TECH WATCH

Notebook computers
Portable Power

Latest notebooks from Dell, Gateway address diverse demands for size, performance, and power.

BY MIKE ANTONIAK

Technology once arrived in discernible waves, defined by seasonal rollouts and introductions of the latest hardware. These days, though, it might be more apt to say new tech appears in ripples, as vendors continually improve and upgrade their lines with a seemingly endless stream of models, unveiled throughout the year.

Over the past two months, for example, both Dell and Gateway each have announced the latest additions to their respective notebook lineups. These new offerings—which address the diverse demands of mobile professionals with a range of innovations or features—make a good case for why your next computer or desktop replacement should be a notebook.

Key Improvements in Notebooks

When you shop for a notebook computer, keep some key comparison points in mind:

• Monitor size. You’ll be hearing terms like wide aspect or widescreen used to describe some monitors. Such screens offer a wider-aspect ratio or viewing area in relation to screen height than is common in previous generations of notebooks. These new screens make it easier to display multiple windows, pages, or applications at once.
  
• Battery life. Extended battery life also is emerging as a key point of comparison when shopping for a portable PC. Both Dell and Gateway now offer optional battery packs for select models that can extend computer use in the field to six hours or more. That should be enough power to carry most real estate practitioners through the day without the need to recharge or replace the power supply.
  
  If portable battery power is the most important to you in a notebook computer, you might want to take a look at Gateway’s recently added M460 notebook. The distinguishing feature here is a modular multi-cell battery system that Gateway says delivers up to 10 hours of power in the field. The system comes with a 12-cell lithium ion battery and an additional six-cell battery can be inserted into the computer’s modular expansion bay to extend battery life further. A $1,389 configuration of the M460S, the basic model, includes both the 12-cell and six-cell modular batteries. Other features of this Centrino notebook include a 1.3GHz Celeron M processor, 256MB RAM, 40GB hard drive, 15-inch LCD monitor, CD-RW/DVD drive, and 802.11g Wi-Fi support.
  
• Power. Those approaching a new notebook as a full-powered desktop replacement or primary PC should take a look at Gateway’s new M680. One of the big features of this system is its 17-inch widescreen LCD monitor for comfortable viewing in any setting. The basic configuration of this notebook, the M680S, carries a $1,399 price tag. This 7.7-pound Centrino system includes a 1.6GHz Pentium M processor, 512MB RAM, 40GB hard drive, and CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive. The software bundle includes Windows XP Home edition and Microsoft Works 8.0.
  
• Portability. The very latest model from Dell puts the emphasis on ultra-portability. The Latitude X1 is Dell’s smallest and lightest notebook to date. The unit weighs just 2.5 pounds, is less than an inch thick, and measures 7.7-by-11.26 inches. You’ll trade screen size for the portability: the X1’s wide-aspect screen measures 12.1 inches when measured diagonally, which is on the small side for notebook monitors.
  
• Durable casing. Dell’s Latitude X1’s case is specifically designed for the rigors of the road with a reinforced LCD back for added protection and a sealed keyboard to prevent against damage from spills. A $1,699 version of the Latitude X1 includes a 1.1GHz Centrino processor, 256MB RAM, 30GB hard drive, and built-in support for Wi-Fi 802.11b/g and Bluetooth. Dell also offers the optional 6-cell battery required for six hours of operation for $129.
  
• Cost. For those looking for a more economical solution to mobile computing, Dell has added the Inspiron 2200 notebook to its lineup. This basic system should serve your needs if you’re primarily interested in mobile access to the Internet, sending and receiving e-mail, and using productivity suites such as Microsoft Works. Economy is the enticement here: The entry configuration of this 6-pound notebook is priced at $849. For that, you get a 1.4GHz Intel Celeron processor, 256MB RAM, 30GB hard drive, 14.1-inch LCD monitor, and a DVD-ROM drive. It comes bundled with your choice of Windows XP Home or Professional edition.
  
  Gateway’s offering to budget-minded users is the new M360S. This 6.1-pound notebook also starts at $849 for a basic configuration. That buys you a 1.3GHz processor, 256MB of RAM, 15.4-inch LCD monitor, CD-ROM drive, 802.11g wireless compatibility, and a six-cell, 3.5-hour battery. The software bundle includes Windows XP Home and Microsoft Works.
  

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Do you have technology you’d like to learn more about or a new user twist that you’d like to share with your peers? Let me know about it by e-mailing antoniak@dtccom.net, and I’ll do my best to give it the coverage it deserves.