On the lighter side
The N600c shares the black-magnesium-alloy-with-silver-touches motif seen in rest of the Evo family, although this model is the biggest of the bunch at 1.2 by 12.1 by 9.8 inches--and a surprisingly light 4.8 pounds. The two-spindled design houses 128MB of 133MHz SDRAM, a 20GB hard drive, a combo DVD-ROM/CD-R/CD-RW drive, two USB ports, and two Type II (one Type III) PC Card slots. Unfortunately, the N600c ships with easy-to-lose plastic PC Card dummies, rather than spring-loaded doors. Other ports and slots include one each of the following: IrDA, serial, parallel, VGA, NTSC/PAL video-out, a 56K modem, Ethernet, headphone, and microphone. Swapping options for the modular bay are numerous: DVD-ROM ($345), LS-120 ($199), Zip 250 ($299), extra battery ($184), CD-R/RW ($399), or floppy drive ($69).
The 14.1-inch, 1,024x768 XGA TFT display is one of the sharpest we've seen. The keyboard feels great, with a perfect layout and responsive keys. We like the choice of a pointing stick or a touchpad, although the pointing stick might be set a tad low for some, causing you to hit neighboring keys as you maneuver. Left and right mouse buttons nestle atop and below the trackpad. Four user-programmable buttons reside above the keyboard, which are all preset but can be changed to match your preference. The speakers deliver above-average sound for a notebook.
Now about the silver bump: The Evo N600c includes unique wireless capabilities through its MultiPort, which connects to a USB port on the lid. It lets you connect to multiple wireless standards such as 802.11b or Bluetooth. Compaq also plans to migrate the technology to future wireless standards.
Speed doesn't kill
The N600c's 1.06GHz PIII-M has been eclipsed by faster versions of the chip, but the notebook still cranks out impressive performance scores, even when compared to those of laptops with faster CPUs and more memory. The Dell Inspiron 4100, featuring a 1.2GHz PIII-M and a whopping 256MB of memory, nosed past the Evo N600c in two out of the three SysMark 2001 tests, though the Evo beat the Dell in Internet content creation. Where the Evo N600c really shines, however, is battery life. It made it to the 223-minute mark, easily outpacing the Dell.
We're thrilled to see that Compaq did not saddle the N600c with an all too typical one-year warranty. Instead, the company offers a three-year, worldwide limited warranty that allows for carry-in or pickup service. You also get toll-free phone support 24/7. Various other reasonably priced warranty options are available. Compaq's Web site serves up a variety of useful support resources, including instructions for contacting tech support via e-mail or phone; a searchable knowledge base; and downloadable software, drivers, and user guides.
This reasonably priced and fast notebook comes packed with features and options, including built-in wireless capabilities via the Multiport. It's easy to lug around and a pleasure to use, making it a solid Editors' Choice.
Editor's note: This page has been altered from its original version. Please see our .
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Performance test 100=performance of a test machine with a PIII-800, 128MB of PC133 CL2 SDRAM, Creative Labs GeForce Annihilator 2 32MB, and Windows 2000 (Service Pack 1) Longer bars indicate better performance
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Battery life test Time is measured in minutes; longer bars indicate better performance |
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Editor's note: CNET recently upgraded its system benchmarks to BAPCo's SysMark 2001. All the systems mentioned in this review were tested using the new benchmark and cannot be compared to systems tested using previous benchmarks. Compaq Evo N600c Windows 2000 SP2; Pentium III-M-1.06; 128MB SDRAM 100MHz; ATI Mobility Radeon 16MB; Toshiba MK2017GAP 18.6GB 4,200rpm Dell Inspiron 4100 Windows 2000; Pentium III 1.2GHz; 256MB RAM; ATI Mobility Radeon 16MB; IBM 30GB 4,200rpm The Dell Inspiron 4100, featuring a 1.2GHz PIII-M and a whopping 256MB of memory, nosed past the Evo N600c in two out of the three SysMark 2001 tests, though the Evo beat the Dell in Internet content creation. Where the Evo N600c really shines, however, is battery life. It made it to the 223-minute mark, easily outpacing the Dell. |
Product Specifications:
Product Description:
Compaq Evo Notebook N600c - Pentium III-M 1.06 GHz - 14.1 in TFT active matrix
Recommended Use:
Small business
,
Corporate business
Dimensions (WxDxH):
12.1 in x 9.8 in x 1.2 in
Weight:
5.5 lbs
Localization:
English
System Type:
Notebook
Processor:
Intel Pentium III-M 1.06 GHz
Cache Memory:
512 KB - L2 cache - Advanced Transfer Cache
RAM:
128 MB (installed) / 1 GB (max) - SDRAM - 133 MHz
Floppy Drive:
None
Hard Drive:
20 GB
Optical Storage:
DVD-ROM - Plug-in module
Storage Removable:
None
Display:
14.1 in TFT active matrix 1024 x 768 ( XGA ) - 24-bit (16.7 million colors)
Graphics Controller:
ATI Mobility Radeon - 16 MB
Video Input:
None
Audio Output:
Sound card
Telecom:
Network / modem combo - Mini PCI - 56 Kbps
Networking:
Network adapter - Ethernet
,
- Fast Ethernet
Input Device:
Keyboard
,
Touchpad
,
Pointing stick
Voltage Required:
AC 90/264 V
Battery:
Lithium ion
Run Time (Up To):
4 hour(s)
OS Provided:
Microsoft Windows 2000
Manufacturer Warranty:
3 years warranty
