Power consumption figures measured in our workload test broadly follow the expected pattern, with the OLPC XO being the most power-frugal system (7.4W on average in reflective/greyscale mode) and the Lenovo ThinkCentre A61e, a relatively conventional desktop system, drawing the most power (46.4W on average, peaking at 73.4W). The other two notebooks, the ASUS Eee and the Intel Classmate, take well under 20W on average, while the mini-desktop Inveneo Computing Station hovers around the 20W mark (19.4W running Windows XP, 20.7W running Linux). The other mini-desktop we tested, the Aleutia E1, draws just under 3W more than the Inveneo system on average.
The numbers for the two NComputing shared-access terminal solutions need a few caveats attached. The biggest determinants of overall power consumption (and performance) are the specification of the host PC and the monitors used, as the access terminals themselves draw next to no power (1W for the X300, 5W for the L230). We used a pretty standard 2.8GHz single-core Pentium 4 PC from HP with 1GB of RAM and a 15in. XGA-resolution LCD monitor from NEC with brightness set to 50 per cent.
The power consumption figures reported here (average power of 33.2W for the L230, 29.2W for the X300) are per-seat for a system comprising the host PC and three access terminals. Although this is higher than the mini-desktops and notebooks we tested, it's worth bearing in mind that the host PC could support more terminals — ten in the case of the L230 (with Windows XP on the host, as here) and six for the X300. This would deliver lower power consumption per seat — but also, of course, put more stress on the host PC leading to slower performance as well as a higher probability of host PC failure.
We examine a number of low-power desktops, thin clients and notebooks to find out which platforms are most suitable for deployment in developing countries... more
The Aleutia E1 is a creditable effort at creating a compact, low-power desktop computer. However, the current hardware platform seems a little underpowered for anything other than the most basic tasks... more
The Inveneo Computing Station delivers reasonably good performance for a low-power PC. It's small, but an untidy assembly means it could be more convenient to handle... more
NComputing's L230 thin client is an option if you need to add a group of low-impact users to an existing Ethernet LAN. However, you'll need to ensure that the host PC is adequately specified to deliver acceptable performance to the terminals attached to it... more
NComputing's X300 provides a cost-effective way to hang up to six terminals off a single desktop PC using low-power, secure, easy to administer and quiet access terminals. It's not for power users, but is well suited to schools, business workgroups, libraries, internet cafés and suchlike... more
The Asus Eee PC 701 is a great notebook. It's extremely affordable, attractively designed and highly portable. If you're looking for an ultraportable travelling companion or a cheap second computer, there are few better options... more
Aimed at students in developing countries, the Intel Classmate PC is an intriguing attempt at a low-cost notebook. We love the rugged design, but the small 2GB solid-state hard drive doesn't leave a lot of room for growth... more
A work in progress rather than a finished product, the XO has much to recommend it. However, there are substantive issues to address if it's to live up to its creators' lofty ideals in practice... more
The MacBook Air is not quite an ultraportable, but it is exceptionally thin. Retaining the same 13.3in. display as the current MacBook line, it tapers from 1.94cm thick to just 0.4cm. Apple calls it the 'world's thinnest notebook'.
The Time Capsule's hybrid 802.11n wireless router/networked hard drive offers some powerful data-backup features for Mac owners, as well as Apple's typically pleasing design
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