HP Omnibook 900 - Revision history

Andrei.boiu at 09:33, 23 September 2021

2021-09-23T09:33:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:33, 23 September 2021
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	}}		}}

	[[Category:HP]]		[[Category:HP laptops]]

Andrei.boiu at 08:37, 23 September 2021

2021-09-23T08:37:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:37, 23 September 2021
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	Model 900B (high-end)		Model 900B (high-end)
	*Intel Pentium III 450 or 500 (unofficial 650) MHz CPU (socketed)		*Intel Pentium III 450 or 500 (unofficial 650) MHz CPU (socketed)
	*64MB PC-100 DRAM standard onboard, 192MB max with 1x128MB module ~~(model 900B)~~		*64MB PC-100 DRAM standard onboard, 192MB max with 1x128MB module
	*ATI Rage Mobility-M (M64) 4MB VRAM ~~(Model 900B)~~		*ATI Rage Mobility-M (M64) 4MB VRAM
	*ESS ES1978 Maestro-2E, SoundBlaster 2.0/Adlib capable emulation ~~(Model 900B)~~		*ESS ES1978 Maestro-2E, SoundBlaster 2.0/Adlib capable emulation

	Model 900 (low-end)		Model 900 (low-end)
	*Intel Pentium II 300, 366 or 400 MHz CPU (socketed)		*Intel Pentium II 300, 366 or 400 MHz CPU (socketed)
	*32MB PC-66 DRAM standard onboard, 160MB max with 1x128MB module ~~(model 900)~~		*32MB PC-66 DRAM standard onboard, 160MB max with 1x128MB module
	*NeoMagic MagicMedia256AV video controller 2MB VRAM ~~(Model 900)~~		*NeoMagic MagicMedia256AV video controller 2MB VRAM
	*NeoMagic Audio NMA2 ~~(Model 900)~~		*NeoMagic Audio NMA2

	12 and 13 inch laptops share the same model, chassis, and have these features:		12 and 13 inch laptops share the same model, chassis, and have these features:

Andrei.boiu at 21:39, 20 September 2021

2021-09-20T21:39:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:39, 20 September 2021
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	\| Great Windows 98/95 2D and early 3D Gaming platform \|\| 8MB VRAM would have been a better design choice		\| Great Windows 98/95 2D and early 3D Gaming platform \|\| 8MB VRAM would have been a better design choice
	\|-		\|-
	\| Good CPU expansion and MS-DOS SoundBlaster compatibility \|\| Mediocre mono speaker, no CD-ROM or floppy drive		\| Good CPU expansion and MS-DOS SoundBlaster compatibility \|\| Mediocre LCD screen and mono speaker, no CD-ROM or floppy drive
	\|-		\|-
	\| Comfortable keyboard, innovative trackpoint/trackpad combo \|\| Laptop upper case and display bezels are prone to cracks		\| Comfortable keyboard, innovative trackpoint/trackpad combo \|\| Laptop upper case and display bezels are prone to cracks

Andrei.boiu at 21:38, 20 September 2021

2021-09-20T21:38:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:38, 20 September 2021
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	Access to the hard-drive is straightforward, requiring only a single unscrew to pull out the hard-drive tray. Access to the RAM, cooling, CPU is quite simple as only two top screws and a cover to be taken out that secure the keyboard. The cooling system is quite adequate for the designed CPU and can be easily upgraded on the 900B model, suggesting good durability.		Access to the hard-drive is straightforward, requiring only a single unscrew to pull out the hard-drive tray. Access to the RAM, cooling, CPU is quite simple as only two top screws and a cover to be taken out that secure the keyboard. The cooling system is quite adequate for the designed CPU and can be easily upgraded on the 900B model, suggesting good durability.

			== Greatest features & flaws ==
			{\| border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2
			\|- style="background:#efefef;"
			! Features !! Flaws
			\|-
			\| Great Windows 98/95 2D and early 3D Gaming platform \|\| 8MB VRAM would have been a better design choice
			\|-
			\| Good CPU expansion and MS-DOS SoundBlaster compatibility \|\| Mediocre mono speaker, no CD-ROM or floppy drive
			\|-
			\| Comfortable keyboard, innovative trackpoint/trackpad combo \|\| Laptop upper case and display bezels are prone to cracks
			\|-
			\| Good cooling, low CPU heat dissipation \|\| Noisy, single speed CPU cooling fan
			\|}

