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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Monkeydonutstick - Thursday, September 30, 2004 - link
You can't be serious about comparing a Powerbook G4 to any of these. Powerbooks were owned by P3’s for Christ sake.plewis00 - Thursday, September 30, 2004 - link
I just wanted to point out as an nc6000 user that you didn't mention it's speakers (which as any Compaq user will know) are some of the best on any laptop - very rich with reasonable bass and strong volume, it easily rivals small stereos.Secondly, I don't think it's quite clear how much tougher the HP is than the Dell. I had both and pressing slightly on the Dell logo on the D600 would flex it down by about 3-4mm with very little pressure; the HP is far more robust, so it's size isn't that much of an issue (but the Dell is a bit of a headturner, the HP definitely isn't).
Also (only a small point) but given the Dell's and HP's graphics cards, a small 3D-based test (3DMark2001 SE?) wouldn't have gone amiss [that's the reason I had these machines for their size and graphics]. In seriousness, with that Gateway, what are you going to do with a 1.7Ghz Dothan CPU if not game sometimes, or that you couldn't do with a Pentium III-M 850Mhz?
manno - Thursday, September 30, 2004 - link
ksherman- "wheres the Macs? As far as im concerned, the Powerbook owns all these in terms of performance, size, weight, looks, and battery life... Its apparently even in the same price range as these "mid-sized" laptops... Bring on the Mac articles AT!"I have no clue about the technical aspect of the powerbooks size, weight, and battery life. But I do know you couldn't be more right about the looks... PLUS there's a Quake I... and I think a Quake II software renderer for Macs also... nudge nudge wink wink.
manno - Thursday, September 30, 2004 - link
SOFTWARE renderer origianl "Half-Life" or "Quake 2". Preferably Half-Life. Their software reneder is more taxing than Quake 2's. Old school, yes, but it's not biased tward desktop, or laptop video cards.peace on!... Crakers!
AndrewKu - Thursday, September 30, 2004 - link
#4 - Hopefully, we will get to that real soon.AndrewKu - Thursday, September 30, 2004 - link
#6 - Well, I hope we didn't knock it too much in the overall sense. But we are talking about the business user market segment, and we were putting more emphasis on the display more so than the other nic nacs.YaBaBom - Thursday, September 30, 2004 - link
I'm not a Gateway fan, but I think it's kind of silly to knock the Gateway laptop in the ratings because it doesn't have gigabit ethernet. Gigabit ethernet is nothing but a sales pitch as far as laptops are concerned, since the hard drives just arent capable of supplying data at gigabit speeds. I can tell you from experience that a D600 with gigabit doesnt transfer any faster than a C640 with 10/100 ethernet.brainwave64 - Thursday, September 30, 2004 - link
Great review! Very informative. It's hard to find good reviews of laptops that take into account things other than performance - like ergonomics, LED locations, battery life, weight, size, etc.--paperboy164
ksherman - Thursday, September 30, 2004 - link
wheres the Macs? As far as im concerned, the Powerbook owns all these in terms of performance, size, weight, looks, and battery life... Its apparently even in the same price range as these "mid-sized" laptops... Bring on the Mac articles AT!AndrewKu - Thursday, September 30, 2004 - link
#1 - A64 based laptops, at least so far, are those best reserved for the DTR market, and thus are focused on the performance aspect of the notebook market. If you want mobility, get a P-M based notebook.As for half-life or other gaming applications, one of these notebooks uses Intel's integrated graphic's system, so that wasn't something that was practical, and of the other two that use discrete GPUs, one uses a DX8 mobile graphics part.
#2 - Well... As far as weight and the general specs go, I think the whole market is becoming more and more grey. We will be back with a thin and light side of the Dothan market.