Hardware Best Bets - Instructor 2001 Teacher's Tech Guide
Instructor, March, 2001 by Carol S. Holzberg
Handware Best Bets
We looked at systems from six companies with strong education divisions.
Systems were matched as closely as possible for price and features.
Price configurations and specifications change often. If cost is an
important factor, we recommend spending the extra dollars on RAM (at
least 128 MB) and selecting a smaller, 15-inch monitor.
COMPUTER
SYSTEM Acer Veriton 5100 Apple iMac DV
PRICE $729-$1099 $949-$1449
CONTACT 800-551-2237 800-800-2775
INFORMATION www.acer.com www.apple.com
Reader Service Reader Service
No. 80 No. 81
PROCESSOR 5100-C600A: Intel 400 MHz-500 MHz
(CPU) Celeron 600MHz PowerPC G3 processor;
5100-T667A: Intel 100 MHz system bus
Pentium III 667 MHz
5100-T800A: Intel
Pentium III 800MHz
HARD DRIVE 5100-C600A: 10 GB 10 GB, 20 GB, or 30 GB
5100-T667A: 10 GB uLTRA ata
5100-T800A: 10 GB
RAM 5100-C600A: 64 MB 64MB or 128MB
5100-T667A: 64 MB expandable to 1 GB
5100-T800A: 128 MB
expandable to 512 MB
FLOPPY DISK Internal floppy Optional (external)
CD ROM/DVD ROM 48X maximum speed Slot-loading 24X
CD-ROM drive; maximum speed CD-ROM
DVD-ROM optional or 4X DVD-ROM drive
NETWORK Integrated Intel 10/100 10/100 Ethernet;
Ethernet built-in wireless
antenna;
optional Airport
card and Airport
Base Station
MONITOR Optional (not included) Built-in 15-inch
shadow-mask CRT
VIDEO 2x/3x AGP slot available ATI RAGE 128 Pro graph-
for upgrades ics accelerator with
8MB SDRAM graphics
memory
MODEM Optional Built-in 56K V.90
modem
AUDIO 16-bit stereo with Integrated Harmon
Sound Blaster Kardon Odyssey system
compatibility; with built-in speakers
speakers optional and microphone
PORTS 4 USB, 1 parallel, Standard VGA output for
1 serial, 1 VGA, 2 PS/2, video mirroring; 2 USB,
RJ-45 Ethernet, 2 FireWire, RJ-45
3 PCI card sockets Ethernet, Airport
connector
OPERATING Microsoft Windows 98 SE Mac OS 9.1
SYSTEM
BUNDLED Time Machine System OS 9.1, iMovie 2, Quick-
SOFTWARE Recovery utility; Acer Time 4, AppleWorks
CPR Recovery CD; Intel 6, Microsoft Internet
LAN-Desk Client Manager; Explorer, Outlook
PC-Doctor Diagnostic Express, Netscape
and PC-cillin, Communicator, Quicken
Anti-Virus Software Deluxe 2000, Palm
Desktop, FAXstf,
Bugdom, Nanosaur
WARRANTY 3-year 1-year parts and labor
(first year on-site) (carry-in), on-site
1-year upgrade, $39
COMPUTER Compaq Deskpro Dell Dimension
SYSTEM EN Series L Series
PRICE $1097-$1428 $833-$1070
CONTACT 800-88-TECH 888-977-3355
INFORMATION www5.compaq.com www.dell.com/us/en/k12
Reader Service Reader Service
No. 82 No. 83
PROCESSOR Model C600: Intel Intel Celeron 600 MHz;
(CPU) Celeron 600/66 MHz Intel Celeron 700 MHz;
Model P733: Intel Intel Pentium III
Pentium III 800 MHz
733/133 MHz
HARD DRIVE 10 GB ATA 10, 20, or 40 GB (5400
and 7200 RPM) Ultra
ATA
RAM Model C600: 64 MB 128 MB
Model P733: 128 MB expandable to 512 MB
expandable to 512
MB
FLOPPY DISK Internal floppy Internal floppy
