Some ultraportables look and perform like toy notebooks, but not Compaq's new Evo N200. Based on a 700MHz Pentium III-M with 192MB of 100MHz SDRAM, the AU$3,995 Evo N200 packs more power than we're used to seeing in a 1.22-kg notebook (not including AC), and its configuration screams business. But it lacks some amenities we've come to expect from a notebook of any size; it might be worth toting a half-pound docking station to gain access to a full-sized keyboard and display.
Looks like an Evo
The N200 shares its first-rate design--shiny, black magnesium alloy and silver accents--with the rest of the Evo family. Unlike its older siblings, however, the N200's silver accents don't pop out to house a MultiPort wireless networking card and antenna. The only way to get wireless on this Evo is via a PC Card, which means your antenna placement isn't quite as good.
The Evo N200 is one of the trimmer ultraportables we've seen, at just 2.54x25.4x20.32 cms. Credit most of the weight and bulk loss to the single-spindled design, which houses a 20GB hard drive. The 10.4-inch, 1,024x768 active-matrix LCD screen is adequately sized for basic computing, but spreadsheet jockeys will probably want a system with a larger display. The main unit offers a good helping of slots, ports, and connectors, including a single Type II PC Card slot; one IrDA and two USB ports; VGA, 56K modem, and 10/100 Ethernet connectors; and headphone and microphone jacks.
No deadweight
The Evo N200 may be small, but it sure is fast. In our labs' tests, it easily outperformed its likeliest ultraportable competitor, the Sony SR-33K. The six-celled lithium-polymer battery that ships with the unit lasted a little less than 2.5 hours, which is average for its class. Install the optional, 230-gram lithium-ion cell to double your work time (Compaq's claim). As a nice design bonus, when the extra battery is installed, you can swing it underneath the notebook's body to prop up the Evo N200 at an angle.
EDITORS' RATING: 7.2
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6With that much battery life, you're sure to keep busy on the plane, and working shouldn't be too much of a chore. For most entertainment purposes, however, you'll have to plug the Evo N200 into the optional Mobile Expansion Unit (MEU), which ranges in price from US$239 to $439, depending on whether you buy it with a 24X CD-ROM, CD-R/RW, or 8X DVD-ROM drive. You can also buy other drives to use with the MEU, including a floppy drive (US$69), a second hard disk (US$699-$849), or a Zip 250 drive (US$299). The MEU also houses the speakers and more ports: serial, parallel, two PS/2, an additional VGA, and two extra USB ports. DVD and audio playback looked and sounded fine, but you can't use headphones with the MEU.
Sittin' on the dock with the bays
Despite the MEU's flexibility, we didn't really like its design or implementation. For one, Compaq didn't include any sort of quick-release utility for undocking the notebook. That means you have to use Windows' Unplug/Eject function for each device on the dock (drive, parallel port, serial port) or suffer the irritating error messages. Compaq also bucks the slice trend in docking stations, serving up a 2.8-pound clunker that you'll prefer to leave at home.
The Mobile Expansion Unit is rather thick; when connected to the Evo N200, it raises the keyboard about 1.5 inches, making typing fairly awkward. Too bad, because the 102 keys have good travel, pitch, and layout for a unit of this size. A touchpad and two mouse buttons sit below the spacebar; Compaq claims there's a utility to fine-tune the touchpad's sensitivity, but we couldn't find one.
Please Note:It has not been confirmed if the MEU will be shipped into the Australian market however, this may change. For more information please contact Compaq directly.
For corporate users who just need to check e-mail and work on simple documents and spreadsheets while they're traveling, the Evo N200 offers a good combination of performance and features in a lightweight package. But its awkward docking station and lack of integrated wireless could leave some travelers wanting.
Compaq Evo N200
Company:Compaq Australia
Ph: 13 23 93
Price: AU$3,995
What these scores mean
Value: Weighs the overall merits of the product versus its price relative to other products in the notebook PC category. We look for the notebook that delivers the most bang for the buck.
Service and Support: Assesses the support policies including warranty length (parts and labor), turnaround time for repair, inclusion of on-site service, and online support services.
Design: Evaluates the physical design of the notebook PC, chiefly size and weight. Also important: the keyboard and cursor controls, the positioning of the ports and slots, and, of course, aesthetics.
Features: Weighs the features of the notebook PC from basics (processor, memory, hard drive, and display) to optical drives, communications features, and ports and expansion slots.
Performance: Gauges the overall performance of the notebook PC on a variety of applications, primarily based on results using independent benchmark tests. Also includes battery life as measured using BatteryMark test.
Setup and Ease of Use: Rates the out-of-box experience as well as ease of use on an ongoing basis. Pluses include printed and electronic documentation, programmable hot-keys, and hardware audio controls.
7%
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