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Entry Level and Mid-Range Notebooks

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PCQ Bureau
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MSI CR620

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The MSI CR620 is surprisingly lightweight for a 15.6 laptop

and is of the same weight as the MSI X620 from the slimline series without

sacrificing on the ports and DVD drive. The keyboard features chiclet styled

keys for tactile typing and also manages to fit in a number pad to the form

factor. While the touchpad located on the center of the huge palm rest provides

plenty of space, it suffers from one drawback. While tracking is smooth, the

left and right button rocker is quite hard and will not be preferred by

everyone. There are ample number of ports available with the display ports and 2

USB located on the spine which strengthens its position as a desktop

replacement, so there are lesser chances of cable entanglement. The 15.6 screen

has a glossy finish which causes reflections but otherwise makes for

satisfactory movie viewing. Sound quality is superior and very apt for watching

movies or listening to music. Productivity applications perform smoothly without

any problems. A minor issue is the Windows 7 Home Basic installation which

should have been at least Home Premium.

ENTRY LEVEL

Price Rs 31,800



Specs : Intel Core i3 M330 @ 2.13GHz, 2.9kg, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD, Intel
GMA HD, 15.6” WXGA



Contact:  MSI India, Delhi


Phone No. 011-41758808


Email:marketing@msi-in.com


SMS Buy: 130842 to 56677



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Verdict: This features a great combination of price

& performance making it the winner of the Entry level segment.

Lenovo Thinkpad Edge 13

The Edge is a departure from the sober design of the

Thinkpad series having a striking glossy lid and plastic body with tapering

metallic lines completing the stylish look. The design is simple but appealing

and focused on the mainstream demographic of young executives. However, the

build quality suffers a bit due to the heavy use of plastic and weaker hinges

but it is still stronger than many other laptops in the market. The Thinkpad

series has always had the best keyboards but the unfamiliar placement of keys

and omitting of some keys thoroughly disappoints. The multitouch capabilities of

the touchpad are snappy and browsing is lag-free  and touchpad key sensitivity

is just right if a little shallow. Display is suitable for work and web browsing

but the colors are a bit muted for watching movies even if HD content playback

is smooth. The lower power components help extend the battery life and less heat

is generated as a result. The USB+ ports can charge external components even

when the laptop is turned off but it requires the AC power to be turned on.

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Price Rs. 28,200



Specs : AMD Turion Neo X2 L625 1.5Ghz, 2.1Kg, 3GB RAM, 320GB HDD, ATI
Radeon HD 3200, 13.3” HD Glare



Contact:  Lenovo India


Phone No. 18004253353


Email:
directlenovo@lenovo.com




SMS Buy: 130841 to 56677


Verdict: This is one of the best 13 inch laptops on

the market for users looking for a balance of both power and portability.

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MSI CR420

The MSI CR420 is identical to the CR620 in terms of looks

with a few significant changes. The port placement has been changed and the

number of status led indicators on the bottom of the touchpad have been reduced

to 4 of the most essential ones. A dedicated media key for launching internet

explorer is present conveniently above the keyboard and a dial-up modem has been

integrated to the spine, both of which were missing in the CR620. The optical

drive has been retained while the number pad has been removed which is a good

move as the keys remain the same size. The RAM has been reduced to 2GB with the

rest of the configuration being identical to the CR620.

Price Rs 30,800



Specs : Intel Core i3 M330 @ 2.13GHz, 2.5Kg, 2GB RAM, 320GB HDD, Intel
GMA HD, 14” display



Contact: MSI India, Delhi


Phone No.  011-41758808


Email:marketing@msi-in.com


SMS Buy: 130843 to 56677



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This affects the performance a little in applications

requiring more RAM like video encoding or image editing but works well for

productivity applications. HD videos playback very smoothly in native resolution

and sound is loud but clarity suffers.

Verdict: This loses out to the CR620 which provides

better value for money. It depends upon the user whether a desktop replacement

is needed or a sturdy portable laptop i.e the CR420.

