The Mac Observer: AAPLTalk System Shootouts - US$1,800 UltraPortable Laptop System Shootout

by Charles Gaba

Visit Charle Gaba's new System Shootout site for the latest shootouts!

Desktop Shootouts
New!	(U.S. $):

$800
Desktops

Apple Desktop Lineup
Page 1	Page 2

Laptop Shootouts
(coming soon!)

$800
Laptops

$1,100
Laptops

$1,600
"Mini-Me's"

$2,000
Laptops

$2,600
Laptops

$3,000
"LapZillas"

Apple Laptop Lineup

Laptops: iBook vs. Lindows

Educational Desktops: $700 / $1,000

OS's: Mac OS X vs. Windows XP

	DATES CONFIGURED: 1/8/03 - 1/16/03 Must Include: 12.1" Display, DVD, CD-RW; must weigh under 5 lbs. 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 $1,800 INCLUDING SHIPPING!

Company

Apple

Dell

HP/Compaq

Gateway

Sony

Toshiba

BOLD

= Best of Field

NO ULTRAPORTS
AVAILABLE
(smallest are 13.3" / 6.5 lbs)

NO ULTRAPORTS
AVAILABLE FOR
UNDER $1,970
W/SHIPPING

12" PowerBook G4

Lattitude X200
(variance allowed)

(variances too great)

R505 SuperSlim Pro
(variance allowed)

Portege 4010
(variances allowed)

Dimensions:

112 cubic in.
10.9" x 8.6" x 1.2"

76 (152*) cubic in.
10.7" x 8.9" x 0.8"
*with external drive

n/a

138 cubic In
11.0" x 9.4" x 1.33*
(*w/dock station)

125 cubic in.
1.2" x 10.6" x 9.8"

Weight:
(all bays filled; full system)

4.6 lbs

4.5 lbs.* (?)
*with external drive

n/a

6.7 lbs*
(w/ dock station;
variance allowed)

4.2 lbs

Battery Life:

up to 5 hrs.

up to 3 hrs. (?)

n/a

up to 4.5 hrs.

up to 3.9 hrs.

Processor:
Rating Notes

1.3 GHz P4
867 MHz PPC G4

900 MHz P4
800 MHz Pentium III-M

n/a

1.3 GHz P4
1.2 GHz Pentium III-M

933 MHz P4
933 MHz Pentium III-M

L1 Cache:

64k

32k

n/a

32k

L2 Cache:

256K on-chip

512K on-chip

n/a

512K on-chip

L3 Cache:

n/a

Memory Type:

DDR PC2100

SDRAM PC133

n/a

SDRAM PC133

Frontside Bus:

133 MHz bus

n/a

133 MHz bus

Memory Included:

256 MB (2 DIMM)

128 MB (1 DIMM)

n/a

512 MB (2 x 256)

128 MB (1 x 128) (?)

Max RAM:

640 MB (1+1 open)

n/a

512 MB (2 slots)

1.0 GB (2 slots)

Hard Drive Capacity:

40 GB

30 GB

n/a

40 GB

20 GB (?)

Hard Drive Type:

Ultra ATA 100

n/a

Ultra ATA 100 (?)

Hard Drive Speed:

4200 RPM

n/a

4200 RPM (?)

4200 RPM

CD-ROM:

24x CD

24x CD (external)

n/a

24x CD (dock)

24x CD

CD-RW:

24x10x CD-RW

24x10x CD-RW (ext.)

n/a

16x10x CD-RW (dock)

-- (allowed)

DVD-ROM:

8x DVD

8x DVD (external)

n/a

8x DVD (dock)

8x DVD

DVD-RW:

n/a

Floppy Drive:

n/a

Yes

Zip/Other Drive:

n/a

Memory stick

PC Card Slot?

802.11g Card Slot

Yes

n/a

Yes

Type of Bays:

Fixed

(n/a due to ext. drive)

n/a

Fixed

Swappable

USB Ports:

2 USB 1.1 ports

n/a

2 USB 1.1 ports

FireWire Ports:

1 400 Mbps port

n/a

1 400 Mbps port

Legacy Ports:

n/a

Graphics Card:
Rating Notes

NVIDIA
GeForce4 420 Go

Intel Integrated Graphics

n/a

ATI Mobility
Radeon 7500

Trident
CyberAlladin-T

Video RAM:

32 MB DDR

up to 48 MB (shared)

n/a

up to 48 MB (shared)

16 MB

Dual-Display?

