PentiumM vs. ATOM N270

[MegalosSkylaki]

Old PentiumM 12" notebook vs. new Atom Netbook ?

The Dell X300 is an older 12" PentiumM (1.6 ghz) notebook with a 40GB HD, no Optical Drive,although it comes with a Media Board it can sit on which has a CD-RW drive. I haven't tested the battery lately, but I would suspect, due to shelf-life, that it is 1 -1 1/2 hrs. Weight < 3 lbs.

I also have an old IBM X40 12" PentiumM notebook with about 1 1/2 hrs on the battery. Weight < 3 lbs.

The MSI Wind with a 10.2 " display --just for example --is just one of many netbooks out there with an ATOM N270 (1.6 ghz) processor. 80 GB HD, again no optical drive, and either a 3-cell or 6-cell battery yields about 2 to 6 hrs. Weight = 2.6 - 2.8 lbs.


The Notebooks come with XPpro and the Netbook with XPhome.

Any sense to buy a Netbook ?

___________________
SPECS on the three mobile computers.
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DELL Latitude X300
Operating System Versions Available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Microsoft® Windows XP® Professional Service Pack 1
Microsoft® Windows XP® Home Service Pack 1
Microsoft® Windows® 2000 SP4 (with Windows® XP Professional license and media)
Dell recommends Microsoft® Windows® XP
Cache . . .2MB on-die L2 cache
Chipset . .Intel 855GM Chipset
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Double Date Rate (DDR) SDRAM at 266MHz (PC2100); Standard - 128MB (shared)4;
Maximum - 1152MB (shared)4; Memory module capacities - 128, 256, 512MB, and 1GB
Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12.1" XGA TFT LCD; 1024 x 768 x 16.7 million colors
Maximum External Resolution (CRT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1600 x 1200 (UXGA) x 16.7 million colors @ 85Hz (Pan mode on LCD/TV if active)
Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Integrated Intel 855GM graphics chipset; up to 64 MB system memory can be dynamically allocated to
graphics needs; 4X AGP support
Hard Disk Drives* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30GB EIDE/ATA-100; 40GB EIDE/ATA-100; 60GB EIDE/ATA-100
*Optional 40GB 2nd HDD Module for D/Bay or MediaBase
Modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56K2 v.92 internal modem
Wired LAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10/100 Ethernet LAN in system; 10/100/1000 (Gigabit)3 Ethernet LAN in MediaBase, DMI 2.0 and Wired
for Management compliant
Wireless LAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Standard Intel® Wireless 2200 WLAN (802.11b/g) PC Card Slots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OType I or Type II
SD Slot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .SD (Secure Digital) Memory Slot
Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Intel AC97; two integrated speakers with subwoofer in MediaBase
Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1) Primary battery - 28 WHr Smart Lithium-Ion with external LED battery gauge and ExpressCharge™ capability

Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84-Key US; 85-Key Europe; 88-Key Japan; Key travel - 2.4mm; Key spacing - 18mm
Pointing Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Touch Pad - PS/2 Compatible
Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65-Watt AC adapter with cord wrapping
System Dimensions/Weight* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19.8mm/0.8" - 23.9mm/0.9" (h) x 275mm/10.8" (w) x 233.6mm/9.2" (d)
With 28 WHr battery: 1.32kg/2.9lbs1; System with 28 WHr battery, D/Bay and CD-ROM module: 1.81kg/ 3.99lbs
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MSI WIND Netbook N100
Physical Characteristic
Dimension 260 (W) x 180 (D) x 19~31.5 (H) mm
Weight 940g (without battery pack)
CPU
Processor Type Socket 478
Support Processor Intel® Diamondville processor (45 nm)
L2 Cache 512KB
FSB Speed Support 533 MHz
Core Chips
North Bridge Intel® 945GSE
South Bridge Intel® ICH7M
Memory
Technology DDR2 667/ 800
Memory DDR2 SDRAM
Maximum 2GB
Power
AC Adapter 40W, 19V
Battery Type 3 cells (optional)
6 cells (optional)
RTC Battery Yes
I/O Port
Monitor(VGA) 15 pin D-Sub x 1
USB x 3 (USB version 2.0)
Mic-in x 1
Headphone Out x 1
RJ45 x 1
Card Reader x 1 (SD/ MMC/ MS)
The supported memory cards may vary without notice.
Storage (Items listed here may vary depending on the model users purchased)
HDD form factor 2.5”, 9.5mm High, 5400rpm
SSD (solid-state disk) Optional supported
Communication Port (Items listed here may vary without notice)
LAN 10/100 Ethernet
Wireless Lan Supported
Audio
Sound Interface ALC 888s
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IBM X40

