Thinking about an MX, Need Some Help

Thinking about buying an MX and had a question about the screen. I have heard that the screen is better than the Fujitsu CV screens. Is this true? I noticed the native resolution is pretty high on the screen( 1400 x1050). If I like to run at 1024 x768 will this look worse on a screen that has a higher native resolution??

If I plan to run a resolution of 1024 x768 will it look better on an S7010 CV 14.1 Screen with a native resolution of 1024 x768 or will it look better on the MX screen with a native res. of 1400 x1050??

Thanks for the help. And anyone who has seen both of these computers side by side and compared them I would appreciate any thoughts on pros and cons of each. It is a tough decision for me after reading all the reviews of each.

Thanks in advance

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by ams4

 

Thanks DavidS, that would be great, I am having a tough time making a decision between the two. Hopefully I can get some insight from someone else in the mean time.

 

hey ams4, i'm currently typing this msg on my MX =). i've had it a little over a month now. The screen is definitely the BEST non-glare-type screen i've seen on a laptop. Black colors are blacker, and whites are whiter on this screen compared to my older dell 600m.

As for a comparison with fujitsu's CV screen, i really think that all depends on personal preference. I've used the N5010, N6010, and S6210, and people who've seen the screen were generally VERY impressed. 1 out of 10, however, said that they didn't like the CV since they felt like they were looking at the screen through a window.

icons, text, and pictures are VERY sharp on the MX 1400x1050 SXGA screen. Compared to similar SXGA resolution screens (like on my dell 600m and my coworker's IBM Thinkpad T41), the MX beats them HANDS DOWN.

Personally, if Fujitsu had offered a unit like the S7010 with Crystal View AND 1400x1050 resolution, i would been all over it.

When I was chatting with Ivan over at P1 regarding my decision between the MX, fujitsu s7010 and fujitsu s6231, he told me that many business users prefer the MX screen since there can be a lot of glare under flourescent lighting in most business/corporate environments (though, to tell you the truth, it never really bothered me on my N5010 or N6010, which i would use at work 8-12 hrs a day.

hope this helps. basically, i don't think you could go wrong with either screen. But, on another note, i totally LOVE my MX. performance is GREAT, and it zips through any data work i throw at it (i work at an economic consulting firm). And considering the configuration you get for the price, you really can't go wrong with the P1. The unit feels ROCK SOLID, and just exudes such high quality that you know it's a unit that will last you quite a while. And as Ivan informed me in our numerous conversations, while the unit has the same casing and motherboard as the Asus M3NP (which is made in China), P1 adds a number of components that allows them to sell these units to all military branches that normally don't allow goods with parts made in China or Taiwan.

If you have any other questions about the unit, just let me know, and hopefully i'll be able to help out with your purchasing decision.

 

Thanks Michael I really appreciate the help.

So what resolution are you currently running on your MX, 1024 x 768??

I don't really want to run a higher res. on a 14.1 inch screen, everything becomes to small. If you are running a higher res. is everything smaller than at 1024 x 768? or do you hardly notice?

How about the weight and size of the MX, is it thin and small? I know it is slightly heavier than the s7010, about half a pound. But I think it has better battery life with the 8 cell. Anything else you can tell me about it would be great.

What kind of configuration did you go with?

Thanks for all your comments already I really appreciate it.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by michae42

 

ams, i currently run it at 1400x1050 resolution. basically, at 1024x768, it just won't look as sharp as it's native 1400x1050 resolution. as far as i know, things never look that nice if you're not running your screen at native resolution. While it's definitely POSSIBLE to run it at 1024x768, it probably isn't ideal. And the difference in icon/text size between 1024x768 and 1400x1050 is DEFINITELY noticeable. If you're sure ur going to run 1024x768, ur best bet is probably the S6231 or S7010 w/ XGA CV screen.

the weight and size is perfect. while it's not as portable as some of the 12.1" or 10.6" ultraportables, the thin-and-light casing on the MX is very nice and very easy to throw in a briefcase or laptop case. It's MUCH thinner than a comparable Dell 600m, and it's just a BIT thicker than a thinkpad t42. And while the MX is a tad bit heavier than the S7010, i have to admit that the MX feels MUCH sturdier (i'm actually basing this opinion on the casing on the S6210 that my mom uses. While i haven't seen/felt the S7010 in person, i'm pretty sure that it has the same casing as it's little brother, the S6231)

as for my config, i went with the 1.8 Dothan, 60GB 7200 rpm HD, 1 gig memory. as i said in my original post, this thing just FLIES! Only upgrade i see in the near future is going with 2GB of ram

david, i think i was actually one of the first owners of the N6010 (tv tuner version). Due to new business opportunities, i needed a unit with more portability, and ended up exchanging the N6010 for the MX. But once my desktop at home ends up dying, i'll definitely be sending ivan an email to order another N6010

anything else, just let me know!

 

Thanks again for the insight michael. I seem to be leaning towards the MX even with the screen resolution. I use my computer mostly for browsing the internet, email, document work, nothing really graphically intense. Do you think it would be better for me to go with a 1024 x 768 screen? I wish I could see what the icons etc. look like on the MX screen. I like everything about the MX but I really don't want to be squinting at the screen all the time, and I don't need the extra screen space for reading multiple documents or anything like that. You think I should go with the MX anyway?

