Laptop Reviews

Lenovo is one of the more popular laptop makers in the market and their products have had favourable reviews.  The ThinkPad is an iconic brand that combines professional respect, blandness and solid features that enjoys a surprising appeal. Their ThinkPad reminds most of us of the T series model which had an alloy uni-body chassis, a rubberized black paint and looked boxy. Most of us however, are not aware of the fact that Lenovo offers a small business line called the SL series which offers almost all the same features as that of the T series and at a much lower price.

The ThinkPad SL510 is a part of Lenovo’s Windows 7 Product launch and the company is using this as an opportunity to tweak and improve some of the features in its existing line. The SL510 will not surprise users who have already used a thinkpad before – Not only is an excellent laptop that is oriented towards no-nonsense use, it also has a stylish design and has a lightweight feel to it. We feel that it is a nice system for personal or business use that offers solid performance and will last a long time. Read the following review to judge whether the Lenovo ThinkPad SL510 is just what you need.

Design:

Toned down version of the T series:

No Surprises here. At first glance, the Lenovo ThinkPad SL510 Laptop looks just like its previous ThinkPad predecessors.  However, it is a toned down version of the more rugged T series. It looks generic and could have been a model from five years ago. But the classic black design is simply timeless. The entire casing is made out of plastic but has a softer finish and a smooth texture when compared to the rubberized paint on the more expensive ones. The model has sloped sides and has seen a few aesthetic changes such as a redesigned screen hinge assembly and a few minor tweaks in the body. Otherwise, they look identical.

Solid Built:

The build quality when compared to its predecessors the T400 and the T500, is inferior; but nevertheless still better than most other laptops in the market. The laptop’s little chassis flex gives it a very solid feel.  The screen cover provides sufficient protection for the screen and prevents any form of visible distortion under moderate finger pressure. The keyboard and palm rest also work under strong pressure and the plastic feels durable enough to resist mild abuse. Thanks to the matte black finish, the scratches do not stand out. So, for business users, the laptop is a nice step up from the average multimedia laptop without costing as much as a high end one.

Access Panels provide for Easy access:

The panels on the bottom of the chassis allow easy access and upgrades. There is a primary panel which provides access to the system memory, hard drive and processor. One can notice no warranty void if stickers removed. There are two smaller access panels which when opened up uncover a mini PCIe slot for a WAN card and a sim card slot if the system is equipped with 3G.

Screen:

A 16 x 9 inch screen is new to the SL510 and hence watching DVDs and HD movies would be more enjoyable. Lenovo gives the users a choice of both matte and a glossy screen included on the SL series both of them being WGXA Resolution. The model we reviewed happened to be a matte model, but if you prefer more vibrant colours and an increased glossy contrast, you could go for the other option.  The 1366 x 768 pixels native resolution looked good although we have seen better resolutions than this. When compared to other notebooks in the consumer segment, the WXGA panel was average and could have got a boost from a higher resolution. The viewing angles were decent but once could notice the colours beginning to shift beyond 10 degrees. The horizontal viewing angles were true past 70 degrees forward or back and the viewing brightness was perfect for a bright office with partially visible outdoors.

Great Keypad:

The Keyboard of Lenovo ThinkPad SL510 15.6″ Laptop Computer was comfortable to use and was similar to the T series ThinkPads. However, the layout of the keyboard is different. The first noticeable difference is the lack of an extra row of function keys at the top. We do think that the exclusion of a number pad is rather odd as it could have been easily fit in the extra space on the keyboard. The main area has been left unchanged. As mentioned earlier, the key action was great and required some moderate pressure to use. But thanks to the soft spring, this keyboard is quieter than the others. It has a red pointing stick in the middle of a full sized keyboard and two mouse buttons below the spacebar. That red pointing stick is actually a track point rubber nubbin lodged between G, H and B keys. Under that is the muti touch keypad which is a really unique feature to this model. Under this track pad are two more pointer buttons. The multi touch track pad allows for two fingers gesturing such as pinching, rotating and scrolling and allows you to slide, zoom and etc. One can turn the pad off if you are not using it and that makes it handy. On the whole, we think it works great and is a nice touch. There are some quick access buttons on the left side which can be used for muting the volume and microphone and adjust volume levels.

ALPS Touchpad:

The Touch Pad is an ALPS model that feels identical to the newer ThinkPad models. The pad is mount to the palm rest and has a soft texture. But in general, the touchpad was very responsive and we found no difference between this and the one found in higher end models. When tapped to select, the cursor would sometimes not let go of an object after a deliberate click. But then again, this problem is common in the ALPS model and can be avoided most of the time.

Speakers:

Located below the screen, facing outwards, the speakers performed reasonably well for a basic mid size desktop replacement notebook. The Bass and mid range seemed to be lacking, but if you listen or stream radio or even YouTube videos the audio was good. The quality was passably fine and it did not suffer from any sort of sound muffling thankfully. The peak volume level was better when compared to other consumer notebooks. But if you want a better experience, try connecting the analogue audio out to a pair of external speakers. You could also use the HDMI to pass a digital stream to an outside stereo system.

Ports and Webcam:

If you tend to travel a lot, then the SL510 Notebook Computer has a complete assortment of ports which would not disappoint users. Like earlier models in the ThinkPad series, the port selection was surprisingly good. There are 3 USB ports, an eSATA/USB combo port, VGA, HDMI and audio jacks. There are also a SDHC card slot and an ExpressCard /34 slot for expansion. Apart from all these, there is a wireless on/off switch and a standard 20 V ThinkPad power connection.  There is a dual layer 8x DVD recorder disc drive but a Blu-ray and DVD RW combo drive is also available.

There is a 2.0 megapixel webcam on top of the screen provides workable and yet unremarkable image quality. A Skype call revealed smooth video accented with muted colours.

Configuration Options:

We reviewed a Lenovo ThinkPad SL510 that ran Windows 7 Professional and a 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8700.  There are configuration options that let you choose between a 5400 and a 7200 rpm drives with sizes up to 500 GB. One can include an optional ATI Radeon 4570 graphics chip up to 8 GB of DDR 3 RAM, a four, six or a nine cell battery and a variety of Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs.

Features:

Built for Business:

The ThinkPads have always been focused on the business users. Hence the SL510 is tailored to suit their needs. Apart from a robust Intel Core 2 processor and multi-touch, the ThinkPad SL510 laptop features a long battery life and an array of connectivity options. Video conferencing is possible because of the adaptive 2 megapixel camera and the HQ speakers. There is Skype included as well. Security is assured considering the laptip features fingerprint ID which allows only the user to access the laptop. Features such as Self Encrypting drives and Hardware password Manager enhance security on the laptop.

ThinkVantage Tool Box:

The SL510 consists of a ThinkVantage Toolbox that combines system health, security and support services to keep your ThinkPad run safely and efficiently. The toolbox monitors critical system components and not only do they notify users of problems, they also offer solutions to quickly repair the system before any data is lost. The push button operation and the intuitive interface make using the toolbox a comprehensive solution for your laptop.  The main menu has 5 following tabs: System Health Tab, System Security Tab, Ultimate Business Tool Tab, Diagnostic Tab and the Support Tab.  The System Health tab displays the status of key processes in the system. The Security Tab monitors password anti-virus firewall and other security settings. The Ultimate Business Tool tab provides the user with an overview of support messages and information from Lenovo. The Diagnostics tab provides component and system diagnostics and resolves issues. The Support tab displays information from Lenovo.