	== Review ==		== Review ==

Andrei.boiu at 09:56, 7 September 2021

2021-09-07T09:56:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:56, 7 September 2021
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	== Durability and repair-ability ==		== Durability and repair-ability ==
	The laptop's case has ~~reasonable~~ plastic quality, ~~although~~ the ~~display's unit construction~~ is prone to cracks due to ~~the poor hinges and~~ a ~~lack~~ of ~~continuous metal~~ frame ~~around~~ the LCD ~~screen~~. Access to the hard-drive is straightforward, requiring only a single unscrew to pull out the hard-drive tray. Access to the RAM, cooling, CPU is quite simple as only two top screws and a cover to be taken out that secure the keyboard. The cooling system is quite adequate for the designed CPU and can be easily upgraded on the 900B model, suggesting good durability.		The laptop's case has only avereage plastic quality, as the case is generally prone to cracks and especially on the hinges area due to a not so good design of the LCD screen frame. Another design issue is due to the LCD display cable that has little strain release, creating an unreliable connection and some display artifacts. These problems were prevalent on Dell Pentium III laptops as well.

			Access to the hard-drive is straightforward, requiring only a single unscrew to pull out the hard-drive tray. Access to the RAM, cooling, CPU is quite simple as only two top screws and a cover to be taken out that secure the keyboard. The cooling system is quite adequate for the designed CPU and can be easily upgraded on the 900B model, suggesting good durability.

	== Review ==		== Review ==
	A nearly , ~~quite~~ slim, business laptop, released in 1999. It had a good mix of parts ~~and~~ a ~~slim~~ chassis. The choice of PC-100 SDRAM ~~and dual RAM sockets~~, as well as graphics chipset, make for a good all-around laptop. By 1999 the laptop was already obsolete due to the video chipset choice but this was standard for IBM laptops of its time, with no 3D hardware rendering support, no matter how rudimentary. The system runs reasonably well Windows 2000 ~~or Windows XP~~, if you really need it, but Windows 98 SE is the best choice.		A nearly top of the line, slim, business laptop, released in 1999. It had a good mix of parts especially for the 900B model but a chassis that is not too ressitant and not enough video RAM, just 4MB on the 13 inch model. The choice of PC-100 SDRAM, as well as graphics chipset, make for a good all-around laptop while the 900 model is simply low-end with no redeeming feature as even the audio support is not great for a vintage DOS laptop. By 1999 the Omnibook 900 model laptop was already obsolete due to the video chipset choice but this was standard for IBM laptops of its time, with no 3D hardware rendering support, no matter how rudimentary. The system runs reasonably well Windows 2000, especially for the Ati Rage Mobility video chipset, if you really need it, but Windows 98 SE is the best choice.

	The graphics chipset is below average for such a great CPU. The great scaling support make it possible to have very sharp output on the internal or external display, although less smoothly than on modern computers. It depends on taste if you like or hate this scaling mode without any blur but some small rough edges. Overall, the Neomagic graphics chipsets were very fast for 2D operations, definitely faster than Trident or Cirrus Logic Chipsets and Chips andTech 6555x chipsets in just about every respect. The Neomagic graphics is the top performer on 2D graphics both for compatibility as far back as Windows 3.1 and DOS as well as competitive with Chips&Technology or S3 Trio 64 videocards. No real improvements due to the additional video RAM available on the 600X.

	The ~~LCD TFT screen~~ is ~~somewhat alright~~ but ~~it uses~~ a ~~dated technology~~ that ~~results in low brightness, relatively low contrast~~ due to the ~~vertical rather than horizontal, higher power CCFL sidelight~~.		The graphics chipset is slightly above average especially when you consider the IBM Thinkpad 600X line that still had the Neomagic option. The scaling support make it possible to have good output on the internal or external display. Overall, the Neomagic graphics chipsets were very fast for 2D operations, definitely faster than Trident or Cirrus Logic Chipsets and Chips andTech 6555x chipsets but they were obsolete for a Pentium III CPU. The ATI Rage Mobility is fast enough for DirectX 6 games and some DirectX 7 ones but keep in mind that anything similar to Quake III or Unreal Tournament 1999 is just borderline playable due to the low memory and low performance even on resolutions such as 640x480 in 16-bit colour.

	The ~~typical CPU implementation~~ is ~~very good. The Pentium 3 CPUs are Coppermines so they release heat slightly less than the previous model's Pentium II CPUs on typical workloads. The active cooling is quite good~~, not ~~overly noisy~~, ~~reliable, relatively easy to clean. The inclusion~~ of ~~an USB 1.1 port is~~ a ~~major feature. The keyboard is durable and with good tactile feedback. The trackpoint is very good~~, ~~being quite smooth, predictable as well as with quick response at~~ the ~~classic, renowned IBM quality. The palm~~ rest ~~is also very comfortable~~.		The LCD TFT screen is somewhat alright but it uses a dated technology that results in low brightness, relatively low contrast and not that great screen response, creating a feeling of a midrange or even low-end laptop in some circumstances, despite the rest of the configuration.

