10. The MobileMark 2005 Tests: Results

Here are the results of the MobileMark 2005 Office application tests done on the OQO Model 01+, the Toshiba Libretto U100-S213 and the Fujitsu Lifebook P1510D. Remember, I averaged the Toshiba and Fujitsu results. Join me after the charts for a discussion of the results.

The Transmeta processor in the OQO Model 01+ runs at a frequency only .2 GHz slower than the 1.2 GHz Intel Pentium M 753 CPUs in the Toshiba and Fujitsu laptops. However, performance differences between the OQO PDA and the laptops are immense. The Pentium M 753 based laptops averaged MobileMark 2005 productivity and average response time scores 2.5 times those of the Transmeta based PDA. There's a lot more than raw CPU frequencies at play here including memory speeds, how instructions are executed by the respective CPUs, compromises to achieve lower power drains on the Transmeta side as realized in the company's power management system and differences in Northbridge design.

Given its disadvantages on the battery capacity side, the OQO PDA did remarkably well in the battery life tests. It ran the Office Productivity benchmark 70% as long as the 2 laptops, it achieved 72% of the laptops' Reader benchmark time and 80% of their wireless browsing time. With its double capacity battery the OQO would likely have beaten the laptops in battery life. Of course, that's with a display brightness of half what I used to test the laptops. Man, this sure helps me appreciate that statement about everything in life being a compromise.

Note: For the record, Intel and Transmeta are members of the BAPCo's MobileMark and SYSmark development consortium.