Boomer babies: First-generation multimedia notebooks
Article Abstract:
Multimedia notebook computers are starting to appear and usually include a CD-ROM drive and sound card. IBM's $6,964 ThinkPad 755CD is an innovative offering with a dual-speed CD-ROM under the keyboard. The hard drive is swappable and the CD-ROM can be replaced with a floppy drive. IBM uses black-matrix screen technology to reduce glare, although it offers little obvious benefit. It does offer superior multimedia features, including the ability to grab still frames from a VCR and to support 16-bit wave audio. Panasonic's $7,099 Panasonic V41 weighs a hefty 10.9 pounds, but it offers both CD-ROM and floppy drives. The floppy drive swaps with an extra battery, a convenience since the charge life of one battery is less than an hour. Toshiba's $4,378 T2150CDT is very capable and well-designed, with a 10.4 inch active matrix display and comfortable keyboard. Twinhead's $4,749 875TXCFL includes a fast graphics accelerator, and includes a TouchPad pointing device.
Publication Name: Newmedia
Subject: Computers and office automation industries
ISSN: 1060-7188
Year: 1995
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Uncompromising portables take multimedia on the road
Article Abstract:
IBM Corp's $8,134 ThinkPad 760CD was chosen overall best of eight Pentium-based notebooks tested based on hard disk, CPU, CD-ROM and graphics performance. It has multimedia features such as a 12.1-inch LED display, quad-speed removable CD-ROM, an MPEG 1 decoder and 90MHz pentium processor. A competing notebook that offers superior features at half the price is Texas Instruments' $3,559 Extensa 550CDT with a 75MHz processor, a double-speed CD-ROM and a 10.4-inch TFT display. NEC's $4,649 Versa 4000C and Toshiba Corp's $4,649 Satellite Pro 400CDT both scored well as mid-price portables. The NEC Versa offers a great multimedia package and speed with a superior multicolor LCD panel display, an interchangeable CD-ROM and a 90MHz processor. The Toshiba Satellite Pro is also a good multimedia machine that offers a quad-speed CD-ROM but a weaker LCD display that can only produce 640 by 480 resolutions. Four other pentium-based notebooks are tested and evaluated.
Publication Name: Newmedia
Subject: Computers and office automation industries
ISSN: 1060-7188
Year: 1995
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Multimedia portables add muscle to mobility
Article Abstract:
Dell Computer's $2,999 Dell Latitude LM P133ST provides the best range of versatility and performance at the best price point in a comparison of eight multimedia notebooks. The Latitude provides a 133MHz Pentium CPU, fast video, a clear LCD, a 6x CD-ROM drive, integral sound support and a sound ergonomic design. Compaq's $4,999 Compaq LTE 5300 5/133 offers an excellent display, impressive modularity, swappable drives, a 6x CD-ROM but only average video and audio performance. IBM's $5,399 ThinkPad 760ED offers a large 12.1-in TFT screen, superior MPEG 1 and 2 video support, a swappable CD-ROM drive, a standard integral 28.8-Kbps fax modem and excellent overall multimedia support. However, the ThinkPad's weak audio support and relatively high price point keep it from being a best buy.
Publication Name: Newmedia
Subject: Computers and office automation industries
ISSN: 1060-7188
Year: 1996
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