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by Charles Gaba
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Visit Charle Gaba's new System Shootout site for the latest shootouts!
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Company
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Dell
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Sony
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Lattitude X200
(variance allowed) |
VAIO V505A
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Dimensions:
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112 cubic in.
10.9" x 8.6" x 1.2" |
150 cubic in. (w/external drive)
10.7" x 8.9" x 0.8" + ext. drive |
135 cubic In
10.9" x 9.5" x 1.3" |
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Weight:
(all bays filled; full system) |
4.6 lbs.
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4.6 lbs.+ with external drive
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4.3 lbs.
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Battery Life:
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up to 5 hrs.
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up to 3 hrs. (?)
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up to 3.5 hrs.
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Processor:
Rating Notes |
 1.3 GHz Pentium 4 |
933 MHz M Pent. III
1.1 GHz Pentium 4 |
1.8 GHz Pentium 4-M
1.4 GHz Pentium 4 |
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L1 Cache:
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64k
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32k
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32k
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L2 Cache:
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256K
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512K
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512K
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L3 Cache:
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--
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--
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--
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RAM Type:
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DDR PC2100
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SDRAM PC133
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DDR PC2100
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Front Side Bus:
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133 MHz bus
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133 MHz bus
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400 MHz bus
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RAM Amount:
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256 MB (2 DIMM)
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128 MB (1 DIMM)
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256 MB (1 DIMM)
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Max. RAM:
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640 MB (1+1 open)
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640 MB (1+1 open)
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1.0 GB (2 slots)
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Hard Drive
Capacity: |
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30 GB
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30 GB
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Hard Drive Type:
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Ultra ATA 100
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Ultra ATA 100
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Ultra ATA 100 (?)
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Hard Drive Speed:
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4200 RPM
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4200 RPM
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4200 RPM (?)
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CD-ROM:
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24x CD
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24x CD (external)
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24x CD
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CD-RW:
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24x10x CD-RW
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24x10x CD-RW (ext.)
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8x4x CD-RW
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DVD-ROM:
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8x DVD
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8x DVD (external)
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8x DVD
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DVD-RW:
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--
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--
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--
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Floppy Drive:
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No
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No
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No
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Other Drive:
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--
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--
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Memory stick
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PC Card Slot?
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802.11g Card Slot
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Yes
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Yes
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Bay Type:
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Fixed
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(n/a due to ext. drive)
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Fixed
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USB Ports:
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2 USB 1.1 ports
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2 USB 1.1 ports
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2 USB 1.1 ports
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FireWire Ports:
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1 400 Mbps port
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1 400 Mbps port
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1 400 Mbps port
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Legacy Ports:
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--
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--
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--
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Video Card:
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NVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go
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Intel Integrated Graphics
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ATI Mobility Radeon
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Video RAM:
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32 MB DDR
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up to 48 MB shared
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16 MB DDR
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Dual-Display?
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Mirror or Span
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Mirror or Span (?)
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Mirror or Span
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VGA Out:
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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S-Video Out:
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Yes (configged w/adapter)
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--
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--
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RCA Out:
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Yes (configged w/adapter)
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--
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--
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DVI Out:
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--
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--
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--
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Display Size:
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12.1" TFT XGA
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12.1" TFT XGA
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12.1" TFT XGA
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Native Res:
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1024x768
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1024x768
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1024x768
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Audio In:
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Built-in microphone
Digital audio-ready |
Line in port
Digital audio-ready |
Line in port
Digital audio-ready |
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Audio Out:
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Yes
Digital Audio-ready |
Yes
Digital Audio-ready |
Yes
Digital Audio-ready |
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Speakers:
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Stereo
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Stereo
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Stereo
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Ethernet:
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10/100
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10/100
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Internal Modem:
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56k V.92
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56k V.92
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56k V.92
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Wi-Fi Card?
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optional (802.11g)
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optional (802.11b)
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optional (802.11a or b)
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Bluetooth Card?
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Yes
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optional
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optional
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Extras:
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Canon i450
Color Bubble Jet Printer |
--
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Epson C42UX Color Inkjet Printer
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Included OS:
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Mac OS X 10.2;
Mac OS 9.2 (via Classic) BSD Unix; Apache Web Server |
Windows XP
Home Edition |
Windows XP
Home Edition |
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Windows Support:
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DOS/98/ME/2000/XP
(via Virtual PC) |
DOS/95/98/ME/2000/NT/XP (Native)
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Mac Support:
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Mac OS 8,9,X (Native)
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Mac OS 8 (via emulation)
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Linux Support:
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Various flavors (Native)
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UNIX Support:
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Various flavors (Native)
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Java 2 Support:
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Native
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(Must be downloaded)
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Zero-Config Networking:
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Rendezvous
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--
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Save-as PDF:
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Native (any file)
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(requires 3rd-party app.)
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Word Processor:
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Word X trial
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--
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MS Works
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Spreadsheet:
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Excel X trial
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--
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MS Works
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Presentation:
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PowerPoint X trial
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--
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--
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Database:
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FileMaker Pro 6 trial
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--
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MS Works
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Drawing/Painting:
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Art Directors' Toolkit
GraphicConverter OmniGraffle |
--
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--
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Handwriting Recognition:
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Inkwell
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--
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Calendar/PIM:
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Address Book/
iCal / iSync; Entourage X trial |
Outlook Express 6
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Outlook Express 6
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Planning/Projects:
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OmniOutliner
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--
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--
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Web Browser:
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IE 5.2, Safari
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IE 6
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IE 6
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E-Mail/ Address Book:
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OS X Mail;
OS X Address Book Entourage X trial |
Outlook Express 6
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Outlook Express 6
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Media Player:
*free download |
QuickTime 6, Media Player 7*, RealOne*, DVD Player
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Media Player 8; DVD Player
QuickTime 6 avail.; RealOne* avail. |
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Financial:
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QuickBooks Pro 5
New Users |
--
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Quicken New Users
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Reference:
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--
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--
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--
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Digital Photography:
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iPhoto 2
GraphicConverter |
--
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Photoshop Elements 2 Trial
Smart Capture, PictureGear |
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Digital Video Editing:
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iMovie 3
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MovieMaker 2
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Sony DVGate
Sony MovieShaker |
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Music:/ CD Burning:
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iTunes 3
Disc Burner |
EasyCD
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SonicStage
ScreenBlast ACID, SoundForge |
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DVD Burning/ Authoring:
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Disc Burner
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Easy CD
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unknown (?)
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Games Included:
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Chess
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Mine Sweeper
Asstd. classic games |
Age of Empires
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Additional:
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Asstd. system software
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Asstd. system software
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Asstd. system software
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Free Services:
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1 month Earthlink
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--
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--
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Viruses/ Security:
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over 60,000 viruses
McAfee VirusScan |
over 60,000 viruses
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Firewall:
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Warranty:
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1 yr. ltd./mail-in
90 days phone |
3 yr. ltd./mail-in
3 yr. phone |
1 yr. ltd./mail-in
90 days phone |
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Navigation?
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Easy
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Easy
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Fair
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Customization?
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Some
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Full
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Some
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Subotal:
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$1,717
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$1,803
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$1,689
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- Rebates if any:
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- $99 printer rebate
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- $200 system rebate
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- $49 printer rebate
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+ Ground Shipping:
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n/c
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n/c (ltd. time)
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n/c (ltd. time)
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Total Price
as configured: (tax not included) |
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$1,603
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$1,640
(allowed) |
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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 Back to The Mac Observer For More Mac News! |
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