as Advent is PC ores, as well l PC World st k available in al e rst netboo orld.co.uk. Th was the at www.pcw online vent brand under the Ad ook at all, to be released t a new netb fact no 11. This was in Wind. Advent 42 ed MSI ely a re-brand wly designed but was mer up with the ne followed it soon patible 4213, oadband-com d wireless br an the Advent also released and has since e strong e netbooks ar 4214. All thre are great ht and in their own rig arket. tions to the m addi
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ADVENT 4214

he Advent 4214 (250 inc. VAT) is the most recent netbook to be released in PC Worlds in-house range, but while its a stylish, usable and very well-made system, it is hard to recommend over the 3G-compatible Advent 4213 (page 27). Weighing 1.3kg, the slim chassis has a compact and stylish look. The combination of black and silver plastics makes an eye-catching combination. The matt nish of the lid also reduces the

PRICE 250 (inc. VAT)

IN BRIEF: A stylish and well-made netbook from PC World's in-house brand, but it is bettered in key areas by its two predecessors
potential for scratches or ngerprints, unlike the 4213s glossy lid. The small 3-cell battery lets the device run for just 150 minutes. This is bettered by many netbooks, including the Advent 4211 and 4213, so consider how important maximum mobility is to your needs. While the keyboard is responsive and rmly xed, the keys are small and quite awkward to type on. Largerhanded typists may struggle, as you
need to pick at the keys somewhat to type smoothly and quickly. The large touchpad and mouse buttons are far more usable, however.

Bright panel

The 10.2-inch screen is impressive. Images are sharp and the display features a matt nish rather than a glossy Super-TFT coating that successfully reduces reections. It is also one of the brightest
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GROUP TEST NETBOOKS

ADVENT NETBOOKS

IFE BATTERY L 150 mins

Where the Advent 4214 is awed compared to its predecessors is its limited wireless connectivity, as only 802.11g Wi-Fi is included, with no integrated Mobile Broadband on offer
netbook panels weve seen. This makes it easy to view in all lighting conditions. Storage matches the 4213, with the 160GB hard drive providing plenty of space for carrying work les and collections of music, photos and videos wherever you travel. An SD card reader is also tted for transferring data easily from digital cameras and smartphones. Where the 4214 is awed against the Advent 4213 is its limited wireless connectivity, as only 802.11g Wi-Fi support is provided. The 4213 is similarly priced and specied, yet features built-in 3G Mobile Broadband, so you may nd it a better choice for travel use. Despite its small keyboard, the Advent 4214 is a good netbook with many redeeming features, but the 4213 is equally good in almost all areas and it also comes with added 3G connectivity, so you may nd it a better choice.
SUPPLIER WWW.PCWORLD.CO.UK TELEPHONE 0000 DELIVERY CHARGE FREE PROCESSOR INTEL 1.6GHZ ATOM N270 MEMORY 1024MB DDR2 SDRAM HARD DRIVE 160GB (4200RPM) SCREEN SIZE AND TYPE 10.2-INCH TFT WIRELESS 802.11G DIMENSIONS 259 X 174 X 30MM WEIGHT 1.3KG STANDARD WARRANTY 1 YR RTB P&L

RATING

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Although the Advent 4211 is merely a repackaged version of the MSI Wind, it is a fantastic and affordable netbook

IFE BATTERY L 167 mins

ADVENT 4211
he Advent 4211 (190 inc. VAT) was the rst netbook released in PC World's in-house range and, although its merely a re-branded MSI Wind (see page 68), its a fantastic portable, made all the more appealing by its high-street availability. The compact chassis weighs 1.1kg, making this one of the lightest netbooks on the market. While its basic black and silver design looks great, it isn't the most eye-catching netbook around. Build quality is excellent, however, and the 3-cell battery runs for 167 minutes to keep you working on the daily commute. The keyboard spans the full width of the chassis. All the keys are large, responsive and rmly attached, and the quality feels far higher than the low price would suggest. However, the tiny size of the touchpad and mouse button unfortunately makes them quite awkward to use. The 10-inch screen provides fantastic image quality. Colour and contrast are both strong, and photos and videos look great. The use of a recessed hinge also allows the screen to fold back easily,

PRICE 190 (inc. VAT)

