Hi everyone, I've just been comparing these t

[Samantha]

Hi everyone,

I've just been comparing these two models.

Portege 3500: http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe.c...ODUCT_ID=39917

Portege M200: http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe.c...ODUCT_ID=78090

To me, the design is much sleeker and sexier on the 3500. The M200 almost looks awkward. But, perhaps these are bad pictures. Can anybody who owns these models or who has seen them both tell me more? I really like the 3500, but can't get past the low processor speed. No way I can upgrade it, I suppose?

Thanks! :)

[Wcrocker]

Samantha,

I'm a former 3500 owner and a current M200 owner. I loved the 3500 and love the M200 even more. Both are great machines. The design in the pictures may make the 3500 look sleeker and I actually thought that myself prior to getting my hands on the M200, but that is not the case. I thought I would miss the all black design of the 3500 but I really like the sliver and black look and feel of the M200. The M200 feels just as sleek in design but also feels much more substantial all the way around. (Quality of the plastic case, hinge, screen, etc..) It just feels more mature to me. There is nothing awkward about that machine at all.

The lower processor speed really did not matter to me or bother me at all on the 3500. It did everything I needed it to do. Did it feel slower than my desktop. At times absolutely. Does it feel slower than the M200. Yes. The jump up in speed on the M200 is a great improvement, but if price is an issue, what the 3500 offers is not that bad in my opinion.

The other major difference between the two is the screen resolution. The M200's higher resolution is a definate plus in my book.

There really is no way to upgrade the processor speed unfortunately.

As I say over and over (like a broken record) the choice of tablet really depends on what you want to use it for. Depending on your usage profile the 3500 may just fill your needs. The M200 certainly should.

Hope that helps.

[Samantha]

Right, well, my uses:

1. Not really into gaming
2. Use Microsoft Office for a lot of school work, and other big programs such as Mind Manager
3. Tend to have lots running in the background - instant message programs, e-mail checkers
4. Can have up to 5 programs open at once, and often many internet explorers
5. Use the internet a lot. Download fairly frequently, visit many, many websites

And that sort of thing. Really wish I could test these models out for a week! :)

[Samantha]

And by the way, my school work must be making me sleepy.... I mean "3500 much more attractive than M200" in the subject. ;)

[rbushway]

If you can get the 3500 at a decent price ($1500?), then that might be the best machine for you. I've compared the 3500 side by side with the M200, and the M200 is much more attractive machine, in my opinion.

[Wcrocker]

quote:Originally posted by Samantha

Right, well, my uses:

1. Not really into gaming
2. Use Microsoft Office for a lot of school work, and other big programs such as Mind Manager
3. Tend to have lots running in the background - instant message programs, e-mail checkers
4. Can have up to 5 programs open at once, and often many internet explorers
5. Use the internet a lot. Download fairly frequently, visit many, many websites

And that sort of thing. Really wish I could test these models out for a week! :)

About the only thing on your list that I cannot comment on is the use of mind manager. I just haven't been down that road. Otherwise, I'd say the 3500 would most likely handle you needs depending on how graphic intensive some (or any) of those fire apps are.

[motion1]

The only difference between the 3500 series and the 200 series beside price is color, speed, resolution. the size is a minimal difference...

I use Adobe Creaive Suite and have no problems. Now having all that many memory hogs open...no that is problematic. I rarely use more han couple apps open wih IM, ICQ running and IEx2 or so... They went to a lot of trouble to make the start button...use it...does not take long to reopen..

I have been very satisfied with performance

[yvilla]

My advice? If you can afford the M200, get it. The difference between the 1.3 Ghz Pentium 3M in the 3500 and the 1.5 Ghz Centrino in the M200 is enormous! (As we talked about in the other thread, they are different CPUs altogether, and the performance difference is much greater than that .2 numerical difference makes it appear at first glance). Even if you don't strictly need the much greater performance, it sure would be nice to have it if you can get it. The higher resolution of the M200 is also major, IMO.

[twelve]

The inside scoop is that the P4's instruction pipeline is so long that, if you're running typical code that branches a lot, a P3 of 1/2 the clock rate runs faster than a P4. That, plus a 400MHz FSB speed means that the 1.5GHz Pentium M (which is built on an accelerated P3 core) runs similar to a 2.8GHz P4 with 533MHz FSB, and a 1.7GHz Pentium-M is roughly equivalent to a 3.2GHz P4 with 533MHz FSB

[sco_robinso]

You can get the 3500 for as low as about $1300usd online fairly easily. I bought mine brand new for $1700CAD, which is about $1300usd from an online retailer on ebay (FULLY loaded - 512MB, 40GB, bluetooth, 80211b).

I personally didn't go for the M200 because considering what I use the tablet for, I couldn't justify the pricetag. Sure, the Centrino has it's advantages, mainly more power, but then again I use it mainly for internet and office, so a P3 1.3 with 512 RAM is fine. Plus I have a powerhouse 3GHz desktop for all of my other uses, so that did factor in to the decision.

For what you use it for, the 3500 would be fine. But if the budget permits, go for more power

* And 'twelve', I think your power estimates are a tad off, most benchmarks have a 1.4GHz Centrino equivalent to about a 2 - 2.2ghz P4, and a 1.7 is closer to about 2.6... This is of course on "average", each core will excel at certain tasks. The long pipe of the P4 is generally made up for in the cache (that's why the celerons suck - not enough cache for the pipe). What code is this that runs twice as fast on a P3?