MSI MegaBook S271 review

MSI may be better known for its motherboards and graphics cards, but its been making laptops for a while now and the MegaBook S271 is an impressive ultra-portable.

First impressions were good - there's an original style and feel to this laptop, and while it weighs a touch more than we'd like at 2.1kg, it's forgivable at this price.

MSI is the only manufacturer in this group test to spurn Intel's Core Duo processor, and use an AMD Turion chip instead. AMD-based laptops have traditionally been a cheap and cheerful alternative to pricey Intel-based models, but while the MegaBook is still highly affordable, it compared favourably to the other ultra-portables in our benchmark tests. Granted, the 1GB of memory certainly helped, but when you consider that its battery life isn't far behind that of the Toshiba, it's clear that AMD-based laptops are now a serious alternative to Centrino models.

De ja vu?

The MegaBook is visually very similar to the speedy Hi-Grade Notino and with good reason - MSI makes the case for both models. It's a robust, sturdy laptop with handy features like the button that turns off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or both. Unlike the 802.11a/b/g offering of the Centrino laptops, it makes do with just 802.11b/g, but given that 802.11a networks are very thin on the ground, this is no big deal. There's also a memory card reader and an ExpressCard/54 slots for extra expansion.

Its screen is also strikingly similar to that of the Hi-Grade, which means it's bursting with quality. Our test photos and videos looked great, with rich and vibrant colours throughout. The glossy coating is partially responsible, although this can lead to distracting reflections under bright light. Viewing angles are slightly narrow, but colours are at least consistent across the whole screen when viewed face-on - unlike some of the other ultra-portables in our test. We were pleased with the range of backlighting available too, from a very bright display ideal for movie watching, to a dim yet perfectly usable screen for maximum battery life.

I've been working on the railroad...

As with the other ultra-portables in this group test, we were impressed at the full-sized keys on the MegaBook's keyboard. Just as on the Hi-Grade, the keys have just the right amount of resistance and travel, and the 'odd keys', like Delete and Page Down, are logically arranged to the right instead of being scattered around the keyboard. We also liked the double-height Enter key and the trackpad with its stylish buttons.

There are few faults with the MSI MegaBook S271. It's solidly built and still has some design flair, despite being the cheapest ultra-portable on test, and there's really nothing to indicate that this is a budget purchase. The Turion processor is speedy enough and its two cores keep Windows and its applications responsive at all times. With a good battery life, the only drawback is the lack of extras like the spill-proof keyboard of the Toshiba or the InstantOn and Quiet Mode of the Rock, but at this price it's a superb bit of kit.