Looking for the right notebook?


Contents
Introduction
 Apple PowerBook G4
 Acer TravelMate 3200
 Sony VAIO VGN-A29GP
 AOpen OpenBook 1557
 Fujitsu S-Series Lifebook
 IBM ThinkPad T42
 HP Compaq nc8000
 Specifications
 How we tested
 Editor's choice
 About RMIT
T&B Editor's choice Editor's choice:
Apple PowerBook G4

How could we go past the Apple PowerBook G4? It's almost the perfect notebook.

Well, maybe if it featured a multi-format memory card reader, was a tad lighter and used biometrics we would say just that. It's sexy, it offers great comms support, it's fast, and did we mention it has a 17in screen?

A mention also goes out to both the Fujitsu and Acer machines. They performed well in our tests, and each shipped with a good set of features.

This article was first published in Technology & Business magazine.
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Talkback 4 comments

    Sorry guys, but the reviewed x ...Anonymous -- 01/04/05

    Sorry guys, but the reviewed x86 machines seem rather lame to me.

    On 10th September 2004 I bought a Clevo M375E notebook that beats nearly every specification of the reviewed units.

    This unit has a Fujitsu 100GB HDD, Intel Dothan 2GHz, 2GB of PC2700 SDRAM, Pioneer single layer 2x DVD-RW burner, 54MB WiFi, build-in camera, 3 format card reader, 15.6" wide-screen LCD @ 1680 x 1050, S-Video out, dual display support, FireWire, Gigabit LAN, v.92 modem, IR, 3 x USB2, 1 x Type 1 PCMCIA and serial port.

    It is the fastest PC I have ever worked on, easily beating most P4 desktops in everything that is not hard drive or CDROM intensive.

    The only thing it lacks is BlueTooth, which was available as an option.

    The 2GB of RAM dent the battery life a little, as do the 2GHz Dothan and huge screen resolution, but I still get over three hours of practical work on a single charge with the WiFi turned off.

    When I bought it, the RAM was very expensive, but this has come down considerably since.

    This unit retail now for less than $4500.

    For taxation reasons, I normally replace my notebook once every financial year. If this reviewed collection is exciting the "envy crowd" now, I may hold on to this unit for another year. I can't see that updating only to get dual-layer or BlueTooth is worth my while...

    Surprised to see none of the h ...Anonymous -- 02/04/05

    Surprised to see none of the high-end Toshiba notebooks in this review. They are exceptional (albeit expensive) machines which definitely deserve a mention.

    As usual, these tests are quic ...Anonymous -- 06/04/05

    As usual, these tests are quick and light. If you want a notebook that will last hopping on and off planes, being thrown in the back of taxis, and travelling from home to work every single day, then test for a year. The only one left standing without a breakdown will be the IBM T42.

    I now have 18 of these in my company and apart from a dead CDROM and one dodgy video cable, they have been outstanding under very tough operating conditions. The 12 Toshiba Sats I had were ditched after 4 dead screens, 3 dead DVD-Roms, 9 dead HDDs and 5 dead motherboards (one of which was because the unit was dropped).

    The Apple is very nice, but if you want robustness with Wintel, then IBM and maybe Acer are the only ones to go for.

    you're wrong the apple powerbo ...Anonymous -- 02/05/05

    you're wrong

    the apple powerbook has a 100GB HDD, 128MB VRAM with dual link DVI, and firewire 800 is defineitly not new to the powerbook range. its been there for over a year

    digital optical audio out? dont see that on anything else out there.

    if you wnat to report, get the facts right morons

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