14 DAY TRIAL // Taiwanese notebook and computer hardware maker, MSI, has just revealed another addition to its recently announced “Classic” series of portable computer systems. Following the introduction of the 14-inch and the 16-inch models, the company has now followed up with two new 17-inch laptops, specifically designed to meet the requirements of mainstream PC users. Dubbed CX700 and CR700, the new systems are designed on two different platforms, coming from SiS and NVIDIA, much like in the case of the previously launched models.
Kicking off with the CX700, users will be able to take advantage of a 17.3-inch display, featuring an HD resolution of 1600 by 900 pixels, and a choice for an Intel Core 2 Duo processor coupled with an ATI Mobility Radeon HD4330 graphics chip with 512MB of VRAM. The system can also be equipped with 4GB of DDR2 memory, a 500GB 2.5-inch SATA hard drive, a DVD Super-Multi optical drive, a 4-in-1 media card reader and a choice for a 6- or 9-cell battery pack. The laptop measures 414 x 267 x 33.7-37mm and weighs in at 3kg, featuring a 6-cell battery.
Second off, there's the CR700, which adopts NVIDIA's MCP79MVL chipset to provide support for an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and the integrated NVIDIA GeForce 8200M G graphics chip. This solution has also been equipped with a 17.3-inch 1600x900 HD+ display and support for up to 4GB of DDR2 memory. Aside from that, the storage and most of the other features are practically identical.
Users will also take advantage of the 2+1 subwoofer speaker system, the 1.3MP webcam, gigabit LAN, optional Bluetooth, wireless 802.11 b/g/n connectivity, ExpressCard and the usual array of ports and connectivity options. Unfortunately, there are no details regarding the pricing and availability of MSI's latest laptops.