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MSI X430

The MSI X430 is an ultra slim form factor laptop based on

the AMD Neo MV-40 processor which is strikingly similar to the Macbook right

down from the all white body to the MSI logo on the center of the chasis. The

most interesting aspect is the textured finish encompassing the entire laptop

straight from the keyboard to the palmrest. However, the touchpad suffers

because of this and there is noticeable lag present. The specs are entirely

similar to the earlier netbooks but with two main differences — the 320gb

storage and the ATI Radeon 3200. But HD movie playback and graphic intensive

applications suffer because of the 1GB RAM and processor. Sound is a bit tinny

because of the strange speaker placement. Work is best confined to basic

applications and browsing. There are heating issues with the vents on the bottom

making it impossible to keep it on the lap defeating the purpose of the slim

form factor.

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Price Rs 31,000



Specs : AMD Athlon Neo MV-40 @ 1.60Ghz, 2Kg, 1 GB RAM, 320 GB HDD, ATI
Radeon HD 3200, 14” HD LCD



Contact: MSI India, Delhi


Phone No.  011-41758808


Email:marketing@msi-in.com


SMS Buy: 130844 to 56677



Verdict:  Heating issues, bundling of Windows 7

Starter, etc is an indicative of the X430 being an oversized netbook and if

purchased, should be treated as such.

Acer Aspire 4820TG

The Timeline series has evolved from the power saving

laptops into mainstream performance laptops rebranded as the Timeline X series.

Acer has gone all out on the designing of the laptop with a brushed aluminum

finish on the lid and palmrest. The overall build could have been sturdier with

unwanted flexing present in certain areas. But it can be forgiven since the

4820TG is an all rounder beating some laptops in the higher segment as well. The

keyboard has nice flat keys providing satisfying feedback topped with a nice non

slippery finish. The touchpad is accurate and smooth but a tad oversensitive

when multi-touch is applied. The left and right click rocker is a bit too tiny.

The diminutive profile conceals astonishing power beneath it. Applications run

blazingly fast and most 3D applications including games can run on medium

settings with ease. The Aspire 4820TG also had the highest battery backup out of

all the laptops carrying on the Aspire tradition. It should be noted that

Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit has been installed so keep in mind program

compatibility before buying.

MID RANGE

Price Rs 42,799



Specs : Intel Core i5 M 430 @ 2.27GHz, 2.6Kg, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, ATI
Radeon HD 5650, 14” HDdisplay



Contact:  Acer India Bangalore


Phone No. 080 3070 8700



Email:ailenquiries@acer.co.in




SMS Buy: 130845 to 56677


Verdict:  The Acer Aspire 4820TG rightly deserves

the Editors Choice Award and is highly recommended.  

MSI X620

CULV in a 15.6 ultra slim form factor would perfectly

describe the MSI X620. Barring the larger size, it is physically identical to

the X350. MSI managed to fit in an optical drive along with many ports and a

discrete graphic card which is quite commendable. The accompanying  multi-touch

touchpad is smooth and has good sensitivity. Even with the huge palm rest

provided, there is a dedicated touchpad lock present. A special feature is the

integrated 3D software which can be toggled from the media key situated above

the keyboard. It offers the options of zooming, auto-playback and editing

images. The viewing angle is superb and the HD content playback is flawless. In

fact, it is one of the very few slim laptops where gaming at medium details and

a stable framerate is possible. 3D boost and SRS premium sound help with

emulating surround sound for a 5.1 experience which works great but sometimes

muffles some of the sound randomly.

MID RANGE

Price Rs 46,999



Specs : Intel U7300 @ 1.30GHz, 2.9Kg, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD, ATI Radeon
HD 5430, 15.6” TFT LCD



Contact:  MSI India


Phone No. 011-41758808


Email: marketing@msi-in.com


SMS Buy: 130851 to 56677



Verdict:   The MSI X620 is a very interesting

machine that offers a good combination of power and portability and is

recommended for those in the market for such a machine.

