2. Case And Connections

The first thing you notice about the W511A is that its base is bigger than its display. The design of the machine creates an agitated impression, having a somewhat jagged look; more positively stated, one might call it "sporty looking" or "dynamic". The bottom of the case is perforated with numerous ventilation slits to supply adequate fresh air to the machine's innards. More ventilation slits are found on the right side near the back, which somewhat resembles the front grille of a sports car. Located behind that is the fan for transporting waste heat from the system components to the outside.

We rate the case appearance and stability as average. Since the plastic parts are not dyed all the way through as with more expensive devices, unsightly wear and tear marks can be expected to appear after a few months of several hours of daily use, especially in the hand rest area.

The display lid is not robust enough, as is typical for 15.4" devices in this price segment. This can be seen in the unsightly lines on the screen that appear while adjusting the display angle by hand, though these distortions go away again when the pressure is removed. This short video clearly illustrates the effect.

As with HP's Compaq nc8230 , the display shows a distinct curvature, preventing the lid's outer spacers from lying flush on top of the casing.

The display evidences a distinct curvature.

The display hinges look stable, but could grip just a tad tighter. Upon opening, for example, the screen vibrates quite a lot. This gets to be pretty irritating when working with the unit on longer train trips or bumpy flights, as the display keeps quivering back and forth the whole time. Here is a video demonstrating this behavior.