The Mac Observer: AAPLTalk System Shootouts - US$2,600 Laptop System Shootout

	CONFIGURED THE WEEK OF 6/8/03 Must include 15"+ Display, DVD, CD-RW, Wi-Fi Card Note: Read the AAPLTalk System Shootout FAQ before proceeding!!! All images and logos are copyright to the respective companies listed.
	Total must be within $25 of $2,600 INCLUDING SHIPPING!

Company

Apple

Dell

HP/Compaq

Gateway

Sony

Toshiba

Best of Field

PowerBook G4

Inspirion 8500

Presario 2500

450XL

VAIO GRT Series

Tecra S1 Series

Dimensions:

127 cubic in.
1" x 13.4" x 9.5"

235 cubic in.
1.52" x 14.2" x 10.9"

248 cubic in.
1.8 x 13.0 x 10.7

182 cubic in.
13.2” x 10.6” x 1.3”

319 cubic in.
1.9" X 14.1" X 11.9"

185 cubic in. (?)
12.7" x 11.2" x 1.3" (?)
(15" model size unknown)

Weight:
all bays filled

5.4 lbs.

7.9 lbs.

7.5 lbs.

6.2 lbs.

8.6 lbs.

7 lbs. (?) (15" model weight unknown)

Battery Life:

up to 5 hrs.

up to 3 hrs.

up to 2.5 hrs. (?)

up to 5 hrs.

up to 2.5 hrs. (?)

up to 5 hrs.

Processor:
Rating Notes

1.0 GHz G4
1.5 GHz Pent. 4

2.2 GHz Pentium 4-M
1.8 GHz Pent. 4

2.8 GHz Pent. 4-M
2.2 GHz Pent. 4

1.7 GHz Pentium M
1.9 GHz Pent. 4

2.5 GHz Pentium 4-M
2.0 GHz Pent. 4

1.4 GHz Pentium M
1.5 GHz Pent. 4

L1 Cache:

64k

32k

L2 Cache:

256K

512K

1 MB

512K

L3 Cache:

1 MB DDR

RAM Type:

SDRAM PC133

DDR PC2100

Front Side Bus:

133 MHz bus

400 MHz bus

400 MHz

RAM Amount:

512 GB (2 DIMM)

512 MB (2 DIMM)

1.0 GB (2 DIMM)

512 MB (1 DIMM)

512 MB (2 DIMMs)

512 MB (2 DIMM)

Max. RAM:

1.0 GB (2 slots)

2.0 GB (2 slots)

1.0 GB (2 slots)

Hard Drive
Capacity:

60 GB

80 GB

60 GB

40 GB

Hard Drive Type:

Ultra ATA 66

Ultra ATA 100

Ultra ATA 100 (?)

Ultra ATA 100

Hard Drive Speed:

4200 RPM

5400 RPM

CD-ROM:

24x

CD-RW:

8x4x CD-RW

16x8x CD-RW

8x8x CD-RW (?)

8x4x CD-RW (?)

16x8x CD-RW

8x4x CD-RW (?)

DVD-ROM:

6x DVD

8x DVD

8x DVD (?)

6x DVD (?)

5x DVD

6x DVD (?)

DVD-/+RW:

1x1x DVD-RW

2x2x DVD-RW

2x2x DVD+RW (?)

1x1x DVD-RW (?)

2x2x DVD+/-RW

1x1x DVD-RW (?)

Floppy Drive:

Other Drive:

Memory stick

PCMCIA Slot:

Yes

Bay Type:

Fixed

Swappable

Fixed

Swappable

USB Ports:

2 USB 1.1 ports

3 USB 2.0 ports

2 USB 2.0 ports

3 USB 2.0 ports

FireWire Ports:

1 port @ 400 Mbps

Legacy Ports:

Legacy-free

1 Par, 1 Ser, 1 PS/2

1 Par., 1 PS/2

1 Par, 1 Ser, 1 PS/2

1 Par.

1 Par, 1 Ser., 1 PS/2

Video Card:

ATI Mobility
Radeon 9000

NVIDIA
GeForce4 4200 Go

ATI Mobility Radeon

ATI Mobility
Radeon 7500

NVIDIA GeForce4
FX Go 5600

ATI Mobility
Radeon 9000

Video RAM:

64 MB DDR

"up to" 64 MB (shared)

32 MB DDR

64 MB DDR

32 MB DDR

Dual-Disp. Supp:

Mirror or Span

VGA Out:

Yes

DVI Out:

Yes

S-Video Out:

Yes

RCA Out:

Yes

Display:

15.2" TFT WXGA

15.4" WSXGA

15" TFT SXGA+

16.1" TFT SXGA

15" TFT UXGA

Native Res:

1280x854

1680x1050

1400x1020

1400x1050

1280x1024

1600x1200

Audio In:

Line-in port
Built-in microphone

Line-in port
Microphone port

Line-in port
Built-in microphone

Line-in port
Microphone port

Audio Out:

Speaker/HP Jack
Line out

Speakers:

Stereo

Ethernet?

