How Good is This $450 MSI Laptop?

[MegalosSkylaki]

First of all, is it a Laptop or a Netbook or something in-between?

Second, how competitive is the ULV Core2 Solo Processor?
I mean, is it a "dealbreaker" for someone looking for a Notebook, not a Netbook?

The X-400 replaced the x-340 sold at J and R for $380, and I can't even find it on MSI website, where 'SLIM' Notebooks are listed, maybe a product of "newness", maybe some thing else(?).

MSI Microstar X400-205US 14" X-Slim Notebook PC - Black with Silver Trim in PC Notebook Computers at JR.com

The reason I amconsidering this is that I presently have an old DELL Latitude 300 with only about a 1/2 hour battery time, because of its age. Another is an IBM x40, also old but can go about 1 hr. with its aging battery. Their 12" screens are good only for local cafe stops and are too small for longer trips.
A newer SONY 16.4 " weighs in at 6lbs and makes a good desktop relacement for longer trips.

I need something in between these two classes for carrying around, but not a glorified Netbook.

-- Plusses are a 14" screen, 3.3 lb.(in 4-cell battery) weight and sub-inch thickness, 3 year warrentee, WIN7 Premium OS, 2GB-- and low pricetag for a 14" 3.3 lb. machine.
-- Minuses include single core processor and no optical drive( not a major problem as I have slim portable dvdburner for when needed). Otherwise, flash drives are good backup solution.

Opinions please, before I blow some dough.

MegalosSkylaki
PS. Weight shown (3.8 lb) is with 8-cell battery, with which this comes at JnR.

[osprey4]

Kind of a big netbook. Have you seen it in person?

[MegalosSkylaki]

Yes. It has a fairly solid feel like a notebook, but is quite thin. Remember, there is no optical drive.

I did some research on the processor but could not find a direct head-to-head for a ULV core2 Solo and UL Core2 Duo.

Intel Pentium Dual-Core
The Intel Pentium Dual-Core Series is placed beyond the Core 2 Duo Line and consits out of Dual-Core CPUs with a lower clock rate and less Level 2 Cache (1MB) than the Core 2 Duo CPUs. Therefore, the performance is worse than a similar clocked Core 2 Duo and on par with the AMD Turion X2 line (perhaps even slighlty better).

Intel Core 2 Solo (Merom, Penryn)
This is the successor of the Core Solo and technically a Core 2 Duo with only one core. It will be available for laptops starting with the 3. quarter 2007 and at the start only as an Ultra Low Voltage (ULV). In 2009 CULV Core Solo CPUs with low clock rates were launched for cheap and thin notebooks. The performance of these single core CPUs lies between the entry level Pentium Dual-Core and Intel Atom CPUs.[Emphasis supplied]

Intel Atom
The Intel Atom series is a 64-Bit microprocessor for cheap and small notebooks (netbooks), nettops, MIDs, or UMPCs. The speciality of the new architecture is the "in order" execution (instead of the usual and faster "out of order" execution). Therefore, the transistor count of the Atom series is much lower and, thus, cheaper to produce.
There are two series, the Atom Z series is code-named Solverthorne and intended for MIDs and Ultra-Mobile PCs. The Atom N series is code-named Silverthorne and intended for Netbooks and Nettops and therefore cheaper.
Both series are produced in 45 nm and features MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, Intel 64, XD-Bit, IVT, and Hyper-Threading (the higher clocked versions). The N-
The performance of the fastest Atom is still beyond the Celeron product line. The 1.6 GHz Atom is for example compareable to a 1.2 GHz Pentium 3-M / Pentium M (performancewise).

Notebookcheck: Notebook Processors

Here's how I see my problem:
I want a 14" notebok sub-four lbs with a notebook processor.

The notebooks that meet that standard are usually expensive business like the Toshiba portege (with/without optical), the Lenova X-models or the super-thin DELL Adamo which also lacks an optical drive. Their prices are in the $1,500 to $3,000 range. Screens are often 12" and too expensive for something I might drop in the street when I bark.

My philosophy is not to spend a lot on something that is left on coffee shop tables or in hotel rooms. I often just leave all computer stuff (except data) in cargo baggage on airplanes to avoid the extra hassle with computers at airport security.

So far the MSI X-400 is the closest and if I understand the above, the CPU beats the ATOM line.

MegalosSkylaki

[osprey4]

Optical drives for notebooks are over rated. I seldom use mine. Yes, it looks like a great deal.

My Dad recently got an Acer netbook with an Intel Atom processor and it's not real fast.

[nemowolf]

So far the MSI X-400 is the closest and if I understand the above, the CPU beats the ATOM line.
MegalosSkylaki

The technology of the Atom is not the same so your comparing apples to oranges. Your Ultra Low Voltage Core Solo is an Out-of-Order processor; Out-of-order execution - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. This gives a decent little run down. EDIT: Atom is an In-Order processor.

THE highlight:

Low power usage is another design goal that's harder to achieve with an OoOE design.

You have to make a trade off of performance for battery usage; Do you want a slightly better performing CPU or better performance for your battery life?