While the 80GB hard drive was excellent upon release of the 4211, more capacious rivals have since surpassed it. You can still easily carry your music and photo collections when you travel however. Although the Advent 4211 is merely a repackaged version of the original MSI Wind, its low price and availability in PC World and online stores make it a more than worthy alternative. Impressively designed and built, this is a fantastic and affordable netbook and comes highly recommended.
IN BRIEF: Great usability with a vibrant screen and ofce software
making it very comfortable to work with on your lap or on a fold-down train table. With an integrated webcam built into the screen panel, you can easily capture basic photos and even record live video. Home and business users can also use it alongside live video-conferencing software to stay in touch with friends, family and colleagues when on the move or at home.

Ofce software

Microsofts Windows XP operating system is installed and, thanks to its fairly limited resource needs, it runs smoothly and reliably. Microsoft Works home ofce software is also pre-installed as standard to provide entry-level ofce tools. This is still quite rare in the netbook market and allows you to get to work straightaway. Thanks to the low power consumption of the Intel Atom processor, the chassis is able to stay cool at all times. Even after long periods of use, we found that the base of this netbook only became slightly warm to the touch.
SUPPLIER WWW.PCWORLD.CO.UK TELEPHONE 0000 DELIVERY CHARGE FREE PROCESSOR INTEL 1.6GHZ ATOM N270 MEMORY 1024MB DDR2 SDRAM HARD DRIVE 80GB (4200RPM) SCREEN SIZE AND TYPE 10-INCH TFT WIRELESS 802.11G DIMENSIONS 260 X 166 X 37MM WEIGHT 1.1KG STANDARD WARRANTY 1 YR RTB P&L
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NETBOOKS

A camera is built into the screen panel and lets you add live video feeds to instant messaging software

IFE BATTERY L 205 mins

ADVENT 4213
ith PC Worlds rst netbook the Advent 4211 proving so impressive, expectations were very high for its second offering, the Advent 4213 (250 inc. VAT). While the new model succeeds on most counts, sports a new design and is one of the rst netbooks to feature 3G mobile broadband connectivity, it also falls behind its predecessor in terms of usability. The 1.4kg chassis is slightly heavier than the 1.1kg 4211, but the new design adds a more unique style than before. While the addition of a glossy lid makes a stylish design choice, it also means the chassis is more prone to scratches and ngerprints, so you'll need to buy a carry case if you want it to stay in good shape. The 205-minute battery life betters the older Advent 4211, however, and is far more suitable for use on the daily commute However, while the 4211 provided great usability, this model is not quite as successful. Although the quality of the keyboard is fantastic, the board itself is small, making it difcult to type at speed without striking adjacent keys.

software is pre-installed and offers a range of ofce tools. However, the capacious 160GB hard drive means you can easily install any other software you need and keep working on the move. While it doesnt quite match the quality of its predecessor, this is still a highquality netbook. The improved storage and connectivity compensate for its minor aws, and although you can buy cheaper netbooks, the Advent 4213 still has plenty to recommend it among the competition.
IN BRIEF: Great design and mobility and comes with 3G connectivity
The 10.2-inch screen is also not as bright or sharp as on the 10-inch 4211, but image quality is nevertheless still strong. The WSVGA resolution lets you work across two windows at once, and the recessed hinge also makes it easy to fold the screen back for use on a cramped train table. Again a camera is built into the screen panel and lets you add live video feeds to instant messaging software and take quick snapshots. Its accompanying blue activity light can be quite distracting, however, particularly in low light conditions, and try as we might, we found no clear and easy way to disable it.