10/100/1000

10/100

Internal Modem?

56k V.92

Wi-Fi Card?

Yes (802.11b)

Yes (802.11b/g)

Yes (802.11b)

Bluetooth
Card?

optional

Internal Card

optional

Internal Card

Hardware Extras

Canon i450 Color Bubble Jet Printer

USB travel mouse
USB keyboard

Epson Stylus C42UX

Included OS:

Mac OS X 10.2;
OS 9.2 (Classic);
BSD Unix;
Apache Web Server

Windows XP
Home Edition

Windows XP
Professional

Windows XP
Home Edition

Windows XP
Professional

Windows Support:

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

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

Mac Support:

Mac OS 8,9,X (Native)

Mac OS 8 only (via emulation)

Linux Support:

Various flavors (Native)

Unix Support:

Various flavors (Native)

Java 2 Support:

Native

(must be downloaded)

Zero-Config Networking:

Rendezvous

Save-as PDF:

Native (any file)

(requires 3rd-party app.)

Handwriting Recognition:

Inkwell

Word Processor

MS Word XP

MSFT Works 7

Spreadsheet:

MS Excel XP

MSFT Works 7

Presentation:

MS PowerPoint XP

Database:

MS Access XP

MSFT Works 7

Drawing/ Painting:

Art Directors Toolkit
Graphic Converter
OmniGraffle

Calendar/PIM:

MS Outlook XP

MSFT Works 7

Planning/Project:

OmniOutliner

MS Publisher XP

Web Browser:

IE 5.2

IE 6

E-Mail/PIM:

OS X Mail
iCal, iSync
Address Book

MS Outlook XP

Outlook Express 6

Media Player:
*free download

QuickTime 6
DVD Player
WMP 7*, RealOne*

Media Player 8, DVD Player
QuickTime 6*; RealOne*

Financial:

QuickBooks Pro 5

MS Money

MS Money
Quicken New Users

Money 2003

Reference:

MS Encarta

MS Encarta
Streets & Trips

Encarta 2003

Digital
Photography:

iPhoto 2
Graphic Converter

Image Expert

Picture It!

Photoshop Elements 2
SmartCapture
Sony PictureGear

Digital Video
Editing:

iMovie 3

MS MovieMaker 2

MovieMaker 2

Sony MovieShaker
Sony DVgate
Premiere LE

MovieMaker 2

Music:/
CD Burning:

iTunes 3
Disc Burner

MusicMatch
EasyCD Creator

EasyCD Creator

SonicStage
Screenblast Acid

Unknown (?)

DVD Burning/
Authoring:

iDVD 3
Disc Burner

unknown (?)

EasyCD Creator

Click To DVD

Unknown (?)

Games
Included:

Chess

Mine Sweeper, Asstd. classic games

Age of Empires,
Asstd. classic games

Mine Sweeper, Asstd. classic games

Additional
Software
Included

Asstd. system software

Free Services:

1 month Earthlink

6 months Earthlink

1 year AOL

Viruses/
Security:

45 known viruses

50,000+ viruses

Firewall:

Yes

Warranty:

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

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

3 yrs ltd./at-home
3 yrs. phone

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

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

Quality of
Products/Service:
Consumer Affairs

"Good Guys"

"Rogues Gallery"

"Poor"

Navigation?

Easy

Fair

Easy

Fair

Poor

Customization?

Some

Full

Some

Little

None

Subotal:

$2,698

$2,913

$2,665

$2,604

$2,629

$2,595

- Rebate if any:

- $99 printer rebate

- $300 system rebate

- $100 system rebate

-$49 printer rebate

+ Ground
Shipping:

n/c

n/c (ltd. time)

$50

n/c

$10

Total Price
as configured:
(tax not included)

$2,599

$2,613

$2,615

$2,604

$2,588

$2,605

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.

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