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by ams4

 

ams, i'm currently down in washington DC for training, but i'm returning home thursday. Not sure if it'll help, but I can take pictures of the MX running at 1400x1050 next to my dell 600m running at 1024x768. like david suggested, have you thought of the UX? it's a great package in a very nice ultraportable form-factor.

personally, i think the 1400x1050 res is PERFECT, and i don't feel icons or text are too small. but, i HAVE gotten comments from coworkers that i have very youthful eyes since they have a hard time reading things.

 

Yeah I thought about the UX but I really prefer a 14.1 inch screen. I guess I just have think about the resolution. I would appreciate it if you could post some screen shots of a comparison, that would help me in making my decision. Thanks again for all your help.

 

ams, no problem at all. my pleasure. i'll try to take the pics and post them to my server thursday or friday night. if there's anything else, just let me know!

 

Thanks I really appreciate it and look forward to see those pics.

 

Hey Michael,

Any luck with those pics? I am anxious to go ahead and order.

Thanks in advance.

 

hey ams,

sorry, i'm still down in DC for training....heading back to philly tmrw nite on amtrak. i should be able to snap some pics and post them tmrw nite after i get home (around 9 or 10pm).

actually, i just noticed that you're from philly too! where exactly are you? i work in the university city area. If you want to check out my MX in person, i can totally meet up for a few minutes.

 

michae42,

Hey, I've just purchased the MX and turned it on and found a blue stuck pixel

It's not only pretty disappointing but may hurt me in my engineering classes (some half-semeseter courses recently began).

Anyways, I was wondering if you noticed a lack of contrast in your MX. Perhaps it's the viewing angle but the contrast seems a bit off. Although, I may have it too bright (default brightness).

BTW, 1400x1050 is perfect... well, sans stuck pixel. It's fairly blameless although I thought P1 checked them. Even if they did, this one may have been hard to find. Had I not seen it during the windows startup, it may have not be visible. It blue and stuck in the lower right where the usually bluish XP taskbar is. Durnit, I missed classes to wait for FedEx guy too. "Sometime before 4:30pm" doesn't leave much class time for me to flirt with... and the local FedEx pickup place is 10 miles away from engineering campus.

 

Hi david,

so sorry to hear about the stuck pixel. i know P1 checks their units before shipping them out, so like you said, it was probably an overlook since the pixel may have been a hard one to detect.

actually, i didn't notice a contrast problem on my screen, and i always run it at highest brightness, unless i REALLY need to conserve battery life. when i post pics of the screen later tonight, maybe you can use them as comparison to your screen. One thing i did notice, however, is that just like with most lcd laptop screens, the picture just looks "off" if the screen is just the slightest bit "off-axis", if that makes sense.

and yes, 1400x1050 is just perfect. after having sxga res on my dell 600m and now on my MX, i just can't "take" xga res on a 14.1" screen anymore!

have you contacted P1 to ask about the pixel/screen contrast issue?

 

i'm so conflicted; the new hp dv unit finally has the 'business' look. i'm getting glitterlust.

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by michae42

 

oh, and I want make it fairly clear that the MX machine is built pretty solid. Small pressure on the back of the LCD doesn't warp anything. I've honestly never felt the back of a notebook screen that was as solid.

 

Contrast ratio on the MX's are 350:1 which is fantastic, sounds like David with the stuck pixels etc has a faulty display [ ]

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by michae42

 

hey david, that's one of my favorite things about the MX. SOLID build quality...makes my dell 600m feel like a toy! [ ]

 

as promised. it was already dark when i got home, but hopefully these shots will give you an idea of a.) sxga vs xga resolution, and b) just how nice the screen on the MX is

the first few pics compare the resolution. MX is running at native sxga 1400x1050, and the dell 600m is running at non-native xga 1024x768 resolution.

the second batch of pics compares different desktop pictures i used on both machines. for these comparisons, both units are running at sxga resolution since it wouldn't be "fair" to compare quality if the 600m were running at a non-native resolution.

here we go...

side by side; desktop with "my computer" window open
600m on left; MX on right
600m @ 1024x768; MX @ 1400x1050
notice how much "blacker" the black desktop appears on the MX.


side by side; IE with google.com
600m on left; MX on right
600m @ 1024x768; MX @ 1400x1050
similar to the previous pic, notice how much brighter and whiter the google page appears on the MX screen


side by side; IE with notebookreview.com
600m on left; MX on right
600m @ 1024x768; MX @ 1400x1050


bigger version of previous pic so you can get a better look


desktop image;
600m on left; MX on right
BOTH units at SXGA resolution
note the richer colors on the MX, showing off the better contrast ratio[ ]


same setup as previous pic, but using a different desktop image

 

Hey Thanks for those Pics!

They were great and confirmed that the MX display will be just what I need. The icons are not that bad at all. I will most likely be ordering my MX tommorow. Thanks for all the help.

Anything else I should know before I order?

How do you like the bundled software package, the VCOM suite etc.? Does it work well?

 

great, ams! glad to hear that you'll be a new member of the MX family! [ ]

to tell you the truth, i've heard GREAT things about the VCOM software, but i haven't even used it since i use the package my office uses.

i'm not sure how much space you need or want, but one thing i got that has worked out GREAT is the modular HD. Granted, I got it during P1's "holday special" where you got to choose between free bluetooth or a 40GB module HD, but i love being able to pop in the HD in place of the CD-Rom when i don't feel like lugging around my external HD.

One thing i like about the MX is that there really isn't much room to improve since it pretty much comes with top-of-the-line components already.

any other q's, just let me know.

and be sure to let everyone know how you like your MX when you get it!