CD ROM/DVD ROM 48X maximum speed 48X maximum speed
CD-ROM drive; CD-ROM drive; 12X
DVD-ROM optional maximum speed DVD-ROM
NETWORK Integrated Intel PRO/100 Integrated 10/100 Intel
VM network connection Ethernet controller
with WOL Ethernet net-
work interface
controller
MONITOR S510: 15-inch E770: 17-inch
M510: 15-inch with
speakers
S710: 17-inch
VIDEO Integrated Intel 3D Integrated Intel 3D
Direct AGP graphics Direct AGP graphics
with 4 MB cache with 4 MB SGRAM
(not upgradeable)
MODEM Optional Optional
AUDIO Integrated Intel audio Choice of integrated or
with Premium non-integrated Sound
Internal speakers Blaster 64V PCI Sound
Card with PC speakers
PORTS 1 parallel, 2 serial, 2 USB, 1 serial, 1
3 PCI slots (all parallel with ECP, 4
available), 2 USB, PCI slots, RJ-45
RJ-45 Ethernet Ethernet
OPERATING Microsoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows
SYSTEM Windows 98 SE Millennium or 98 SE
BUNDLED Choice of one Norton AntiVirus 2000
SOFTWARE Learning-Pag: Science
Fari (K-6); Math &
Science (K-6 or
7-12); Language Arts &
Social Studies (K-6
or 7-12); General
& Reference; Notebook
Network; Teacher
Productivity
WARRANTY 3-year parts and labor 3-year parts and labor
(3 years on-site) (first year on-site)
COMPUTER Gateway Premio
SYSTEM E1400se/E1400xl Centella 815M
PRICE $899-$1299 $699-$899
CONTACT 800-846-5211 800-677-6477
INFORMATION www.gateway.com www.premiopc.com
Reader Service No. 84 Reader Service
No. 85
PROCESSOR 1400se: Intel Celeron Intel Celeron
(CPU) 700 MHz 667 MHz or
1400xl: Intel Pentium III 800 MHz
Pentium III 850 MHz at 66/100/133MHz
HARD DRIVE 1400se: 10 GB 20GB or 30GB Ultra
1400xl: 20 GB ATA
RAM 1400se: 64 MB PC-100/133MHz
1400xl: 128 MB expandable to 512MB
expandable to 256 MB
FLOPPY DISK Internal floppy Internal floppy
CD ROM/DVD ROM 24X maximum speed 48X maximum speed
CD-ROM drive CD-ROM drive
NETWORK Integrated Intel 10/100 Intel Pro 100+ network
Twisted Pair Ethernet interface controller
with WOL card (PCI)
MONITOR 1400se: LE500 15-inch Optional (not included)
color
1400xl: EV700 17-inch
color
VIDEO Integrated Intel 3D Integrated Intel Direct
Direct AGP graphics AGP Video using
with 4 MB SGRAM Dynamic Video memory
technology
MODEM Optional 56K V.90 PCI Modem Card
AUDIO Integrated audio with Integrated Analog/
Sound Blaster Digital Interface
compatibility; SoundMAX Audio with
speakers optional microphone
PORTS 2 PCI slots; 3 PCI 2 USB, 1 parallel, 2
slots; or 5 PCI serial, 1 VGA, 2 PS/2,
slots plus 1 serial, 1 IrDA connector,
1 parallel, 2 PS/2, RJ-45 Ethernet
2 USB, 1 RJ-45 LAN
OPERATING Microsoft Windows 98 SE Microsoft Windows 98 SE
SYSTEM
BUNDLED Intel LANDesk Client Intel LANDesk Client
SOFTWARE Manager; Norton 2000 Manager, Premio PC
Quick Fix
WARRANTY 3-year parts and labor 3-year limited warranty
(3 years on-site)
COPYRIGHT 2001 Scholastic, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group
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