Data Recovery:

Like other ThinkPads, the SL510 features Rescue and Recovery 4.2 with Express Repair that can correct many corruptions within a span of just 2 – 3 minutes making it the fast recovery solution in the market. This one button rescue solution includes a set of self recovery tools which help users diagnose, get help and recover from a virus or a crash.  There are administrative tools that can be configured to help deploy updates to corrupted systems. There is the Antidote Delivery manager which allows delivering of customized critical updates to your systems. The System Rejuvenation option lets you restore back your system while keeping all your data and personality settings.  The specialty of the Rescue and Recovery 4.2 is the fact that it can help you recover files that were not backed up prior to the problem and can save them to a storage device.

Other Features:

The ThinkPad SL510 Laptop Notebook comes with a standard suite of ThinkVantage utilities which includes a power manager, a Wi-Fi manager and a PC health monitor. There is InterVideo Win DVD which allows users to play discs and the Roxio Creator Small Business Edition for burning discs and editing simple videos.

Performance:

The SL510’s 2.53 GHz Core 2 Duo CPU and 3GB RAM allowed the system to achieve a decent score of 3493 on the PCMark Vantage test which measures overall system performance. This score was slightly more than the score of the HP ProBook 4510s. The System was smooth and responsive.

The SL510 was ahead of its competitors when it comes to video transcending. It was able to convert a 115 MB MPEG 4 file to AVI in a little under 6 and half minutes, almost a minute faster than its competitors.  The SL510’s 7200 rpm 320GB Hitachi drive booted up Windows 7 in a minute which is pretty much the standard time. The speed of the drive was apparent when we conducted our laptop transfer tests. It took 3 whole minutes to transfer 5 GB of media files from one folder to another. That is about 30 MBps per second beating the ProBook’s measly 15 MBPs and the ThinkPad T400S’s 17 MBps. Also the active protection system is capable of detecting movement and stops the hard drive to prevent data damage.

Decent Graphics:

The SL510 has both discrete and integrated graphics options. The Integrated Intel GMA X4500 graphics chip returned a weak score in our 3DMark06 test, roughly about the third of the category average. However, the ProBook did even worse. These scores indicate that these laptops are not meant for hard core gaming. When we played Far Cry 2 on the system, the rate was as low as 3 fps which made the game look more like a slide show. However, for lower intensity graphics such as navigating around in Google Earth rendering was smooth.

Good for Business users:

The Lenovo ThinkPad SL510 Business Laptop offers quick startups and shutdowns and a snappy application use as well. Adobe Photoshop was able to handle big files very well. Multimedia use was also pretty pleasant considering the DVD movies were able to load quickly and play without hiccups.

Wi-Fi:

The SL510’s Intel Wi-Fi Link 5100 802.11 a/b/g/n wireless card was able to connect to a router and transfer data up to 19.5 mbps from a distance of 15 feet.  And as we got further away, the speed came down. It was able to transfer data with speeds of 16 mbps from 50 odd feet away. These are pretty much average scores and the HP ProBook returned slightly better scores and so did the ThinkPad SL 400 series.

Heat and Noise:

The system generated less amount of heat but a couple of spots on the laptop did feel warm. The panel the hard drive at the bottom was the warmest spot and it was expected so because the 7200 rpm drive consumes a lot of power and emits more heat. Under mild stress, the plastic panels were within very reasonable temperature ranges without any inconvenience. The fan noise was also minimal with the fan staying off majority of the time when running on battery power. Sometimes it turns on to bring fresh air to the system. Even under high stress levels, the fan would not get very loud.

Decent Battery Life:

The Lenovo ThinkPad SL510 ran for almost 3 hours 21 minutes when we tested it for our video drain test using the six included cell battery. When compared to the ThinkPad T 400 series it is better than average for a laptop about this size. It lasted 4 hours when backlight was at about 50 percent and with Wi-Fi on. That is impressive but the HP ProBook 4510s lasted almost 4 and a half hours and the original ThinkPad lasted a solid 5 hours 20 minutes.  If you are a casual user and tend to use the laptop for Web browsing and office use, expect the laptop to last longer. This is using the standard 55Wh battery which does not extend from the back of the system. There are customizable options and buyers have the choice to opt for a 4, 6 or a 9 cell battery.

Power Consumption:

The older CCFL backlight screen made sure power consumption of the SL510 was double than that of the more efficient T series. Under a light load, the system used almost 12 watts.

Warranty:

There is a one year, parts and labour, mail in warranty with the laptop; although there are models in the market those offers a 3 year warranty and we expected the SL510 to have the same. One can access to a three year warranty plan for some amount. One even can purchase extra services which are targeted at businesses that do not have large IT departments. These services include backing up data, onsite service, accidental damage protection and theft protection. Lenovo offers hard disc retention which lets you keep a failed hard drive even after a replacement so that you do not have to hand over any sensitive data to them.  There is support available 24 x 7 through toll free line and an easy to navigate online support with a reasonable knowledge base and driver downloads is available.

Verdict:

The Lenovo ThinkPad SL510 is a solid notebook for business users that has a couple of security related features added to it, but it also makes a nice home office or personal laptop. While it is slightly bulky and is less rugged than the T series models, it is a good solution for workers looking for a sturdy laptop as it combines above average performance, a comfortable keyboard and business features. Though it is a good buy in a highly competitive market, it is an appreciable evolution of the SL series.

Lenovo ThinkPad SL510 – Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Lenovo
Series	Lenovo ThinkPad SL
PC type	Notebook
Name	Lenovo ThinkPad SL 510
DIMENSIONS AND DISPLAY
Dimensions (H x W x D)	15 x 9.7 x 1.4 inches
Weight	5.3 pounds
Available colours	Matte Black
Display type	TFT active matrix
Display size	15.6-inch
Display resolution	1366 x 768
PROCESSOR, MEMORY, STORAGE
Processor type	Intel Core 2 Duo P8700
Clock speed	2.53GHz
Data Bus	800MHz
Chipset	Mobile Intel GL40 Express
RAM	2GB of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM onboard max : 8GB
Hard drive size	320 GB Serial ATA and 500GB – Optional
Spindle speed	7200 rpm
RAM form factor	SO DIMM 204-pin
INPUT
Keyboard localization	English US
Input Devices	Keyboard , UltraNav , TrackPoint
GRAPHICS, VIDEO AND SOUND
Installed Graphics Type	256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory
Graphics processor	Intel GMA X4500 Dynamic Video Memory Technology 5.0
Speaker Details	Built-in mono speakers
Microphone	Built-in omni directional microphone
Audio Output	Sound card
COMMUNICATION FEATURES
Ethernet	Nil
Modem	Nil
Wireless	Intel WiFi Link 5100
Wireless LAN supported	Yes
Webcam	Yes
CONNECTIVITY	3 x Hi-Speed USB – 4 pin USB Type A, 1 x Display / video – VGA – 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15), 1 x Audio / video – HDMI, 1 x Network – Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX – RJ-45, 1 x eSATA / Hi-Speed USB, 1 x Microphone – Input – Mini-phone 3.5 mm, 1 x Headphones – Output – Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
SOFTWARE
Operating System	Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium – English
BATTERY
Battery technology	4 cell lithium battery
Estimated battery life (mfr)	3 and a half hours
MISCELLANEOUS
Energy Star Compliant	Yes
WARRANTY AND SERVICE	WARRANTY AND SERVICE One year warranty for Parts and Labour 24×7 toll free service support

Netbooks, also known as the mini notebooks or the ultra portables, have been the latest trend among people, and especially among the businessmen. Netbooks are a miniaturised version of the laptops, and are mainly used for quick computer works and web related applications. These are mainly used for accessing the internet. Almost all the electronic giants in the market have produced these themselves. As these have a great demand in the market at present, few companies have cropped up in view of their production. One of such companies is the MSI.

