Tilamook notebooks - Upward mobility

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The performance gap between notebooks and desktops has been closingoosted by Intel's "Tillamook", an MMX-enabled Pentium Processor specifically for mobile PCs, they laugh in the face of some desktop PCs. Adele Dyer gets carried away by their sheer force of features. fast, and the term "desktop replacement" has now become a serious statement rather than a bit of a joke. However, one major grouch as far as notebook manufacturers are concerned has been that Intel has left them behind, releasing faster chips for desktops at the expense of specific processors for mobiles.

The release of the Pentium Processor with MMX technology for mobiles, codenamed Tillamook, finally redresses that balance. Two new processors are being released with clock speeds of 200MHz and 233MHz, for the first time bringing notebooks to level-pegging with their desktop counterparts.

However, there is more to this release than just another Pentium chip.

Intel has reduced the voltage, which results in longer battery life and support for larger screens. The company is also offering the chips on an optional mobile module which, theoretically, makes it possible to upgrade notebook processors.

There are three notebooks using Tillamook and here, in addition to the AST Ascentia, we take an exclusive look at the new high-end notebooks from Gateway and IBM. Make no mistake - they are big, burly bashers with enough clout to knock their opponents out of the water. They take the phrase "desktop replacements" to new heights, because they are probably better specified than most people's current PCs.

IBM ThinkPad 770D

How big and how powerful do you want your notebook to be? Well, you can't beat the IBM ThinkPad 770D which manages to cram in the highest possible spec. It is aimed purely at the corporate executive who wants every last toy and whose company is footing the bill.

The most obvious improvement is in the size of the screen, which is a 14.1in model. This really is big, with as large a viewable area as your average 15in monitor, and it's very impressive. If this is going to be your only machine, you should find the screen extremely comfortable to use. The downside is that having a screen this large will necessarily make any notebook much larger than one with a 13.3in screen. IBM has minimised the impact of this by shaving a small amount off the bottom of the notebook, so the front slopes slightly backwards.

To support the display, the machine has 2Mb of video memory and, amazingly for a notebook, a 3D graphics chip from Trident which provides fast video performance. Although it could be argued that 3D graphics on a notebook is not strictly necessary, it does mean you are ahead of the pack and have a little more power.

The remaining spec is equally good: a 233MHz Pentium with MMX technology including a 5Gb hard disk, an optional 20-speed CD-ROM or even a DVD-ROM drive, either of which are interchangeable with the floppy. There's 32Mb of SDRAM as standard, 512Kb of Level 2 cache and a 33.6Kbps modem.

The 770D is very well built, with ingenious solutions to typical problems.

The hard disk is kept in place by a screw and a lock, so there is no chance of it falling out. The CD-ROM drive and battery such as IBM ThinkPad T40 Battery, IBM ThinkPad T41 Battery, IBM ThinkPad T42 Battery, IBM ThinkPad T43 Battery, IBM ThinkPad R50 Battery, IBM ThinkPad R51 Battery, IBM FRU 08K8193 Battery, IBM 92P1060 Battery, IBM 08K8214 Battery, IBM 08K8195 Battery can be popped out using a switch on the front of the notebook, so you do not have to turn it upside down. And the rear feet have been turned sideways to make the unit more stable when it is propped up at the back for a better typing angle. The pre-loaded software has been put together with the corporate user in mind, so there is a copy of ConfigSafe which lets the system administrator find and repair any changes that have been made to the registry, INI files, system hardware and so on. And there's a liberal sprinkling of other software: IBM's Antivirus, PointCast, TranXit, Emergency Recovery Utility and CardWorks.

Overall, the 770D is up to IBM's usual high standards although, if anything, it seems a little over-stuffed with features. But as it is probably better specified than the PC sitting on your desk right now, it is still a good buy.