Memory (standard) 512 MB SDRAM on-board (PC2700) Memory (optional)
PC2700 512 MB Memory 200pin JEDEC Standard SO-DIMM v PC2700 1024 MB Memory 200pin JEDEC Standard SO-DIMM(& 1536 MB for 512 Model) Graphics chip: Intel 855GME v Total video memory: UMA, 64MBmax CMOS RAM v 242 bytes
ThinkPad X40 series 53
Feature Description Hard disk drive 40.0 GB, 1.8-inch, IDE interface v 60.0 GB, 1.8-inch IDE interface
Display v 12.1-inch, 16M colors, XGA (1024 × 768 resolution) TFT color LCD I/O port (system) v External monitor connector v RJ11 connector v RJ45 connector v Stereo headphone jack v Monaural microphone jack v Universal serial bus (USB) connector × 2 v Infrared port v Docking connector v DC-in I/O port (UltraBase) v External monitor connector v RJ11 v RJ45 v Parallel connector v Serial connector v Keyboard or mouse connector v Universal serial bus (USB) connector × 3 v DC-in Internal modem v 56.6 Kbps Audio v Internal monaural speaker v Software control volume Infrared transfer v IrDA 1.1

Mini PCI Card v 802.11b single (Wireless) Mini PCI Card v
v One Type-II SD card v With IO support Ultrabay device UltraBay Slim (supported by X4 UltraBase Dock) Communication daughter card (CDC) v ThinkPad Integrated 56K Modem (MDC-2) v ThinkPad Integrated Bluetooth III with 56K Modem (BMDC-2) AC adapter v 56-watt type Diskette drive (external) v USB diskette drive Battery pack (main) v 1 parallel of 4 series of cells (1P4S) Li-Ion battery pack (1.9 AH) (Standard Battery)
Preinstalled operating system v Windows XP Professional v Windows XP Home edition Product overview 54

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[MegalosSkylaki]

The older PentiumM notebook or the modern Atom N270 netbook?

Weight issue is about even when notebook is less than 3 lbs;
size of display favors the notebook at 12"; battery of old Pm notebook favors the newer netbook.

So any point to shelling out $275 to $400 for Netbook?
The way I look at it, you can leave house without AC adapter with Netbook, but poorer life of older Pm notebook means that 1 lb. adapter has to be carried.

Don't know whether old notebooks have new batteries available and at what price, or only "refurbs" with limited shelf-life if lucky to find them. Don't see any IBM X40 accessaries available, though. All of above have lithium ion batteries.

None have built-in optical drives. The XP OS is Pro version on notebooks and Home on netbooks.

Boss CAAT has 3 lb. 12" Gateway clone of DELL Lat. X300.

Never saw a PentiumM vs. ATom 270 head-on comparison. So how to compare?

YipeZ1 Where did all these come from??

[RayH]

It's not just about weight. It's about size. Those few inches make it a lot easier to haul around. The Atom N270 is a worthy processor against the Celeron M. The Atom has hyperthreading. The Celeron is a power hog. The Atom isn't as much so.

These netbooks are more of a big PDA than a little computer. I mean, they are not replacement anythings or designed to be a primary computer. Get a 6 cell battery.