MSI, which stands for Micro Star International, has now announced the advent of its latest netbook, the MSI Wind U100. Wind stands for Wi-Fi Network Device and this has been named so because the main purpose of it is accessing the internet. This one, as most of the netbooks, is cheap in price and effective in performance. It is actually a competitor for Asus’ Eee PC. But this has better screen, cuter design, a better and a bigger keyboard and longer battery life. But it has stronger competitors in front of it to beat, such as HP’s Mini notebook, Acer’s Aspire One and many others. To know whether it can withstand the competition, we need to have a look at it and examine the whole of it; read the following review to know the facts for yourself.

Design:

Slim with better input controls:
Just like any other netbook, the MSI Wind U100 is very small and cute. It looks belittled due to its rounded corners and nice design. Wind U100 comes out in five striking colours of red, blue, pink, black and snowy white. Starting with the visual side of the things, if you think that the white model looks good, the grandly titled ‘Empire Black’ model looks even better. With its dimensions being (W x D x H) 10.23 x 7.08 x 1.24 inches, it is certainly quite a slim netbook and, it weighs only 1.18 kg, which is far lesser when compared to the other laptops, that weigh almost twice of this one. The design is one of the more interesting aspects of the netbook. It is almost perfectly engineered to make it look very stylish and professional. Of course, it is still glossy, and so, the fingerprints will be a problem, but the shiny finishing seems to be almost inevitable on the netbook of these days. Though there is no cleaning cloth provided, the MSI does give you a rather nice zipped case, with a fake leather exterior and soft fleece lining from the inside.

Built Quality:
Once you open the piano black lid of the nettop, you will find that the MSI logo is now off-white and the interior of the notebook is thankfully of matte black finishing. However, marks from sweaty or greasy hands will be still visible on the palm rest of the touchpad. The built quality, as in the case of its predecessor is decent enough, though the wind’s lid tends to wobble a little bit for a few seconds after you open it, and this does not inspire as much confidence in the hinge as the Eee PC’s more stable and considerably larger version. This is highly unlikely to be a problem if you are careful, which is necessitated anyway by the mechanical hard drive that is more vulnerable to the life’s bumps and scrapes than a solid state drive. Essentially, however, in terms of looks, nothing much has changed apart from the colour and a bit of that added bulk that creates a slight tilt to the machine. As you must have guessed, this bulk is mainly because of the larger battery, which is a six cell model rather than the former three cell packs that the previous Winds were endowed with. This also gives the MSI theoretical parity with the Eee PC 901 and 1000.

Display:
The 10 inch display of  Wind U100 is better than that of the 8.9 inch one and is more comfortable for viewing. The screen is a bit heavier than normal and the unit actually lifts itself off the ground a bit when the screen is tilted back too far. The TFT LCD display backlit with LED is bright with vibrating colours and the display it produces is quite outstanding for a netbook. The viewing angles are so great that it looks almost the same from different angles, and the shifts are too small to bother viewing. The screen resolution is 1024 x 600 pixels and the overall display is very good.

Keyboard and Trackpad:

The keyboard of MSI Wind U100 is a bit broader than normal and is quite comfortable for typing. The traditional notebook is comparatively uncomfortable for typing as the panel is very small and so are the keys. But this one is almost perfect. Unfortunately, the Fn key is still located on the outside of Ctrl, but aside from that it provides a pleasant typing experience. The touch pad is pretty smooth and has a good feel. At the bottom right of the front bezel, there is a series of lights that indicate whether the respective option is enabled or disabled. In order from right to left, they are the Hard disk activity LED, the scroll lock toggle, the Num lock toggle, the Caps lock toggle, battery charging, sleep mode indicator, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth light. These lights are more in number than any other netbook. We are certainly pleased with the overall design of the nettop.

Ports:
The connectivity of the MSI Wind U100 Mini Laptop is identical to its predecessor. There is a card reader available, a four- in -one type. This card reader is compatible with SD, MMC, MS and MS Pro; hence, this is a multi-purposeful card reader. There are also three USB 2.0 ports available for data synchronisation. There are two headphone jacks, one for input and one output. There is also a facility for the connection of a cable to connect the netbook to either a monitor or a projector. The netbook also sports ports for the 15- pin graphics card output, for the Microphone, a line- in port and a LAN port. All these ports are pretty much necessary for a netbook as it needs connections to various external sources for data syncing.

Features:

The MSI Wind U100 is loaded with abundant features. Let us have a look at each one of them in detail.

Processor:
The MSI Wind is powered by Intel Atom N270 processor of 1.6 GHz frequency. This is a common feature in most of the present day’s netbooks and laptops. But this processor is a single core Diamondville type, which is one of the fastest and the best processor available for netbooks. Your applications run faster and with almost no problems with this processor. For a netbook, the 1.6 GHz processor is more than enough and so everything runs smooth. The Intel 945GSE¬+ ICH7M chipset is also a special feature that pacifies the system and its programs. A chipset is like a communicator between the motherboard and the external drives. So, the better the chip, better the communication and hence, better the performance.

Operating System:
The conventional MSI Wind U100 Netbook Computer features Microsoft Windows XP, but the latest versions of these netbooks are featuring Microsoft Windows 7 Starter edition. This operating system makes your system look lively and adds a feather to its cap.

Memory:
Some of the netbooks are almost equivalent to the laptops when it comes to the HDD capacity and RAM.  Particularly, the MSI Wind is a very good performer. As discussed earlier, with the Intel Atom processor, you would expect the best performance and least problems. The 1GB internal memory is just enough for a netbook as there would be no applications that request for higher memory; and it is just the maximum amount of memory that Microsoft allows to have Windows XP loaded onto the machine. With a Hard Disk Space of about 160GB, it is not only double the capacity of the previous Wind, it is also the highest capacity hard drive of notebook we have yet reviewed, so those consumers after as much storage space as possible should find this Wind to their liking. The Hard drive is DDR2 SODIMM type and of 667 Hz frequency.

Software Bundle with MSI Wind U100:
On the software side of the things, this MSI Wind offers an odd mix of software, that is not particularly well tailored to a notebook. For instance, the only productivity software that is available is a trial version of the MS Office 2007, but you are stuck with the Internet Explorer 6 and Media Player 9, rather than the more recent replacements, unless you make an initiative to download the new versions yourself. This is accompanied by the optional installations of Norton Internet Security 2008 and the Cyberlink DVD suite and it is just as well they are optional as their use on a netbook is arguable.
For the sake of comparison, the Eee PC 1000H which also uses the Windows XP comes preloaded with the Windows Live Suite of Software that includes Windows Live Mail for POP mail, Live Messenger for instant messaging, Live Photo Gallery for image viewing and basic editing and Live Writer and Microsoft works for productivity and Star Office. Of course, except for the Microsoft Works, everything else can be downloaded for free anyway, but given the fact many of the consumers buying netbooks these days are not as familiar with such things, it is definitely an oversight on MSI’s behalf.

Connectivity:
The only other upgrade this version of the Wind has over its sibling is Wireless-N, so there is potential for slightly faster and longer range wireless internet provided you have a compatible router. Unfortunately, for all those who were hoping optional HSDPA would be part of the refresh, it is still not available. The internet features in the netbook are suffice and interesting. There is a built-in 10/100 LAN and a built-in 802.11 b/g or 802.11 b/g/n WLAN card. With all these cards, the internet access is very good and you can always connect your netbook to the internet connection in a Wi-Fi hotspot or any other network port available in your vicinity. The most advantageous fact is that the netbook access the web without many problems or any delay. Even browsing the internet is not slow and does not lead to hanging of the system. The Bluetooth facility is also not very uncommon nowadays. But this Bluetooth is better than most of the other nettops when it comes to performance.

