Check out 10 notebooks that embrace NT 4.0
Not sure whether you can run Windows NT 4.0 on laptop computers? In the
Windows NT Magazine Lab, we've run NT 4.0 on laptops since beta 1. And
now that many notebook manufacturers that didn't support earlier versions of NT
have jumped on the NT bandwagon, you'll find a wide range of machines to choose
from. This month the Lab examines a 10-laptop sample of entry-level and
high-end notebook computers from manufacturers that have embraced NT 4.0 as a
platform for remote computing.
A New Generation
Uncertain that NT 4.0 on laptops is the way to go? Recent developments in
laptop technology might convince you to reconsider-- especially if you don't
already use a portable.
The first and most important development is the new generation of
high-performance, remarkably low-priced portables. You can get a 166MHz Pentium
with 32MB of RAM, active matrix display, CD-ROM, and a 2.1GB hard disk for about
$3500. NT is a well-known resource hog (you need a moderately powerful machine
for an NT system), so this kind of power in a portable at an affordable price
eliminates one concern about moving to NT.
Second, Microsoft is finally coming out with a new technology (OnNow power
management architecture) that addresses power management and Plug and Play (PnP)
on laptops. (For a look at industry solutions to power management and PnP on NT,
see "Advanced Power Management and Plug and Play," page 44). Microsoft
plans to fully implement OnNow in NT 5.0, but it will release some components as
upgrades to NT 4.0.
Third, some manufacturers (e.g., IBM and Digital Equipment) have taken
matters into their own hands and designed machines and software to take care of
NT's portable problems. Last, Phoenix Technologies has developed a new BIOS for
portables, designed specifically for NT 4.0.
Laptops We Tested
At the high end of our 10-laptop sample, we reviewed power-user systems with
a 133MHz or higher Pentium CPU, 32MB of RAM, a 2.1GB hard disk, a CD-ROM drive,
multimedia, an active matrix display, and whatever peripherals (e.g., modems,
LAN cards) the vendors wanted to include. At the low end, we looked at
reasonably priced systems with just enough features to run NT: a 133MHz or lower
Pentium, 16MB of RAM, a 1GB hard disk, and a passive display.
Not all of our survey's vendors sent both types of system--some vendors
consider NT a high-end application for their systems. You pay extra money to get
NT on some of the systems (especially where NT is an option above Windows 95),
and some systems ship with NT 4.0 pre-installed.
Our review list doesn't include a few well-known vendors (e.g., NEC,
Toshiba) because they don't currently support or sell NT on their notebooks.
Will circumstances change in the future? Probably. For example, NEC is planning
a model based on the new NT 4.0 optimized BIOS from Phoenix Technologies that
will provide Advanced Power Management (APM) and PnP features. You can expect
other new portables that support NT to enter the market this spring, after
companies verify their systems and drivers under NT 4.0. Other vendors are
waiting until Microsoft implements the rest of the APM and PnP functions before
releasing NT-ready systems so that high-end models don't lack the features built
into low-end Win95 offerings.
Word of Caution
While reviewing these systems, the Lab observed a few characteristics of the
laptops that deserve a cautionary mention. First, all the laptops have only one
PS/2-style port, so you must choose between adding on a keyboard or mouse--you
can opt for a serial mouse in addition to the keyboard for desktop use (without
a docking station), but that arrangement can conflict with your laptop's bus-
driven built-in pointing device during ordinary operation. A better solution
calls for using NT 4.0's hardware profiles. For example, under Control Panel,
Devices, HW Profiles, you can set up a profile that enables or disables specific
devices for certain users or configurations at boot time.
Second, all but the Digital and IBM machines lack power management and PnP
functionality. So you need to properly set up your NT portable: In most cases,
you must disable the BIOS-based power management features to avoid problems such
as NT crashing when the BIOS spins down the system drive. Be aware of what your
laptop can and cannot do: For example, don't try hot-swapping PC Cards in a
system not equipped to handle it. In some cases, pressing the suspend button can
cause difficulties. (We experimentally pressed the button after exiting all
applications, and that action clobbered the Microsoft Word file for this review.
Recovery took more than 45 minutes.)
Third, power management or not, when the battery runs out, it's like
pulling the plug on a desktop PC. The notebook dies and takes all your work with
it--especially if the model doesn't support automatic suspend/resume. Therefore,
when your system signals a low battery--pay attention and shut down!
Information Map
For information about the specific features of the machines the Lab tested,
read the individual reviews that follow. In "Testing the Portables,"
you can find out how the Lab tested the 10 systems. "Editor's Choice,"
reveals which machines the Lab picked as best of breed and why, and "Technical
Support," describes the technical support you can expect from the vendors.
For a quick summary of price, performance score, configuration, battery life,
and other pertinent information, see Table 1, "Summing Up the Laptops."
AST Ascentia P50
Looking for a fast notebook computer to run Windows NT? Do you want a nice
display, too? How about long battery life? AST's Ascentia P50 is the answer, and
it's backed by a good warranty and excellent customer service.
The Windows NT Magazine Lab's Ascentia test system came loaded with
features such as a 133MHz Pentium CPU, 32MB of RAM (expandable to 40MB), a 2.1GB
hard disk, an integrated 28.8Kbit-per-second data/fax modem, a 6X CD-ROM module,
a Sound Blaster Vibra 16 chipset, embedded stereo speakers and microphone,
Phoenix FlashBIOS, a SmartPoint Touchpad, a Cirrus Logic CL-GD7543 graphics
controller for Super VGA resolution of 800*600 with 16-bit (65,536) color
resolution, and a 12.1" diagonal active-matrix color screen. All this
hardware weighs in at 7.1 pounds with the CD-ROM drive (or 6.8 pounds with the
floppy drive) installed.
The case is well designed and easy to open. Multiple I/O connectors have
individual covers. For example, you can open just the Serial/VGA connector cover
and plug in an external display, leaving the rest of the I/O connectors
protected. The joystick port resides on the left side of the system with its own
cover. You can press a button on the battery to see how much power is available
via five LED indicators.
The well-designed keyboard includes function keys to adjust volume, treble,
bass, balance, contrast, and brightness. A function key lets you toggle between
the display panel and external monitors. You can also use function keys to put
the notebook into suspend or standby mode (which work well under NT), or you can
configure the power button via the BIOS for on/off or suspend/normal mode. The
only thing I didn't like about the keyboard was that you have to press the FN
key to use the Pg Up, Pg Dn, Home, and End keys, which are on the Up, Down,
Left, and Right keys.
The easy-to-read LCD status display shows indicators for power, battery,
turbo mode, hard disk activity, floppy activity, caps-lock, num-lock,
scroll-lock, and battery-lock. Installing NT and the various drivers was a
breeze, although I did need to locate the correct video and sound drivers.
The Ascentia P50 is one of the fastest systems the Lab tested, with a
SYSmark/
32 score of 110. Its price falls in the middle of all the systems
in our roundup. AST backs its machines with a three-year worldwide warranty and
excellent customer service. AST has teamed with Federal Express in a program
called ExpressONE (Overnight Notebook Exchange), a next-business-day, on-site,
notebook replacement program. The first year of the warranty includes ExeCare
Plus, a 48-hour rapid repair service (US only). After one year, you must pay
shipping costs, unless you sign up for the optional ExpressONE program that
covers the second and third years.
—Dean Porter
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