[MegalosSkylaki]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayH

It's not just about weight. It's about size. Those few inches make it a lot easier to haul around. The Atom N270 is a worthy processor against the Celeron M. The Atom has hyperthreading. The Celeron is a power hog. The Atom isn't as much so.

These netbooks are more of a big PDA than a little computer. I mean, they are not replacement anythings or designed to be a primary computer. Get a 6 cell battery.

Well size is a two=way issue. A 12" screen is easier to read than a 10" screen.
Both the IBM X41 and the DELL Lat. 300 have a 12" screen and come in at less than 3 lbs. Battery life, though, is about 1 1/2 hrs , which is not as bad as it sounds for limited saunter-to coffeeshop use.

A 6-cell Netbook can do about 4 -5 hrs. Also, they are smaller when it comes to schlepability. If you are throwing it in the seat of a car and driving to coffeeshop like in CA, that doesn't matter so much --but a NYC City-type DooG walks places.

Ironically, after I posted this, I saw a netbook on sale with a bundled by Reseller nice case and "free" shipping and no tax for $260. I bit.

It is an Averatec Buddy, which is a clone of the MSI Wind and comes with a 10.2 " screen. YipeZ1, I bit a 3-cell battery, which is probably why it was sold off at a low price.. Still, 2hrs. aint bad for limited I-net and E-mail use. As you noted, it's really more of a PDA than a full-function computer.

I have a 6 lb.16" laptop for full mobilecomputer use, which I prefer to just keep home, except for long trips.

Recently some Notebooks have come out with an Intel Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) or C[for "Consumer"]ULV procs. I suspect this is a rebadged SU-xx Proc.

However, they can get 6 - 8 hrs of usage on one charge. The 3.8 lb.12" HP comes with an external optical drive and the 4.2 lb. 14" Acer comes with an internal optical. Price about $600 which is low for that weight computer but still too high IMO for a limited power machine.

The Averatec Buddy/MSI Wind is quite light (about 2.6 lbs.) and small and I put it in a 10" netbook case I had. The case that was bundled with it, now houses the 12" old lappies I had. If I learn to like it a lot, I can get an Xtra 6-cell MSI Wind battery, if I find I need it. Maybe in CA, but not in NYC.

Netbooks as you noted really are not suitable for high-demand use. There is still a major trade-off across the mobile computer fields between battery life and powerful full-function, unless you get a $2000 machine.

I tend to regard mobile computers as "disposable" due to damage and loss issues, so I won't put in big bucks into one, Except for the 16" blu-ray machine, I never paid more than $300 for one.

MegalosSkylaki

MegalosSkylaki

[RayH]

I'm in SF, which in some spots is every bit as crowded as Manhattan. I just got rid of my car, relying on public transit and Zip Car. So I want something portable.

I have an HP Mini 1010 NR, which probably has similar dimensions as your Buddy except that I have a 9" screen. The pixels are so tight that regular DivX looks a lot like Blu-Ray. I have an 8 GB SSD running Windows XP SP3 Home. I turned off the System Restore, deleted all the Windows Unin$stall files, dumped all the bloatware I could without ponying up for XP Lite. I am running the full version of VLC. That got me down to just under 6 GB. I have about 1.8 GB free.

I'm running a few apps from Portable Apps.com, like Firefox lite, Open Office lite, and some anti virus. I run those apps directly from a flash drive. It takes some of the write and search pressure off the SSD, which is buried beneath the keyboard. Neither looks like something I want to tackle unless necessary nor looks too obscene if it does become necessary.

I like it.

[RayH]

I think I may reload the whole thing with an n lited version of Windows XP, as HP was so gracious to give me a full Windows. I sometimes think I may have made a mistake a couple of months back cleaning out all my old software, read Windows 98. I think for what I want to do, these little tickers would do very nicely with Windows 98SEl