NOTEBOOK PC PC : DISCUSSION

The Peak of Performance: It's Not Just About The Hardware
Posted in Notebook PC | April 20, 2009 8am

There are many factors that ultimately affect a notebook's performance. The CPU frequency, type of GPU, and hard drive speed all have some measurable impact on performance, not to mention a myriad of other components, like the chipset or RAM, or even the screen and battery if you consider image quality and battery life performance metrics.  There is another very important aspect that also has an enormous impact on overall system performance, however, and unfortunately it is sometimes neglected by notebook manufacturers. I'm referring to software.
It is an unfortunate market reality that many notebooks come pre-loaded with an assortment of trial-ware applications or otherwise pared down utilities that mar the user experience, at least in my opinion. On occasion, a new notebook owner may find one or two of these applications useful and buy the full version, but more often than not this "bloatware" as it is un-affectionately known does nothing but consume resources and bog down a system. I can't even begin to count the number of new notebooks I've setup for friends, family, or colleagues that have prompted me with numerous anti-virus, anti-spam, or game offers upon initial boot-up. Yuck.
Although there has been some progress lately, and some sellers offer clean OS installations as an option now, I'd like to see more notebook manufacturers take steps to eliminate or minimize bloatware on new notebooks to maximize available system resources. At the very least, don't let the applications launch with Windows; keep memory usage down and that system tray clean on new systems--let the users install what they'd like.
On another software-related note, I would also like to see notebook manufacturers go the extra mile and adequately tweak the operating system and driver installations on new notebooks for optimal performance and security. What I mean by this is that the OS should be fully patched right out of the box (within reason), so users can enjoy their new machines immediately, instead of having to run Windows Update for who knows how long to get the latest patches and updates installed. Tweaking the OS by configuring the power management, virtual memory, disk cache, and indexing services options would also be a nice touch--there's no need to leave disk indexing enabled if the notebook comes equipped with an SSD (solid state disk), for example.  And finally, ship the notebooks with the latest drivers and version of the DirectX installed--especially if it's a gaming notebook--so new owners have fewer compatibility and performance issues to worry about.
All of the things I mention here are easy for experienced notebook users to rectify, but less computer savvy consumers may not even know their fresh, new system isn't performing at its peak. If notebook manufacturers put in the extra effort to offer fully tweaked and optimized machines from the factory, end user experiences will undoubtedly be enhanced, which makes for happy customers. And isn't that what every notebook manufacturer wants in the first place?

NOTEBOOK PC PC : DISCUSSION

Enhancing The Notebook Computing Experience
Posted in Notebook PC | May 9, 2009 8am

In a previous post here on the WePC site, I presented some thoughts about notebook performance. In the post, I explained that a notebook's software configuration can be almost as important as the hardware that powers the system, in terms of its overall performance and usability. The simple fact of the matter is a clean, streamlined, up to date  software installation complete with current drivers can have an enormous impact on performance and ultimately the end-user experience.
I'd like to write about another oft neglected aspect of notebook computing that also greatly affects the end-user experience in this post--the keyboard. Unfortunately, there have been some negative trends in the design of notebook keyboards as of late. A couple of major players in the notebook space, who shall remain nameless, have begun placing more importance on form over function. And now, we're beginning to see absolutely horrible rubber membrane / rubber dome keyboards in some machines, that are completely flat, with nary a thought given to ergonomics, comfort, or usability. I can only hope consumers speak with their wallets and leave these machines with terrible input devices sitting on store shelves collecting dust.
I am a bit of keyboard aficionado and prefer high-quality, heavy keyboards equipped with mechanical key switches. Of course, it isn't realistic to expect notebook manufacturers to begin using some of the more popular mechanical key switch technologies currently on the market, but that doesn't mean there aren't suitable alternatives to the rubber membrane keyboards that pollute many modern notebooks. Quality scissor-type switches, which are a significant step up from rubber membranes for example, offer excellent durability and the low profile and low weight necessary for most notebook designs. In fact, scissor switches are already in use on many notebooks. They used to be much more pervasive, however. Using quality scissor switches, with more durable, and properly shaped keycaps would significantly improve a notebook keyboard's reliability and usability. I'd also like to see better materials used in the manufacture of the keycaps to prevent lettering from rubbing off and to eliminate the "shininess" that usually appears on plastics after extended use.  And putting more thought into the key layout would be good too--there's no reason function or other proprietary keys need to be in positions normally reserved for CTRL, Shift, etc.
These may seem like unimportant requests to some of you, but as someone who makes a living behind a computer, I have grown to appreciate the benefits of a quality keyboard. A good keyboard can reduce fatigue, minimize the risks of RSI, and help you get work done faster. I'm all set on my desktop machine--thanks Filco--but my notebook leaves something to be desired. I'd like that remedied and suspect many of you out there would too.

