| Laptop comparison and recommendation |
| I helped my parents select a new laptop to replace their aging desktop system. I analyze four low-cost options and make a recommendation on which offers the best bang for the buck. |
 FeedbackBy Preston Hunt, 08 February 2002 |
Laptop comparison and recommendation for my parents
In this document, I compare the various options for a low-cost desktop-replacement laptop for my parents. They currently have a "home made" desktop system (300MHz Celeron running WinXP) that I built for them 5-6 years ago. They are looking to replace it with a laptop, not for the mobility reasons that a laptop offers, but because they don't like how much space the desktop system takes up with its monitor, keyboard, speakers, etc.
As such, the things they wanted in a new system included:
All-in-one compact package, but not necessarily lightweight (notebook-as-a-desktop-replacement)
CD-RW drive
Integrated modem
USB 1.0 support
Either track-point or touch-pad (they will probably add on an external mouse anyway)
Floppy drive
256MB or greater RAM
The things they really didn't care about included:
Integrated Ethernet
USB 2.0 and Firewire support
DVD player
Hard drive size
Video card
Screen size (at least 13.3" screen and 1024x768 resolution)
Models considered
Dell Inspiron 2650C (the "C" is for Celeron models; the regular 2650 has a Pentium 4)
IBM Thinkpad R40
Best Buy vpr Matrix
Toshiba S103
Comparison chart
| IBM Thinkpad R40 | Dell Inspiron 2650 | Toshiba S103 | vpr Matrix | |
| Info | cnet, ibm | zdnet, pcmag, cnet | ||
| Cost as configured | $849 | ~$850-950 | $650 | $1000 |
| Shipping | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Tax
( |
~$60 | $70 | ||
| Processor | 1.2G Celeron | 1.6G Celeron | 1.5G Celeron | 1.8G P4 |
| RAM | 128MB | 128MB | 256MB | 512MB |
| LCD | 13.3 TFT | 14.1 TFT | 14.1 TFT | 15.0 TFT |
| CD/DVD | CD | CD-RW | CD/DVD | CDRW/DVD |
| Video | Intel 830 | ATI 16MB | Radeon 32MB | |
| Modem | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| LAN | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes + 802.11b |
| HD | 20GB | 20GB | 30GB | |
| Weight | 6.55 lbs | 6.9 lbs |
Results
The vpr Matrix offers incredible value for the money. It was a pretty easy decision. I'll update this document with field results at a later date.