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The desktop PC has one big disadvantage and the clue is in the name - it's dependent on a desk. This isn't always a problem, but there are times when you want to take your computer with you. Maybe you want to keep up with your email on holiday or process your digital photos on the go. If you're tired of being deskbound, a notebook PC could be the answer.
First impressions of the Sigma Si notebook from Rock are good. The case is tastefully hewn from sombre blue plastic and appears pretty and rugged, but without going to the extremes of style doyens such as Apple or Sony.
There is a small amount of overhang where the case extends out from the base to meet the screen: nothing too significant, but this means that the real footprint of this notebook is a touch bigger than Rock claims.
Opening up the notebook reveals the reason for the overhang - the Sigma has a generous 15.1in screen. The resolution is limited to 1024 x 768, which is lower than some Dell and IBM notebooks manage but very comfortable to use on a screen this size. The image is sharp and bright.
On the front of the case are the normal lights showing that power on and the charge light. Next to them is a very useful email light, which burns brightly when messages await your attention in the inbox and is more noticeable than the standard Outlook message.
At the other end of the case underneath the screen are five 'hotkeys'. They are left to the user to define and are just labelled one to five. The lack of labels means it's up to the user to remember what they do too.
The keyboard is full size and there is a trackpad to replace the mouse. It is possible to connect an ordinary mouse instead if you prefer.
The insides of this notebook are of equally high quality. A 1GHz Pentium III processor beats at the heart of it. This is matched with a generous 256Mb of memory although the version available will actually include 384Mb of memory at no extra cost. Notebooks often share memory between Windows and graphics and this Rock is no exception.
By including this amount of memory, Rock has ensured that the performance of this system does not suffer as a result. A 30Gb hard disk provides the main storage resource, and a DVD-ROM drive is also included. If you feel so inclined, it is possible to watch DVD movies on this notebook.
If you want a complete replacement for a desktop PC, a CD-RW drive is an optional extra.
In some areas, the notebook cannot compete with the desktop machine. If you are an avid 3D games player, few notebooks will do; but for most Windows tasks, this is a capable performer.
The operating system is Microsoft's latest version of Windows, Windows XP Professional. To take advantage of all XP's web-ready features, an internet connection is required. The Rock is well catered for, coming as it does with both modem and network connections.
The Sigma Si performed well in our tests. The performance was slightly lower than a desktop PC, which is the norm for notebooks, but it breezes through most tasks. Battery life is something to look for in a notebook and the two-and-a-half hour marathon managed is impressive.
Our biggest gripe regards the lack of office software supplied. DVD movie playback software is included but nothing else. Although WordPad in Windows offers basic word processing capabilities, most users will want something more than this.
Aside from that minor grumble, this notebook performs well and is one to look out for.
Contact
Rock: 0870 990 9090 www.rockdirect.com
ALSO CONSIDER
Asus Higrade T9400
An ultra-portable notebook with plenty going for it.
£1,526
****
Computeractive, Issue 100
See also:
Budget desktop replacement with a 1GHz Intel Celeron chip. 19 Mar 2002
Stylish and compact, the Cassiopeia Fiva MPC-205E is a pretender to the Vaio throne. 24 Jan 2002All Notebooks & Tablets PCs
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