Desktops vs notebooks: Group test

It wasn't so long ago that notebooks were only for business folk, whose employers would be forking out the thick end of £3,000 for a computer half as capable as a desktop costing half as much.

But times have changed. Today, anyone shopping for a computer at around the £1,000 mark has a huge choice of models.

Not only are notebooks now more affordable, but increasingly they give little away to desktop systems in terms of performance and specification.

As the case for buying a notebook computer is now more compelling than ever, it's time to weigh up the options open to the computer buyer.

We've pitted a selection of notebook computers against identically priced desktop systems to see which will emerge as the champion of home computing.

BUDGET SYSTEMS

Desktop: Mesh Matrix 64 3200+ Style
We've already touched on the fact that notebook computers have dropped in price over recent years but the same is also true of desktop systems.

Take the Mesh Matrix 64 3200+ Style, for example. Your £1,000 will buy you an Athlon 64 3000+ processor, 512MB of memory and a 160GB hard disk.

A 17in TFT monitor and a powerful ATi Radeon 9600XT graphics card complete this mid-priced powerhouse. The Mesh stormed through our performance tests, producing some very impressive scores.

Other aspects of the Mesh's specification are similarly impressive. There are six USB 2 ports and two FireWire sockets, for example, to hook up peripherals, and plenty of opportunity for upgrading inside the system.

With Microsoft's Works Suite 2004, Pinnacle Studio 8SE video editing software and Instant CD/DVD disc creation software included, you'll only need some internet security software before you start using your PC.

The worst aspects of the Mesh can really be put down to personal taste. There is no floppy disk drive but, with floppies being superseded by other storage media, if this is the worst thing we can say about the Mesh it's obviously a pretty decent system.

Price: £1,000
www.meshcomputers.com

Notebook: Acer TravelMate 291XLI
The TravelMate could not be more of a contrast to the Mesh desktop system. It's a dinky little notebook with a 14in TFT display, a 40GB hard disk and an Intel Pentium M processor running at 1.4GHz.

Although it may look like we're matching up Lennox Lewis and Bonnie Langford in a fight, that's not really the case. That processor speed may sound horribly weedy but it uses clever technology to perform significantly better than the speed suggests.

The Centrino badge on the Acer's case tells us that it also has integrated wireless networking, which is essential if you want to surf the web or send and receive emails while you are on the go.

If you are never going to use it away from your desk, the Acer's superb battery life and granite build quality are less important than its stodgy graphics processing performance and mere 256MB of memory.

On the road, however, the small proportions, low weight and robustness make it a real winner.

Connectivity is good, with three USB 2 ports, a mini FireWire socket and the aforementioned wireless internet capability. There's a single drive that allows you to record both CDs and DVDs - and you can use it to watch movies when you are bored on the train.

Price: £1,000
www.acer.co.uk

Notebook: Evesham Voyager 5800 2.8GHz
The Evesham is a desktop replacement system rather than an ultra-portable notebook. It is physically large and heavy and lacks the sturdy construction of models that are built with mobility in mind.

Having said that, you can still stow it away on a shelf when space is tight.

Performance-wise, the Evesham does quite well, although not quite as well as its 2.8GHz Pentium 4 processor and 512MB of memory would suggest.

Still, it is more than capable of doing all the things you'd ask of a desktop computer and that includes good gaming, thanks to the nVidia GeForce4MX 440 mobile graphics chip.

Compared to the Acer, it feels very plasticky and insubstantial, which is curious as it is so much heavier and larger. Its size means it is likely to stay on a desk rather than get carted about, so the short battery life isn't a huge consideration.

The keyboard is a little bouncy, but if you are working at a desk you could hook up a separate mouse and keyboard to a pair of the four USB ports.

The 15in TFT screen is bright and clear and the inclusion of a memory card reader is useful for getting your photos and MP3 music files on and off the 60GB hard disk.

As with the Acer, a single drive lets you record files and data to CD or DVDs so the Instant CD/DVD disc creation software that is bundled with the system will come in handy here. You also get Pinnacle Studio 8SE video editing software and Microsoft Works.