Acer Travel Mate 4740

The Travel Mate 4740 has been designed from the ground up

to be a professional laptop also made evident by the Windows 7 Professional OS

installation. The matte finish sets it apart from all the other laptops in the

mid segment and wins hands down in terms of durability and ergonomics. The

Travel Mate has the best combination of keyboard and touchpad which together

give precise control and tactile feeling. Unfortunately, 3D performance suffers

due to the absence of a discrete graphic card which should have been included in

this price bracket. This limits the usability of the 4740 leaning towards less

graphic intensive applications which is where it excels. Performance with

productivity applications was smooth without any hang-ups, thanks to the i5

processor. Sound is muffled and the maximum volume is very disappointing

therefore any thoughts of watching movies or listening to music without

headphones should be banished.

MID RANGE

Price Rs 45,250



Specs : Intel Core i5 M 520 @ 2.40GHz, 2.6Kg, 2GB RAM, 320GB HDD,
Intel GMA HD, 14” HD display



Contact:  Acer India Bangalore


Phone No. 080 3070 8700



Email:ailenquiries@acer.co.in




SMS Buy: 130846 to 56677


Verdict:  As a laptop in the business segment it

stands shoulder to shoulder with the thinkpad series and is a very strong

contender for the “all work and no play laptop.

Related Articles:

Ultra High-end and Gaming Laptops

Netbooks: Sub-20K and 20K+

HCL ME54

The ME54 has a casual look to it which is evident from the

dual shade glossy lid to the multipurpose touchpad. The laptop is very heavy for

a 14"form factor but is quite sturdy. In fact there is no flexing present in the

body at all. The full sized keyboard gives adequate tactile feedback but could

have done with better spacing.  The touchpad has a player and few shortcuts

embedded in it which can be activated by pressing the top right area where mode

is written. This lights up the touchpad and gives easy access to a media player

along with quick hits to 2 programs which are completely customizable. But the

touchpad left and right rocker is quite hard and requires tremendous effort to

press. The accompanying fingerprint scanner covers the security aspect of the

laptop. The ME54's performance is good enough for basic application productivity

and unlike the ME40, it can play HD content smoothly and the screen is also

comparatively brighter. Sound is clear and clunky though it could have been

louder.

Price Rs. 40,490



Specs : Intel Core i3 CPU M330 @ 2.13GHz, 2.6Kg, 2GB RAM, 320GB HDD,
Intel GMA HD, 14” LCD



Contact:  NA


Phone No. 1204203122



Email:productenquiry@hcl.in




SMS Buy 130848 to 56677


Verdict: The ME54 is good combination of work and

fun but there are better laptops with more value for money in the market.

HP Pavilion DM3

The Pavilion DM3 is the brushed aluminum counterpart to the

all plastic MSI X series. It has a very appealing look and is one of the few in

the mid segment to use brushed metals so there is no worry about scratches on

the chasis since the build quality is really sturdy. The optical drive is

missing but HP has provided a USB powered DVD drive which shares the same look

as the laptop. The keyboard is tactile and comfortable to use. However, the

touchpad was unresponsive and often problematic while navigating. The screen was

not too reflective and is perfect for light gaming or HD content. Sound was

clear, crisp and distinct. The heat vent is located on the side and keeps the

laptop cool even after fairly heavy usage. The graphic switcher for saving power

is a bit jarring as the screen flickers a few times before making the change.

The performance of the DM3 is better than expected and can also be used to play

a few games on the side.

Price Rs. 44,990



Specs : AMD Turion Neo X2 L625 1.5Ghz, 1.8Kg, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, ATI
Radeon HD 4330, 13.3” HD LED screen



Contact:  HP


Phone No.18004254999


Email:NA


SMS Buy: 130849 to 56677



Verdict:  The DM3 has been created for the 24x7

traveler wanting a bit of everything in a notebook with the form factor and

weight of a netbook.

