web Design.

AAPLTalk System Shootouts Archives

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