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Purchasing a Notebook Computer
I
COMPUTERS
Purchasing a Notebook Computer by Renato Cataldo, Jr., PharmD
Q: I would like to purchase a notebook microcomputer for the pharmacy. What issues should I be aware of? A: Even smaller than laptop computers are notebook computers, which are the size of a notebook and weigh 5 to 7 lb. Selection and features change dramatically every six months; just two years ago, an 80286 notebook computer with 640K bytes of RAM and a 40MB (megabyte) hard drive sold for $3,000. Today you can purchase a notebook computer with 4 MB of RAM and a 120-MB hard drive for $2,000.
Choosing Features Several types of notebook computers are on the market. To select one, you need to consider the following options and features.
Type ofprocessor: Hundreds of manufacturers make IBM-compatible notebook computers, which usually contain processor chips manufactured by the Intel Corporation. There are two basic categories of Intel processors: the 80386 (often called simply "386") and the AMERICANPHARMACY
faster 80486 (or "486"). Both are reasonable choices for a notebook computer, but the 80486 is rapidly becoming the "entry-level" standard. Intel chips have a suffix that indicates special properties of the chip. For example, DX indicates that the chip includes a math coprocessor, which makes certain software applications process faster; SX indicates the chip does not include a math coprocessor; and SL indicates the chip has certain power-saving features, which are especially significant for extending battery life in notebook computers. According to Intel, new chips of all classifications will include the power-saving features formerly fOlmd only in the SL. The newest and fastest Intel processor on the market is the Pentium. It has greater processing capabilities, but it also requires a lot more energy and generates a tremendous amount of heat. At least for this year, you will not see a Pentium chip in a notebook computer. Within each processor category, the megahertz (MHz) rating provides an indication of the processor's speed (e.g. , 33 MHz, 40 MHz, etc.). The higher the number, the faster you pro-
cess. If the notebook computer will be your only computer, get the fastest chip you can afford. If the notebook computer is for use only when traveling and consulting, an 80386SX 33 MHz or an 80486sx 25 MHz will be more than adequate. The Apple corporation uses a Motorola processor in its PowerBook notebook computers. As with IBMcompatible computers, the higher the computer number with Apple computers (e.g. , 68030 vs. 68040), the greater the processing power. Apple also uses a similar speed rating. Batteries: Almost every notebook computer includes a portable battery. The battery usually accolmts for onethird of the weight of the computer. Although manufacturers' promotional literature usually rate battery life at 2-3 hours, very few operate continuously for more than 1.5 hours. I have used only three units that had exceptional battery life: the IBM Thinkpad, Toshiba notebooks, and the Apple PowerBook. If you think you will need extra battery life, purchase a second battery and alternate them each week. RAM: Unless you plan to work on serious Windows applications with your notebook computer, you will need only 4 MB of RAM. On a PowerBook, I recommend 8 MB of RAM as a minimum. If you need more RAM, purchase it with the original unit. PCMCIA slot: A Personal Computer Memory Card
Industry Association (pCMCIA) slot is the size of a credit card and it permits adding capabilities to notebook computers. Traditionally, notebook computers have been tightly sealed boxes with no add-ons other than modems. The PCMCIA standard was developed as a mini-expansion slot to encourage third party manufacturers of modems, network cards, bar code readers, and the like to develop products for and encourage the use of notebook computers. Not all manufacturers provide this slot, but it is rapidly becoming a standard feature. Two slot types are available: Type I was the original specification. Type II, the updated version, is a little thicker than Type I and has allowed hard-drive manufacturers to make new products for notebook computers. I recommend getting a notebook computer with at least one Type II slot for future expansion. Modems: A variety of modem speeds and fax capabilities are available. (See "Computers, " p. 26, September issue, for more detail.) Internal modems are usually expensive because they have
Do You Have a Question About Computers? We'd lik<3 at from you. Pleas questions't orican Pbarmao//Computers, 2215 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20037-2985. November 1993
Vol. NS33, No. 11
to be customized for every notebook computer manufacturer, which keeps sales volume low and prices high. An external pocket modem is usually smaller, lighter, and less expensive, and can be operated on battery power. Modems for the PCMCIA slots are also less expensive than internal modems because of standardization and greater sales volume. Hard drives: I recommend getting the largest hard drive you can afford. Prices have fallen each year. The price per megabyte usually starts to increase significantly at near 200 MB. Removable hard drives have been available for some time, but they have not been standardized, and they have not caught the attention of most purchasers. Because an 85-MB hard drive that fits a Type II PCMCIA slot is now available, I recommend purchasing two PCMCIA slots rather than a removable hard drive. Notebook displays: Severalliquid crystal display (LCD) types are available. Two basic categories are monochrome and color. The monochrome LCD comes in different sizes and clarity. Monochrome LCDs actually interpret software colors and present them in 16, 32, or 64 shades of gray. The more shades of gray used, the better defmition on the screen. Most advertised units come standard with 64 shades of gray. The LCD generates no light and can only be read where ambient light is availVol. NS33, No. 11
November 1993
able. Most LCDs have an edge or back lighting system. Some lighting systems are better than others; make sure you try the prospective notebook computer in both bright and dark rooms. The two types of color LCDs are Passive Matrix and Active Matrix. The Passive Matrix LCD projects the color from the edge of the display towards the center, and some Passive Matrix LCDs use double scan technology to improve the color denSity. The Active Matrix Display can generate color anywhere on the display and is easy to read. Until recently, color LCD costs were as high as $5 ,000 because of a high (approximately 60%) import tariff. The tariffs have recently been changed, and many manufacturers of notebook computers have replaced monochrome systems with color. Color usually adds several hundred dollars to the price of equally equipped systems. If your notebook is your primary computer, spend the extra amount and get an Active Matrix LCD.
