Thanks to the processing power of 486-class CPUs, all the notebooks in this review could qualify as desktop replacements. However, we limited the field to systems that provide external resolutions of up to 1024 by 768 pixels, accept 300-MB or larger hard drives, and support a docking station. Fourteen qualified.
The NEC UltraliteVersa 33C and the two other notebooks ranked for Best Overall (33 MHz or slower) contain 33-MHz 486SL processors and feature 9.5-inch active-matrix displays. The UltraliteVersa's display produced the highest overall screen quality for this application and tied for the best within our entire test sample.
The Micro-International HCP Performance Series, Model 6500M, takes top honors in the High Performance category (40 MHz or faster). Three of the four leaders in this category contain active-matrix c
olor displays. The Model 6500M was the monochrome exception.
Micro-International uses a VL-Bus IDE interface in the Model 6500M, which ran the fastest in our disk-intensive FoxPro benchmark.
The Austin 466D stands out in our Low Cost category (systems below $4000) with its $2999 price tag. All three ranked systems in the Low Cost category contain dual-scan displays, which help reduce cost but provide below-average color quality when compared to active-matrix color models.
Ratings for This Application Considered
WINDOWS AND DOS PERFORMANCE 45%
DISPLAY QUALITY 15%
BATTERY LIFE 15%
EASE OF USE 10%
FEATURES 10%
PRICE 5%
One system for the office and the road...
BEST OVERALL
NEC UltraliteVersa 33C
This notebook is among the top performers in its class, and its active-matrix color display is second to none. The NEC computer outr
uns the Toshiba T4600C and AST PowerExec 4/33SL-ColorPlus in all our application-based and low-level benchmarks. The efficiency of the NEC's IBM hard drive subsystem is evident in the FoxPro test (2.4 times faster than the baseline notebook). The unit is also proficient in the Windows low-level benchmarks: It achieved a 4.6 score compared to 2.7 and 2.2 for the Toshiba and AST notebooks, respectively. The UltraliteVersa 33C has a well-spaced keyboard, and a standard cabled mouse attaches to either side of the unit to accommodate both right- and left-handed users. An LCD indicator window clearly displays status information (e.g., battery-charge level), and the system's documentation stands out for its clarity and comprehensiveness. The notebook supports only 12 MB of RAM, but it accommodates a 340-MB IDE hard drive, and its optional ($609) expansion chassis provides two ISA expansion slots and two drive bays.
OVERALL EASE
PRICE CPU SPEED OF USE
BEST NEC UltraliteVersa 33C $5428 SL/33 3.52 ****
RUNNER-UP Toshiba T4600C $4898 SL/33 3.13 ***
RUNNER-UP AST PowerExec 4/33SL-ColorPlus $4565 SL/33 2.99 ***
BATTERY
LIFE MAX.
(HOURS: SCREEN SCREEN RAM
MIN) QUALITY TYPE (MB)
BEST NEC UltraliteVersa 33C 2:41 **** Color 12
RUNNER-UP Toshiba T4600C 4:34 ** Color 20
RUNNER-UP AST PowerExec 4/33SL-ColorPlus 3:50 *** Color 32
KEY
Poor *
Fair **
Good ***
Excellent ****
For speed and flexibility...
HIGH PERFORMANCE
Micro-International HCP Model 6500M
VL-Bus video and
IDE interfaces contribute to fine overall performance: The notebook is 2.8 times faster than the baseline machine in the disk-intensive FoxPro benchmark. Priced almost $2300 less than the AMS 5366 ACT, the Model 6500M is also among the top three systems in battery life. It ran for close to 5 hours on its nickel-cadmium battery pack. The unit features a large 9.5-inch monochrome display, supports up to 20 MB of RAM, and accommodates a 340-MB hard drive. The optional $520 expansion chassis provides four ISA expansion slots and two drive bays. The system features a comfortable keyboard, and its trackball is solid and easy to control. If speed and color are requirements, the AMS 5366 ACT outran the closest competitor in this group by almost 10 percent.
OVERALL EASE
PRICE CPU SPEED OF USE
BEST Micro-International HCP Model 6500M $2600 DX2/66 4.56 ***
RUNNER-UP AMS 5366
ACT $4875 DX2/66 5.42 ***
RUNNER-UP Austin 466T $4499 DX2/66 4.98 **
RUNNER-UP Micro-International HCP Model 6500T $4100 DX2/66 4.73 ***
BATTERY
LIFE MAX.
(HOURS: SCREEN SCREEN RAM
MIN) QUALITY TYPE (MB)
BEST Micro-International HCP Model 6500M 4:54 *** Mono 20
RUNNER-UP AMS 5366 ACT 2:18 *** Color 32
RUNNER-UP Austin 466T 3:11 *** Color 32
RUNNER-UP Micro-International HCP Model 6500T 3:15 *** Color 20
KEY
Poor *
Fair **
Good ***
Excellent ****
Need low cost and high speed?
LOW COST
Austin 466D
With a list price of $2999, the A
ustin 466D is the most economical desktop replacement we ranked. It also significantly outperforms the runners-up. It is particularly proficient in video-intensive benchmarks, thanks to its Western Digital 90C24 video-processor chip. The notebook can display up to 256 colors (1024 by 768 pixels) on an external monitor. Colors produced on its dual-scan display were nondistinct, and its range of viewing angles is relatively small. However, display quality was not a strength for any of the notebooks ranked in this category. The Austin 466D can hold 32 MB of RAM and a hard drive of up to 340 MB. Its $299 expansion chassis accepts two ISA expansion cards and
two 3 1/2-inch storage devices. An integrated trackball is located in the middle of the unit.
OVERALL EASE
PRICE CPU SPEED OF USE
BEST Austin 466D $2999 DX2/66 4.80 **
RUNNER-UP Eurocom 8200D
$3500 DX2/66 3.17 **
RUNNER-UP Sager NP746D $3075 DX2/66 3.66 ***
BATTERY
LIFE MAX.
(HOURS: SCREEN SCREEN RAM
MIN) QUALITY TYPE (MB)
BEST Austin 466D 3:19 ** Color 32
RUNNER-UP Eurocom 8200D 3:29 ** Color 20
RUNNER-UP Sager NP746D 2:00 * Color 16
KEY
Poor *
Fair **
Good ***
Excellent ****
Desktop Replacement
