Re: comparing x86 and powerpc laptops
On Tue, 8 Apr 2003, Patrick Baltz wrote:
I'd also add to check the display carefully.
Most new inexpensive PC laptops have an XGA display which is
1024x768. That may be fine. However you may want an
SXGA or SXGA+ if you intend to run at higher resolutions.
I've heard that most laptop displays only look really good
at a certain resolution. i.e. crisp, clear, no smearing etc.
I made a big mistake with my first laptop in that I didn't
check the display *and* the return policy. It seems Toshiba
and IBM will not exchange if you are not happy with the
computer. That was true a couple years ago anyway. My
Toshiba has a DSTN display which is only 800x600 and
too LCD like (leaves trails, i.e. too much persistance,
and has low contrast.) I hate to say good things about
Windows but Windows is OK on it. X is pretty lousy.
Lastly since I am thinking about my Toshiba. It has
a "blacklisted" BIOS so ACPI/APM doesn't work, and
an SiS graphics chip which is poorly supported.
One other comment about processor speed. It seems to make
the most difference to me only if you compile programs
frequently. A slower processor takes quite a bit longer.
For general use, surfing and typing processor speed does
not matter a lot, at least after after about 600Mhz IMHO.
Bottom line with the PC laptops: Check everything out before
you buy! I think the Apple laptops are probably better since
the hardware is more consistant (AFAIK).
I am getting a new PC laptop soon (already ordered). I'll
see if Debian works on it. :)
Fred
> My personal opinion is that Apple laptops are great hardware, but the
> linux community using them is so much smaller that it was hard to get
> some of the things common on x86. It's much improved in the past year
> or so in my opinion.
> .
> However, you really need to look at the price/performance to make your
> decision. I would figure out which powerpc laptop you want, and then
> look at x86 laptops with comparable features (multimedia, size, weight,
> display, etc.). MHz really is a myth in most computers on the market
> now, because it is very rare that the CPU is the bottleneck in your
> system. I've think I've heard that the speed comparison is 1 to 1.5 for
> powerpc to intel, but I can't give exact figures. What you really want
> to do is make sure the laptop has a sizable caches (L1, L2, etc.), a
> significant amount of RAM that is expandable to probably at least 1GB,
> the fastest system bus you can get, and a HD that is big enough to meet
> your needs. Also, if you can get wireless with it great. Gigabit
> ethernet is nice too, but rare to find a Gigabit network and probably
> overkill for a laptop anyways.
>
> Hope that helps,
> Pat
>
>
> florian wrote:
> > hi!
> >
> > im currently thinking about buying a laptop. basically i
> > wonder if its worth to get a powerpc laptop, since most
> > x86 ones are alot cheaper.
> >
> > besides the nice design of the hardware, are there any
> > reasons? (i would only use debian on it, so things like
> > mac os x dont really matter)
> >
> > to which x86 could you compare the speed/performance of
> > the 1ghz powerbook?
> >
> > ciao!
> > florian
> >
> >
>
>
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Fred
Error Loading Explorer.exe
You must reinstall Windows.
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