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How to choose a notebook computer

By Caroline Ferguson

Notebook and sub-notebook computers, once an oddity on campus, have become ubiquitous. Their portability has made them especially attractive to the academic community--for notetaking in the library, classroom, or office, as well as for conducting field research. As a result of increases in power and functionality, a notebook model can now serve as a primary system, not merely as an expensive second computer that lacks the capabilities of a desktop machine.

For the DOS/Windows user, the notebook marketplace presents a dizzying array of models, all seeming to offer different features. For those considering a Macintosh notebook, the number of options is less intimidating, but making a choice requires no less thought. How then do you choose?

Notebooks defined

Choosing a DOS/Windows notebook

In general, unless your budget or your needs dictate otherwise, you should adhere the Computing Resource Center's guidelines for purchasing a DOS/Windows desktop computer. The minimum configuration the CRC recommends is a 20 to 25 MHz 80386sx processor, 4 Mbytes of RAM (Random Access Memory), and a VGA (Video Graphics Array) display. If you don't plan to run Windows, the only compromise you might consider is a more modest hard drive: 40 or 60 Mbytes rather than the minimum 80 Mbytes that is recommended with a desktop system.

A computer with the configuration described above will give you the horsepower you need to use the notebook as your primary system if you wish. If your needs and your budget are very modest and you are simply looking for note-taking capability rather than a computing powerhouse, a notebook or a sub-notebook with an 80286 processor, 1 or 2 Mbytes of RAM, and a hard drive of 20 to 40 Mbytes should be an adequate platform. A system with this basic configuration cannot, however, run Microsoft Windows, and has no growth path.

Once you have determined your base needs, you should consider expansion options. Being able to update the microprocessor, add more RAM, and increase the size of the hard disk can increase the useful life span of your system considerably. The ability to add an external monitor or to connect to an external chassis known as a docking station, which can be used to support expansion options such as a network card, will make your notebook more useful as a desktop system.

Also consider usability, primarily in relation to the keyboard and screen. Try to do hands-on testing if possible.

Is the keyboard full size? If some keys serve multiple functions, is it easy to access the other functions? Are the function keys easy to reach and manipulate? This is especially important if you use an application such as WordPerfect. Are there 10 or 12 function keys? Are they full size or smaller? Does the keyboard have a numeric keypad or can one be added? This is of special importantance to spreadsheet users. The overall feel and the applications you plan to use should be your guide in determining what a usable keyboard is. What may be acceptable for basic word processing may not be acceptable for other purposes.

Of equal importance is the quality of the display. Again, usability depends on your particular needs and on the conditions under which you will be working. There is, however, one "must have." Backlighting or sidelighting, the presence of a light source, usually a fluorescent tube, at the side or back of the computer's display is critical. It prevents the display from washing out or fading in bright light, like daylight.

Screen type is another feature to consider. On notebook systems, active-matrix displays, especially color active-matrix displays, are the closest in quality to the screens found on desktop systems. They are easy to read from any angle, whereas other types of displays (for example, passive-matrix displays) are most legible when viewed straight on; at other angles, the screen image tends to fade. Active-matrix displays also do not "ghost," while passive-matrix screens produce a shadow that tracks the movement of the cursor. Unfortunately, active- matrix screens are expensive, so many notebooks use the less expensive passive-matrix technology.

A third useful feature is grayscale capability, the ability to display graphics and text in black, white, and shades of gray. Grayscale capability is especially useful in the display of charts and graphs.

The length of time the batteries hold their charge is the final factor to be aware of when choosing a portable machine. Most batteries let you work for about two hours, and this time can be increased by an hour or more though the use of power management features. Newer models are beginning to use nickel hydride batteries, which hold a charge for a longer time.

Choosing a Macintosh notebook

The PowerBook family is Apple's notebook line, offering Macintosh users a selection of powerful machines in a well designed package. PowerBooks offer the feature for which Apple has become famous: consistency. No matter which model you purchase, the keyboard layout and the pointing device, a built-in trackball, are the same. You are not faced with the multitude of features that make choosing a system in the the DOS/Windows market so difficult. Decide on the microprocessor speed, hard disk capacity, display, and an optional FPU (Floating Point Unit), and you will have made most of your major choices.