Price: £1,000
www.evesham.com

All things considered ...
For £1,000 you won't find a notebook computer that will match the power and flexibility of a desktop system.

The two desktop replacement notebooks we tested, despite being very different, are both impressive systems. But the benefits of having a notebook simply don't outweigh the power of the Mesh.

Provided that space and portability are not your top priorities, the Mesh would be our clear favourite.

MID-RANGE SYSTEMS

Desktop: Advent 3319
This system sits at the top end of the Advent range of desktops. It features an Intel Pentium 4 processor running at 3.2GHz, 512MB of memory and has a huge 200GB hard disk.

It put in a very good performance in our tests but didn't beat the Mesh by any significant margin, proving that extra money doesn't necessarily buy extra performance.

The Advent features a drive that allows you to watch DVDs and listen to CDs, and another recordable drive for creating your own CDs and DVDs.

Advent has also chosen to fit a floppy disk drive, while a memory card reader capable of reading most popular card formats is built into the front of the case, and can be covered up a by a sliding panel when not in use.

There's a 17in TFT display bundled with this system with a metallic blue finish to match the base unit. It connects to a port on the nVidia FX5600XT graphics card, which produced excellent graphics performance, roughly on a par with that of the Mesh.

Games will sound great too through the supplied 5.1 speakers, while a TV tuner card means you can watch a bit of telly while you work.

Price: £1,200
www.adventcomputers.co.uk

Notebook: Rock Computers Quaddra XT
When we slid the Rock Quaddra out of its cardboard box, we were underwhelmed by its appearance. The dark blue, silver and black case looks a bit like the designers at Rock couldn't decide on a colour scheme so used all three.

Still, you should never judge a book by its cover and when we put the Rock through its paces we were pleased with its strong performance.

The specification is impressive for a notebook, with an Intel Pentium 4 processor running at 3.06GHz that you'd expect to see in a desktop system.

This is coupled with 512MB of memory and a 60GB hard disk. The Rock can handle games, too, thanks to its ATi Mobility Radeon 9000 graphics chip, while the 15in TFT display gives good image quality.

It's not the best built of systems, with a slightly plasticky feel to it, and the keyboard doesn't feel as solid as those of the Acer and Fujitsu notebooks.

The DVD rewriter is a nice finishing touch and ensures that this PC can do pretty much anything that a desktop system can.

At £1,200 it's a powerful system that represents great value for money.

Price: £1,200
www.rockdirect.com

Fujitsu Siemens AmiloD 7830
It's immediately apparent that the build quality of the AmiloD 7830 is better than that of the Rock. The whole unit feels a lot more solid and the blue colour scheme is very handsome.

Other than that, there is little to separate the two computers. There is no obvious downside with the rest of the specification.

Like the Rock, it has an Intel Pentium 4 processor, 512MB of memory and Radeon 9000 graphics so it's not surprising that the performances put in by the two machines in our tests were comparable.

It also boasts a 15in screen, a DVD rewriter and a wealth of connectivity options. The only real difference between the two systems is that the Fujitsu Siemens has a 40GB hard disk, rather than the 60GB hard disk in the Rock.

On a positive note, Fujitsu Siemens supplies Adobe Photoshop Elements image-editing software, Microsoft Worksuite 2004 and an antivirus package to keep your PC virus-free.

Price: £1,200
www.fujitsusiemens.co.uk

All things considered ...
While you would expect a desktop system to come out ahead of a comparably priced notebook when it comes to performance, the two desktop replacement notebooks we looked at at this pricepoint provided some stiff competition.

While the difference in performance between the Advent and the desktop PC in the cheaper group is negligible, that extra £200 buys you substantially more notebook performance.

Although we were swayed by the swish good looks of the Advent, the build quality and power of the Fujitsu Siemens Amilo D made it the most impressive computer for £1,200.

That said, neither notebook could be described as svelte or lightweight so they should only travel occasionally.

