7. Results: A Gaming Center with Weak Details

Zepto has put together a light and compact laptop with a stylish exterior that stands out from the crowd and combines a whole lot of power in a small package. The GeForce 8600M GT ensures excellent gaming performance while the Penryn-based Core 2 Duo T8300 at 2.4 GHz provides plenty of performance at all times. Despite the high-performance components, Zepto has managed to ensure that the Znote 6324W is generally a quiet machine. While it gets a little louder under load, the noise level always remains acceptable.

We also liked the idea of letting the buyer put together his own, individually tailored system. This ensures you’re getting a unit that meets your requirements and are not forced to pay for additional bells and whistles, trial versions or for components beyond your needs. The configuration of the 6324W that we tested here is a good one. It comes with 4 GB of RAM, a 320 GB hard drive, Draft-n WLAN, Bluetooth and much more.

It is a pity that you generally have to pay extra to get an operating system. On the other hand, you’re free to select the version of Windows best suited to your needs and can choose between the 32 Bit and 64 Bit versions. Then again, you’d really expect at least Windows Home Premium to be included at a starting price of $1460 (as of this writing).

Even though the performance we measured certainly backs up the Znote’s claim to game, we still can’t help but wonder why Zepto decided to go with a 14.1" display. The higher resolution of 1440 x 900 makes the images as sharp as can be, but text is tiny. If the notebook were fitted with a DVI or HDMI connection, this would be less of a problem as you could just connect a large external monitor. If this were the case, the Znote could easily function as a primary gaming and work computer.

The display size may be a matter of personal taste, but our measurements only attribute this display average brightness (150 candelas per meter squared) and a rather high black level (1.26 candelas per meters squared). This means that dark games and film scenes are always accompanied by a gray veil. Though the colors are fine, there are livelier, more vibrant panels available in this price range.

The keyboard also has its weaknesses, as the right-hand section is noisy and clatters. The powerful components also take their toll, and the Zepto comes in at the low end for all application scenarios. Heat generation is also relatively high. Even when running at idle levels, the Znote can only really be used as a laptop, in the literal sense of the word, when wearing a heavy pair of pants. When the notebook is running under full load, you will definitely need to rest it on a proper work surface.

If you’re looking for a light, compact and powerful gaming and working notebook which has a something extra to offer in terms of design, then the Znote 6324W is definitely worth a look. However, think of it more in terms of a portable computer rather than a notebook for mobile use. It’s a machine to be moved from place to place rather than one to be used on the road.