Top 20 Power Desktops

SUMMARY

IBM PC 300 PL PRO: Built-in ethernet, lots of open expansion slots, good performance CON: Poor drive-bay access, case is hard to close

There's an old saying about IBM PCs: "You can buy better, but you can't pay more." That old saw rings a lot less true today. IBM has priced its PC 300 PL at $2549--squarely in the middle of the power PC pack. It's not hard to find a less expensive PII-450 system on the market; but on the other hand, only three other Win 98-based PII-450 PCs outpointed the IBM on PC WorldBench 98.

To enhance the 300 PL's value as a network node, IBM includes a useful library of LAN and management software, including Client Services for Netfinity Manager, IBM Universal Management Agent, Co-Session, and Intel LANDesk Manager. Rather than taking up a PCI or ISA slot, the ethernet adapter is integrated onto the motherboard. With a total of four open expansion slots, (one ISA, two PCI, and one shared ISA/PCI) and two open DIMM sockets, the machine leaves you with plenty of room for future upgrades.

Since the 300 PL is designed to be integrated into a network, IBM's designers may have assumed that the majority of users wouldn't be cracking open the horizontal desktop case (which takes up a fair amount of real estate on a desk). Though opening the case was simple enough, we had a hard time closing it so that all of the catches lined up properly. Once inside, we had little trouble reaching the expansion slots and RAM. Storage access was another story, however, with only one free 5.25-inch bay available and no free 3.5-inch bays at all. Worse yet, to use the one open bay, we would have had to totally remove the CD-ROM drive, install our new device, and then reinstall the CD-ROM drive.

The bundled 17-inch monitor nicely complements the Matrox Millennium G200 AGP graphics adapter, with good color reproduction and crisp, easy-to-read text. IBM continues to provide excellent documentation for its machines, as well as three free years of around-the-clock technical support and a three-year parts, one-year labor warranty.