The Mac Observer: AAPLTalk System Shootouts - US$2,800 Laptop System Shootout

	DATES CONFIGURED: 1/8/03 - 1/16/03 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 $2,800 INCLUDING SHIPPING!

Company

Apple

Dell

HP/Compaq

Gateway

Sony

Toshiba

BOLD

= Best of Field

PowerBook G4

Inspirion 8200

Evo N1000c

600XL

VAIO GRX600 Series

Satellite Pro 6100 Series

Dimensions:

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

246 cubic in.
1.75" x13.0" x12.8"

203 cubic in.
1.5 x 12.9 x 10.5

285 cubic in.
13.9" x 11.4" x 1.8"

290 cubic in.
1.8" X 14" X 11.5"

204 cubic in.
(12.9" x 11.3" x 1.4")

Weight:
(all bays filled)

5.4 lbs

7.9 lbs

7.1 lbs

8.7 lbs

8.4 lbs

6.8 lbs

Battery Life:

up to 5 hrs.

up to 3 hrs.

up to 2.5 hrs. (?)

up to 4.5 hrs.

up to 1.6 hrs.

Processor:
Rating Notes

1.5 GHz P4
1.0 GHz PowerPC G4

2.0 GHz
2.0 GHz M Pentium 4

1.8 GHz
1.8 GHz M Pent. 4

2.2 GHz
2.2 GHz M Pent. 4

2.0 GHz
2.0 GHz M Pentium 4

2.2 GHz
2.5 GHz Pent. 4

L1 Cache:

64k

32k

L2 Cache:

256K on-chip

512K on-chip

L3 Cache:

1 MB DDR

Memory Type:

SDRAM PC133

DDR PC2100

Frontside Bus:

133 MHz bus

400 MHz bus

400 MHz

Memory Amount:

512 GB (2 DIMM)

512 MB (2 DIMM)

768 MB (2 DIMM)

512 MB (2 DIMM)

512 MB (2 DIMMs)

512 MB (1 DIMM)

Max RAM:

1.0 GB (2 slots)

Hard Drive Capacity:

60 GB

40 GB

60 GB

Hard Drive Type:

Ultra ATA 66

Ultra ATA 100

Ultra ATA 100 (?)

Ultra ATA 100

Hard Drive Speed:

4200 RPM

4200 RPM (?)

4200 RPM

4200 RPM (?)

CD-ROM:

24x

CD-RW:

8x4x CD-RW

24x10x CD-RW

8x8x (?) CD-RW

24x10x CD-RW

16x10x CD-RW

16x10x CD-RW (?)

DVD-ROM:

8x (?)

DVD-/+RW:

1x1x DVD-RW
(can burn w/out being plugged into AC outlet)

4x1x DVD-RW
(must be plugged in for burning)

4x1x DVD-RW (?)
(must be plugged in for burning)

Floppy Drive:

Yes

Zip/Other Drive:

Memory stick

PC Card Slots:

1 + 1 802.11b slot

Yes

Type of Bays:

Fixed

Swappable

Fixed

Swappable

USB Ports:

FireWire Ports:

Legacy Ports:

1 Par, 1 Ser, 1 PS/2

1 Par., 1 PS/2

1 Par, 1 Ser, 1 PS/2

1 Par.

1 Serial, 1 PS/2

Graphics Card:
Rating Notes

ATI Mobility
Radeon 9000

ATI Mobility
Radeon 7500

ATI Mobility
Radeon 9000

ATI Mobility
Radeon 7500

NVIDIA
GeForce4 420 Go

Video RAM:

64 MB DDR

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

Composite Out:

Yes

Display:

15.2" TFT XGA

15" TFT UltraSharp

15" TFT XGA

15.7" TFT SXGA

16.1" TFT UXGA

15" TFT UXGA

Max. display resolution:

1280x854

1600x1200

1024x768

1400x1050

1600x1200

Microphone:

Line-in port
Built-in microphone

Line-in port
Digital audio-ready

Line-in port
Built-in microphone

Line-in port
Digital audio-ready

Headphone/
Line Out:

Yes
Digital audio-ready

Stereo speakers:

Yes

10/100 Ethernet?

Yes

Gigabit Ethernet?

Yes

56k Modem?

Yes

Wi-Fi Card?

Yes (802.11b)

Yes (802.11a & b)

Bluetooth Card?

optional

Hardware Extras Included:

Spare battery
Travel mouse

Epson Stylus C42UX printer

Included OS:

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

Windows XP
Home Edition

Windows 2000

Windows XP
Home Edition

Windows XP
Professional

Windows XP Professional

Windows/DOS 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)

Rendezvous Zero-Config Networking:

Yes

Word Processor Included:

Word X Trial

Word XP

Save-as PDF:

Native (any file)

(requires 3rd-party app.)

Spreadsheet Software Included:

Excel X Trial

Excel XP

Presentation Software Included:

PowerPoint X Trial

PowerPoint XP

Database Software Included:

FileMaker Pro 6 Trial

Access XP

Drawing/Painting Software Included:

Art Directors Toolkit
Graphic Converter
OmniGraffle

Handwriting Recognition:

Inkwell

Calendar/PIM Software Included:

iCal, iSync
OS X Address Book
Entourage X Trial

Outlook XP

Outlook Express 6

Outlook XP

Outlook Express 6

Outlook XP

Planning/Project Software Included:

OmniOutliner

Publisher XP

Web Browser Included:

Internet Explorer 5.2

Internet Explorer 6

E-Mail/Address Book Included:

OS X Mail
OS X Address Book

Outlook XP

Outlook Express 6

Outlook XP

Outlook Express 6

Outlook XP

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
New Users

Money 2002

Quicken
New Users

Quicken New Users

Quicken 2001

Reference
Software Included:

Digital Photo Management:

iPhoto 2
Graphic Converter

Image Expert

Photoshop Elements 2
SmartCapture
Sony PictureGear

Digital Video
Editing:

iMovie 3

Roxio Movie Creator

MovieMaker 2

Sony MovieShaker
Sony DVgate
Premiere LE

MovieMaker 2

Music Software/
CD Burning Software:

iTunes 3
Disc Burner

MusicMatch 6.0
Adaptec EasyCD

unknown (?)

Adaptec EasyCD

SonicStage
Screenblast Acid
Sound Forge

Unknown (?)

DVD Burning/
Authoring Software:

iDVD 3
Disc Burner

Click To DVD

Unknown (?)

Games
Included:

Chess

Mine Sweeper, Asstd. classic games

Additional
Software
Included

Asstd. system software

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+ viruses

50,000+ viruses
Norton AntiVirus

Built-in Firewall?

Yes

Warranty:

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

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

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

3 yrs. ltd./mail-in
3 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 Allowed?

Some

Full

Some

Little

None

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

$2,799

$2,793

$2,790

$2,747

$2,780

$2,799

+ Ground Shipping:

No Charge

No Charge (ltd. time)

$20

$50

No Charge

$10

Total Price
as configured:

$2,799
tax not included

$2,793
tax not included

$2,810
tax not included

$2,797
tax not included

$2,780
tax not included

$2,809
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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