VERT91 - Msi 1013

Specifications:
Color: Black
CPU: Turion 1.8 25W
Graphics: ATI Xpress 200M (128MB Integrated)
Wireless: MSI 802.11G
Optical Drive: DVD Dual Layer
Warranty: 2 Year MSI (barebone)

Purchased from XMELD.COM$1202 w/ student discount (5%)
Memory and HD from ZIPZOOMFLY.COM$190
1GB DDR400 Kingston
40GB 5400RPM FUJITSU
Total system price$1400

OS: XP Pro

I was also looking at
Dell 700M
Dell D610
HP/Compaq models with Turion processor

Why I did not buy the above-
The Dell 700M has old Intel technology and a bad integrated video chip (not that any of the integrated chips are any good, but the Extreme Graphics 2 is old compared to GMA 900 and ATI Xpress 200M).
The D610 costs a little bit more than the MSI. Maybe it would have been a nicely priced system with the occasional Dell $400-500 reduction.
I then looked into a 64-bit capable system just incase 64-bit makes it big in the next two-three years.
I looked at the HP/Compaq models. The L2000 looked horrible with the signature thing. The other models weighed a little more than the MSI.

I bought this laptop for college. I wanted something powerful and small so I could easily take it home on the weekends.

Screen:
The screen is a 12-inch WXGA. It is very bright. What I don’t like about it is the smoothness on curved lines (I think I can correct this but I don’t know how). There is some screen flex when I hold the screen from the top two corners.

Performance:
The laptop is fast, but not as fast as I hoped for.
PCMark05: 2010
3Dmark05: 596

Build: The laptop is very sturdy. There are no removable panels on the bottom of the laptop, which makes it feel stronger. There are no funny noises when I pick it up. The body is straight and is made out of plastic and some kind of metal (metal on bottom and screen).

Keyboard: The left side of the keyboard has some flex (bounce). It may take a little getting used to because of its slightly smaller size.

Dimensions:
11.7 x 1.1 x 8.75 w/o battery

When I received the laptop, the battery would not charge. I have sent the battery back and I am waiting for a new battery. Hopefully, it is just the battery, and not something internal.

Benchmark Pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/xpeteyjtx
sorry my digital camera isn't that great

If you have any questions let me know. I will post pics of the laptop if you want them.

I have uploaded more pics on to webshots... check the link.

-Peter

Noise:

The fan is always running. It isn't too loud, but it is louder than my friends Dell Latitude D610. The fan spins faster when the CPU is under load. The Optical drive makes a lot of noise when it is spinning at full speed and it also shakes the whole laptop, which I think is fairly common.

Weight:

The laptop weighs less than 5 pounds, so it is very light and easy to carry around. Unfortunately, I have not carried it around much because I dont have a battery!

Games:

I did not buy this laptop for gaming, obviously, but I have played a few games on it. Motocross Madness 2, Monster Truck Madness 2, Dirt Track Racing, Combat Flight Simulator (WWII Europe), Driver, and Flight Simulator 2000 Pro, to name a few. It plays these games flawlessly at the highest possible settings, as it should since they are atleast five years old. The 3DMarks05 score is not impressive, but it is impressive compared to the 410 point result from HP/Compaq models with the Xpress 200m.

CORRECTION:
The warranty is actually a 3 year.

Well I only played around with the battery for about 4 hours because it wouldn't charge. But while it was in, I did not notice any problems sitting flat. I will get a new battery (hopefully) later this week and I will let you know.

Yes, with the extended 8 cell battery, the laptop is raised at the back. I am not exactly sure by how much, but it is probably like an inch. I think that the extra height in the back helps with typing and viewing.

krucial, I think I misunderstood your first question. When you asked if it sat flat, I thought you meant whether or not the laptop was level with the surface it was on (whether it rocked back and forth)... not whether the laptop was raised or not.

I just received the battery today and I am getting over three hours using FIREFOX (wireless is obviously on), AIM, AVAST, WIRELESS USB MOUSE, 30% brightness.

The laptop is raised 1/4 of an inch when the 8 cell battery is installed. The battery protrudes about 3/4 of an inch from behind the laptop.

Also, since the battery raises the laptop, it keeps it much cooler. Before, the fan was on pretty much on all the time. Now, the fan shuts off more often.

I think I forgot to mention HEAT:
The laptop stays very very cool. They is no heat on the or around the keyboard unless the HD is being accessed often... then there is a little bit of warmth on the right pal rest. Also, when playing games or when the CPU is under heavy load, the bottom, near the fan gets a little warm. All in all, there seem to be no heat problems.

When the optical drive in spinning at full speed (this happens about 10% of the time), it makes the whole laptop vibrate... you can not see this in the screen though.

With the larger battery:
The fan usually take a little longer to turn on, but once it is on, it never goes off.