Webcam:
The 1.3Mp webcam takes pictures of resolution 640 x 480 pixels. These pictures, though a bit scaled down, are still very good for a webcam.

Audio:
As before, the speakers are nothing special, any kind of serious music listening or movie watching requires as the use of headphones.

Performance:

The performance of MSI Wind U100 10″ Laptop Computer well compliments its range of features. Its configuration is pretty decent and mainly, the processor and the memory part of it were good. The ports are very good in number. The internet connection is very good as it needed to be. The LAN ports and the WLAN cards help the performance of the internet connectivity improve. Particularly, the wireless internet and the LAN are one of the main attractions of this model. They perform well even under mediocre LAN strength. The 64 MB graphics card is minimal but as it is a mini notebook, there would not be much work for the graphics card since there would not be high end gaming on this. Everything else is fine and you can expect a very good netbook with a tag of good performance from MSI.

Battery:

The battery is naturally a lithium ion polymer type. This one is 2200 mAh battery and gives you at the most two and a half hour battery life time for a six cell type battery. The battery may vary with region also. In some region there is a 5200 mAh type battery and that one gives you a battery life of about five and a half hours. One thing you will notice with the MSI Wind is that there is an option to even decrease the battery life. It also features a turbo button that, when enabled, can further decrease the battery life in order to increase the performance. This is a bit silly to hear because you generally associate minimum battery consumption when there is the Intel Atom processor. Also, this option works only if the netbook is working on the battery power.

Warranty and Service:

MSI offers a limited warranty period of 1 year for parts and labour. Along with the warranty, there is also support over the phone from the technicians, in order to solve minute problems. This facility is available only between Monday and Thursday.

Verdict:

So there you have it. The new version of MSI’s Wind is identical to the old one, except you’re getting a 160GB HDD, Wireless-N and of course that all-important six-cell battery for nearly five hours of frugal use. It is a beauty when it comes to the design and the 10” 1024 x 600 screen gives very little reason to complain, with a nice anti-glare finishing, decent viewing angles, pleasing levels of brightness and a text reproduction that is very sharp and easy to read. It is a bit low on cost and hence very affordable, particularly to the students, as they are the primary users of these netbooks. The design is cute and the display is very good with great viewing angles. The features are fine and a few of them are very unique in their own terms. The overall performance is fine and the battery life is reasonable. This netbook may not be the right one for business professionals, but it is a very handy tool for students. Overall, it is an affordable one if you want to go with a cheaper netbook.

Check Latest Laptop Reviews, Specs, Ratings and other MSI Laptop Computer Reviews in this website.

MSI Wind U100 Mini Netbook – Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Micro Star International
Model Name	MSI Wind U100
Series	Wind
DIMENSIONS AND DISPLAY
Dimensions ( W x D x H)	10.23 x 7.08 x 1.24 inches
Weight	1.18 kg
Available colours	Red, Blue, Pink, Black and White
Display type	TFT LCD display with LED backlit
Display Finishing	Matte Anti Glare
Display size	10.0 inch
Display resolution	1024 x 600 pixel resolution
PROCESSOR, MEMORY, STORAGE
Processor type	Intel Atom Processor
Intel Atom Processor	1.60 GHz
Second level Cache	1MB
Front Bus Speed	667 MHz
RAM installed	1024 MB
RAM type	DDR2 RAM
Max RAM Supported	Yes
WLAN Standard	802.11b/g/n
Installed Memory	1GB
Maximum Memory Supported	2 GB
Hard drive size	160 GB
Spindle speed	5400rpm
Optical drive	DVD drive
INPUT
Keyboard	105 keys
Track pad	Normal Touch Pad
GRAPHICS, VIDEO AND SOUND
Graphics adaptor	Intel® GMA, 64 MB
Speaker Details	Built-in stereo speakers
Audio Processing	Realtek HD integrated
COMMUNICATION FEATURES
Wireless	Compliancy : Wi-Fi® Network Support : 802.11b/g Wireless Technology : Wireless LAN
Webcam	1.3Mp Integrated VGA Web Camera for Video over IP
Memory card reader	4-in-1 card reader
CONNECTIVITY	1 x DC-in 1 x external monitor 1 x RJ-11 1 x RJ-45 1 x external microphone 1 x headphone (stereo) 3 (Left 2, Right 1) x USB 2.0 1 x integrated VGA Web Camera with built-in microphone
SOFTWARE
Operating System	Genuine Windows XP or Windows 7
Office package	Microsoft Works with Office Home
PC type	Netbook
BATTERY
Battery technology	6 cell battery Lithium Ion battery , 2.5 hours lifetime
WARRANTY	One-year limited Warranty

The success of a laptop is partially dependent on how it offers features without compromising much on either design or portability. Though they have come a long way in the last few years, they have never been able to compete with desktops in terms of features or prices.  The Smaller a laptop is; the more compromise there ought to be.

One company who has earned a niche for itself in design is Apple. 2007 marked the beginning of their rise which is attributed to the fact that they have transferred their PCs to Intel’s hardware platform, attracting newer users.  Mac Computers now are fully compatible with Microsoft OS and allow you to use Mac OS on the same PC simultaneously as well.  Apple Notebooks have a panache associated with them, the MacBook pro boasts of LED Backlighting, Convenient Touchpad, Light weight and Good performance.  2008 marks the launch of Apple’s newest baby – the MacBook Air.  As the campaign states, this is probably the thinnest in the market right now and probably the finest too.  Ultrathin and Ultraportable, its new processor really pushes performance up to the extremes. But is the price justified? Read the following review to figure that out.

Design:

Classy design:
Apple has its own class when it comes to design. The first look is a hybrid of Apple’s other 2 laptops. The Air has a shiny aluminum body and the really interesting backlit keyboard. Its uni-body design results in a clean seamless appearance and is simply a marvelous piece of design. But perhaps, the most impressive is its thinness. At 0.16 inches at its thinnest and 0.76 at its thickest, it is perhaps the thinnest available laptop in the market. The skillful use of rounded curves gives one that it is airy and weightless. While it is not weightless, 1.36kgs is all that it weighs. But is it really that portable? The thicker Sony TZ and the older Apple model are perhaps more portable. But the Air is a much easier machine to work on and feels sturdier than the other 2.

Full-size, full-feature keyboard:
The Keyboard of the Mac is similar to that of the MacBook, differing only in terms of thickness. The spacing in between the buttons is the same as the MacBook as well. The keyboard is the same square key capped design with backlighting included. The full size keyboard along with its backlit keys allows working in dim conditions. There is an in built ambient light sensor that adjusts the keyboard illumination and display brightness. The Multi-touch allows you to control certain functions using a thin touchpad. Rotating 2 fingers in iPhoto rotates the image and using 3 fingers up and down to swipe allows switching between photos, web pages etc. Though the touchpad is not very effective nor smooth, it is a great addition.

Display:
The Apple MacBook Air Slim notebook has a 13.3 inch widescreen LED backlight screen. Its 1280×800 resolution allows viewing vibrant images. However, the screen is notably different because the lighting is from an LED. Instead of starting out dim and gradually increasing in brightness, like in the MacBook, the Air’s display starts on full brightness. A tiny sensor is located to the left of the iSight camera which allows to automatically adjust the brightness of the display.

