Laptop Reviews: the MSI PR400X Review

Laptop Reviews: the MSI PR400X  Review
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MSI PR400x Specifications: (5 out of 5)

  • Intel Core 2 Duo T5800 2.0GHz
  • 2GB DDR2 Memory
  • Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit, SP1)
  • 14.1-inch AVC Widescreen Display (1280x800)
  • DVDRV-SuperMulti
  • 1.3MP Webcam
  • Wi Fi 802.11/g
  • Weight: 2.0 kg
  • Battery: 6-cell
  • Warranty: 2-years parts/labor
  • MSRP: $618

Build, Design and Form Factor (3 out of 5)

The MSI PR400x sports a sleek and classic black look accentuated by a glossy metal MSI circular logo at the back of its bezel. For a 14.1-inch laptop, the MSI PR400X looks small and portable despite its 2kgs weight. The laptop’s display lid is thick enough to feel sturdy when pulling up its bezel.

Aside from that, there’s nothing really peculiar about the build, design and form factor of the MSI PR400x. It looks like MSI concentrated more on the laptop’s specs rather than the design.

Display (3 out of 5)

The 14.1-inch AVC Widescreen display has fast response time but low backlight brightness. This is one aspect of the laptop that you may not like. It’s hard to work on the laptop in a bright naturally lit room. Sometimes you have to adjust the angle of the display to be able to view the screen clearly. You can also adjust the brightness of the screen to make it visible in this kind of condition. Screen resolution is very good though, and this more than makes up for the previously mentioned flaw of the laptop.

Touchpad and Keyboard (4 out of 5)

The MSI PR400x has the usual full size keyboard, which is perfect for typing long documents. The keys are shaped normally and you really won’t find any problem using it.

The laptop also has a touchpad with a fingerprint sensor which you can use for added security. Response time of the touchpad is pretty accurate and you won’t notice any lag time.

Performance (4 out of 5)

For what it lacks in design and display features, the MSI PR400x more than makes up for it when it comes to performance. The laptop is perfect for your daily computing needs, be they blogging, typing documents, web browsing, chatting, VoIP calls and some decent gaming.

The MSI PR400x’s RAM can still be upgraded to 4GB if you find its 2GB capacity not as powerful as you want the laptop to be. But if you’re not going to use it as a gaming machine, then the laptop’s performance should be decent enough for your needs.

Ports and Features (4 out of 5)

The MSI PR400X has a slew of port selections which include 3 USB ports, VGA, LAN, and modem port. It has an SD MS XD/MMC card reader located on the front side of the laptop. All the ports are located on the sides and not on the laptop’s back. Only the power supply port is located in back.

Speakers and Audio (3 out of 5)

The MSI PR400X’s speakers are better than normal laptops. It may not have the best sounding speakers but it certainly is good enough. Volume is fine for watching movies or listening to MP3 songs. A built-in mic is also included which will be useful if you are chatting or doing VOIP calls.

Heat and Noise (3 out of 5)

The MSI PR400x runs as hot as most notebooks do. It would still be best to use a laptop cooling pad to lessen the heat dissipated by the laptop. One good thing about the MSI PR400x is the low noise that it makes when in operation. In fact during heavy loads, the sound it makes does not annoy you.

Battery Life (4 out of 5)

With a 6-cell battery pack, the MSI PR400x can max out up to 4 hours of continuous “balanced” use. Although a 9-cell battery would have been better, the MSI PR400X’s battery life is still worth the price you have to pay for the laptop.

Conclusion (4 out of 5)

The MSI PR400x is definitely worth every penny that you’ll spend for it. At $618 plus Windows Vista’s SRP, it is definitely a good buy. The MSI PR400x may not be the best business notebooks around, but it is definitely one of the best of the very affordable models.

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