3G-connected

The key selling point here, however, is the 3G wireless mobile broadband connectivity. The SIM card slots beneath the battery and a T-Mobile contract can be bought at the time of purchase. Conveniently, the netbook isnt solely tied to a T-Mobile contract, so you can opt for an alternate provider if you prefer. As with the 4211, Microsoft Works
SUPPLIER WWW.PCWORLD.CO.UK TELEPHONE 0000 DELIVERY CHARGE FREE PROCESSOR INTEL 1.6GHZ ATOM N270 MEMORY 1024MB DDR2 SDRAM HARD DRIVE 160GB (4200RPM) SCREEN SIZE AND TYPE 10.2-INCH TFT WIRELESS HSDPA, 802.11G DIMENSIONS 259 X 160 X 42MM WEIGHT 1.4KG STANDARD WARRANTY 1 YR RTB P&L
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top PCs Founded in ops and desk netbooks, lapt y-level home range of ts, from entr Its ing price poin at vary g machines. owered gamin ems to high-p est minisyst the earli k was one of Wind netboo commercial le and was a on sa at laptops to go so, in fact, th So much itical success. ld and and cr g PC Wor nies, includin ged it several compa d and re-bad the Win Medion, took the best, ill e original is st for resale. Th tbooks , and MSI's ne however e best on are among th arket. the m
TB SI O uc S NE1986, MOprodKes a wide

MSI Wind U115 Hybrid

SIs Wind netbooks have been well received and extensively re-branded by a range of manufacturers, including Medion and Advent. MSI now adds unique storage and an outstanding battery life with its Wind U115 Hybrid (450 inc. VAT). The original Wind design was so effective that little has changed here compared to previous models. The compact 1.3kg chassis is still highly portable and its rounded edges let it slip

PRICE 450 (inc. VAT)

IN BRIEF: With its unique storage solution and fantastic mobility, this is a terric netbook. Unfortunately, it comes at a relatively high price
easily into small hand luggage. Where the U115 truly blows away the competition, however, is its storage and battery life. An 8GB Solid State Drive (SSD) and 160GB Hard Disk Drive (HDD) are tted, the intention being to run your software from the faster SSD and store your data on the capacious HDD. When running on battery power, an easy to use hotkey combination lets you disable the HDD to get maximum mobility
from the low-powered SSD. We found it let us work for a stunning 780 minutes, which is by far the best result weve ever seen from any netbook or laptop so far.

Striking design

Build quality is excellent, but the glossy plastic lid is prone to scratches and ngerprints. The silver design helps the U115 stand out from the almost endless crowd of black netbooks, and the large
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GROUP TEST NETBOOKS

IFE BATTERY L 780 mins

MSI NETBOOKS

The silver design helps the U115 stand out from the almost endless crowd of black netbooks, and the large fan on the chassis' left-hand side helps it stay cool at all times
fan on the chassis left-hand side helps it stay comfortably cool at all times. Usability is also good. The large keyboard moves with a rm yet smooth action. Some punctuation keys have been made smaller to make room for the main keys, but it rarely causes problems. The tiny touchpad and dual-click mouse button are less usable, however. The 10-inch TFT screen is extremely bright and easy to use in all lighting conditions. Its matt nish eliminates reections and, although colour and contrast lack the vibrancy of glossy Super-TFT screens, this is one of the best netbook screens weve seen. With its terric storage and mobility, the Wind U115 Hybrid is one of the best netbooks you can currently buy. Its high price is unfortunate, however, when you consider you could get a full-sized laptop for the same price.
SUPPLIER WWW.LAPTOPSDIRECT.CO.UK TELEPHONE 4525 DELIVERY CHARGE 10 PROCESSOR INTEL 1.6GHZ ATOM Z530 MEMORY 1024MB DDR2 SDRAM HARD DRIVE 160GB (HDD), 8GB (SSD) SCREEN SIZE AND TYPE 10-INCH TFT WIRELESS 802.11N, BLUETOOTH DIMENSIONS 260 X 180 X 32MM WEIGHT 1.3KG STANDARD WARRANTY 2 YRS C&R P&L

RATING

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Where this netbook betters many rival models is its Bluetooth access, for connecting wireless peripherals

IFE BATTERY L 143 mins

MSI Wind U90
SI made a big splash in the laptop market when it released the Wind U100, the rst 10-inch netbook. The U90 (264 inc. VAT) uses the same chassis but, despite its lower price, smaller screen and reduced storage, fails to pack the punch of its larger-screened alternative. The design of the 1.1kg chassis is functional, sturdy and should provide plenty of protection for life on the road. MSI has implemented an all-black paint scheme which provides a business feel. This is in contrast to the re-branded Advent 4211 (see page 26) which boasts a more consumer silver nish. Of course, the same impressive usability is here and this is one of the most usable netbooks you can buy. Large hands may struggle with the tiny touchpad and mouse button, however, so its worth trying before you buy to see if the user interface suits your needs. Disappointingly, the 3-cell battery provides less mobility than the Advent mentioned above. Running for just 143 minutes, it doesn't meet the standard

