The Versa 6030H ($5799) is our best-overall portable Pentium because
it is fast, feature-packed, and easy to use. The 9.5-pound unit races
through our benchmarks with a 133-MHz Pentium processor, 256 KB of
synchronous pipeline cache memory, a PCI bus, and 2 MB of video
memory. The Versa 6030H is a strong multimedia machine with
hardware-accelerated MPEG for full-motion, full-screen video
playback; a six-speed CD-ROM drive for fast data transfers; and
excellent 16-bit stereo sound. The system also has a healthy bundle
of applications and telephony features for those who need to keep in
touch with the office.
Weighting:
Tech
nology 10%
Performance 35%
Implementation 55%
Features 23%
Usability 23%
Battery 5%
Price 4%
Ratings:
Price Tech- Imple- Perfor- Fea- Usa- Battery
OVERALL
nology menta- mance tures bility
RATING
tion
NEC Versa 6030H $5799 **** **** ***** **** ***** *** ****
WinBook FX $3999 **** **** **** **** ***** *** ****
Toshiba Tecra $4999 **** **** **** **** ***** **** ****
500CDT
Impulse Duonote $4699 **** **** **** **** **** *** ****
Compaq LTE 5300 $6398 **** **** **** **** **** ** ****
Key
***** Outstanding
**** Very Good
*** Good
** Fair
* Poor
With its st
rong performance score, the Versa 6030H is also our choice
for best desktop replacement. It is not only efficient but flexible
with its easily accessible Versabay II, which supports a floppy
drive, an extra hard drive, an extra battery, or the CD-ROM drive.
For an extra $799, NEC offers even more desktop functionality with
its Docking Station 6000, which has three expansion-card slots, three
drive bays, built-in speakers, four audio ports, and an RJ-11 phone
jack.
Weighting:
Battery 10%
Usability 40%
Features 40%
Price 10%
Ratings:
Price Tech- Imple- Perfor- Fea- Usa- Battery
OVERALL
nology menta- mance tures bility
RATING
tion
NEC Versa 6030H $5799 **** **** ***** **** ***** *** ****
Toshiba Tecra $4999 **** **** **** **** ***** **** ****
500CDT
Compaq LTE 5300 $63
98 **** **** **** **** **** ** ****
Nimantics $3999 **** *** **** **** *** *** ****
Quanta 6x 133
HP OmniBook $6120 **** **** *** ***** **** ** ****
5500 CTS
Key
***** Outstanding
**** Very Good
*** Good
** Fair
* Poor
You don't have to pay $6000 for a multimedia notebook. The WinBook FX
goes for $3999 and sacrifices little. With a 133-MHz Pentium, 16 MB
of RAM, and 1 MB of video memory, the WinBook FX does admirably in
our performance benchmarks. The 6.8-pound laptop has an 11.3-inch
SVGA display, Sound Blaster Pro-compatible sound, a 1.3-GB hard
drive, and a lithium-ion battery that lasts 2 hours and 38 minutes in
our Thumper II run-down test.
Weighting:*
Technology 10%
Performance 35%
Implementation 55%
Features 23%
Usability 23%
Battery 5%
Pri
ce 4%
*Sub-$4000 notebooks only
Ratings:
Price Tech- Imple- Perfor- Fea- Usa- Battery
OVERALL
nology menta- mance tures bility
RATING
tion
WinBook FX $3999 **** **** **** **** ***** *** ****
Nimantics $3999 **** *** **** **** *** *** ***
Quanta 6x 133
TI Extensa $2999 **** **** *** **** **** ** ***
570 CDT
Dell Latitude $2999 **** **** ** **** **** ***** ***
LM P-133ST
AMS Tech $3695 **** **** *** **** **** *** ***
TravelPro 1900
Key
***** Outstanding
**** Very Good
*** Good
** Fair
* Poor
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Pentium Portables Ratings
