A sensible notebook for budget-minded shoppers who have an eye on
the future, the affordably priced Sharp Actius PC-AL27 delivers in
the areas that count most and keeps costs under control elsewhere.
The system's 3D graphics performance definitely won't excite gamers
and its projected battery life is only so-so, but it's a solid
computer most everywhere else and features a versatile AMD Athlon
64 processor that supports both 32-bit and 64-bit applications.
Ultimately, the Actius PC-AL27 is a good bet for cost-conscious
consumers who don't play the latest and greatest 3D games but
otherwise require a notebook that will stand the test of time.
Processor:
At the heart of any computer lies the CPU (or processor), a massive
collection of miniature transistors that governs the speed and
power of the entire unit. Some of today's notebooks are equipped
with high-end CPU's on par with those found in top-of-the-line
desktop PCs, while others are quick enough only for basic duties
such as word processing, email and the like. The Actius PC-AL27
sports an AMD Athlon 64 processor 2700+ operating at 1.6 GHz.
Though this clock speed doesn't compare favorably with even the
lowest-rated Intel Pentium 4, the fact is that Intel and AMD build
their CPUs differently, and a 1.6 GHz Athlon provides ample
on-the-road power. Moreover, this Athlon supports both 32-bit
applications (the vast majority of today's software) and 64-bit
apps (the eventual future of software). Memory:
Computers typically store information on their hard drive, but they
also keep frequently and recently accessed data in Random Access
Memory (RAM) for faster retrieval. More RAM means more efficient
computing, superior multitasking and less strain on your hard
drive. The Actius PC-AL27 incorporates 512 MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM.
This is a typical allotment and typical speed in today's midlevel
notebook world, and more than enough to deal with complex jobs and
multitasking. Users may upgrade to 1280 MB, through most certainly
won't need to. Video:
CPUs are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need
help translating visual output to the viewing screen. This is the
duty of the graphics card (or graphics controller). The best and
priciest graphics controllers feature on-board "dedicated" video
memory rather than "sharing" portions of the system's all-important
main memory. Moreover, graphics controllers with more dedicated or
shared memory (such as 128 or 256 MB) deliver better performance
than those with lesser amounts (i.e. 32 or 63 MB). This unit
features a VIA/S3 Graphics UniChrome Pro with just 64 MB of shared,
not dedicated, memory. Thusly, it cannot be seen as a prime machine
for sophisticated 3D applications such as high-end games and
animation packages, though it's perfectly sufficient for 2D tasks
and simple 3D work. Display:
Like the majority of notebooks in today's market, the Actius
PC-AL27 is equipped with a 15-inch, non-widescreen display. It is
perhaps most notable for incorporating Sharp's "Double Bright"
technology, which Sharp says will deliver a picture two times
brighter than that of typical notebooks. Hard Disk:
A happy medium between capacity and price, the system's 60 GB hard
disk is much more affordable than the 100 GB-plus drives found in
upscale notebooks yet still allows you to store a broad range of
applications and files and also keep a small library of
space-gobbling music and/or multimedia files. Optical Drive:
An optical drive is essential in today's computing environment. A
"CD-ROM" drive allows you to install CD-based applications and play
music CDs. A "CD-RW" drive adds CD "burning", so you can also
backup your important files to long-lasting discs and create
personalized music CDs. With a DVD-ROM drive you can watch DVD
movies. And with a DVD-RW drive, you can "write" home movies to
durable discs and archive files to DVD (DVDs boast more than seven
times the storage capacity of a CD). Some drives allow you to do a
combination of all of these tasks. This system sports a
DVD+/-R/RW/CD-RW drive through which you can do all of the above.
It does not, however, support "double layer" DVDs (twice the
storage space of standard DVDs). Audio:
The unit is equipped with stereo speakers, a mini microphone jack
and a stereo mini headphone jack. Keyboard and Controls:
You'll control your notebook via an ergonomically-designed
keyboard. Connectivity and Expansion:
The Actius PC-AL27 offers a variety of ways to keep in touch,
including a 56K modem for low-speed dial-up Internet and email
access, an RJ-45 LAN port for high-speed wired network and
Internet, and integrated 802.11b/g wireless technology for fast
cord-free e-communication at home, at the office or on the road in
today's two most accepted wireless formats, Wireless-B and the far
faster Wireless-G. Other key amenities include four high-speed USB
2.0 ports for plug and play devices such as external drives and
digital came
