One nice thing about getting PC Magazine in the mail every couple
weeks: it helps me compare the Mac world with the PC world. On the high
MHz front, we're taking a beating, although there's a lot more to
computing than megahertz.
But Apple's ace in the hole is the iBook, one of the least expensive
portable computers on the market today. This article will walk us
through the Wintel laptops selling for under US$2,000 in the March 7,
2000 issue of PC Magazine and models found on those company's web
sites. (Note that a lot of these specs came from company web sites,
since they list minimal data in their ads - often forgetting important
things like size and weight. Unless otherwise noted, these models have
an 800 x 600 SVGA display.)
IBM ThinkPad i Series 1541
At $1,999, this one just squeaks into our price range. It's $200
more expensive than the iBook SE. Like the iBooks, it has 64 MB of
memory, a 6 GB hard drive, a 12.1" active matrix screen, a 24x CD-ROM,
and a 56k modem. Unlike any Mac, it has a 466 MHz Mobile Celeron
processor. Standard software includes Windows 98 Second Edition (SE)
and Office 2000.
The ThinkPad is a very attractive black machine with no touchpad.
Instead it uses small pointer built into the keyboard.
IBM's site notes travel weight at 7.5 pounds (vs. 6.6 pounds for
the iBook), but I can't find dimensions anywhere.
Compared to the iBook SE with a 366 MHz G3 processor at $200 less,
the ThinkPad 1541 takes second place.
IBM ThinkPad i Series 1421
IBM also has a less expensive line starting at $1,499. For $100 less
than the iBook, you get half the memory, a bit more weight than the
1541 (7.8 pounds), and a 13" "High Performance" screen replaces the TFT
active matrix display of the iBook and ThinkPad 1541. The Mobile
Celeron 466 probably offers similar power to the iBook's 300 MHz G3,
but 32 MB really isn't enough for Windows.
For value, I'd rate the 1421 and iBook a tie.
Gateway Solo 2150CS
The $1,599 Solo falls somewhere between the original iBook and the
Revision B (64 MB RAM, 6 GB hard drive), shipping with a 12.1" active
matrix display, 32 MB of memory, a 4.3 GB hard drive, a 24x CD-ROM, a
56k modem, and ATI Mobility graphics. Software is Windows 98 SE and
Microsoft Works Suite, not Office.
The Solo runs a 433 MHz Celeron, which is in the same performance
ballpark as the G3/300. But at the same price as the iBook, the Gateway
loses out due to less memory and a smaller hard drive.
Gateway Solo 1100
This is Gateway's inexpensive laptop, selling for just $1,199! It
uses a regular color screen instead of the superior active matrix
screen - something common on less costly Wintel laptops. However, it
does offer the same 433 MHz Celeron as the Solo 2150CS, the same 32 MB
of memory, and a marginally larger 4.8 GB hard drive. Weight matches
the iBook, and it's a bit smaller.
Believe me, I was surprised to find a laptop at this price. It makes
me wonder if Apple could trim several hundred off the iBook's price by
using a less expensive display. Then again, Apple has used dual scan
passive matrix screens in the past and abandoned that technology.
The Solo 1100 looks like a lot of laptop for the money, but the Gateway
site makes no mention of memory upgrade options. That's a serious
problem. (Gateway does offer memory upgrades for the 2150CS.)
Fujitsu LifeBook B Series
Now here's a laptop that thinks different! The Fujitsu weighs less
than half what the iBook does at about 3 pounds, has a 10.4" touch
screen TFT display, and even includes a 10/100 ethernet port. I'm sure
the keyboard is a bit on the cramped side, but with prices starting at
$1,799 (64 MB RAM, 6.4 GB hard drive), it's an attractive alternative
to the bulky Apple offerings.
The 400 MHz Celeron offers a bit less performance than the G3/300 in
the iBook, but speed isn't the selling point here. If only something
this small and light ran the Mac OS!
Fujitsu LifeBook E Series
From the compact to the desktop replacement - the LifeBook E Series
uses a 14.1" XGA (1024 x 768) active matrix display just like the
PowerBook. The least expensive configuration has a 450 MHz Celeron
processor, 64 MB of memory, and 6 GB hard drive. At $1,999, it's more
expensive than the iBook SE, yet it offers a larger screen, less weight
(6.0 pounds), and even wireless mouse support.
Performance should be comparable to the iBook SE, yet the huge
screen merits comparison with the $2,499 PowerBook (whose 400 MHz G3
would blow any 450 MHz Celeron into the weeds). I'd call it comparable
in value to the iBooks.
Dell Inspiron 3800
The features are starting to sound familiar: 12.1" TFT display, 32
MB of memory, a 4.8 GB hard drive, 24x CD-ROM, RAGE Mobility video, and
a 433 MHz Celeron processor. At $1,499, it costs less than the iBook
and offers similar performance. But the iBook has more memory and a
larger hard drive.
The iBook wins this comparison.
Compaq, Toshiba, NEC, Sony
These brands were mentioned or had ads, but didn't make the cut.
None of the Compaq models were under $2,000. The NEC ad had no price or
URL (what, don't they want us to visit their web site?). And although
Toshiba was featured in a CDW ad, I didn't see anything approaching
this price range. I didn't see the Sony Vaio in this issue.
Conclusion
First off, I'll admit that some of these Wintel laptops look like
excellent values. If I only had $1,200 and wasn't a confirmed Mac user,
that Gateway Solo 1100 would merit consideration. Still, 32 MB is just
adequate for Windows 98 (or Mac OS 8.6) and it may not be
expandable.
In the $1,499-1,799 range, some models offer comparable base
features and similar performance with the iBook and iBook SE. The first
drawback for the Mac user is Windows, but for 85-90% of buyers, that's
not a big deal.
However, the iBooks have standard features you don't always find in
Wintel laptops: incredible battery life (another thing you'd be hard
pressed to find in Wintel ads or web sites), 10/100 ethernet,
AppleWorks (which pretty much killed Microsoft Works on the Mac), and
even a choice of colors. Then there's the iBook's trump card: AirPort.
Add a $100 card that fits inside the computer, which already has an
antenna, instead of spending twice that for a PC Card.
The Fujitsu LifeBooks are the only interesting alternatives to the
iBooks: the B Series because of its small size, light weight, and touch
screen, and the E Series for offering a 14.1" TFT display at under
$2,000.
When all is said and done, thanks to the recent boost in memory and
drive size, along with the addition of a faster model, the iBooks holds
their own against Wintel laptops in the $1,499 to $1,799 price
range.
Still, I'd love to see Apple offer something like the LifeBook B
Series. Just imagine a PowerBook Lite with a touch screen, tiny
footprint, and weighing just three pounds.
