14 DAY TRIAL // In its attempt to increase its market share in the notebook space, MSI has just announced a couple of new products in its growing line of portable PCs. Launched by the company’s US division, the five new laptops are part of its C-series and include the 16-inch CX600, CR600-013 and the CR600-017, while the CX700 and CR700 will provide users with a higher-resolution 17.3-inch display. The new systems have been designed for mainstream customers, offering them with a mix of some of the latest hardware components on the market.
As far as technical specifications go, both the CX600 and the CX700 will be powered by Intel’s Pentium Dual Core T4200 processor, clocked at 2GHz. The two are based on the SIS 672DX+968 chipset and will combine the aforementioned Intel chip with the ATI Mobility Radeon HD4330.
Additional features include up to 4GB of DDR2 memory, a 2.5-inch 320GB SATA hard drive, Gigabit LAN, 802.11 b/g/n connectivity and a super multi DVD optical drive. Both models also boast a 6-cell battery pack, 4-in-1 media card reader, a 1.3MP webcam and three USB 2.0 ports. Available in black and silver, the main difference between the two is that the first will provide users with a 16-inch 1366 x 768 display, while the second comes with a 17.3-inch 1600 x 900 monitor.
The other three models are pretty much the same, but are built on an NVIDIA MCP79MVL chipset and boast the GeForce 8200M G graphics solution. These are also available in black and grey color options, and provide users with built-in HDMI ports. The CR600-017 features a slightly faster Pentium Dual-Core T4300 2.1GHz processor and a Blu-ray optical drive.
Backed by a 3-year limited warranty, the new MSI C-series laptops are said to be available for a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of US$549.99.