NETBOOK PC PC : DISCUSSION

The Incredible Shrinking Netbook
Posted in Netbook PC | May 11, 2009 12pm

When viable netbooks first hit the scene a couple of years back, Sony's SVP of the company's Information Technology Products Division in the U.S. was quoted as saying netbooks represented a "race to the bottom". The point he was trying to get across was that smaller, less powerful, systems could potentially have a detrimental impact on the overall PC market, due to the somewhat degraded user experience offered by the machines in comparison to more powerful, full-blown notebooks.
Of course, the market has spoken since then, and netbooks are an undeniable success. But that's partly because the more prolific and nimble netbook manufactures took a detour on that supposed race to the bottom.
If you remember back to the release of the original Asus Eee PC, the machines had a miniscule amount of storage and small 7" screens. They were still quite popular as secondary or tertiary mobile PCs, but a funny thing happened once consumers got their hands on the tiny systems in mass quantities. Despite the relatively low prices a large contingent of users expected more, even though they many of them went into the purchase knowing full well that a netbook wouldn't offer the same kind of computing experience as a notebook. Netbook manufacturers seems to listen to consumers closely, however.  Take Asus, for example. Over time, the Eee PC line expanded to the point where the most sought after models featured larger screens, faster processors, better keyboards, and standard mobile hard drives--just like more powerful notebooks.
Instead of racing to the bottom, netbooks have generally climbed up a few rungs on the evolutionary ladder. The market didn't become filled with smaller, cheaper, lighter netbooks, but rather the machines morphed into slightly larger, more sophisticated machines than their early predecessors. That's a great development, and one that I hope continues. As much as I can appreciate and understand the appeal of an inexpensive, ultra mobile netbook, I feel consumers are better served by the slightly larger more refined products available today. There is a point where a netbook become too small, and it hinders the experience. Where that point is will obviously differ from user to  user, but I think the vast majority of us can agree that low resolution screens smaller than 8.9" - 10.1" and keyboards so small it's difficult for an adult to push a single key at a time are pushing the limits of usefulness.

NOTEBOOK PC PC : DISCUSSION

My Ideal Notebook
Posted in Notebook PC | May 18, 2009 7am

Now that I've gotten some pet peeves out of the way in a few of my previous posts, I thought it was about time to get in the WePC spirit and write about what I'd consider to be the ideal notebook. I've got some specifications and features in mind that I think will appeal to a broad range of users. Hopefully you'll all agree, the right people will see this, and I'll be able to buy the machine sometime in the not too distant future. I've got some stimulus money burning a hole in my pocket and have the itch to upgrade...
As someone who makes a living behind a keyboard, I've grown to appreciate the speed of a powerful PC, the massive desktop real estate of a large, high-resolution monitor, and the feel of quality input devices.  My ideal notebook, however, has to be relatively thin and light. And I don't want anything bulky since it'll constantly get carried around to various trade shows and industry events. With all of that in mind--and drawing on past experiences with numerous notebooks--I feel  a notebook with a 13.3" to 14.1" widescreen would be ideal. At that size, the screen could offer a high enough resolution--say something in the 1440x900 to 1680x1050 range--to be useful with multiple windows open, yet the machine would be small enough to easily fit in any carry-on luggage.  A notebook in this size range can also have a full sized keyboard with a standard layout, which is an absolute must. See my previous post titled "Enhancing The Notebook Computing Experience" for other keyboard requirements.
My ideal notebook also needs to offer high-performance and relatively long battery life. That means a fast, multi-core processor, at least 4GB of RAM running in a dual-channel configuration, discreet graphics with dedicated video memory, and an SSD for the operating system and important applications. A low-voltage, multi-core processor would be preferable to keep power consumption as low as possible. The GPU should also be relatively powerful, but gaming wouldn't be a primary use for the machine. I would like the GPU to offer full HD video offloading and acceleration for applications in the Adobe Creative Suite. The SSD for the OS would not require a high capacity, maybe something in the 64GB - 80GB range, because the notebook would also feature a secondary drive bay to house a standard, high capacity, 2.5" hard drive.  The hard drive, however, would be housed in a cartridge that's easily removable and the notebook would include a small hard drive dock that connects to my main office PC.  This would allow me to remove the hard drive from the notebook, plug it right into my desktop machine, and have access to pertinent files.
I guess I could go on and on about what I'd want in a notebook, but I think you get the gist. Small, powerful, and feature rich are the underlying themes. There's no reason a notebook can't be thin and light, and fast, if the right components are used throughout.