Other Standard Features Manufacturers'standard computers include many of the following components; be sure you know where they are located. Note the external ports, serial ports, keyboard port, numeric keypad port, parallel port, and internal/external mouse or trackball. Some units also
offer a docking station, a desktop device that includes a monitor, keyboard, and expansion slot.
Warranty and Support: Pay attention to warranties and availability of service. Most notebook computer retailers offer only a one-year warranty for on-site repair. Some companies, such as Compaq, have increased their warranty up to three years on some models and offer 24-hour telephone support.
Airports and Airplanes: It is perfectly safe to pass your notebook computer through an X-ray machine in an airport. I have never had a hard drive or disk damaged by an X-ray device and I have never seen any warnings in the computer press that this can happen. Using your notebook computer during takeoffs and landings is prohibited, but you can use it in flight. On trips of greater than two (flying) hours, I recommend you take a second battery.
sive Matrix LCD. For those in the $3,000 and up category, a 80486DX 33-MHz, with 8MB RAM, 200-MB hard drive, and Active Matrix LCD is a top-of-the-line computer. All the above units should include at least one Type II PCMCIA slot. Just keep in mind that every computer purchase is probably outdated within eight months, regardless of what model you choose. Renato Cataldo, Jr., PharmD, is director of microcomputer applications and assistant professor of pharmacy administration, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, St. Louis, Mo.
Conclusion Even though the notebook computer market offers many choices, you can select one rather quickly, based on your fmancial resources. For $2,000, you can purchase an 80486sx 25-MHz, with 4-MB RAM, 120-MB hard drive, and monochrome LCD. For about $1 ,000 more, you can purchase an 80486sx 33-MHz, with 4-MB RAM, 170 MB hard disk, and Pas-
AMERICAN PHARMACY
COMPUTERS
Purchasing a Notebook Computer by Renato Cataldo, Jr., PharmD
Q: I would like to purchase a notebook microcomputer for the pharmacy. What issues should I be aware of? A: Even smaller than laptop computers are notebook computers, which are the size of a notebook and weigh 5 to 7 lb. Selection and features change dramatically every six months; just two years ago, an 80286 notebook computer with 640K bytes of RAM and a 40MB (megabyte) hard drive sold for $3,000. Today you can purchase a notebook computer with 4 MB of RAM and a 120-MB hard drive for $2,000.
Choosing Features Several types of notebook computers are on the market. To select one, you need to consider the following options and features.
Type ofprocessor: Hundreds of manufacturers make IBM-compatible notebook computers, which usually contain processor chips manufactured by the Intel Corporation. There are two basic categories of Intel processors: the 80386 (often called simply "386") and the AMERICANPHARMACY
faster 80486 (or "486"). Both are reasonable choices for a notebook computer, but the 80486 is rapidly becoming the "entry-level" standard. Intel chips have a suffix that indicates special properties of the chip. For example, DX indicates that the chip includes a math coprocessor, which makes certain software applications process faster; SX indicates the chip does not include a math coprocessor; and SL indicates the chip has certain power-saving features, which are especially significant for extending battery life in notebook computers. According to Intel, new chips of all classifications will include the power-saving features formerly fOlmd only in the SL. The newest and fastest Intel processor on the market is the Pentium. It has greater processing capabilities, but it also requires a lot more energy and generates a tremendous amount of heat. At least for this year, you will not see a Pentium chip in a notebook computer. Within each processor category, the megahertz (MHz) rating provides an indication of the processor's speed (e.g. , 33 MHz, 40 MHz, etc.). The higher the number, the faster you pro-
cess. If the notebook computer will be your only computer, get the fastest chip you can afford. If the notebook computer is for use only when traveling and consulting, an 80386SX 33 MHz or an 80486sx 25 MHz will be more than adequate. The Apple corporation uses a Motorola processor in its PowerBook notebook computers. As with IBMcompatible computers, the higher the computer number with Apple computers (e.g. , 68030 vs. 68040), the greater the processing power. Apple also uses a similar speed rating. Batteries: Almost every notebook computer includes a portable battery. The battery usually accolmts for onethird of the weight of the computer. Although manufacturers' promotional literature usually rate battery life at 2-3 hours, very few operate continuously for more than 1.5 hours. I have used only three units that had exceptional battery life: the IBM Thinkpad, Toshiba notebooks, and the Apple PowerBook. If you think you will need extra battery life, purchase a second battery and alternate them each week. RAM: Unless you plan to work on serious Windows applications with your notebook computer, you will need only 4 MB of RAM. On a PowerBook, I recommend 8 MB of RAM as a minimum. If you need more RAM, purchase it with the original unit. PCMCIA slot: A Personal Computer Memory Card