There is a 90 Degree bend in the Air notebook; though it is nicer, the bend makes it harder to snap into place. The older Magsafe adapters fit well, but the plug when resting on a table, knocks it off.

Ports:
The absence of the usual set of ports is slightly disappointing. On the right side of the notebook is a single USB 2.0 port, Micro DVI Connector and a jack for analogue headphones. Yes, a single USB port is a mockery for a contemporary notebook like this. However, the absence of Firewire ports is more frustrating as it would not allow connecting digital cameras to MacBook Air.

The absence of a DVD Drive and a single expansion port is not convenient nor is it acceptable.  However, it would not make much of a difference as this notebook is not a replacement to a standard desktop system.

Features:

Solid State Drive:
The Apple MacBook Air runs on a Solid State Drive or an SSD. An alternative to the conventional HDD, it does not feature any moving parts. The SSD is basically just an array of computer chips solder on to a board unlike the HDD, which resembles a phonograph. The lack of moving parts in an SSD allows it to read instant access data from one region of storage to another without delay. This kind of reading is referred to as Random Read/Write and in contrast to the random, there is a sustained read write. This gives consistent access to data over a sequential area. HDD has an advantage of speed here as it is faster to change flux in a particle of silicone than on a charge on a platter.

Connectivity:
The Apple MacBook Air 13.3″ Laptop does not support wired network as Apple believes that in this hi-tech era of wireless technologies, Wi-Fi is more than enough. It supports an 802.11 protocol with 248Mbit/s peak bandwidth. You could also buy an Ethernet adapter from Apple separately.

Memory:
The MacBook Air runs on an 80GB 1.8 Samsung Spinpoint S2 drive which is sturdy enough to withstand normal usage. Its small size despite capacity is its main advantage. The 5 mm thick drive has a speed of 4200 rpm and an access time of 13ms.   However it is not as fast as the 2.5 inch laptop drives and will lag behind in storage and it uses the outdated Ultra ATA 100 interface. If you can afford for a 6GB SSD, the reliability, performance and battery life would get a huge boost.

Software and Remote Disc:
The Air runs on the Leopard OS slightly modified to take advantage of the touch pad. There are videos included on how to make gestures. Though it is not the most practical solution to control, the touchpad seems to be intuitive and well integrated.

Apple’s Remote Disc allows the Air to borrow a networked computer’s optical drive. The disc is very hefty and the drive does not support a lot of playback. Sadly, it can neither rip CDs or DVDs nor play back songs and is only functional for installing programs.  The Remote Disc works not only on the Mac OS X but also on the Windows as well.  For the MacBook Air, it is recommended to buy a Superdrive, especially if you are on the go.

Hardware:
The Air has a reasonably good hardware. It runs on an etiolated Ultra Low Voltage performance chip. So low was it that Intel was forced to repackage a slower version of its Core 2 Duo processor. It is a Mobile Core 2 Duo with 4MB L2 Cache and 1.6 GHz frequency. There is a newer version of the Air that runs on a faster 1.8 GHz. The X3100 graphics core means that you cannot make the Air a gaming platform as its 3D graphics are weak. The only limitation when it comes to maximum screen resolution supported by the DVI port does not exceed 1920×1200.  The Realtek dual channel codec produces very poor audio quality. The only speaker is under the keyboard and one will hardly be able to listen to anything except the OS beeping.

Multimedia and iSight:
The limited space available on the Air restricts the multimedia to a webcam, a microphone, a speaker set. The microphone and webcam are on the top of the screen and the mono setup speaker is under the keyboard. The colour accuracy and the image quality are as good as that of a high end cell phone.  The webcam can be used along with the in-built microphone and the iChat software. One could use iSight for taking pictures and editing them. You do no need to install the software as it is already in built and you can use it with QuickTime and share it to iTunes and Youtube.

Apple MacBook Air Performance:

Performance is usually what matters to most users. The speed of the MacBook has surprised all of us. In the native OS 10.5, its performance was lacking. Boot times are as long as a minute and starting up an array of programs took longer than usual. The Bootcamp performance was on the snappier side.  When we tried the tests on the Vista environment, we were in for a pleasant surprise. The machine ran better on Vista than it did on the native OS. That is perhaps, because the MacBook Air firmware version for Microsoft OS is not impeccable at all.

However, there were a lot of bugs throughout the bootcamp. The touchpad was the source of several problems including the Blue – screens and lockups due to multiple touches. The system benchmarks in Vista were quite well and gaming ran on decent frames. The 1.8GHz core 2 processor is nothing compared to the mammoth 3.2GHz available in the market today.  But perhaps where the computer shines is in everything that does not hog many resources. Because of the SSD, Microsoft Word, MATLAB, Photoshop and other applications pen up in fraction of a second.

The performance demonstrated by the Air is quite good, since it has pretty up to date hardware With a Core Micro architecture working at 1.6GHz frequency and 2 GB of high speed RAM performance on Vista was pretty good. Though the Spinpoint HDD Drive cannot boast of great performance, it is not that slow as well. There were more bottlenecks in the configuration. Because of some firmware problems, when the processor’s clock speed was slowed down, the CPU seemed reluctant to return back to nominal levels.

Heat:

The aluminum design of the MacBook Air notebook makes it act as a gigantic heat sink.  The processor is right under the top left part of the keyboard, a portion many gamers place their hands. The surface of the notebook is very hot and sometimes gets unbearable. Gaming alone is not responsible; CPU intensive activities such as compressing music will put one in a similar situation under heavy workload, the temperature reaches 46 degrees and the CPU reaches dangerous levels of about 85 degrees centigrade.  Normal web browsing does not heat-en up the processor; however the notebook gets heated up faster than other notebooks. The temperature however does not affect the thermal conditions of the HDD as it is placed on the cooler side of the laptop.

Battery life:

The second generation MacBook Air runs on a 37 w Lithium polymer battery, selected to be as light as possible. It has a quoted battery life of 5 whole hours and it is fairly accurate. The Air can run for around 5 hours in optimal conditions and even longer if all you do is some light internet browsing. The Power Adapter provided is a 45W brick which is specifically shaped due to the Air’s slim design. But there is one complaint with the battery – the time it takes to get charged is a lot. It takes about 8 and half hours to get fully recharged and that by standards is pathetic.  The Integrated battery does not allow you to swap the battery in case it dies making matters worse.

Warranty:

The Apple MacBook Air Laptop Notebook is covered under a warranty period of one year from the date of purchase. Defects from Service are covered by a warranty of 90 days.  However, one can extend the warranty to up to 3 years. If the battery’s capacity to store charge diminishes, Apple will replace it even if the warranty expires.

Verdict:

It is hard to put a judge on such a thin, simple and interesting machine. The MacBook Air with a 1.6GHz, 2GB of RAM, and 80GB of space is expensive, but this is the lightest OS X machine out there. At double the rate, the 64GB of SSD and a 1.8GHz processor is a joke. The MacBook Pro is much cheaper and more loaded. The notebook however is beautiful, innovative and portable and hence is recommendable to users who would want a second laptop .The Apple MacBook Air is not a notebook in the sense of the word, but is a gadget with notebook functionality. Most Apple lovers would be disappointed with it as it is perhaps not a mainstream product. When Vista was installed and tried out, the Air worked wonderfully well. That would help Apple gain lots of Windows fans. This is not the best choice for an ultra portable Wintel solution. If you are looking for an airy design and Microsoft OS, this is the best way to go.

Check our Apple Laptop Review section for other Apple laptop Reviews and check 2010 Latest Laptop Computers in our website.