MSI X350

The MSI X350 is a CULV laptop which provides more power

than netbooks with the form factor of laptops at half the size. The fully black

body with sleek silver around the edges gives a really smart look to the laptop

that will fit into any environment. The chiclet shaped keyboard is the same

across most of the MSI range. The difference is in the touchpad which has a

really good feel but is not made for smooth movements and requires extra effort

to navigate. The side scrolling and multitouch suffers from oversensitivity and

navigation is too fast for comfort. Owing to the slim profile, there are only 2

USB ports present which might limit connectivity of peripherals. One glaring

problem faced with all the X series has been the bottom left corner of the

notebook which always became uncomfortably hot after some processor intensive

tasks and should be addressed by MSI. Performance-wise, the laptop will work

best for document related tasks or basic applications which are not graphic

processor intensive.

Price Rs 39,999



Specs :Intel U7300 @ 1.30GHz, 1.8Kg, 2GB RAM, 500GB HDD, Intel
GMA4500M HD, 13.3” TFT LCD



Contact:  MSI India,


Phone No. 011-41758808


Email:marketing@msi-in.com


SMS Buy: 130850 to 56677



Verdict: The X350 can only be recommended if an

external mouse is used and graphic processor related tasks are limited to

watching HD content.

HCL ME40

The HCL ME40 specifically targets the enterprise users with

unique features like permanent file erase, application and port lockers,EC2 for

fast data recovery, file splitter for breaking down big files so that they can

be sent using email, file encryption, and a dedicated button for online support.

To open the laptop we need to depress the screen lock which firmly clicks in

place when locked.

The laptop flexes in many places even though the laptop is

quite bulky and heavy. The keyboard is quite uneven and typing is tedious.

In contrast, the touchpad is precise and the left and right

click have just the right amount of firmness. The 15.4 screen will not display

HD content well since it is not HD ready but other content plays smoothly.

The laptop is not meant for  rapphics intensive work but

performs commendably in other departments.

Price Rs. 41,500



Specs : Intel Core2 Duo T6600 @ 2.20GHz, 3.1Kg, 2GB RAM, 320GB HDD,
Intel GMA 4500M, 15.4” XGA TFT screen



Contact:  NA


Phone No. 1204203122



Email:productenquiry@hcl.in




SMS Buy: 130847 to 56677


Verdict:   The older Core2Duo series used makes the

laptop lose out on both performance and value. However, the extra software and

security features will appeal to enterprise users.

Dell Studio 1555

The Dell Studio 1555 features customizable lids offered in

a wide variety of colors and designs. The laptop is wedge shaped and indicative

of the hybrid design of an entertainment cum professional laptop. The

15.6"screen is  bright and colors are vibrant but it requires careful

positioning to combat high reflectivity. The 16:9 aspect ratio makes movie

viewing a pleasure and the massive speakers located above the keyboard gives

outstanding sound output which was among the best in the shootout. The keys flex

a bit but otherwise give a nifty feedback. Instead of pressing the Fn button to

activate the multimedia functions, it is the opposite way around and Fn is

required to press the F1-F12 keys. The touchpad gets very hot running resource

intensive apps but provides accurate & responsive tracking and the keys are

stiff but work well. The performance is quite satisfactory even with an older

Core2Duo being present. The Ati Radeon 4570 makes light gaming and HD video

editing possible. Although we received an older model with an outdated price

quotation, the newer ones come equipped with the core i series and should be

cheaper.

Price Rs. 49,800



Specs : Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 @ 2.10 GHz, 3Kg, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD,
ATI Radeon HD 4500, 15.6” LED screen



Contac:  NA


Phone No.18004258046


Web:www.dell.co.in


SMS Buy: 130852 to 56677



Verdict:    The Studio 1555 is a well rounded laptop

that should fulfill the needs of most.

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