Industry Association (pCMCIA) slot is the size of a credit card and it permits adding capabilities to notebook computers. Traditionally, notebook computers have been tightly sealed boxes with no add-ons other than modems. The PCMCIA standard was developed as a mini-expansion slot to encourage third party manufacturers of modems, network cards, bar code readers, and the like to develop products for and encourage the use of notebook computers. Not all manufacturers provide this slot, but it is rapidly becoming a standard feature. Two slot types are available: Type I was the original specification. Type II, the updated version, is a little thicker than Type I and has allowed hard-drive manufacturers to make new products for notebook computers. I recommend getting a notebook computer with at least one Type II slot for future expansion. Modems: A variety of modem speeds and fax capabilities are available. (See "Computers, " p. 26, September issue, for more detail.) Internal modems are usually expensive because they have
Do You Have a Question About Computers? We'd lik<3 at from you. Pleas questions't orican Pbarmao//Computers, 2215 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20037-2985. November 1993
Vol. NS33, No. 11
to be customized for every notebook computer manufacturer, which keeps sales volume low and prices high. An external pocket modem is usually smaller, lighter, and less expensive, and can be operated on battery power. Modems for the PCMCIA slots are also less expensive than internal modems because of standardization and greater sales volume. Hard drives: I recommend getting the largest hard drive you can afford. Prices have fallen each year. The price per megabyte usually starts to increase significantly at near 200 MB. Removable hard drives have been available for some time, but they have not been standardized, and they have not caught the attention of most purchasers. Because an 85-MB hard drive that fits a Type II PCMCIA slot is now available, I recommend purchasing two PCMCIA slots rather than a removable hard drive. Notebook displays: Severalliquid crystal display (LCD) types are available. Two basic categories are monochrome and color. The monochrome LCD comes in different sizes and clarity. Monochrome LCDs actually interpret software colors and present them in 16, 32, or 64 shades of gray. The more shades of gray used, the better defmition on the screen. Most advertised units come standard with 64 shades of gray. The LCD generates no light and can only be read where ambient light is availVol. NS33, No. 11
November 1993
able. Most LCDs have an edge or back lighting system. Some lighting systems are better than others; make sure you try the prospective notebook computer in both bright and dark rooms. The two types of color LCDs are Passive Matrix and Active Matrix. The Passive Matrix LCD projects the color from the edge of the display towards the center, and some Passive Matrix LCDs use double scan technology to improve the color denSity. The Active Matrix Display can generate color anywhere on the display and is easy to read. Until recently, color LCD costs were as high as $5 ,000 because of a high (approximately 60%) import tariff. The tariffs have recently been changed, and many manufacturers of notebook computers have replaced monochrome systems with color. Color usually adds several hundred dollars to the price of equally equipped systems. If your notebook is your primary computer, spend the extra amount and get an Active Matrix LCD.
Other Standard Features Manufacturers'standard computers include many of the following components; be sure you know where they are located. Note the external ports, serial ports, keyboard port, numeric keypad port, parallel port, and internal/external mouse or trackball. Some units also
offer a docking station, a desktop device that includes a monitor, keyboard, and expansion slot.
Warranty and Support: Pay attention to warranties and availability of service. Most notebook computer retailers offer only a one-year warranty for on-site repair. Some companies, such as Compaq, have increased their warranty up to three years on some models and offer 24-hour telephone support.
Airports and Airplanes: It is perfectly safe to pass your notebook computer through an X-ray machine in an airport. I have never had a hard drive or disk damaged by an X-ray device and I have never seen any warnings in the computer press that this can happen. Using your notebook computer during takeoffs and landings is prohibited, but you can use it in flight. On trips of greater than two (flying) hours, I recommend you take a second battery.
sive Matrix LCD. For those in the $3,000 and up category, a 80486DX 33-MHz, with 8MB RAM, 200-MB hard drive, and Active Matrix LCD is a top-of-the-line computer. All the above units should include at least one Type II PCMCIA slot. Just keep in mind that every computer purchase is probably outdated within eight months, regardless of what model you choose. Renato Cataldo, Jr., PharmD, is director of microcomputer applications and assistant professor of pharmacy administration, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, St. Louis, Mo.
Conclusion Even though the notebook computer market offers many choices, you can select one rather quickly, based on your fmancial resources. For $2,000, you can purchase an 80486sx 25-MHz, with 4-MB RAM, 120-MB hard drive, and monochrome LCD. For about $1 ,000 more, you can purchase an 80486sx 33-MHz, with 4-MB RAM, 170 MB hard disk, and Pas-
AMERICAN PHARMACY