Apple MacBook Air – Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Apple
Series	Apple MacBook Air
PC type	Notebook
Series	MacBook
DIMENSIONS AND DISPLAY
Dimensions (H x W x D)	12.8 x 8.9 x 0.76 inches
Weight	3 pounds
Available colours	White
Display type	LED-backlit glossy widescreen display
Display size	13.3-inch
Display resolution	1280 x 800 pixels
PROCESSOR, MEMORY, STORAGE
Processor type	Intel Core 2 Duo processor
Clock speed	1.86GHz or 2.13GHz
Front Side Bus	1066MHz
Chipset	Intel 945GSE with slight modifications to allow usage of Multitouch
RAM	2GB of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM onboard
Hard drive size	250GB 300GB, 500GB – Optional
Spindle speed	4200 rpm
Optical drive	Optical SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
INPUT
Keyboard	Built-in full-size keyboard with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys and backlight.
Track pad	Multi-Touch track pad for precise cursor control; supports two-finger scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities
GRAPHICS, VIDEO AND SOUND
Installed Graphics Type	256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory
Graphics processor	NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor
Speaker Details	Built-in mono speakers
Microphone	Built-in omni directional microphone
Audio Output	Combined optical digital output/headphone out Supports Apple Stereo Headset with microphone
Video out options	DVI output VGA output Dual-link DVI output
COMMUNICATION FEATURES
Ethernet	Nil
Modem	Nil
Wireless	Built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking IEEE 802.11a/b/g compatible Built-in Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Mobile internet	None
Webcam	Built-in iSight camera
CONNECTIVITY	MagSafe power port Mini DisplayPort One USB 2.0 port(up to 480 Mbps) Audio in/out
SOFTWARE
Operating System	Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard and Microsoft Vista
Other software	Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, Front Row, Xcode Developer Tools
BATTERY
Battery technology	Built-in lithium-polymer battery
Battery capacity	60-watt-hour
Power Adaptor	45W MagSafe Power Adapter with cable management system
Estimated battery life (mfr)	5 hours
MISCELLANEOUS
Box contents	MacBook 60W MagSafe Power Adapter, AC wall plug, and power cord along with Printed and electronic documentation
Environment friendly features included	BFR free, PVC free, mercury free, arsenic free display, recyclable polycarbonate display, 20% smaller packaging, meets energy star version 5.0 requirements and rated EPEAT gold.
WARRANTY AND SERVICE	WARRANTY AND SERVICE One year warranty for Parts and Labour 24×7 toll free service support

The MSI G-series notebooks are one of the most powerful gaming notebooks in the International market. Towards the end of 2009, the MSI G-series launched a new member, the MSI GT640. Touted as the world’s most advanced gaming notebook, the MSI GT640 is specially designed for hardcore gamers and boasts of offering a marvelous performance for game lovers. The MSI GT640, built on Intel Calpella platform, with the most advanced Intel Core i7 processor, Windows 7 and nVIDIA GeForce GTS 250M 3D discrete graphics card ( DDR3 1GB VRAM) has the highest processing power and graphics card specs which makes it the best performing notebook computer for gaming.

Design:

Body built and finishing:
The MSI GT640 notebook case is stylish, mainly made up of black brushed aluminum, which makes a very high-end impression of the case when concerned in terms of materialistic characteristics. The aluminum makes the case less susceptible for scratches as compared to other notebook casing of other manufacturers in which, high-gloss plastic is generally used. When looked at the case of MSI GT640 closely after using it for quite sometime, lots of various fingerprints and streaks might be seen, but otherwise, the matt surface of this gaming notebook is anyway more resistant against smudges, scratches and fingerprints subjectively, than most other notebooks of its kind.

Issues of concern:
Even with its advantages, the MSI GT640 Gaming Notebook raises some questions in the mind of users and specially critics, in terms of stability. Even though aluminum has been used in the case cover, the case gradually at stronger, selective pressure on both the bottom and the upper side, often leads to a chintzy scattering. Moreover, the notebook’s lid is subjected to depression to quite some extent in the center as well as in the area between its hinges. Other than this, image distortions also take place when the display frame of the notebook is subjected to a stronger grip.

A great display:
But overall, the MSI GT640 notebook’s 15.4 inch cinema display is a priced possession, which is well gripped and kept well in position by the small hinges which are quite stable, which comes as a surprise. The light casing of this gaming notebook has a light weight of 2720 grams or 2.72 kilograms and lifts a bit at opening. The MSI GT640 gaming notebook, has a few unique commendable display features. The display can be tilted to almost 180°, whereas, most other notebooks are at their maximum, with their display frame tilting to latest 140°. With a fairly average size of 360mm x 260mm x 36mm (W x D x H), the notebook’s case gives a rather compact impression and the moderately low height is to some extent responsible for the same.

Not a very impressive keyboard:
Despite of all the pros of the MSI GT 640 gaming notebook, the keyboard is a big flop. It is a disaster compared to its other features.  However, MSI is indifferent to the critique from press as well as its users and ignores them. But in terms of quality, the stagnation of the keyboard cannot be otherwise explained. The “function” also does not fit in its place near the Ctrl key. The problem with this is, gamers are highly deprived of their comfort level because the Ctrl key plays a very important part in hardcore gaming, and secondly even in case of office use, the user has to get used to the unintentional constant hit on the FN key. Moreover, MSI has blithely brought about alteration in the positions of other keys (# ‘and <> |), due to which the old keyboard layout had to suffer too. And few other keys like shift, backspace and enter keys have been made far too narrow in this not so conventional keyboard layout of this notebook.

The pressure point of the keys is another noticeable factor as they feel indistinct and highly indefinite. Moreover, the keys tend to clatter when they are triggered, which in turn enhances low-end impression naturally. Another faulty feature of the keyboard is that the keys often stick and spontaneously recoil with a loud and distinct clacking noise.

Concluding it all, the keyboard is not at all user-friendly as sometimes, even after long period of accommodation there are perpetual typing errors. The presence of a separate numeric block is probably the only positive thing that can be reported about the keyboard of the MSI GT640 gaming notebook. Basically, the best thing that can be recommended is attaching an external keyboard for office tasks or even if it is for gaming, because for using a keyboard one must keep the comfort level in mind.

The Shortcut Key:
Another unique feature of the MSI GT 640 15.4″ Laptop notebook is that there is a new shortcut key above the keyboard. The shortcut key in piano black is encircled with bright red lines. The key’s outline creates a sensational feel of speed and movement which is complimented by the quite chick hi-tech keypad. This style and charm makes the MSI GT640 a superbly stylish device with an outstanding representation of modern style and dynamic speed.

Function Bar:
Above the keyboard, a touch-sensitive bar is available. It has an excellent delay-free response in opposition to the notebook’s keyboard. Features included in the bar are: A multimedia control (stop, play/pause, rewind and fast forward), the already mentioned Eco mode and the Cinema Pro techniques and buttons to enable and disable web cam, WLAN, Bluetooth and user-defined programs.

Touchpad:
The touchpad is quite sufficiently sized, and is a bit submerged and has a well trimmed silver frame. With its good gliding abilities along with the smooth surface, the touchpad of this system is convincing enough. There are a few rare interruptions while working with the scroll bar, which otherwise works absolutely perfect. The key pressure of both the keys of the mouse milled into a rest of wrist surface, is not overwhelming but is quite decent. However, the faulty design leads to accumulation of dirt, crumbs and dust in the spaces between the keys, and cleaning it off can be quite a difficult and hectic task.

Connectivity:
MSI GT640, the new gaming notebook sensation in the market is very well equipped in hardware, software as well as in terms of connectivity. MSI has featured the GT640 with numerous connection options.