PRICE 264 (inc. VAT)

more comprehensive than the cover some competitors provide, including Advent, but you must pay all related delivery costs, so many users may prefer to look elsewhere if they feel this is too expensive. Theres no denying that the MSI Wind U90 is an impressive netbook on its own merits, but when compared to the rebranded Advent 4211, it fails to match up. You may well nd therefore that you get more for your money by choosing PC Worlds option instead.
IN BRIEF: A good choice, but bettered by PC Worlds re-branded Advent
three hour minimum we expect. You can work on the way to the ofce, but not only will you need to recharge the netbook when you get there if you want further mobility, you'll also have to take the charger with you when away from a power point for long periods of time. The 8.9-inch screen manages to provide great image quality, while also improving portability, but its hard to really see why anyone would prefer this smaller screen when the Advent 4211 provides a larger 10.2-inch screen for just 16 extra. The use of a 120GB hard drive keeps costs down, but its ample for carrying music, photos, ofce les and even videos to keep you entertained on the move.

Bluetooth

Where this netbook betters rivals is its Bluetooth connectivity. This lets you wirelessly connect to compatible devices, such as your mobile phone, up to 10 metres away, to share data and add extra functionality without using up a USB port. MSIs standard two-year warranty is
SUPPLIER WWW.MISCO.CO.UK TELEPHONE 6573 DELIVERY CHARGE 5 PROCESSOR INTEL 1.6GHZ ATOM N270 MEMORY 1024MB DDR2 SDRAM HARD DRIVE 120GB (4200RPM) SCREEN SIZE AND TYPE 8.9-INCH TFT WIRELESS 802.11N, BLUETOOTH DIMENSIONS 233 X 156 X 34MM WEIGHT 1.1KG STANDARD WARRANTY 2 YRS RTB P&L
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NETBOOKS

IFE BATTERY L 256 mins
If you don't mind swapping overall size for usability, the MSI Wind is certainly a great choice

MSI Wind U100

he MSI Wind U100 (299 inc. VAT) is one of the larger mid-range netbooks on the market, with a 10.2-inch screen and a chassis weight of 1.3kg. Although it may lack the portability of some of its rivals, the extra size makes it one of the most usable machines available today. While its keyboard isnt the best currently available, it is certainly very comfortable to use, with large and responsive keys that stretch right to the edge of the chassis. Build quality is also impressive, with sturdy plastics used and a very robust design, meaning the netbook will take most of the knocks and bashes that life on the road will throw at it. The display is held rmly in place when typing, and its more than tough enough to leave in your rucksack when travelling, without worrying about it getting damaged. The 10.2-inch display may be bigger than some of its rivals, but it features the same 1024 x 600-pixel resolution. That said, it is much easier to view small text, web pages or images as a result of the larger screen

PRICE 299 (inc. VAT)

on this machine. While it has slightly more lag than Linux-based rivals, users generally nd it much easier to use, and its still more than capable for editing documents or browsing the web on the move. If you dont mind swapping overall size for usability, the MSI Wind U100 is certainly a great choice. At such a competitive price, its excellent usability, strong battery life and comprehensive storage make it one of the best netbooks you can buy if youre after a no-frills machine.
IN BRIEF: A small machine with a great battery and usability
size, which reduces the risk of eye strain after prolonged use. This is certainly worth taking into consideration if you intend to be using the netbook consistently. Storage space is excellent, thanks to the use of a traditional mechanical hard drive. Its not as quick or light on the netbook's battery as the SSD ash storage found on some rival machines, but the 160GB of storage space - the maximum currently available on any netbook - is better suited for carrying large quantities of both ofce les and folders and any multimedia libraries you might want to take to keep you entertained on your travels.

6-cell battery

Our review unit was tted with a 6-cell battery. It doesnt quite sit ush with the chassis and protrudes from the bottom. It is, nevertheless, well integrated and gives the Wind U100 a respectable battery life of 256 minutes, dramatically enhancing portability. The resource-light Windows XP Home operating system is installed and runs well
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