W230ST - The 13" We've been waiting for!?

There's no eye strain issue, but there's no practical advantage either.

Clevos are targeted at very different consumers compared to Macs and we rarely see people choosing between the two, so what rMBP has doesn't matter.

No. It's only bounded by the GPU and the connecter, both capable of going higher than 1080p.

 

I see. I am planning to use the clevo for work - be it in word, excel or CS6 (mainly plugged into a monitor but also on the go). When using the laptop screen, I have to wonder whether 1080p will be an advantage or disadvantage in terms of clarity or being too small to read.

I found this which explains why rMBP arn't too small: "Apple has scaled the resolution so the 2,560 x 1,600 screen displays objects at the same size as 1,280 x 800 (the standard 13-inch MacBook Pro resolution), only now with much more clarity." http://mashable.com/2012/12/09/13-inch-retina-macbook-pro-2/

The reason I compared the w230st with the Mac book - as far as I can see the Clevo, although built for a different purpose, looks as though it will out perform the MBP in everyway (at the cost of being slightly thicker and less battery).

Thank you for answering this - this is great!

 

Mac OS is resolution independence, meaning that the elements such as texts and icons that you see on the screen are rendered at sizes independent from the pixel grid. Therefore the user interface (UI) being displayed on the same screen size, for example, a 13" display with a 1920x1200 screen or a 2560x1600 screen is going have the same scaling regardless of the resolution of the screen. Although the display with the higher resolution is going to look better with crisper UI.

Windows on the other hand, is currently resolution independence so the elements on the UI being displayed on the same size screen, but at different resolution is going to look different. The UI on the display with the higher resolution will look smaller compare to the one with the lower resolution.

I have a 15" screen at 1920x1080 running Windows 7 and the texts and icons are quite small though not eye-straining small for me. I don't think I would find it comfortable if the UI were to be smaller. However Windows does have DPI scaling to make the UI bigger if people were to find it to be too small.

 

But you see there the difference is the GPU as I noted. They wouldn't make different SKU's just by removing an mSATA port, it wouldn't make sense. But changing GPU would make a significant enough difference to warrant another version. In the case of the W650 I personally don't understand why the GT 740 and GT 750, that makes no sense, considering $40-$50 price difference between the two laptops otherwise the same. That is a unique case for Sager/Clevo as they don't typically do this. They may have a version with just IGP only and one with GPU, or two versions, but with just two different shells, even then they tend to differentiate them in other ways. Like the P151SM with plastic chassis and P150SM with rubberized chassis.

It would be nice to see one with a 750m and low res screen and one with 765m and high res screen though.

 

No general purpose desktop GUI is truly resolution independent. Haiku is very close, but being far from a average-Joe-ready general purpose environment. Chrome/Chromium OS can be fully res independent, but that's because it's just a browser.

It's not the system UI getting in the way, it's the apps got designed with fixed resolution in mind. Is Mac OS's GUI system res independent? Yep. Now try a old app. The buttons and menus and stuff may look good, but how about other content draw by the app itself?

Most of the MS designed UI components in Windows 8 are already vector based, so are the Metro apps. If you fire up a pre-8 era app on a 4K screen, however, things tend to go wrong.

 

You have to see it by yourself. Get your hands on a 13"~14" 1080p notebook and try it for some time. Play with the scaling settings. We can't answer this for you as it's mostly personal preference.

What I know for sure is, this is a Clevo, it doesn't overheat like a Pro.

Word and Excel are always fine with whatever chip you have. How heavy will your CS workload be?

 

Well said. Do you wear glasses? I bet no?

Anyone like myself, that are now or do wear glasses, should look at the screens before making the decision. My 11" at 720p is fine but would be uncomfortable at 900P. My current 17" at 900P is very easy on my eyes.

I was betting W8 would turn out like OSX as resolution independent which I hear is not. Once the resellers have good stock, I'm hoping they will be able configure GPU/Screen combos. This would likely add cost but you get it like you want it under warranty unless we can roll our own?

 

I must be a rarity then. I'm looking at this W230ST or the 15" rMBP refresh for my next machine.

Does the W230ST have a rubberised finish on the palm rest?

