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Laptop Evaluation Summary. Evaluation Process Selected 5 possible vendors and models. Evaluated the 5 against our set criteria (Price, Memory, CPU, Video, Disk) Narrowed it down to 2, IBM and Dell Brought in evaluation units for testing
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Laptop Evaluation Summary • Evaluation Process • Selected 5 possible vendors and models. • Evaluated the 5 against our set criteria (Price, Memory, CPU, Video, Disk) • Narrowed it down to 2, IBM and Dell • Brought in evaluation units for testing • Ran the 2 through our testbench which included: • ICW: run the Broadcom Draco design • Dolphin: run the Chameleon dpu_row design (30k gates, 4lm) • Dolphin: run the Chameleon dpu_row design (30k gates, 5lm) • Dolphin: run the Silverback mk4 design (130k gates, 6lm) • test all 4 demos • test the hierarchy workshop • test external projector connection • read and write CD’s of our software and data • test VPN connection with Netscreen box Confidential 9/2/02 – Tim Colton
Laptop Evaluation Summary • Configuration Confidential 9/2/02 – Tim Colton
Laptop Evaluation Summary • Performance Comparison • Software runs • both machines ran SDPD tools without a problem. The Dell ran about 10% faster due to the faster CPU. Both machines ran a Dolphin job 15hrs without a problem. • Demo’s • all 4 demos run on both machines. We tested this with an external projector connected. Some minor window size problems • Hierarchy workshop • Emre ran the workshop on the Dell without a problem. • Data transfer • both machines were able to write and read CD’s with our software and data files. Although neither was able to use the CD drive under Linux. Confidential 9/2/02 – Tim Colton
Laptop Evaluation Summary • Performance Comparison • Remote VPN connection • both machines were able to connect to MDS from a remote location using a DSL line and a Netscreen VPN box. • Noise • The Dell machine was 2-3 times louder than the IBM when the CPU was busy. You could barely hear the fan in the IBM busy or not. • Display • The would Dell crash, requiring a reboot, if you closed the screen while the machine was was running Linux. When running Win-XP it didn’t have this problem. The IBM was stable under Lunix and Win-XP. • Durability • The IBM seemed to be built better. The corners were more protected and the machine, in general, seemed more ???? Confidential 9/2/02 – Tim Colton
Laptop Evaluation Summary • Recommendation • The IBM A31p • Reason: The IBM has a bigger disk drive, better graphics, a bigger display, is quieter and appears to more durable. The Dell has a flaky graphics problem when closed, has 30% less disk, half the VDRAM on the graphics card, is noisy when busy and appears less durable. Also, the IBM costs $400 less before discounting • Proposal • Each field office will need one of these machines in order to support Linux and the ability to run all 4 demos at remote customers/prospects. We currently have 9 remote offices in the world. (OR/SoCal/TX/NC/Japan/UK/Ger/Fra/Isr). Also, we’ll need a machine in HQ which could be one of these laptops or a less expensive small form factor desktop. All machines need to be in the field before the release of 2.5 mid-Oct. Marketing has requested 3 machines also to make a total of 13. Confidential 9/2/02 – Tim Colton
Laptop Evaluation Summary • Replacement plan Confidential 9/2/02 – Tim Colton