The PowerBook line is based on the 68030 microprocessor, with processor speeds of 25 MHz in the low-end models and 33 MHz in the high- end Model 180. As with DOS/Windows systems, make your choice on the basis of intended use. Select the 33 MHz model and an FPU if you are planning on working with statistics or complex spread-sheets. A model without an FPU and the slower 25 MHz clock speed would be more than sufficient for word processing. The CRC recommended minimum for a hard drive is 80 Mbytes. Note that the faster the processor and the larger the hard drive, the more costly the system.

Display options in the PowerBook line are limited. At the low- end, you can choose the PowerBook 145 with a backlit monochrome display or the 160 with a backlit gray-scale display. The backlit displays are sharp, but like most LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screens, they are not as clear as the displays for desktop systems. The color version of the PowerBook--the 165c--uses a passive-matrix color display. The quality of the color is reasonable but not as good as on desktop Macintoshes. At the high end, the Power-Book 180 has an active-matrix grayscale display that is nearly as bright and sharp as the display on a desktop system. Active-matrix color systems are expected in fall, 1993.

The PowerBook Duo line, also based on the 68030 processor, is Apple's foray into the sub-notebook category. The Duo 210 runs at 25 MHz and the 230 runs at 33 MHz; both have grayscale displays. In creating the Duo line, Apple's goal was to offer users the smallest and lightest "real" Macintosh available. To accomplish this goal, certain features that are standard with the PowerBook line, such as the floppy drive, are external options, and only a limited number of ports used to connect devices like SCSI hard drives are built in. In order to have the full expansion capability of a desktop system or a PowerBook, the Duo plugs into a docking station that provides access to expansion options such as a larger hard drive or a large screen monitor. When choosing a PowerBook Duo, the same criteria apply as in choosing a PowerBook.

Additional considerations

And what if your notebook breaks? Most manufacturers have a one- year warranty on their systems, but be fore-warned that most require you to return the system for service. Many vendors also offer optional service contracts that provide on-site, on-the-road service. Check out the available service and support options before you make your purchase.

In addition to considering what you plan to use the computer for, your budget, and your own preferences for display, keyboard, and other features, also consider communications (see sidebar opposite) and University directions in support. A University-wide task force is currently meeting to select products for the annual fall truckload sale of computers. We expect that Macintosh and DOS/Windows notebooks at favorable prices will be included. Look for announcements in the early summer.

Sidebar: Networking your notebook computer

If you plan to use your notebook computer to access electronic mail, library databases, administrative systems, PennInfo, or other University or Internet resources, you must give careful consideration to communications hardware and software.

For remote access to PennNet, you will require either an internal or external modem. If you travel frequently, you will appreciate the convenience and reduced weight of a built-in modem (although a modem's power requirements will lead to more frequent battery recharging). Since travelers are often subject to toll charges (and hotel surcharges), consider purchasing a modem that operates at 14,400 bps (V32bis), rather than the lower cost "standard" 2400 bps. High-speed modems will also enable you to utilize SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol), for such services as FTP (see Penn Printout, November 1992). Any 2400-bps modem should work with PennNet; DCCS recommendations for high-speed modems compatible with the PennNet modem pool will be published in the April issue.

On-campus asynchronous (slow-speed) access to PennNet should be no problem, since nearly all notebook computers feature a built-in serial port. Connecting a Macintosh Powerbook to a LocalTalk network is also straightforward.

On-campus Ethernet connections are problematic, however, since

• Notebook computers rarely have a provision for built-in Ethernet cards (although external adapters and "docks" are available for many models)

• Not all Ethernet wall jacks are identical (in particular, the "10baseT" connections planned for the residence halls are not compatible with most Ethernet connections now found in offices and labs)

• Moving a computer from one Ethernet jack to another may invalidate the internal PennNet addressing information