	The ~~removable drive tray~~ is a ~~nice~~ feature~~, offering both DVD-ROM/CD-ROM and Floopy drive support~~. The ~~rechargeable battery can be easily removed or replaced~~. The ~~BIOS~~ and ~~timekeeping battery~~ is a ~~standard CR2032 3V button cell~~.		The typical CPU implementation is very good. The Pentium 3 CPUs release heat slightly less than the previous model's Pentium II CPUs on typical workloads. The active cooling is quite good, even when running passively, but it is annoyingly noisy once it start, with no in-between balance. The inclusion of an USB 1.1 port is a major feature. The keyboard is just average the tactile feedback not being the best. The provision for both trackpoint and trackpad is quite good, offering a great flexibility to the user but it is not particularly impressive on either pointing devices.

	The ~~chassis was slim, light, comfortable due to rounded corners. The laptop's case~~ is ~~quite durable except for the rubberized coating. This is the single most annoying~~ feature of the laptop~~, as the smell, dirt and stickiness of its gets worse as the laptop aged. Unfortunately the rest of the~~ chassis ~~also has problems due to the slight brittle plastic that frequently cracks due to age or shocks, especially for the frame around the kwyboard and screen~~. The ~~lid closing latch is well designed and durable. The display hinges are very well engineered even if they may not look to~~ be ~~anything special~~. The integrated speakers ~~are quite good for a laptop with no special audio quality features~~.		The lack of removable drive tray is a missing feature that can be attributed to the compact laptop chassis. The rechargeable battery can be easily removed or replaced. The integrated speakers offer reasonable listening possibilities but it does not excel in any way.

	The standard HDDs are quite a very good choice for any Windows 98 SE installation supporting the UDMA33 interface that allows a typical top performance of around 15MB/s transfers, if the harddrive can keep up. Replacing the harddrive is straightforward as the system accepts most late Pentium III era drives for a real speed boost.		The standard HDDs are quite a very good choice for any Windows 98 SE installation supporting the UDMA33 interface that allows a typical top performance of around 15MB/s transfers, if the harddrive can keep up. Replacing the harddrive is straightforward as the system accepts most late Pentium III era drives for a real speed boost.

	Software support is great for reasonably modern (for its time) operating systems. Due to the video chipset Windows 98 is the best choice of operating system. Good DOS sound support is present due to the ~~Crystal~~ Audio chipset that is Sound Blaster compatible ~~but it is somewhat less refined for older MIDI and software support~~ in ~~MS-~~DOS~~, as it is slightly difficult~~ to ~~configure out of~~ the ~~box~~.		Software support is great for reasonably modern (for its time) operating systems. Due to the video chipset, Windows 98 is the best choice of operating system. Good DOS sound support is present due to the ESS Audio chipset that is Sound Blaster compatible with the only quirk of forcing a Windows launch end subsequent return in DOS mode to be play games due to the way the drivers are designed.

	{{footnotes\|		{{footnotes\|
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	}}		}}

	[[Category:~~IBM~~]]		[[Category:HP]]

Andrei.boiu at 08:43, 7 September 2021

2021-09-07T08:43:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:43, 7 September 2021
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	</div>		</div>
	\|style="vertical-align:top" \|		\|style="vertical-align:top" \|
	[[Image:HP 900.jpg\|HP Omnibook 900B 12"]]		[[Image:HP OMNIBOOK 900.jpg\|HP Omnibook 900B 12"]]
	\|}		\|}

Andrei.boiu at 08:14, 7 September 2021

2021-09-07T08:14:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:14, 7 September 2021
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	*NeoMagic Audio NMA2 (Model 900)		*NeoMagic Audio NMA2 (Model 900)

	12 and 13 inch laptops share the same model and ~~chassis~~:		12 and 13 inch laptops share the same model, chassis, and have these features:
	* 13.3" TFT display (1024x768 resolution)		* 13.3" TFT display (1024x768 resolution)
	or		or
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	</div>		</div>
	\|style="vertical-align:top" \|		\|style="vertical-align:top" \|
	[[Image:~~IBM 600~~.jpg\|~~IBM 600E 13~~"]]		[[Image:HP 900.jpg\|HP Omnibook 900B 12"]]
	\|}		\|}

Andrei.boiu: /* Features */

2021-09-07T08:12:57Z

Features

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:12, 7 September 2021
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	*ATI Rage Mobility-M (M64) 4MB VRAM (Model 900B)		*ATI Rage Mobility-M (M64) 4MB VRAM (Model 900B)
	*ESS ES1978 Maestro-2E, SoundBlaster 2.0/Adlib capable emulation (Model 900B)		*ESS ES1978 Maestro-2E, SoundBlaster 2.0/Adlib capable emulation (Model 900B)


