Mid-sized Dothan Notebook Roundup: Dell, Gateway, and HP/Compaq
by Andrew Ku on September 30, 2004 1:09 AM EST- Posted in
- Laptops
HP/Compaq NC6000: In the Field
FanThe system fan cuts in and out depending on the CPU's heat, but even when it is on, it isn't very loud. It seems that due to the NC6000's overall larger footprint, HP can use a smaller and less powerful fan to accomplish the job. Just typing away, it is somewhat hard to hear the fan, for a couple of reasons: one, obviously being the noise of the keyboard buttons, and the other being the noise of the hard drive. The hum of the hard drive being accessed seems louder than the other two notebooks in this roundup, which falls in line with the notebook's specs (5400RPM vs 4200RPM). If you are just accounting for the CPU fan at mid-speed, it is more like a whirling whisper than anything else. So, HP definitely got this done right. Max fan speed only happens when the CPU goes to max load for a reasonable time, so the real noticeable fan noise cuts in for just a few seconds. If you are playing a DVD at mid-volume, you can hear the CPU fan speed barely, and if you are just doing some word processing, you won't reach the max setting.
Heat
This notebook seems to stay cooler than the other two notebooks. We attribute this to the notebook's overall larger footprint, which gives it more surface area to displace its heat emissions. Based on our use, the area that the hard drive occupies (upper-left quadrant) gets warmer than the adjacent area (upper-right quadrant), which is where the GPU and CPU are located.
Keyboard
Click to enlarge.
The tactile feedback is better than the Dell's D600 and Gateway's 320XL, in our opinion, but it isn't quite up to the same quality as those that we see on IBM's ThinkPad line. Overall, it still is better than probably about 75% of the other notebooks on the market in terms of keyboard quality, and it is better than the average business notebook.
The control key and function key are located in the correct spot: control key at the bottom left corner with the function key to the right of it. Like Dell, HP has dedicated page up, page down, home, and end keys, which are located in the upper right hand corner of the keyboard. There is no combination of function key + another key to turn on and off WiFi/Bluetooth. Instead, this button is located as a function button above the keyboard. There is also a lock button, which just logs you out, and a presentation key, which can switch back and forth between specific resolutions. This is definitely a plus for those who need to carry their notebook to meetings and hook it up to the company projector.
TouchPad & Buttons
Click to enlarge.
The touchpad is just what we expect in a high end business notebook, good texture with a mid-level feedback. High sensitivity is not necessarily something we have gotten use to. Though, some people do prefer the D600 for specifically this reason.
One of the previous aspects of Compaq's Presario business notebooks have been their curvature buttons, as well as touchpad. The NC6000 follows suit in a similar manner. The buttons, though, are not as curved. In our opinion, the NC6000 got the proportions and curvature just right. However, we should note that some have suggested that HP increase the size and the touchpad.
We definitely like the addition of the pointer, which HP calls "PointStick". While a lot of people don't care for it, the option of having it there is something that we have found to be a benefit.
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Gholam - Saturday, October 2, 2004 - link
IBM not performance machines? X-series, yes, but find me a performance laptop that weighs just over a kilo :) T42 on the other hand, can be configured with Pentium M 745 and Mobility Radeon 9600, which should give you pretty decent gaming capability. Of course it isn't as powerful as those Mobility Radeon 9800 based models, and the price ($3000-3500, depending on other components) is somewhat uncomfortable, but it's by no means weak.Souka - Saturday, October 2, 2004 - link
Oh yes... I forgot to mention that I oversee the people who do the purchasing, repair, and I get feedback on reliablity of over 2000 units in the field and office....:)
Souka - Saturday, October 2, 2004 - link
Actually, I find these laptops between the IBM X40 and the T42.My company uses only IBM laptops both at the corporate level, the branches, and our sales force. Office workers use the T series...from the T20 on up to the T42p. (I'm typing on a T41 right now and will be using a T42 soon). The X series....from the X21 on up to the X40...are used by most of the sales-team....with some T series tossed in there.
Let me say HANDS DOWN, that IBM has proven their value to us....Period. Occasionally we evaluate Toshiba, Gateway, Dell.....they don't last the mininum 3 year life cycle....
For public use, I don't always recommend IBM...they're definetly not performance machines....Games? forget it...
Nuf Said.
Gholam - Saturday, October 2, 2004 - link
#17, I'm a technician, and I can say this: HP assembly quality _SUCKS_. Really it does. It looks like they use 10lb hammers and chisels to make the parts fit somehow, and don't give a damn what happens afterwards. Some parts rattle; others are wedged in so tight there is no way to remove them without breaking something, and it's been the case with pretty much every HP laptop that I came across in the last couple years. I'm not a big fan of Dell either, but at least they are better than HP.andyman7 - Friday, October 1, 2004 - link
why not try testing some laptops besides the big name brands?im typing this on a compal cl56
it is 6lbs, has a 1.7ghz dothan, 512mb ram, 60gb 5400rpm hd, 128mb mobility radeon 9700, 15in sxga+ screen, dvd/cd-rw, and over 4 hours of battery life when using light applications
and i got it for $1600
also what about the sager line of laptops?
most of those are definately DTRs but should definately be looked at
notebookforums.com has a lot of info on many other oem laptops too
anyway, the cl56 im using has become REALLY popular so it might be a good idea to try testing one (if you can get a review sample)
stateofbeasley - Friday, October 1, 2004 - link
Gholam - HP/Compaq is actually superior to Dell IMO when it comes to business notebooks.People sometimes say "brand X sucks," but don't realize that quality and service can vary significantly among a company's many product lines.
As for Powerbooks - they don't compete with business machines like the nc6000 and D600. It would be more appropriate to compare them with Dell's 8600/D800 line and Compaq's X1000 type (widescreen 15" multimedia platform).
Gholam - Friday, October 1, 2004 - link
#15, if there was a Thinkpad in the review, it would've been unfair, as no onther notebook vendor is even remotely close to standing up to IBM in terms of quality and engineering. I rank the top four notebook vendors in the following order: IBM, Toshiba, then Dell, and lastly HP/Compaq.Boardmonger - Friday, October 1, 2004 - link
Can we say IBM Thinkpad T42p? I would love to see it thrown in the review ;)trikster2 - Thursday, September 30, 2004 - link
One thing that struck me is how much dell just seems to ignore how important battery life is. My D800 gets about two and a half hours, miserble. My C400 is not much better.
I'm in the market for a laptop, considering everything including the macs and this review was very helpful.
just want to say, since my above post could be taken negatively:
Great review!
trikster2 - Thursday, September 30, 2004 - link
Another vote for the macs. For most business laptop use, as these are designed for they are fine subs for their pc brethern.
I find it amazing that the 17" power book is only 6.9lbs close in weight to these ugly (comparitively) PC bricks.