Quantex W-1511

WHAT'S HOT: Note: The key supplier of Quantex has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. See our news story for more details. --Editors

The Quantex W-1511 uses Intel's fast new SpeedStep processor, designed to conserve battery life. When plugged in to a wall outlet the notebook runs at 600MHz; when running on battery it automatically steps down (unless you set it otherwise) to 500MHz.

WHAT'S NOT: As with many notebooks, the built-in audio sounded fuzzy at higher volumes and hiccuped occasionally when we played movies at full-screen. The big 15.1-inch display extends beyond the keyboard when closed, which could increase the chance of a broken screen if the notebook is bumped or dropped on its front edge.

WHAT ELSE: Thanks to a software MPEG decoder, DVD movies looked vivid on our test machine, and a TV-out port also lets you view them on your television. The DVD-ROM drive is removable, but a second battery ($129 extra) is the only optional device Quantex currently provides for the modular. It's easy to upgrade storage and memory: Just one security screw holds in the hard drive, and the RAM sockets sit behind a panel on the bottom of the notebook. Though the keyboard offers no extras, such as quick-launch buttons, it's well designed. We also reviewed two nearly identical notebooks this month--ChemUSA's $2399 ChemBook 3015 and Dell's $4179 Inspiron 5000--and the W-1511 falls in the middle with respect to price and features. Our test machine came with Corel WordPerfect 2000.

BEST USE: Presenters and graphics professionals will appreciate the Quantex's speed, storage, and video capabilities.

SUMMARY

Quantex W-1511 PC WorldBench 2000 score of 129, Pentium III-600/500 (tested at faster processor speed), 128MB of RAM, 11.5GB hard drive, 6X DVD-ROM drive, 15-inch active-matrix screen, touchpad pointing device, 8.5-pound traveling weight, 3-year warranty on CPU and RAM, one-year warranty on other parts and labor, around-the-clock toll-free technical support. $2899 800/893-4898 www.quantex.com