1. Say Hello to the FX600
MSI attempts to give us MacBook Pro style and performance at half the price. We look for clues of compromise and cut corners, and find fewer than expected.
MSI’s new FX600 series laptop sounds too good to be true: impressive hardware, unique features, good looks, all at an affordable price. In fact, at half the price of a MacBook Pro—which somewhat similar insides—the FX600 seems positioned as a major competitor to would-be Apple buyers with heightened budget awareness.
But to achieve a price tag of just $899, MSI must have cut a few corners, right? Yet, the FX600 does bring some great improvements over previous MSI models’ shortcomings (like the keyboard on the GX640 and GX740 we recently reviewed). In our tests, we found that while you do get what you pay for, the FX600 had charms that surprised us.
We tested the FX600-002US model, equipped with a Core i5 processor, priced at $899 as configured for our tests, but an alternate configuration is available with Core i3 processor and Blu-Ray player at that same $899 price tag. Specifications:
| Model | MSI FX600-002US |
| Operating System | Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit |
| Processor | Intel Core i5 450M 2.4GHz |
| RAM | 4GB DDR3-1333 |
| Hard Drive | 500GB 5400RPM |
| Video Card | Integrated Intel HD and nVidia GeForce GT325M 1GB |
| Display | 15.6" 1366x768 |
| Price | $899 (as configured in our tests) |
You have to go up to business-class machines to fully compete with the macbook pros, and that brings the pricing closer together. The Dell Latitude E6500, Lenovo W series, and HP probooks are the ones to compare with Apple.
In particular if you compare the Dell E6500 you can get a very close comparison since it has a very nice keyboard, all metal case, and sometimes the exact same LCD panel as used in the MBP.
Still better to look for a deal
Still better to look for a deal
The Dell Studio 15 line is very similar to the FX600. In fact, if you don't mind sacrificing the nVidia GT325m for strictly the Intel integrated graphics, you can save a bit of money going with the Dell.
If by Dell Business class machines you mean last years technology at ridiculous prices, than yes, it is very much like a MBP.
3 points for thx quality sound?
I have to say with regards to the last point concerning the FX600's spacing between pixels that it really is quite bad. It's very noticeable in my opinion even when you watch it from a few feet away it really looks like theres something wrong with the pixels. Very 'blocky' lookin. There is a full HD upgrade available according to MSI's website and some of the latter versions of this laptop with the Core I5 are sold with 1920 x 1080 Full HD apparently. Screentekinc sell them from what I found online. http://www.screentekinc.com/MSI_FX [...] reen.shtml