Advent 5612 review

Advent's latest budget laptop only costs around £50 more than many netbooks.

The 5612 comes with a 15.4in screen with a 1,280x800 resolution, Windows Vista, a dual-core processor and an optical drive - features not found on any netbook in our last group test.

In terms of design, the 5612 doesn't stray far from the Budget Buy award-winning 5511. The rigid lid has the same smart pinstripe design, and the two-tone case adds a bit of style. It still has the ridged texture around the keyboard, though, which quickly attracts dust.

The glossy bezel matches the glossy finish on the 15.4in screen. This makes colours look more vibrant but reflects any nearby light sources. The display has accurate colour reproduction but has limited viewing angles. You'll have to position the laptop carefully to find the optimum position where colours appear consistent across the entire screen. The backlight is even, though, and contrast relatively good.

The keyboard is slightly better than the 5511's. The flat keys may irk touch-typists, but it feels sturdier and doesn't flex as much. The keys are large and, apart from a slightly awkward right Shift key, in all the expected places. We were unimpressed by the touch pad, however. Although it's large and responsive, there's a single piece of plastic that see-saws stiffly to produce left and right clicks. This action is far too heavy to be comfortable, so you'll almost certainly want to attach an external mouse.

Although the 5612 is £150 cheaper than the 5511, its specification is respectable. The dual-core processor isn't as fast, but you get the same 2GB of RAM. It may not be fast as some laptops, but it's quicker than an Intel Atom-powered netbook. Its Intel graphics chipset can play HD video but isn't suitable for 3D gaming.

There are four USB ports, one of which doubles as an eSATA port. The HDMI port is convenient for viewing DVDs and video on an HD TV, as it carries both audio and video signals. There's only 802.11b/g wireless networking, however, with no support for Draft-N WiFi. The 160GB hard disk is the same size as one you'd find on a similarly priced netbook, but you also get a built-in optical drive.

Its battery doesn't last long enough for regular mobile use, so if you like to work on the go then a netbook would be a far better choice. However, for more general use, the 5612 is better equipped than any budget ultra-portable laptop. It's very reasonably priced, too, and therefore wins our Budget Buy award.

Author: Barry de la Rosa