14 DAY TRIAL // Having already covered the high-end segment, Micro-Star International is sending out a mid-range laptop that, nevertheless, has its own share of benefits, not the least of which is suitability for outdoor use.
MSI describes the CR41, as the notebook is called, with the words “perfect mobile companion when you're enjoying some summer rays.”
Oddly, there is no mention of the display being particularly special in any way, but we suspect it is at least of the anti-glare variety.
What the announcement does specify is that the brightness of the screen is adjustable, via a pre-installed multimedia software that also controls volume, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and the 1.3 MP webcam.
That said, the un-priced notebook has one other feature that could allow it to reel in customers: a nice-looking, “royal bronze” metal finish on the lid.
The specs are otherwise common, from the Core i-series central processing unit (unspecified but designed for HM76 chipsets), to the two DDR3 memory slots (up to 8 GB total).
A discrete graphics card does not appear to be part of the list, but there is no real need for it with the CPU having an integrated solution. This isn't a gaming machine after all.
Moving on, the 2.5-inch drive bay can hold an HDD or up to 720 GB capacity (500 GB and 640 GB are the other two options).
Furthermore, MSI tossed in a DVD super multi optical disk drive and a multi-card reader (SD/SDHC/MMC/SDXC).
As for connectivity and I/O, there is the normal wireless support mentioned above, two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI 1.4, two USB 2.0 connectors and audio/mic jacks.
All the parts, along with the 14-inch HD display (1,366 x 768 pixels, 16:9 aspect ratio), run on the energy provided by a 6-cell battery. A single charge should be good for up to 7.5 hours, depending on how intensive the tasks are and how the Turbo Battery feature is employed.
For those not up to speed on the technology, Turbo Battery lets owners shut down Bluetooth, wireless devices and other things not in use through the press of a single button.