	Model 900 (low-end)		Model 900 (low-end)
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	*NeoMagic Audio NMA2 (Model 900)		*NeoMagic Audio NMA2 (Model 900)

			12 and 13 inch laptops share the same model and chassis:
	~~Common to both models:~~
	~~One of~~ the ~~following screens~~:
	* 13.3" TFT display (1024x768 resolution)		* 13.3" TFT display (1024x768 resolution)
	or		or

Andrei.boiu: /* Review */

2021-09-06T22:35:24Z

Review

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:35, 7 September 2021
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	== Review ==		== Review ==
	A ~~midrange~~, quite slim, business laptop, released in 1999. It had a good mix of parts and a slim chassis. The choice of PC-100 SDRAM and dual RAM sockets, as well as graphics chipset, make for a good all-around laptop. By 1999 the laptop was already obsolete due to the video chipset choice but this was standard for IBM laptops of its time, with no 3D hardware rendering support, no matter how rudimentary. The system runs reasonably well Windows 2000 or Windows XP, if you really need it, but Windows 98 SE is the best choice.		A nearly , quite slim, business laptop, released in 1999. It had a good mix of parts and a slim chassis. The choice of PC-100 SDRAM and dual RAM sockets, as well as graphics chipset, make for a good all-around laptop. By 1999 the laptop was already obsolete due to the video chipset choice but this was standard for IBM laptops of its time, with no 3D hardware rendering support, no matter how rudimentary. The system runs reasonably well Windows 2000 or Windows XP, if you really need it, but Windows 98 SE is the best choice.

	The graphics chipset is below average for such a great CPU. The great scaling support make it possible to have very sharp output on the internal or external display, although less smoothly than on modern computers. It depends on taste if you like or hate this scaling mode without any blur but some small rough edges. Overall, the Neomagic graphics chipsets were very fast for 2D operations, definitely faster than Trident or Cirrus Logic Chipsets and Chips andTech 6555x chipsets in just about every respect. The Neomagic graphics is the top performer on 2D graphics both for compatibility as far back as Windows 3.1 and DOS as well as competitive with Chips&Technology or S3 Trio 64 videocards. No real improvements due to the additional video RAM available on the 600X.		The graphics chipset is below average for such a great CPU. The great scaling support make it possible to have very sharp output on the internal or external display, although less smoothly than on modern computers. It depends on taste if you like or hate this scaling mode without any blur but some small rough edges. Overall, the Neomagic graphics chipsets were very fast for 2D operations, definitely faster than Trident or Cirrus Logic Chipsets and Chips andTech 6555x chipsets in just about every respect. The Neomagic graphics is the top performer on 2D graphics both for compatibility as far back as Windows 3.1 and DOS as well as competitive with Chips&Technology or S3 Trio 64 videocards. No real improvements due to the additional video RAM available on the 600X.

Andrei.boiu: /* Durability and repair-ability */

2021-09-06T22:29:49Z

Durability and repair-ability

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:29, 7 September 2021
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	== Durability and repair-ability ==		== Durability and repair-ability ==
	The ~~mediocre~~ plastic quality ~~means of certain top parts of~~ the ~~chassis means that~~ cracks of ~~internal plastic screw stands are common, making disassembly and assembly operations quite difficult, with screws that are difficult to remove or tighten~~. Access to the hard-drive is straightforward, requiring only a single unscrew. ~~Unfortunately~~, ~~the LCD screen lamp~~ is ~~mounted vertically~~ and ~~it is very difficult~~ to ~~replace, requiring a full disassembly of~~ the ~~display. This means that you rarely can repair a screen without damaging or affecting something else with dust or slight manipulation mistakes~~. The ~~rubberized coating that flakes over time~~ is ~~one of the most annoying feature of the laptop, as~~ the ~~smell, dirt~~ and ~~stickiness of its gets worse as the laptop aged. It~~ can be ~~cleaned with careful wiping using a smooth sponge and mild concentration iso-propyl alcohol or another alcohol solution. None of this problems were solved~~ on the ~~600X models~~.		The laptop's case has reasonable plastic quality, although the display's unit construction is prone to cracks due to the poor hinges and a lack of continuous metal frame around the LCD screen. Access to the hard-drive is straightforward, requiring only a single unscrew to pull out the hard-drive tray. Access to the RAM, cooling, CPU is quite simple as only two top screws and a cover to be taken out that secure the keyboard. The cooling system is quite adequate for the designed CPU and can be easily upgraded on the 900B model, suggesting good durability.

	== Review ==		== Review ==