I sold my Gateway LT3103u a few weeks ago and I have been looking for a replacement ‘carry-around’ notebook (my Gateway P-6860FX is a great laptop, but it is also a 9.3lb device with a 17” screen –and not something I want to keep in my backpack all the time).
I looked at some of the new CULV laptops, but their price vs. performance isn’t where it needs to be yet. The lower end (SU3500; Core2 Solo 1.4Ghz) is has about 160% the processing power of a 1.6Ghz Atom N270 (488 vs. 304 on Passmark), it is sells for $100-$200 more (using $300 as the current average price for a NetBook).
The high-end CULV (SU9700, Core2 Duo 1.6Ghz) is almost four times as fast (1106 vs. 304), but most models sell for 2 to 4 times the price of an average NetBook.
CPU Type |
Passmark Score |
Intel Atom Z520 @ 1.33GHz |
251 |
Intel SU1300 @ 1.06GHz |
264 |
Intel Atom Z530 @ 1.60GHz |
295 |
Intel Atom N270 @ 1.60GHz |
304 |
Intel Atom Z540 @ 1.86GHz |
306 |
Intel Atom 230 @ 1.60GHz |
315 |
Intel Atom N280 @ 1.66GHz |
315 |
Intel Core2 Solo U2100 @ 1.06GHz |
323 |
Intel Atom Z550 @ 2.00GHz |
346 |
Intel SU2700 @ 1.30GHz |
438 |
Intel Core2 Solo U3500 @ 1.40GHz |
488 |
Intel Core2 U7500 @ 1.06GHz |
571 |
Intel SU2500 @ 1.20GHz |
581 |
Intel Atom 330 @ 1.60GHz |
624 |
Intel Core2 Duo U7500 @ 1.06GHz |
637 |
Intel Core2 U7600 @ 1.20GHz |
664 |
Intel Core2 U7700 @ 1.33GHz |
696 |
Intel Core2 Duo U7600 @ 1.20GHz |
709 |
Intel Core2 Duo U7700 @ 1.33GHz |
748 |
Intel Core2 Duo U9300 @ 1.20GHz |
768 |
Intel SU2300 @ 1.20GHz |
930 |
Intel Core2 Duo U9400 @ 1.40GHz |
947 |
Intel SU4100 @ 1.30GHz |
971 |
Intel SU7300 @ 1.30GHz |
1005 |
Intel Core2 Duo U9600 @ 1.60GHz |
1106 |
Intel Core2 Duo T8300 @ 2.40GHz |
1476 |
Intel Core2 Quad Q9650 @ 3.00GHz |
4456 |
Information obtained from Passmark Website |
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The big benefit in the CULV systems is that they are very thin & light and can have between 8 to 12 hours of run time on a single battery charge. All of the systems I looked at were 12” to 14” screens with 1366×768 resolution (for 720p capability)- which is the same resolution that most of the newer NetBooks feature.
I had resigned to lugging around my old faithful Gateway, but I decided to keep looking in case a good deal caught my eye.
This afternoon I was making my normal weekend rounds (Fry’s, MicroCetner, GameStop, etc) and I came across the Sony VGN-P530H/Q at MicroCenter- on sale for $499. This device launched at $899 and the current lowest online price I can find is $634.99 (for a refurb unit from Geeks.com).
It is a lowly Atom Z520 (1.33Ghz) but it comes with 2GB of RAM (hard-soldered to the board), a 60GB hard drive, WiFi b/g/n and an integrated webcam. What sets this apart from other ‘NetBooks’ is the integrated Bluetooth, GPS, Verizon EVDO and (wait for it) an 8” LED backlit screen with 1600×768 resolution!
The system ships with Vista Home Basic and it runs like crap; If I decide to purchase it would immediately be formatted and loaded with Windows 7.
Still debating if I can handle a 1.33Ghz CPU, but it is a pretty damn good buy for a micro-sized 1.5lb laptop!
Research Notes: