MSI released a new versatile laptop size 16 inches below Intel Calpella platform features a dedicated ATI graphics card and a Core i3 for 850 $ – currently the best rate bah market: the CX620-059 . MSI CX620-059 is sell with the next caracteristics: Screen 16”WXGA HD LED BackLight brilliant (1366 × 768) , Intel Core i3-330M (2.13 GHz) , RAM Installed (Max) 4 GB DDR3 1066MHz.

It features a sleek design with internal silver / black and dark gray textured finish present on the hull. Its coating Color Print Film resists scratches. The keyboard has a numeric keypad and flat black matte keys well spaced from each other. Slightly down in the frame and offset to the left of the touchpad has a button bar chrome. On the right are placed and a USB optical drive on the left an air vent, Ethernet, audio ports, and ExpressCard card reader while the back hosts 2 USB, HDMI , VGA and the power connector.

It takes advantage of the Eco Technology Engine that offers a choice of five modes: games, movies, presentations, office, or Turbo Battery mode, the latter preserving autonomy with a reduction in the frequency of the processor. With a push of a button dedicated GPU technology can boost it to switch between dedicated graphics card for increased performance or integrated graphics for more autonomy. Priced at 850 $, MSI CX620-059 now appears as 16 inches Calpella laptop cheapest market. Its Core i3-330M and 4 GB of RAM ensures comfortable operation in multitasking and common use.

Unfortunately, all of the RAM is not supported because we are dealing with a 32-bit OS not 64 bit. The dedicated graphics card Radeon HD5470 Mobility allows it to play tracks not too resource intensive 3D long as we adjust the levels of detail. The storage space of 320 GB classic is just like the connection with Wi-Fi n, HDMI, ExpressCard and USB 3.

Finally the side of the screen, even with a glossy guidebook adopting a 16:9 format particularly well suited to playing videos, and a resolution of 1366 × 768, limited vertically to Internet surfing and office.

The MSI Wind U115 is presented by its manufacturer as the first hybrid netbook world. In case, the integration of SSD flash memory and a conventional hard disk tray in the hull of the machine.

Some are trimmed here and there without really having any effect on the overall use. One unfortunate point, as is the case on the Wind U100, the presence of the Fn key bottom left of the keyboard. Normally this is the place to press “ctrl”. Used in many keyboard shortcuts, this inversion because many typos. The touchpad below the space bar has a generation behind. Patients on the U100, there is again a problem on this version.

The webcam has generally disappointed. The picture is not terrible. It tends to redden the faces, lack of detail and burns the most exposed areas. The microphone is too low and must speak very loudly to be heard. A good point, it is placed right on the webcam and not around the keyboard (which is a very important source of noise).

The noise of the machine when loading heavy, remains moderate. A fan snaps and deaf means if you move your ear to less than 30 inches from the hull. Otherwise, video playback or office function, it remains largely silent.

On slices of the device, the following interfaces are available: 3 USB, 1 VGA, 1 RJ45, 2 Jacks and a mini player DS. The bases were covered.

On the laptop, nothing. No door to access components. Beware, this is a preproduction and it is not impossible that the final version has differences.

Calculations. The presence of an SSD is supposed to improve the performance of the machine. Here, we have not been amazed by its results. The computer boots in 44 seconds and the Atom processor Z530 drag on the overall results. If the other netbooks equipped with an Atom N280 index finished 20 on average, it is positioned at 18.

has video playback is more open on this machine than on other netbooks. Involved, and in theory, the Intel Poulsbo U.S. 15W. In practice, we could not really measure the ability of this element. First point problem: Unable to use the VGA output to display an image on an external display (and yet it is not because they have tried). Impinge on the maximum resolution supported by the display, 1024×768 pixels, we have failed to read our HD files heaviest. Obviously, the machine had a problem and we will dig the issue in a future test.

Audio. The audio on the U115 is catastrophic. The headphone output is more than dirty and noisy. As for speakers, more than a piece of listening, we wondered if the volume is not muted. In fact, it was maximum.

Mobility Autonomy. Without activating the Eco mode, the Wind U115 has imposed a new milestone of autonomy in setting the bar at 7:00. With the economic function enabled (which disconnects the disk drive), autonomy jumps to 9:52. Here, we must remove the hat and salute the performance. This, especially since the machine displays 1.3 kg on the scale, which is a good score.

On the design side, the MSI X610 X-Slim is in all respects identical to the X600 we have already tested. We found an elegant machine, very fine, with a sleek design. The finish and the adjustments are good, despite a full plastic shell. The cover is glossy and gray, while the rest of the chassis is matte gray appearance with aluminum. Only the entourage of the screen is really dirty because of a shiny black plastic, ideal for fingerprints and that attracts dust. The machine is rather broad and does not slip into any bag. The edges of screen 22 mm wide amplify the effect already caused by a slab of 15.6-inch 16:9.

The keyboard is large, complete with flower buttons (17 x 18 mm) and reactive. The impactor is firm and rather quiet, except the space bar is louder than the other keys. We would have appreciated a backlit keyboard, although we assume it is not built for cost reasons. One regrets the lack of multimedia keys, so that the space available is not lacking. One imagines, however, an aesthetic motivation to keep a clean style. The touchpad is nicely integrated into the hull, with the same slightly grainy surface. The slide is nice and the surface is sufficient for normal use. To use multipoint however, it would be much smaller. MSI X-Slim X610 webcamlive webcam is just proper and very bad if the brightness is not very high. The fluidity is poor, the colors are too saturated, the contrast is low and overexposed areas are burned. The sound is good and the microphone is located right on the webcam, which avoids hear the sound of keys when typing.

The X600 is audible. A fan blows constantly and becomes particularly noisy when seeking a little machine. The connection is distributed over the rear half of the slices of the unit. There are 1 VGA, 1 RJ45 (Gigabit Ethernet), 1 HDMI, 1 combo USB / e-SATA, 2 USB 2.0, 1 microphone, 1 headphone and a memory card reader 3 in 1. Wi-Fi b / g / n is also present. On the device, a large hatch allows convenient access to almost all components, although MSI states that the warranty is void if opened (a sticker protects the single screw). The HD 1080p video playback (Blu-Ray equivalent) requires the use of the graphics card. It is therefore necessary to use hardware acceleration for decoding the latest video. For this, we used PowerDVD and Media Player Classic HC with the correct codecs.



The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 used in the MSI X610 X-Slim is an entry-level model that can play a few songs rather old. Some newer games are playable as long to put all the graphic details to minimum, which is not very interesting. That said, it is already far better than Intel integrated solution, and provided that they remain reasonable options graphs, we can play some games that use a 3D engine with low fuel consumption. The titles of Valve using the Source engine as Half-Life 2, TF2 or Left 2 Dead, so are playable with graphics options set to “medium”. The audio is once again behind. The speakers emit a shrill sound, not serious. This is particularly unpleasant to listen because there is a bit of spatialization, without having depth. The headphone output is clean enough, despite a slight hiss that disappears once the music coming. The latter also serves as S / PDIF Optical (requires adapter jack / optical).

Formally presented in early January, the new MSI Wind U135 Netbook is launched in the hexagon to less than 500 $ with an Atom processor Pineview.

MSI Wind U135-408 comes with next specifications:
Dalle 10.1”WSVGA LED BackLight 8ms (1024 x 600)
Intel Atom Pineview N450 (1.66 GHz)
RAM Installed (Max) 1 GB DDR2 667 MHz (2GB), 1 slot
Hard Disk Storage Space 250 GB 5400 rpm
Graphics Card Intel GMA X3150
Optical Drive
Audio System 2 Speakers
2.0 megapixel webcam with microphone
Wi-Fi b / g / n + Ethernet
Bluetooth
Card Reader 4 in 1
Output (s) VGA
Fingerprint Reader
Input (s) / Output (s) Headset, Microphone
ExpressCard
Firewire
USB 3 USB 2.0
Operating system Windows 7 Starter
Li-Ion 6 cells
Autonomy announced 7:30
Dimensions (mm) 260 x 180 x 19-31.5
Weight 1.1 Kg
Warranty 2 years
Other bag and mouse supplied
Eco Engine technology is incorporated into the Netbook. On pressing the button Eco, it is possible to choose among the following modes: games, movies, presentations, office or Turbo Battery mode. Via the latter, the user chooses a decrease in energy consumption, which has the effect of lowering the processor frequency and gain autonomy. EasyFace, the facial recognition system via webcam MSI is also present. The Wind U135 sports a design very close to the Wind U100 with a black hull, cherry red, petrol blue or silver and rounded angles. It also has a shiny finish Color Print film that resists scratches.  The touch pad, 20% larger than the Wind U100 is equipped with a bar of silver buttons. The keyboard takes advantage of her flat keys well spaced from each other chiclet type, which is again a departure from the Wind U100.

