Review: Dell tops list of top 15 notebook PCs

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The Dell Inspiron 8000 $2,739 price tag is well below that of other similar models

By Carla Thornton

(IDG) -- Three newcomers shake up the Top 15 Notebook PCs lineup, but not enough to topple two returning Best Buys from Dell and Gateway. Dell earns another Best Buy on the power chart, as IBM has discontinued the ThinkPad A21p.

WinBook's latest version of its Z1, equipped with a 1-GHz processor, snags third place on the power chart with an astoundingly high PC WorldBench 2000 score of 195 -- the best performance we've seen from a notebook. Shorter-than-average support hours and a $3,539 price tag prevented the WinBook Z1 from moving up any higher.

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On the midrange side, the $2,299 Fujitsu LifeBook E Series lands in third place. E Series laptops have two unique features: shortcut buttons that can double as a password security system, and an infrared port conveniently designed especially for use with a wireless mouse.

The least expensive of the chart newcomers, Compaq's stylish $1,899 Presario 17XL460 climbs aboard the budget chart in the number five spot. This laptop offers a black-and-silver case, above-average battery life, and extensive documentation geared toward computer novices. Our only beef: Neither the floppy drive nor the DVD-ROM drive connects externally, so you're reduced to juggling the two drives in the notebook's single internal bay.

Top 15 PC notebooks -- See chart

1. Dell Inspiron 8000: Small to medium-size businesses seeking a well-equipped desktop replacement for multimedia pros will find that the well-rounded 8000 almost does it all. Performance is a little disappointing for a Pentium III-900, but the $2,739 price is well below what we've seen for other similar models.
2. Gateway Solo 9500xl: Presenters, graphic and digital artists, and others who need a portable with the largest built-in screen possible should take a close look at the 9500xl, a heavy but powerful multimedia-savvy desktop replacement.
3. WinBook Z1: Graphics pros who need a top-of-the-line desktop replacement equipped with a CD burner, a large screen and hard drive, and race-horse speed would be best served by the WinBook Z1 with a 1-GHz processor. However, other vendors offer more generous technical support.
4. Dell Latitude C800: The Latitude C800 will suit companies willing to shell out extra money for a decked-out portable that lets graphics pros wander the building on a wireless network.
5. Acer TravelMate 739TLV: With an easy-to-use fingerprint reader and great battery life added to all the usual features expected in a high-end portable these days, the TravelMate 739TLV belongs on the short list for companies seeking an extra-secure desktop replacement suitable for the road.
6. Dell Inspiron 4000: With its flexible design and fashion sense, the Inspiron 4000 will please small companies that want a lightweight, configurable, and fun-to-accessorize travel machine.
7. Dell Latitude C600: The C600 offers almost everything a company would want in a portable, highly flexible business laptop: wireless networking, both eraserhead and touchpad pointing devices, and the ability to rotate a wide range of add-in devices, including a second battery. The $2,635 price looks high for a Pentium III-750/600 laptop, but seems reasonable considering everything else you get.
8. Fujitsu LifeBook E Series: Professionals and consumers alike looking for a fast notebook with plenty of expansion possibilities, an extra layer of security, and the convenience of wireless mousing should take a close look at the E Series.
9. HP Omnibook 500: Frequent travelers with deep pockets will appreciate the fast, handsome Omnibook 500 the most. Its flexible design lets you trim connections to lower the notebook's weight, or add bays and legacy ports and even use three batteries at once and still be a portable package. All but big-screen fans (and those with thin bank accounts) will be pleased.
10. MicronPC TransPort LT: Fast, handsome, lightweight, and relatively inexpensive for its class, the TransPort LT would fit nicely in any company shopping for a high-end travel laptop.
11. Gateway Solo 5300: Gateway pitches its latest midsize machine to consumers, students, and professionals, though we can't imagine why the first two would need LAN management utilities. For companies seeking a fairly thin, lightweight corporate laptop at a reasonable price, the 5300 is an excellent choice.
12. Dell Inspiron 2500: Looking for a relatively cheap notebook with lots of perks, including a big screen? With its smallish hard drive and integrated video memory, this particular configuration of the new Dell Inspiron 2500 may not be for multimedia pros, but budget-minded Web designers and penny pinchers should take a close look. You'll want to spring for the extra $49 to buy a longer-lasting battery, and you'll possibly want another 64MB of RAM to satisfy the memory-hogging Windows Me operating system.
13. Toshiba Satellite 2805-S202: With its Lotus SmartSuite software and musical talents, the 2805-S202 would make a fine personal laptop for budget-minded individuals looking for something beyond a basic machine.
14. WinBook J1: Individuals or small companies willing to trade SpeedStep technology for a fast, cheap Pentium III-1000 laptop need only add productivity software to turn the J1 into a good portable for home or business.
15. Compaq Presario 17XL460: Though it has imperfect sound capabilities, first-time computer users in the market for a laptop with some flash will appreciate the Compaq Presario 17XL460's attractive looks and thorough manuals.

Beyond the Top 15

• Asus A1300: With its standard RAM allotment, the A1300 does not deliver the performance punch we'd expect from a PIII-850/700 laptop. But at its $1,629 price, you could afford to add enough RAM to make the A1300 perform as it should.
• Micro Express NP2850A: Although the NP2850A is reasonably priced, we don't recommend a laptop you'll need to take into a service center every time you need to install a fresh battery.
• Toshiba Satellite Pro 4600: With its big screen and hard drive, DVD-ROM/CD-RW combination drive, and out-of-the-box wireless capability, the Satellite Pro 4600 offers a tidy all-in-one package for peripatetic business folk who need to stay connected.