 

I do wear glasses with a prescription of -5.00 and -4.50 and I find it fairly comfortable with 1920x1080 at 15". Personally, I like the additional real estate. I wouldn't mind 1600x900 on a 15" but I definitely wouldn't go for 1366x768. However my friend who also wear glasses with much higher prescription than mine thought the UI was too tiny so he scaled his up. I guess you have to try it before you buy it

 

Just wanted to chime in with the whole eyesight and screen size/resolution thing. I don't know how the system works but I'm wearing glasses for short sightedness notch 2 (so 0 is fine, 1 is a little, 2 is more, lenses can be had for each 'notch') and I'm absolutely fine with my 15" 1080p display, but I'm also fine when I zoom out in Chrome to a level that equates to 100% zoom on a 13.3" 1080p display.

I'm kinda struggling to see (ha) how there could be problems unless your prescription isn't right or your eyes aren't just short/long sighted, there's some other weirdness going on. That said I'm 20 which might make a difference to eye degradation.

 

I'm 40 and the resolution doesn't bother me...

 

I am almost 50 with glasses and i prefer 1080p on a 13". Resolution preference is purely an individual one, you are not going to find some logical reason for it.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

you guys know if both displays are IPS?

 

Alright I'll settle down But my advice to all who ask is go for the 1080p display as it's a really nice one

 

Which laptop are you using at that rez? What apps? Spread sheets?

Photographers will love the 1080P screen. BD movies will turn some heads..at any age Yep, personnel preference and how much real estate your willing to give up if you constantly need to zoom out, no?

 

yes, but 1080p one looks to have much better gamut / contrast ratio.

 

We don't know if both displays are IPS, only 1080p, and that's not 100% certainty at least not in the States/North America until a company officially publishes the specs.

 

If anyone is just dying to have something like this and can't wait, there is another MSI part similar to the GH40 that just popped up in a few places. It's a 14" without all the bells and whistles like backlit kb and decent looks. Basically an ugly duckling for about $200 less than the W230ST is likely to cost and $100 less than the GH40. Looks like MH14 is the base number, I found it on HIDevolution. Comes with 4700 and up, 760m.
MSI MH14GE

I really want a W230ST and I'll be getting a really good deal on one if it ever releases, but I'm getting a bit frustrated after months and months without so much as a press release. I'm a consumer that likes to have all the information available to me so I know I made the best choice. When companies keep products under wraps until the last minute, for no reason besides to "build the anticipation," I get annoyed, then insulted, then bored. So now I'm looking at other options, in case when the W230ST releases, it just isn't as good of a deal for the price as it seems now.

 

^Sold machine, even though it's a bit thicker.

 

@ryanlecocq

Pretty sure that's just a GE40 barebones. You can find the exact same model on xoticpc and it doesn't have a backlit keyboard.

 

^ Totally different shell, but otherwise the same. Just a guess, but I would imagine it has a cheaper general feel and isn't as solid as the GH40.

 

Do you think it will be an upgrade over the w350st in anyway other than the backlit keyboard? Maybe incorporate new things that were needed in the 350? Or should I just go for the 350 now?

 

If you want a backlit keyboard, the Msi MH15 is extremely comparable and has one. It's equally not attractive, maybe less, has a nearly identical feature set and is similarly priced.

EDIT: Oh nm, they updated it since I last looked, has a 770m now, so definitely better.

MSI HID MH15GE-V2 15.6" Custom Built to Order Gaming Laptop

 

The prices are unrealistic, is this website even trustworthy? If it is my money might go with it.

 

I was wondering that myself, I just linked it because I happened to be browsing it. There are some people who post here that work there I believe, so I would guess so.

edit: just checked on them, they have pretty impeccable reviews. Not just on their site, in general it seems. I would say do it. I may order from them myself if they offer the W230ST.

 

Most of this "hype" has been generated by us, the consumers, as Clevo nor Sager have really said much about it. That being said, we should be very close to it's availability, like within the next week. So hang tight, one week shouldn't hurt anyone.

 

I guess I'm just getting all new Star Trek movie about it because I desperately need a new laptop (house burned down) and I need to get the right one, because I can only afford one. I lurked for months and now info is starting to trickle out right when I fiendishly want to click BUY.

 

Aww poor fella, your previous laptop did not by any chance overheat an burn you house down

 

wait whaaaaaaaaaaaat? Is this really a 770m for under 1k O_O!?!?!

 

LOL, no. Meth heads next door. That's what I get for thinking it would be a good idea to save money by renting a trailer that cost less than my business space

 

Look like a typo, though we should all order the 780m for 1.3k.

Should we put it up on the bargain sites, I pretty sure the site will be flooded .

 

Yeah lol, definitely a typo. 780m laptop for $1.3K, SOLD!