Mirror or Span

Mirror or Span (?)

n/a

Mirror or Span (?)

Mirror or Span

VGA Out:

Yes

n/a

Yes

S-Video Out:

Yes

n/a

Composite Out:

Yes

n/a

DVI Out:

n/a

Display:

12.1" TFT XGA

n/a

12.1" TFT XGA

Native display resolution:

1024x768

n/a

1024x768

Microphone/
Line In:

Built-in microphone
Digital audio-ready

Line in port
Digital audio-ready

n/a

Line in port
Digital audio-ready

Headphone/
Audio Out:

Yes
Digital Audio-ready

n/a

Yes
Digital Audio-ready

Stereo Speakers:

Yes

n/a

Yes

10/100 Ethernet:

Yes

n/a

Yes

Gigabit Ethernet:

n/a

56k Internal Modem:

Yes

n/a

Yes

Wi-Fi Card?

optional (802.11g)

optional (802.11b)

n/a

Yes (802.11b)

optional (802.11b)

Bluetooth Card?

Yes

optional

n/a

optional

Hardware Extras Included:

n/a

Epson C42UX

Included OS:

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

Windows XP
Home Edition

n/a

Windows XP
Professional

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:

Word X trial

n/a

Word XP

Save-as PDF:

Native (any file)

(requires 3rd-party app.)

Spreadsheet Software Included:

Excel X trial

n/a

Presentation Software Included:

PowerPoint X trial

n/a

Database Software Included:

FileMaker Pro 6 trial

n/a

Drawing/Painting Software Included:

Art Directors' Toolkit
GraphicConverter
OmniGraffle

n/a

Handwriting Recognition

Inkwell

Calendar/PIM Software Included:

Address Book/
iCal / iSync; Entourage X trial

Outlook Express 6

n/a

Outlook Express 6

Planning/Project Software Included:

OmniOutliner

n/a

Web Browser Included:

Internet Explorer 5.2

Internet Explorer 6

n/a

Internet Explorer 6

E-Mail/Address Book Included:

OS X Mail;
OS X Address Book
Entourage X trial

Outlook Express 6

n/a

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.

Financial Software Included:

QuickBooks Pro 5
New Users

n/a

Quicken New Users

Reference Software Included:

n/a

Digital Photo Management:

iPhoto 2
GraphicConverter

n/a

Photoshop Elements 2
Smart Capture
PictureGear

Digital Video Editing:

iMovie 3

MovieMaker 2

n/a

Sony DVGate
Sony MovieShaker
Pico Player

MovieMaker 2

Music Software/
CD Burning Software:

iTunes 3
Disc Burner

Adaptec EasyCD

n/a

Sony SonicStage
ScreenBlast ACID
SoundForge

Games Included:

Chess

Mine Sweeper, Asstd. classic games

n/a

Mine Sweeper, Asstd. classic games

Additional Software Included

Asstd. system software

n/a

Asstd. system software

Free ISP/
Other Services

1 month EarthLink

n/a

Virus Susceptibility/
Security Issues

45 known viruses

50,000+ known viruses

n/a

50,000+ known viruses
Norton AntiVirus

50,000+ known viruses

Built-in Firewall?

Yes

n/a

Yes

Warranty:

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

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

n/a

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

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

Quality of Products & Service:
Consumer Affairs

"Good Guys"

"Rogues Gallery"

n/a

"Rogues Gallery"

"Poor"

Navigation?

Easy

n/a

Fair

Poor

Customization Allowed?

Some

Full

n/a

Some

None

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

$1,799

$1,848
(lowest possible configurable price)

n/a

$1,799

$1,889
(lowest possible configurable price)

+ Ground Shipping:

No Charge

No Charge (ltd. time)

n/a

No Charge (ltd. time)

$10

Total Price
as configured:

$1,799
tax not included

$1,848
tax not included

n/a

$1,799
tax not included

$1,899
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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