There are two video outputs placed in the rear of this notebook, with HDMI and VGA. There is another DC-in and antenna connection on the rear, which is followed on the left hand side with an RJ-11 modem port, one USB 2.0 port, a multipurpose DVD burner and four audio sockets which are differentially marked by colors (headphone, line-in, line-out and microphone). On the front side, there is an infrared receiver which is almost invisible from sight. Towards the right there is an Express Card slot, a 4-in-1 card reader (XD, MS, MMS, and SD) and a Fire wire port. Concluding this array of connection ports is an USB 2.0 port, an eSATA/USB 2.0 combo and a RJ-45 gigabit LAN.

On the wireless side of the GT640 notebook, there are connection ports for Bluetooth 2.0 and WLAN a/b/g/n. Other than all these features, the MSI GT640 also has a 2.0 megapixel webcam and there is also an integrated microphone which is very strategically placed beneath the arrow keys. Thus, the port distribution and arrangement in the rear is quite good, but however, the USB port and audio sockets somehow seem to be stretched out too far front on the left hand side of the notebook. There is another problem. The DVD burner is likely to be obstructed or blocked by USB and/or audio cables, if ejected or opened, which is a bit tacky and clumsy when “user-friendly” terms are kept in mind. And there is another USB 2.0 connection on the left. In terms of ports and socket distributions and arrangements, the right hand side of the notebook is comparatively well organized, but like the left side, the USB 2.0 connections here too are placed a bit too far towards the front and the RJ-45 gigabit LAN port position could also have been changed to somewhere in the rear side to give the outlook a better approach.

Features:

Processor:
The MSI GT640 is a smart notebook, as it is preloaded with Intel Core i7 processor with turbo boost, which through instant calculation of program’s operating requirements, can automatically regulate the power supply. Therefore, whenever a user is in need of full power like when a competition is heated up, Turbo Boost will maximize the performance accordingly. Conversely, whenever the system is running lighter or low-load applications, the processor’s operational performance will be automatically and efficiently reduced. Thus, due to this flexible distribution of the system’s resources, there is a high processing efficiency and it helps in extending the battery endurance as well. Though there are quite a number of modes to fiddle around with, the ones worth mentioning and plausible are the “ECO” and the “Cinema pro” mode.  The utilities of the ECO mode have already been mentioned. And on the other hand, the Cinema pro technology is worth mentioning due to its provisions for heightened movie enjoyment. Thus, with a push of button, a user can advance to a more detailed image quality, an increased sonority and an amplified bass, in the Cinema Pro mode.

The processor that MSI usually has cannot be though over clocked with the turbo mode. Thus the user has to do without it in this case. However, due to the presence of an integrated Core i7-720QM the processor automatically over clocks itself. Thus, the MSI GT640 comes with integrated and efficient software installations which help the user to achieve powerful and effective performance. And along with it, the device also boasts of being integrated with some major components, such as, the Intel Core i7 processor’s Intel Hyper-threading technology, which claims to allow the user to perform their tasks with greater speed and pleasure.

ECO Engine:
The MSI GT640 notebook comes with MSI’s exclusive ECO engine. Eco engine is a smart power-saving solution that can be accessed in the MSI GT gaming notebook from the control panel via an ECO shortcut button. With the help of this shortcut button, users can activate the ECO engine and then customize their notebook’s power settings to suit their own specific uses. The notebook’s power consumption can be controlled by using various modes which are already present to choose from applications like, Document, Gaming, Movie, Presentation, and Turbo battery modes to maximize efficiency.

The Turbo Boost Technology:
Intel cannot really complain about low sales figures recently, because nowadays almost every manufacturer accessorises the mobile Core i7 in multimedia or gaming notebooks. MSI’s  i7-720QM is a model just for a start, and still it represents one of the fastest CPUs of recent times. In idle mode, this four core processor clocks with a meager 1.60 GHz. The “Turbo Boost” technology supports the system to raise the clock rate automatically to 2.8 GHz when under load. “Hyper-threading” Technology is another feature that, in addition to the four i7-720QM real cores, simulates four cores in addition. Hyper Threading is less impactful in gaming and has its limitations. But an increase in velocity can be obtained for optimized applications. The Core i7 has not only an L2 but also an L3 cache, in contrary to the older Core2 design. Thus one Megabyte (L2) and six Megabyte (L3) are added up in the i7-720QM. The i7-720QM’s has a high energy requirement of around 45 watt maximum, which makes the Core i7 unsuitable for use in notebooks, which are generally made for high mobility.

RAM:
The core i7 has a four Gigabyte DDR3 RAM support with 1066 MHz, but still for some reasons unknown to others, MSI has used the alternative 32-bit Windows 7 Home Premium. This means, only around 3 Gigabytes is available for practice and unnecessarily quite a lot of potential was wasted.

Graphic Card:
MSI, in the MSI GT640 gaming notebook, has used nVIDIA’s brand new graphic card, the GeForce GTS 250M. Unlike high-end GPUs, like the GeForce GTX 200, GTX 280M/GTX 260M, MSI GT640’s GeForce GTS 250 M is now finally related to the present desktop designing GTX 200, and the base for it is the GT215 core. The GeForce GTS 250M has another achievement up its sleeve and that is that GeForce GTS 250M is one of the first nVIDIA mobile cards that can support DirectX 10.1. Moreover, the GeForce GTS 250M, is 40mm wide by structure and has 96 stream processors, an average power consumption of 28 watt, supports PhysX and also has an enormous memory size of 1024 Megabyte. But however, the memory bandwidth, which is a mere 128 bits is a disappointment. Either GDDR5 which is faster or GDDR3 module is usually employed as the video memory. The GDDR5 VRAM reaches up to a maximum rate of 500 MHz (core), 1600 MHz In core memory and 1250 MHz shader. However, the MSI GT640 is equipped with the GT 250M along with GDDR3, which only clubs with 450MHz core, memory of 790 MHz and 1080 MHz (shared).The GeForce GTS 250M also supports in computing high resolution videos and materials because of the “Pure Video HD” advanced technology.

Hard Disk:
The GT640’s hard disk belongs to Western Digital’s fast Scorpio Blue range and flaunts a capacity of around 500 Gigabytes. The throughput rate of 78.7 MB/s is quite good, but the access rate of 17.6 ms could have been better and transfer rate also has an average of 57.1 MB/. MSI GT640’s hard disk has been divided in two parts where the first OS has near around 80 Gigabytes, and the second partition can accommodate a high capacity of 376 Gigabytes.

Software Bundle with MSI GT640:
Unlike other manufacturers, MSI has commendably restrained itself to quite an extent in terms of software installations and has cut-off a number of unnecessary additions and resource-devouring disasters. And it is even better featured in the MSI GT640 gaming notebook. Thus, the MSI GT640 notebook, gives the users complete performance, and that too without any typical restrictions. It available in the state of delivery and thus, users do not have to waste their time going through unending de-installations and so this notebook is very user-friendly.

Display Features:
The general trend of widescreen format in laptops, notebooks and PC’s is a display in 16:9 format. However, MSI stays loyal in the latest MSI GT640 gaming notebook, with a widescreen display of 16:10 format, and its 15.4 inch screen has a plausible resolution of 1680×105 pixels. Nevertheless, the display has fluctuating values. The black value of 0.30 cd/m2 is appreciable, but the average luminosity of 150.8 cd/m2 is disappointing. And, the high level of contrast, that is, 605:1 is quite above average and a 74% illumination proves to be still good enough. The black coloured saturated base, the intense and intriguing colors and the rich-contrast presentation is very pleasing, subjectively, but in battery mode, because of the low brightness, the image usually remains a bit pallid.

