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As you could see im a new member to this board. I stumbled upon this support foum when I started to experience wireless connection problems with the Compaq V2140. I phoned tech support from Linksys and Compaq several times with no solution. As a result, I returned the Compaq and exchanged it for the Medion Sim2000 which im writing a review about in this post.
Specs:
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Intel Celeron M 330 1.4GHz
256KB L2 cache
60GB 4200RPM
10/100 MBit Ethernet, WLAN 802.11g
Includes with 2 batteries
CD-RW & DVD-R (dual layer) writes at 2x
12.1" XGA screen
512MB DDR (2 x 256MB) / Max 1024MB
SiS Graphics Chipset,128MB Shared Memory
1.1inch thick and 4.2lbs light
I got this machine yesterday and i spent most of the day testing out every function to see if i have to return it again. Like any inexpensive notebooks ($1399CDN) with high specs, you are likely to have to "put up" with something. I'll start this review off with what is bad.
THE BAD
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The Keyboard is one of the things I believe I have to bear with. Its not the small size that bothers me, its the insensivity of the keys. For examples, when i start to type a documment, i notice that my words start to miss letters (eg: leters). With some of the keys like 'q', 'p', 't' and a many others, you have to press down on it with more force. For fast typers like myself, this could be a problem. But for two finger peckers, its not a problems.
Second is the heat. The celeron M processor, unlike the Centrino chipset, generates lots of heat and it does not have the ability to throttle its own clock speed down during idle. If you are using this notebook on a desk, that wouldn't be much of a problem; however, if you are resting it on your lap, you would need a cooling pad or you could burn yourself.
Third is battery life. This computer comes with two small sized Lithium ion batteries each lasting about an hour MAX. For normal websurfing and typing operations, you would get the full hour, but for burning DVD/CDs and watching movies it could go down to as little as 30min of life. If you are able to shut the computer down to switch batteries, then the second battery that comes included would be an excellent idea but for someone who don't want the hassel of hibernating or shutting down the machine, then you'd rather have one bigger battery that would last a longer time.
Fourth is the touch pad. It is very flaky. It skips sometimes and the right and left buttons takes a more than usual force to press.
THE GOOD
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The strongest part of this notebook is with the small size. It is no bigger than my smallest text book and it fits into my back pack very snugly. For those who don't want to carry an extra notebook bag to school, this small size is perfect.
Second is the big hardirve, the DVD-R, and the memory. For this price of a notbook, these specs are a real eye catcher. Being able to lug around massive amounts of data in the big/ quiet harddrive is what attracted me to this machine. Also, the ability to write DVDs is a great asset; however, im not a big fan of using a notebook drive to write CDs and DVDs with the fear that i would wear it down. To write CDs and DVDs i use an external drive. With regards to the memory, i haven't physically opened the case up, but as the doccumentation states, it uses 2 256mb to make 516mb. So if you want to upgrade the ram, you would need to take one of the 256mb out. But again for this price of a notebook, 512mb or ram is quite nice.
Third is the wireless adaptor. Having used the Compaq v2140 for a few days, i could tell you that this wireless adaptor locks on to my wireless router impeccably. As soon as i start the system, it searches for my wireless signal and connects without a flaw. Most importantly, it hadn't dropped my signal yet as the Compaq v2140 did every 15min. However the range is quite poor. If i take my Compaq Presario 1200 (pcmcia wireless B) into my room i would get a 20% on the signal indicator. When i take the SIM2000 into my room the signal is intermittent. I usually lingers around the 5% mark.
Fourth is the screen. Since it is a 12.1 inch screen, you probably wouldn't expect very much from it. But surprisingly, running at 1280x768, it allows you to view your desktop quite nicely.
Fifth, it comes with 3 USB ports and 3 in 1 card reader. With this size of notebook, its quite hard to find a notebook with 3 USB ports. three USB ports allows you to use your usb devices without having to lug around a hub. My old Compaq Presario 1200 (hugh thing) only had 2. The 3 in 1 card reader comes in quite handy for those likes to take pictures with their digital cameras and those who uses ther PDAs a lot. Also, it can serve as a your backup drive to put all your important data to safe guard against a system corruption or harddrive failuer.
FINAL WORD
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I started off this review by stating that with these inexpensive yet high spec notebooks, you are bound to have to put up with something. I believe that the positives EG the harddrive, DVD-R, Card reader, 3 USB adapors, SMALL SIZE is enough for me to bear with the flaky keybard and touch pad, the heat generated from the computer, and the short battery life. To add a little more to the short battery life, I've read that you could installed software which could throttle down your clock speed. If anyone has any info on this, could you please let me know? Also, if you are near electrical outlets like i always am the campus then the the battery life really isn't an issue. But on a reversal, if you are seldom near an outlet then you probably would need to persue the Sony Vaio line of small notebook which, ive heard, could give you as much ast 5.5 hours of battery life.
I hope this review was informative as i have yet to see a review on the Medion SIM2000.
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sorry about the spelling mistakes, I've been tryiing to type at my usual typing pace on this keyboard
Medion SIM2000
Discussion in 'Other Manufacturers' started by Maytag, Mar 6, 2005.