The Mac Observer: AAPLTalk System Shootouts - US$1,000 Laptop System Shootout

	Dates Configured: 11/1/02 - 11/06/02 Must Include: 12.1"+ Display, CD-Rom Read the AAPLTalk System Shootout FAQ All images and logos are copyright to the respective companies listed.
Total must be within $25 of $1,000 INCLUDING SHIPPING!

Company

Apple

Dell

HP/Compaq

Gateway

Sony

Toshiba

BOLD

= Best of Field

NO NEW LAPTOPS
AVAILABLE FOR UNDER $1,300
W/SHIPPING

iBook CD-Rom

Inspirion 2650C

Evo N1015

Solo 1450SE

VAIO PCG-FXA36

Satellite 1115-S103

Dimensions:

132 cubic in.
11.2" x 9.1" x 1.3"

202 cubic in.
1.4"x 12.9"x 10.8"

217 cubic in.
1.6 x 12.9 x 10.5

210 cubic in.
12.6"x10.4"x1.6"

n/a

206 cubic in.
12.6" x 10.9" x 1.5"

Weight:
(all bays filled)

4.9 lbs

7.5 lbs

6.6 lbs.

6.2 lbs

n/a.

6.9 lbs.

Battery Life:

5 hrs.

2-3 hrs.

Unknown;
assuming 2.5 hrs

n/a

2.0 hrs.

Processor:
Rating Notes

800 MHz P4
700 MHz PowerPC G3

1.1 GHz P4
1.5 GHz Intel Celeron

1.6 GHz P4
AMD Athlon XP 1400+

950 MHz P4
1.33 GHz Intel Celeron

n/a

1.1 GHz P4
1.5 GHz Intel Celeron

L1 Cache:

64k

32k

128k

32k

n/a

32k

L2 Cache:

512K on-chip

256K on-chip

128K on-chip

n/a

256K on-chip

L3 Cache:

n/a

Memory Type:

SDRAM PC100

SDRAM PC133

DDR PC1600

SDRAM PC133

n/a

DDR PC1600

Frontside Bus:

100 MHz

266 MHz

133 MHz

n/a

400 MHz

Memory Amount:

128 MB (1 x 128)

128 MB (1x128)

256 MB (2x128)

256 MB (2 x 128)

n/a

256 MB (1 x 256)

Max RAM:

640 MB (1+1 open)

512 MB (1+1 open)

640 MB (1+1 open)

512 MB (2 slots)

n/a

512 MB (2 slots)

Hard Drive Capacity:

20 GB

30 GB

20 GB

30 GB

n/a

20 GB

Hard Drive Type:

Ultra ATA 66

Ultra ATA 100

n/a

Ultra ATA 66

Hard Drive Speed:

4200 rpm

n/a

4200 rpm

CD-Rom:

24x CD

n/a

24x CD

CD-RW:

n/a

DVD-Rom:

8x DVD

n/a

8x DVD

DVD-/+RW:

n/a

Floppy Drive:

Yes

n/a

Zip/Other Drive:

n/a

PC Card Slot?

802.11b Card Slot

Yes

n/a

Yes

Type of Bays:

Fixed

n/a

Swappable

USB Ports:

n/a

Firewire Ports:

n/a

Legacy Ports:

1 Par; 1 PS/2

1 Par; 1 Ser.

n/a

1 Par.

Graphics Card:
Rating Notes

ATI Mobility
Radeon 7500

nVidia
GeForce2Go

ATI
Mobility Radeon

Intel
Integrated 3D AGP

n/a

ATI
Mobility Radeon

Video RAM:

16 MB

16 MB DDR

16 MB (shared)

8 MB

n/a

16 MB DDR

VGA Out:

Yes

n/a

Yes

S-Video Out:

Yes

n/a

Yes

Composite Out:

Yes

n/a

DVI Out:

n/a

Display:

12.1" TFT XGA

14.1" TFT XGA

13.3" TFT

14.1" TFT XGA

n/a

14.1" TFT XGA

Max. display resolution:

1024x768

n/a

1024x768

Microphone/
Audio In:

Built-in microphone
Digital audio-ready

Line-in port
Digital audio-ready

n/a

Line-in port
Digital audio-ready

Headphone
& Speaker Jacks:

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

802.11b Wi-Fi Card?

n/a

802.11b Antennae?

Yes (integrated)

n/a

Yes (integrated)

Bluetooth Wireless?

n/a

Hardware Extras Included:

HP DeskJet 3820

n/a

Included OS:

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

Windows XP
Home Edition

n/a

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 only (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)

WordPerfect 10

MSFT Word XP

n/a

MSFT Works 6.0

Save-as PDF:

Native (any file)

3rd-party

Spreadsheet Software Included:

AppleWorks 6.2
(Excel compatible)

Quattro Pro 10

MSFT Works 6.0

n/a

MSFT Works 6.0

Presentation Software Included:

AppleWorks 6.2

n/a

Database Software Included:

AppleWorks 6.2

MSFT Works 6.0

n/a

MSFT Works 6.0

Drawing/Painting Software Included:

AppleWorks 6.2

n/a

Handwriting Recognition:

Inkwell

Calendar/PIM Software Included:

OS X Address Book/
iCal / iSync

MSFT Works 6.0

n/a

MSFT Works 6.0

Planning/Project Software Included:

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/
Address Book

CoreCentral Address Book

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:

Quicken 2003 Deluxe

Quicken New Users

Money 2002

n/a

Quicken Basic 2001

Reference Software Included:

World Book OS X

Encyclopedia Brittanica

Encarta 2000
Streets & Trips

n/a

Digital Photo Management:

iPhoto 1.1
PixelNhance

Image Expert

Picture It!

n/a

Digital Video Editing:

iMovie 2

MovieMaker 2

n/a

MovieMaker 2

Music Software/
CD Burning Software:

iTunes 3
Disc Burner

MusicMatch 6.0

n/a

Games Included:

Chess
Otto Matic
Deimos Rising

Mine Sweeper, Asstd. classic games

n/a

Mine Sweeper, Asstd. classic games

Additional Software Included

Palm Desktop
Asstd. system software

Asstd. system software

n/a

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

Free ISP/
Other Services

1 month EarthLink

6 months Earthlink

6 months AOL

1 year AOL

n/a

3 months AOL

Virus Susceptibility/
Security Issues

45 known viruses

50,000+ known viruses

50,000+ viruses
Norton Internet Security

50,000+ viruses

n/a

50,000+ known viruses
Norton AntiVirus

Built-in Firewall?

Yes

n/a

Yes

Warranty:

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

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

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

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

n/a

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

Quality of Products & Service:
Consumer Affairs

"Good Guys"

"Rogues Gallery"

n/a

"Poor"

Navigation?

Easy

Poor

Easy

n/a

Poor

Customization?

Some

Full

n/a

None

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

$999

$968

$954

$958

n/a

$999

+ Ground Shipping:

No Charge

$45

$50

$49

n/a

$10

Total Price
as configured:

$999
tax not included

$1,013
tax not included

$1,004
tax not included

$1,007
tax not included

n/a

$1,009
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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