We assessed the performance of each notebook and subnotebook with BYTE's low-level benchmarks and with application and low-level Windows benchmarks developed by NSTL.
The BYTE low-level DOS benchmarks measure the performance of specific subsystems, such as the CPU, FPU, memory, video, and hard drive. Windows low-level tests determine how well a system can execute basic graphics calls. All Windows tests were executed in 640- by 480-pixel resolution in 16 colors, using vendor-specific video drivers (if supplied). In addition, NSTL's InterMark benchmark tests the low-level video throughput under Windows (system memory to screen, and system memory to system memory).
The application benchmarks consist of popular business applications for real-world performance measurements. For the DOS tests, we use WordPerfect 6.0, Lotus 1-2-3 release 3
.x, and FoxPro 2.5. Our Windows application test suite includes Microsoft Excel 5.0, Microsoft Word 6.0, WordPerfect 6.0, and Microsoft FoxPro 2.6.
Our performance ratings are indexes. A system's performance rating for a single benchmark is the best time divided by the system's time. The weighted average of the indexes for the individual tests is used to generate the overall performance rating.
EASE OF USE
We worked extensively with each notebook and assessed the quality of each keyboard by concentrating specifically on key placement.
We evaluated pointing devices in terms of their placement and ease of use for both right- and left-handed users. We also considered the quality of the status indicators.
We also evaluated the ease of installing new batteries and upgrading the system RAM.
FEATURES
We asked each vendor to complete a detailed questionnaire that encompassed a full range of features. The individual features were weighted according to their importance and were
used to calculate an overall features rating for each system.
SCREEN QUALITY
We evaluated three aspects of display quality: crispness, intensity/color range, and viewing-angle range. We ran numerous tests to examine clarity in both color and monochrome environments. We used DisplayMate Professional 1.0 from Sonera Technologies.
We measured the viewing-angle range of each display using a rotating platform that allowed us to move the test unit left and right until we detected visible distortion in the display.
To test color quality, we displayed a color bar on each of the color systems and divided displays into five categories.
BATTERY LIFE
We measured battery performance using BYTE's Thumper 2 battery-life tester. Thumper 2 re-creates real-world use by running a program that replicates a typical word processing session.
CONFIGURATION
Our testing was open to clock-doubled 486-class notebooks and 486-class subnotebooks running at any clock speed. We specified that the
notebooks had to have a minimum of 8 MB of RAM, contain hard drives with a minimum capacity of 120 MB, and weigh less than 10 pounds with their battery, AC adapter, and power cord. Each notebook also had to have an internal 3 1/2-inch floppy drive and a VGA display.
For inclusion in our review, subnotebooks had to contain 486-class processors and weigh less than 7 pounds with their battery packs, AC adapters, and external 3 1/2-inch floppy drives. The units were configured with 8 MB of system RAM and IDE hard drives.
Contributors
Alan Joch, Senior Editor/BYTE, coordinates the combined testing between the BYTE Lab and NSTL.
Siva Kumar, Senior Tester/NSTL, specializes in hardware and network-operating-systems testing.
Anthony J. Lennon, Project Manager/NSTL, evaluates portables, systems, peripherals, and network hardware.
The Lab Report is an ongoing collaborative project between BYTE magazine and National Software Testing Laboratories (NSTL). BYTE magazine and NSTL are both opera
How We Tested