However, when it comes to reflective display, MSI does not however oppose this trend. Annoying reflections in bright interiors or light coming from across the windows are situations when the display might not be very pleasing to a user as it can get quite irritating and disturbing, especially during movie watching. Thus, using this notebook for outdoor usage is almost impossible in the strong sunlight overhead. The stability of the viewing angle on the horizontal plane is more than enough. In contrary, the vertical plane is highly vulnerable to colour deviations, and brightness differences also turn up quicker. Thus, there is a necessity of adjustments in the vertical plane in frequent intervals.

Performance:

General performance:
The performance index of the Window 7 theoretically briefs us and gives us an overview of the approximate efficiency in a system and the possible flaws and faults. The index does not play a very significant role in practical use, but it has its own achieved values. The processor, as well as the RAM is very good. The graphic card slightly disappoints the users but still is quite good.
Due to the presence of the Core i7-720QM and GeForce GT250M, the performance of applications is better and way above expectations. The best thing about it is that even with the most demanding applications running, the processor remains unchanged and can take the necessary load and can provide a high performance whenever it is needed. Thus, comparing the MSI GT640 gaming notebook’s graphic card to others, the GeForce GTS 250M has one flaw or disadvantage to the others as well as to the processor.

Noise levels:
MSI gaming notebooks are noted for their sound quality and a high sound scope. So is the MSI GT640 gaming notebook. When in idle mode, the notebook attracts attention for its audibility with 35.1 up to 38.5 dB (A). Under load, or under high performance requirement, even the fan turns up to a very audible 43.2 dB (A) and at times to a disturbing 49.1 dB (A). Thus, the MSI GT640 gaming notebook is not recommended for noise-sensitive users.

Heat:
In idle mode, that is when the notebook is left operating for two hours with maximum energy savings options turned on, the surface temperature is generally limited within an acceptable range. The upper side and the bottom side of the notebook can heat up and reach up to 30.6°C and 38.4°C, respectively. The case, under full load, (1 hour Furmark and Prime) can work up to a lot of heat. Moreover, the wrist rest in the upper portion can heat up to an uncomfortable temperature of  37.2°C, whereas, the bottom portion, near the fan area might heat up enormously and reach up to a maximum temperature of 54.7°C, thus making it very uncomfortable for a user to place the MSI GT640 notebook on their lap.

The graphic card, out of all other components, is quite reasonably tempered. Whilst in idle mode, the GeForce GTS 250M can heat up to  47°C, it is a very high but still agreeable 85°C when subjected under heavy or full load. In idle mode, the CPU’s temperature is moderately fine and hovers around 50°C, on the other hand, the Core i7-720QM can heat up to an enormously alarming temperature of 97°C, when under full load.

The main temperature related problem in case MSI GT640 gaming notebook is that the CPU clocks itself down to 931 MHz after longer full load for about 15 minutes. But however, in case of normal usage, the situation never reaches to a critical point where there is a continual load of 100%.

Speaker performance:
There are two built-in loudspeakers, which are not up to the mark. The bass line present is very faint and indistinct. Moreover, the trebles generally tend to fray moderately fast and are quite imprecise, up to a generally faint sound. For gamers, the soundscape is fair, but it is preferable that an external sound system should be connected anyway to let the user experience better music and movie rendering. The Cinema Pro mode that the MSI GT640 gaming notebook boasts of also did not enhance or improve the sound quality or sonority, neither in games nor in music or movies, when enabled.

Battery:

The MSI GT640 gaming notebook is charged with a six cell battery of 52Wh, which falls short badly to mete out the energy requirement of the Core i7-720QM and the GeForce GTS 250M for a long period.  When energy savings was disabled, brightness was increased to maximum and was subjected to load, the processor ate up the charge in a very short time. The same goes for gaming and internet surfing. The battery life of the MSI GT 640 is not capable enough to be qualified for a hardcore gaming machine as under maximum energy saving mechanisms and minimum display brightness. At the most, the notebook can give a standby time of 2.25 hours, when not taking load. Thus, the MSI GT640 gaming notebook is not really a powerful device when it comes to the battery life and it is advisable for the users to have a socket in hand, because the machine runs out of charge easily.

Warranty:

The MSI GT640 gaming notebook comes with one year standard manufacturer’s warranty.

Verdict:

MSI GT640, the gaming notebook which was claimed to be the best of its kind when it was launched, has quite a few notable weaknesses. The keyboard tends to recoil and lacks a distinct pressure point and the bizarre layout is quite a disaster for a device otherwise so impactful! To top it, the battery life is highly disappointing and the display luminosity is very weak and the intense reflections are irritating and annoying at times. The faint sonority along with a too high soundscape and an average performance of the GeForce 250M, is a failure in comparison to the strong Core i7-720M. For better efficiency, graphic card could have been replaced by a GeForce GTS 160M or a GeForce GTX 260M.

But however, like an inevitable truth, good and bad both come together. So, the MSI GT640 is blessed with quite a few remarkable features which makes it stand out in the international market. First of all, the getup is quite impressive. The case has matt surface mainly comprising high-end brushed aluminium and the jet black colour with fiery red highlights give the GT640 notebook quite a chick and stylish look. Moreover, the sensitive and smooth touchpad along with its comfortable keys are a bonus. And to top it all, the interface options very generously vary.

Thus to conclude it, MSI GT640 gaming notebook is a good choice for users who opt for high processor performance but are disappointed by a poor keyboard and a high sound scape.

Check other Latest Laptop Reviews in our website.

MSI GT640 15.4″ Laptop Computer – Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	MSI
Model Name	MSI GT 640
PC type	Gaming Notebook
Main Board	Intel PM55
Weight	2.72kg
DIMENSIONS AND DISPLAY
Dimensions (H x W x D)	36mm x 360mm x 260mm
Available colours/finish	Jet Black with red highlights
Display size	15.4″ glossy
Resolution	1680 x 1050 pixels
PROCESSOR, MEMORY, STORAGE
Processor type	Intel Core i7-720QM
Clock speed	1.6 GHz
Chipsets	Intel PM55
RAM	2 X Upto 4GB
RAM type	DDR3 – 1066/1333MHz
Hard drive size	250 GB to 500 GB
Hard Drive type	WDW WD5000BEVT
Spindle speed	5400 rpm
Optical drive	Optiarc DVD RW AD-7560S
Webcam	2.0M
GRAPHICS, VIDEO AND SOUND
Graphics Processor	nVIDIA GeForce GTS 250M – 1024 MB; Core: 450 MHz; Memory: 790 MHz; Shader Rate: 1080MHz
Sound output mode	2 X 5.1 stereo HD Speakers
Sound Card	Realtek ALC888
Audio Input	Headphones
Card Reader	4 in 1 card reader
Keyboard	103 keys
COMMUNICATION FEATURES
Networking	Realtek RTL8168D/8111D PCI-E GBE NIC (10MBit), Intel Wireless WiFi Link 5100 AGN(abgn), 2.0 Bluetooth
Ports	1 Express Card 54mm, 1 Kensington Lock, 3 USB ports, 1VGA, 1HDMI, 1 eSata, 1 Firewire, 1 Modem, 1 Infrared. Audio Connections: Headphone, Microphone, Line-in, Line-out.
SOFTWARE
Operating System	Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit
Power	AC Power : Output – 19V DC, 120W Input – 100~240V AC, 50/60Hz universal
Power device type	Power supply
Security	Kensington Lock
WARRANTY	Limited warranty – 1 year – Parts and labour