Sorry to hear about the loss. That sucks. Out of all the 13-14" notebooks I feel this is the one to get. Best choice of features, options, performance, and (hopefully) price. Worth waiting the week IMHO.

I think $1200-$1300 with 1080p IPS, latest Intel quad core, GTX 765m, dual mSATA + SATA is more than a fair price and best bang for the buck, size, performance.

 

I meant the 780m.

 

I sent an email to HID to see what's up. At the very worst they may offer a coupon code to people who caught the error, so it might actually be possible to get something pretty good in that range.

 

HIDevolution is a reliable vendor, but that's a typo. The MH15GE-V2 is the barebone version of the current GE60 with the GPU soldered into the mainboard, coming with either the GT 750M or GTX 765M pending on variant.

 

Interesting, I want to see pics, weight, thickness and battery life. These specs remind me of the Vaio Z before it went PMD it was a beautiful machine, that's for sure.

 

Of what? The MSI?

15.09" x 9.83" x 1.46" (W x D x H)
5.28 lbs (with 6 cell battery)

Specs tab at bottom of page: MSI HID MH15GE-V2 15.6" Custom Built to Order Gaming Laptop

It has similar specs to the W230ST except it's 15.6" vs 13.3".

 

I was confused by that post too. Maybe it would be a good idea to add some of these alternatives over on the first page of the owner's lounge. The MSI MH14, GE40 (oops already there in the chart), MH15 and GE60 are all decent alternatives. Also the W350ST and the still around sometimes W110s (although they're a generation older, but in 11.6").

 

YAY! Vent holes!

 

I didn't include the 15" devices because they're much larger machines and not in the same class. Users looking at this machine want a smaller laptop.

And you think 1080p is too tight for a 13" check out this list of 13" ultrabooks (IGP only) with 2560x1440 (or larger) resolution: http://forum.notebookreview.com/wha...lightweight-high-res-options.html#post9263634

 

Would not make much sense with a 765M though lol.

 

just got an email from one of the resellers - only Full HD screen is and IPS panel. Could you guys tell me what are main go for IPS panel factors ? I'm a bit scared of going 1920x1080 on 13.3 panel. Currently I have a w110er 11.9 with 1366x768, so if i'm on the 13.3 screen the adequate resolution to what i'm using now would be 1440x900 or 1600x900? I'm asking so I could have a rough estimate of how much smaller everything will get when going for Full HD panel.

 

IPS panels offer greater colour accuracy, viewing angles and contrast. They do however not respond quite as quickly as TN.

 

I noticed this little blurb, although doesn't say much, at least it's acknowledged on Clevo's site: CLEVO - News

But still want to see Clevo and/or Sager provide a press release and details.

 

Wing, was that not posted afew days ago, i can recall seeing it on this thread or maybe the owners thread, although it does not reveal alot of info

 

It may have been, I missed it. It doesn't say anything except link to a short blog blurb.

 

what does response time mean in terms of gaming and general use ?

 

Well, for example I was waiting for the W230ST when I had 3 other laptops and a decent desktop. Now that my tools have been greatly reduced, I don't know if I can wait much longer and pay more to have it in a neat, pretty little package. I might consider sacrificing a little size and weight to save a couple hundred US dollars. I'm just guessing there might be a few others who feel the same.

Basically IPS panels have similar response time to older LCD panels, where newer ones have about half that. What it would mean visually is you could potentially see blurring on the edge of moving things, especially on white/black borders, much like on older HDTVs. Even with a slower response though, it's not terrible and usually not even close to those older TVs. Most people can't see less than 8ms delay, while many cannot even see less than 16ms. A lot of people will claim that they can see above 60Hz, but this is 100% not scientifically factual as even the fastest reacting human beings do not register an optic nerve reaction faster than 10ms.

Short version: It may cause slight blurring if you perceive extremely fast or watch a lot of futbol, but most people consider it pretty negligible compared to the drastically brighter colors.

 

thanks for a reply, so If you had to choose which panel would you go for mate ?

 

I would be the wrong person to ask, since my use is very atypical. I'm interested in this system for the decent computing power in a small form factor, so I can tote it around and plunk it down to test and demo software for some of my customers. When I come home and game, I would hook it to a tv, so the only use for the screen for any length of time would be my lady fair and I want to watch a movie somewhere away from a screen. So I'm one of the rare people in this thread who is least concerned about the screen.

Objectively, I would say look up online two models that offer a screen of each type that are both carried in one store (like Best Buy, Fry's or the like) and go compare them with your own eyes. Everyone sees colors and shades differently, so it's the safest route to fit your preference.