Compaq Evo N800w

WHAT'S HOT: This "workstation" version (as the vendor calls it) of Compaq's Evo N800 business laptop can be purchased with up to a whopping 2GB of system memory, twice as much as most other notebooks allow. It sports the same clever wireless design as other Evos: Instead of being built in, the 802.11b Wi-Fi antennas and radio card are located inside an optional, proprietary Compaq MultiPort module that attaches to the lid. Some people might prefer a built-in capability, but the modular approach should let you easily switch to other wireless technologies as modules for them become available.

The N800w has both touchpad and eraserhead pointing devices, each with its own set of easy-to-use directional buttons. The optical drive (a DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo in our unit) can be swapped out for an extra-cost second hard drive, a second battery, or a floppy drive. Finally, you get a roomy 15-inch screen.

WHAT'S NOT: Removing the hard drive could be easier. The retaining screw holding it in lies near the memory compartment, and you have to use a screwdriver to pry the end piece off. The N800w is also pretty expensive at $3354.

WHAT ELSE: We tested the N800w with 1GB of system RAM, not the full 2GB maximum--but 1GB is still at least twice what we see in most notebooks. However, the performance of our 2.2-GHz Pentium 4-M-equipped test machine, even with its healthy complement of memory, was comparable to an IBM ThinkPad R40 we reviewed last month with the same processor and only 256MB of RAM. The N800w earned a PC WorldBench 4 score of 105; the ThinkPad R40 posted a score of 107.

Aside from the monstrous amount of RAM it can harness, the N800w hews to the business mainstream. The case sports Compaq's signature dressy-casual look--mostly black with metallic accents, including a heavy chrome border around the deep-set touchpad. Other design highlights include a sturdy door over the rear connections, an easy-to-program set of quick-launch buttons, and a battery that pops conveniently out of the side (instead of dropping out of the bottom).

The keyboard and dual set of pointing devices are both easy to use, despite a short spacebar. Compaq doesn't splurge on fancy connections for this model--it has no FireWire port, for instance--but you do get an S-Video-out port for mirroring your desktop on a TV, and a parallel port. Audio from the stereo speakers sounds only so-so, but the volume buttons above the keyboard are easy to use. The N800w's battery lasted just shy of three hours. That's not quite as good as the 3.3-hour battery life that its sibling, the N800c, gave us in December, but it's still better than average.

Compaq provides several printed documents for getting started with the N800w, including a booklet on ergonomics; further details can be found only in an Acrobat manual on CD.

UPSHOT: Travelers who need to pack a big screen for around-the-table presentations or on-the-road graphics and spreadsheet work will appreciate the Evo N800w's combination of relatively light weight and a 15-inch display. However, we're not sure the N800w lives up to the workstation designation.

SUMMARY

Compaq Evo N800w PC WorldBench 4 score of 105, 2.2-GHz/1.2-GHz Pentium 4-M, 1GB of RAM, 512MB of L2 cache, Windows XP Professional, 15-inch active-matrix screen, ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 graphics card with 64MB of DDR SDRAM, 60GB hard drive, 8X DVD-ROM/24X/10X/24X CD-RW combo drive, built-in V.92 modem and network interface, dual pointing devices; 7.6-pound weight (including AC adapter and phone cord). Three-year parts and labor warranty; free, unlimited 24-hour toll-free technical support. $3354 800/345-1518 www.hp.com