Notebooks & Accessories
Reviews: Specialized Notebooks, From Tiny to Tremendous
PC World recently reviewed six specialized notebooks, including desktop replacements equipped with huge screens, Tablet PCs, and gaming portables, ranging from $1598 to over $4000. The Sharp Actius MM20 ($1598) and Toshiba Satellite P25-S670 ($2599) earned top scores in the roundup, with 3.5 out of 5 stars. So if you're looking for a notebook that fits a special need, check out "Extreme Computing."
News: HP's First Linux Notebook for U.S.
Hewlett-Packard is shipping its first Linux-based notebook for the U.S. market. The Compaq Nx5000 ($1140 and up) includes either an Intel Celeron or Pentium processor, a 15-inch screen, up to 60GB of storage, and the OpenOffice.org productivity suite. If you're not ready to take the Linux step, the notebook can also be purchased with Windows XP.
Consumer Advice: Are Inexpensive Notebooks Worthy?
It's not too difficult these days to find portables from Dell, HP, IBM, and the like for $500 to $800--especially if a rebate is available. But are they worth the money? Probably not, if you require a speedy, lightweight model with a decent amount of memory and hard drive storage, reports Lincoln Spector.
What should you insist on having in a low-cost notebook? Get a portable with at least 256MB of RAM, a 30GB hard drive, a CD-R/RW/DVD-ROM drive, and wireless networking. For more tips, read "Notebooks Tempt as Prices Drop."
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