Available in black at least 340 euros here in Rue du Commerce under the reference Wind U135-408 and silver at least 340 euros here at Trade Street through the Wind model U135-409, MSI Wind U135 now appears as one of Netbooks Pine Trail most expensive market. This suggests that the Wind U135 provides benefits and configuration more interesting than its competitors. However, this does not really seem to be the case. Side connections, we are dealing with the classic with a Wi-Fi module n, 3 USB and a VGA output. No Bluetooth or HDMI to the program, let alone 3G module. As for the CPU and the graphics, the Wind U135 is still done in the standard Atom N450 processor and Intel GMA X3150. Admittedly, unlike the GMA 950 coupled Atom N270/N280, it is compatible with hardware acceleration, so you can enjoy faster treatment in Photoshop for example. For the rest, the practical performance should be within the average of Netbooks.



The storage space of 250 GB is very correct, but no better than cheaper competitors. The amount of RAM is 1GB and the operating system is a Starter edition of Windows 7. Autonomy announced is also fairly standard, and even less than some models. According to some tests, this netbook is 5:50 surfing the Internet with Wi-Fi enabled, and 4 hours for video playback divx with 100% brightness. However, his weight is well contained and is distinguished by a 2 year warranty and a bag and a mouse available. Admittedly, it’s really amazing, but many models are already supplied with a cover.

Proof is that if the Turion has largely means fighting with the Pentium M in terms of performance, MSI based its spearhead in terms of price / performance on this processor, but the MT version (version Low consumption with 25W). The opportunity for us to take a fresh look at the Turion, but mainly to focus on a product range of laptops from MSI, it is to put more and more forward.

Fairly compact, the M635 chassis is glossy and smooth touch. The shell requires her black dress, brightened by a silver plastic frame, which breaks off only to visually indicate the position of the notch opening. Only the center of the frame will contain a character sees a bit unsightly mark, with white letters on a chrome background, and oriented towards the rear of the laptop. The rigid plastic is fairly good, although the strength of the upper level is not that of a Thinkpad. Good news is that the metal takes over the lower part which will be discussed.

Opening the M635, we find the visual motif of the upper shell, but the silver frame is more emphasis here, including the touchpad and the buttons above. But at the same time, MSI does not grow up the vice extend this to color the entire facade. Hence an alternating black-white-black bold. It is of course a matter of taste, but we’ve seen a little more popular. Note the presence of the speakers at the hinge of the screen, and the relegation of 5 LED indicators to bottom-right. The speakers are interesting: they play to perfection the role of non-slip surface to grip with greater certainty the laptop. Do not see anything …

Keyboard and Touchpad

The keyboard quality is fairly average, provision could not be more conventional for a qwerty keys its lack of firmness and have the game also, they prove to be rather noisy, especially the space bar. Could do better. Surprising choice, the touchpad is not rectangular, but trapezoid shaped, which also proves a bit difficult when trying to follow the line anyway, though it vertical, representing the scroll area vertical. The quick launch keys are the number 5: program, bluetooth, web browser, email client and Wi-Fi, which is correct. The connectors are relatively numerous and fairly well distributed, but we are surprised by their absence at the back of laptop! The air vent is unfortunately placed in the middle of the right side, where there is typically a USB mouse, and therefore the hand. Note here that the radiator is not just copper but aluminum, obviously less effective. We also regret the average build quality, USB ports on our test model being bias.

Diagonal 15.4 “(so the 16/10 format), the screen displays a resolution of 1280 * 800, logical and comfortable. Particularly in light of the low resolution of LCD monitors for desktop PCs, and the vocation of this player portable: the 1680 * 1050 is clearly not within range of graphics cards or any game, and laptops are almost always the worst offenders when it speaks of interpolation. The M635 not immune to this rule.