APPLE MACS

Desktop: Apple iMac 17in
Apple's iMac is a thing of beauty, of that there is no doubt. This model with its 17in screen falls in the middle of the iMac range and costs a penny shy of £1,450.

That's a lot of money for a computer but that is what it costs to get an Apple with a DVD-rewriter, a 1.25GHz G4 processor, 256MB of memory and an 80GB hard disk.

Although that specification looks a bit paltry compared with an equivalent PC, it's actually not as bad as it appears. Because of the differences in the technology under the bonnet, the specifications of Macs and PCs can't be directly compared.

The price tag can be, though, and whichever way we look at it Apple computers do represent a serious investment.

Still, let's concentrate on the positives. Apple's OS X operating system will be a little strange for people who are used to using Windows but after an hour or so you'll have the hang of it and it's actually great to use.

The 17in screen is superb and is mounted on a chrome arm that allows you to position the screen exactly where you want it. There are two FireWire ports and three USB 2 ports on the iMac along with modem and network sockets.

Graphics processing is powered by an nVidia GeForce FX chip, although the choice of games available for Macs is very much poorer than for PCs so it is not a sensible choice for gamers.

Price: £1,450
www.apple.com/uk

Notebook: Apple iBook
Aside from the eMac, the iBook is actually one of the cheapest ways into Apple ownership. Opt for an iBook and your £849 will buy you the diminutive 12in model, which is as handsome a portable computer as you'll find anywhere on the planet.

The specification isn't going to get any pulses racing - the 800MHz G4 processor, 30GB hard disk and 256MB of memory are hardly the stuff of dreams - but we really do like the little iBook.

Despite the screen being a mere 12in, it gives excellent picture quality and the 1024 x 768 resolution means you can cram quite a lot onto it. This model comes with a DVD/CD-RW combo drive, ATi Mobility Radeon 9200 graphics and a built-in modem.

There's also a network connection socket, two USB ports and a single FireWire port to complete the connectivity line-up. Alternatively, you can pay extra to get a wireless network card fitted if required. It is beautifully made and pleasant to use.

Price: £849
www.apple.com/uk

Notebook: Apple Powerbook 15in Superdrive
The Powerbook range shares a lot of design features with the iBook but is a more powerful performer. The price tags on the Powerbook range are considerably beefier too. Powerbooks come in three sizes: 12in, 15in and 17in.

This is a high-end 15in model and it will leave a £2,000 hole in your pocket. For that, you get a DVD rewriter, 15in widescreen display, a 1.25GHz processor, 256MB of memory and an 80GB hard disk.

As it is an Apple, high fashion comes as standard. The whole case is made from an aluminium alloy and there is a noticeable lack of nasty sharp edges compared to other notebook computers.

This Powerbook comes with BlueTooth and wireless networking integrated, which is all very well, but £2,000 is enough to buy both the Acer and Evesham notebooks we reviewed earlier.

This is the most perfectly constructed, best looking computer we have ever seen but even that can't justify the sky-high cost.

Price: £2,000
www.apple.com/uk

All things considered ...
While apples may be good for keeping the doctor away, you are likely to have your bank manager on your back if you opt for a Mac. Having said that, we love the style of the current Apple range and OS X is every bit as easy to use as Windows XP.

If you are shopping for a Mac but are on a budget, the iBook is a good option. At £849, the low price is more impressive than the specification but, even if you were looking for a PC notebook, this wouldn't be a vast amount of money to be shopping with.

Over to you
If you have the space to spare, a desktop system is still your best option. Upgrading is easier, using the computer is less cramped and, if anything goes wrong, replacement parts don't have to come from the original manufacturer - at least with any desktop computer other than an Apple.

But if you don't want a computer cluttering up your home, the argument for buying a notebook is compelling. Prices are keener than ever, and the gulf between desktops and notebooks in terms of the performance they offer for your money is closing all the time.

While desktop computers still give you more bang for your buck, today's notebooks are capable of more than just basic office work and some will take care of your gaming needs too.