Reviews - Novatech Centrino 2 X20mv Pro laptop: better than AMD Puma?

[HEXUS]

Weighing in at under 2kg and sporting some tasty spec, Novatech's Centrino 2-based notebook looks like a winner at £599.

Read more.

[MSIC]

Thanks for the review, but i'd like to ask that you reconsider one of the ways that you do your reviews.
I have always been unhappy with the idea of extrapolating battery times based on what the device itself tells you

percentage left after 60m Batman Begins DVD

The always quite brilliant Dans Data however was able to encapsulate it well with this article (as well as his usual provision of evidence, rather than just giving opinion).
I wholeheartedly agree with that article, and feel that it would be a little remiss of Hexus to ignore it.

Anyway, just my 2 cents. Other than that, thanks for the review.

[Tarinder]

The battery-test is run for an hour because the majority of laptops cannot play the entire DVD without shutting down.

After the 60 minutes is up and the percentage left has been measured, the film is left to play until the battery drains down. We've yet to see instances where the 60-minute mark, extrapolated out, was way off.

The other method of doing it, I suppose, is to see how much of the film has played until the first battery-warning signal is presented.

[MSIC]

Ok, i take your point, but i think to say how good a battery is, based on what the device itself tells you is... a little dodgy.
I backed a horse once because the guy said it was a "guaranteed winner". Learnt my lesson.

The other thing might be to have a stopwatch running by the side of it, but of course it would rely on you guys being on the ball to see when it all konks out; Then again the low battery warning would let you get ready, so it's possible.

All just ideas anyway, i want you guys to maintain a high standard.

[staffsMike]

I think now Intel have produced reasoanable IGP for HD playback their combo is perhaps the better deal overall as the AMD's only real advantage is light gaming which to be fair most people will skip over with a small/thin and light laptop anyway (myself not included).

Obviously PUMA is a let down on CPU grunt which is where the intel lands it's deadly blow but to be frank good PUMA and X4500 laptops should be sub £500, I can't imagine who would pay £600 for that novatech laptop when the XPS M1330 is in and around the same price with discrete graphics and very good battery options.

If my 8400gs hadn't given up the ghost (nvidia's fault naturally) my xps m1330 is the perfect blend of power and performance and also has an HDMI out to properly utilise HD playback capabilities.

Samsung also offers laptops in 12" - 13" with a similar price (£600 - £700) with some nice options

[nightmare99]

The X20mv Pro is sold with a standard one-year collect-and-return warranty, with the customer footing the courier bill in both directions should the unit require repairing.

I think collect & return means Novatech cover the shipping both ways not the customer.

[Tarinder]

nightmare99,

I contacted Novatech about this and whilst Novatech might send out a courier and then send the machine back once repaired, you, the consumer, have to pay for it both ways.

[Tarinder]

Just received clarification from higher up that the courier bill is incurred when returning the laptop to Novatech, as the company pays to have it shipped back to you. The review has been amended accordingly.

[Dreaming]

It seems quite average from the review, I'm not sure why it got a 7 which should be a pretty good buy shouldn't it?