My Malibal Lotus (P150HM)

Yesterday afternoon I finally received my laptop. I'm working on a full review, but I thought I would post some initial impressions for anyone who is curious. Keep in mind that this is my first laptop, so all I have to compare it to is my older brothers MBP.

Exterior/Cosmetics:
This is a great looking machine. It is slick. I am really enjoying the rubberized finish (hooray no fingerprints). There is very little ornamentation (sorry Alienware fans...). The Malibal branding on the lid is very appealing. It is pretty small, but the material catches the light well and really compliments the understated attractive form of this machine. Opening the lid reveals a relatively simple looking keyboard, speaker bar and trackpad. More on those later. Overall I am very pleased with the appearance of this computer.

Screen:
I ordered the 95% matte screen, and feel that I made a great decision. The lack of glare is outstanding, especially compared to the MBP I'm used to seeing. I have not tested it outside, but I am using it at my desk which is right next to a large window and even when the screen is off, there is hardly any noticeable glare. The colors are bright and crisp. The high resolution really makes this screen stand out. There is tons of screen real estate to use, and games look magnificently sharp. I played Metro 2033 at around noon today. The game is pretty dark, and yet I had no problems with glare whatsoever. I am very impressed.

Keyboard/Trackpad/Speakers:
I can't comment much here. I am using my Audioengine 2 Speakers plugged into the computers audio jack. They obviously sound great. I have yet to test the machine's own speakers. I am also using an external mouse (Saitek GM 2400, great mouse if you're looking for high DPI at a low price) so I can't comment on the trackpad. I will say that the integrated fingerprint reader works well. I currently have it set so that when I swipe my left thumb, Firefox opens, and my right thumb opens Steam. The keyboard, while it lacks backlighting, is great. It types quietly, there is no noticeable flex, and the keys are well spaced and responsive. They layout includes a slightly shrunk down numpad that I will make more use of once I start school in the fall (computer science major FTW).

Performance:
I have yet to officially benchmark my machine, but so far I am thoroughly impressed. The wireless card (Intel 6300) has great range (I pick up networks from businesses across the street and down the block) and the speed seems solid. Boot times are fast, thanks partly to my Momentus XT hybrid drive. I also opted for the upgraded processor (i7 2720) and the GTX 484M GPU. I ran Metro 2033 on Ultra High settings in the native resolution (1920x1080) with 4xAA and had smooth framerates the whole time. I was worried that I would see some stuttering and was happily suprised by this laptops killer gaming performance.

Overall:
I researched this laptop purchase for a solid two months before deciding on exactly what I wanted and how to get a good deal on it. I am convinced that my work paid off. I am extremely pleased with my Lotus (her name is Sophie) and look forward to bringing it to college with me in the fall. I recommend this computer for anyone looking for serious gaming power in an unassuming, yet stylish package.

On a final note, I would like to thank the members of the NBR community for being a terrific resource for me while working on this purchase. I relied on your knowledge more than you realize. Also, I obviously cannot compare Malibal to other resellers, but I can say that they have been more than gracious with me. I requested a 6790 after they had been pulled from the website and they reserved one for me. Then when the 580 was released and the 485 dropped in price, they upgraded me to the 485 upon my request, no hassle. Thanks all

 

I am glad to hear that you enjoy your new notebook. Thanks for giving us your impressions

 

Thanks for the review, I'm glad you're enjoying your notebook so far!

 

Metro on Ultra, I'm sold

 

haha, yea Metro on Ultra! awesome. I'm getting the exact same spec as you except for a AMD 6990m and Bigfoot Killer wireless N....maybe a 95% glossy instead of matte (still deciding on the screen).

 

Good review, enjoy your new machine.

 

Nice review! I'm expecting the UPS guy to show up today with my baby/beast and I too will do a review but more geared on the 580m.

 

Can you load your Reseller name and configuration into your signature to show your support?

Looks like you're going to get your rig before you deploy to Saudi Arabia!

 

Keine problem!

 

Danke very much!

 

Quick update. I've continued playing Metro and there seem to be a few FPS hiccups here and there. It happens most frequently when I reach a checkpoint and the game autosaves. It's barely noticeable and certainly not a problem.

 

dam i cant wait to get my laptop from myth the wait is killing me. when do u think the full review will be done stonecoldcrazy?

 

I plan on waiting a little bit to do a full review. I don't want my initial excitement to overly-bias my thinking. It'll give me time to fully experience more of its features and I will be able to properly benchmark it, check temps, etc...
So, maybe in two weeks or so?

 

When you do your review, could you touch on a few things for me? I'm pondering getting one myself but I've got some questions besides the normal performance-oriented questions.

(1) Keyboard impressions?
(2) Fan noise during mild use (as opposed to gaming)...i.e., web surfing and word processing?
(3) Speaker quality?
(4) Battery life during mild use?

Thanks!

 

Nice review. Welcome to Sager/Clevo Family