[MegalosSkylaki]

You have to make a trade off of performance for battery usage; Do you want a slightly better performing CPU or better performance for your battery life?

I prefer performance to battery life.
The 8-cell battery is supposed to last 8 hrs. Even if it lasts 6, that's more than enough. I think these batteries ability to hold a charge declines with time and use so maybe in 2 or 3 years it's down to 3 hrs.Time for a change anyway.

I've looked at even the expensive notebooks with light (sub-4 lb) weight and many nowadays use the ULV SU series by Intel. The heavier notebooks (5 -6 lbs.) use a Pentium Duo or a Core2 Duo or an AthlonII X 2.

Seems like 14" is not all that popular. Plus I noticed they seem to weigh almost as much as 15+", like they cram the same stuff.

ThanX for the info about In 'n Out of order procs; I'll look into it.

I'm coming to the conclusion that a cheap sub-4lb. 14" laptop with a medium fast/powerful processor does not exist. Still, Hellenic Houndes are known for their tenacity.

One thought: maybe buy new batteries for the DELL Latitude300 12" 3 lb Centrino and the IBM X40 3 lb. 12" centrino for the Nabe and bring the 16.4" DELL on longer trips.This has my only blu-ray burner and a 16:9 screen which is another reason I'm reluctant to bring it on road.

My worry about replacement batteries for olde models like the two 12" ones is that they are crappy due to technology and who knows how long they have been on shelf. What the heck is a "refurb" battery anyhow?

Optical drives for notebooks are over rated. I seldom use mine

Yeah, I use them to install software for the most part. If you want to back up to media your data just sync it to a desktop and back it up there. Flash drives --and many have backup SW builtin-- have made them unnecessary for anything except installs or watching DVDs.

But wait!
(No, I'm not hawking FREE SleepN'POST Software. )

Check this just-announced dual-core ULV SU-series MSI Slim x-420 out:

MSI X-Slim X420 Notebook Unveiled | Specs Review | Pinoytutorial Techtorial

MSI X420 Review - ComputerShopper.com


MegalosSkylaki

[nemowolf]

I prefer performance to battery life.
The 8-cell battery is supposed to last 8 hrs. Even if it lasts 6, that's more than enough. I think these batteries ability to hold a charge declines with time and use so maybe in 2 or 3 years it's down to 3 hrs.Time for a change anyway.

If your planning to use this regularly, say 4-5 times a week for 4-6 hours a day, expect to have that 8 hour battery life drop down to 2 hours over 2 years. Even Lithium batteries just dont manage to hold a charge over time with laptops. I have Dells in my office that can't hold a change for an hour idle that are only a 2-3 years old.

I've looked at even the expensive notebooks with light (sub-4 lb) weight and many nowadays use the ULV SU series by Intel. The heavier notebooks (5 -6 lbs.) use a Pentium Duo or a Core2 Duo or an AthlonII X 2.

Seems like 14" is not all that popular. Plus I noticed they seem to weigh almost as much as 15+", like they cram the same stuff.

ThanX for the info about In 'n Out of order procs; I'll look into it.

I'm coming to the conclusion that a cheap sub-4lb. 14" laptop with a medium fast/powerful processor does not exist. Still, Hellenic Houndes are known for their tenacity.

Like i said, you have to make trades and unfortunately, they dont make anything but extremes. You get either good battery life or you get good processing power. Sacrifices my friend.

One thought: maybe buy new batteries for the DELL Latitude300 12" 3 lb Centrino and the IBM X40 3 lb. 12" centrino for the Nabe and bring the 16.4" DELL on longer trips.This has my only blu-ray burner and a 16:9 screen which is another reason I'm reluctant to bring it on road.

My worry about replacement batteries for olde models like the two 12" ones is that they are crappy due to technology and who knows how long they have been on shelf. What the heck is a "refurb" battery anyhow?

Replacing batteries can extend the life of a laptop but why spend 200 bucks on each replacement battery when thats 400 bucks you could put toward a newer, faster, better, stronger laptop?

Refurb batteries are just like refurb toner, they replace the chemicals inside to get it to maintain a charge again. Garunteed to work for a while but no where near as good as a new battery.

Yeah, I use them to install software for the most part. If you want to back up to media your data just sync it to a desktop and back it up there. Flash drives --and many have backup SW builtin-- have made them unnecessary for anything except installs or watching DVDs.

Install software over the network, why bother with slow speed of media having to spin. The only thing i need my external DVD writer for my netbook was to install Win7 and then bring it back to factory. Everything else has been installed from my NAS.

But wait!
(No, I'm not hawking FREE SleepN'POST Software. )

Check this just-announced dual-core ULV SU-series MSI Slim x-420 out:

MSI X-Slim X420 Notebook Unveiled | Specs Review | Pinoytutorial Techtorial

MSI X420 Review - ComputerShopper.com


MegalosSkylaki

[RayH]

Personally, I like the new Asus UL line. 12" would be sufficient for me. I'd replace the hard drive with SSD. A bit pricey initially, but great for travel. Do you do complicated things with your laptop?