MSI Megabook VR220YA

Specifications

Price comparison

Reviews for the MSI Megabook VR220YA

60% MSI VR220 YA Edition
Source: Laptop Mag Archive.org version

Instead of putting a mini-notebook’s insides into a larger case (as with Dell’s Inspiron Mini 12), MSI took the guts of a budget mainstream notebook and crammed them into a 12-inch chassis to create the VR220. And as with most budget systems, you have to expect budget performance. While it costs nearly half as much as more traditional 12-inch notebooks, such as the Lenovo ThinkPad X200, it’s not nearly as light, nor does it have the endurance of those systems. But those machines are meant for road warriors with expense accounts. The MSI VR220 is intended for students who need something relatively light and inexpensive for day-to-day tasks. As long as you can live with its subpar keyboard and relatively large size, MSI’s netbook alternative is worth a look.

3 von 5, Preis gut, Leistung gut, Mobilität mäßig
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 12/15/2008
Rating: Total score: 60% price: 80% performance: 80% mobility: 60%

Foreign Reviews

85% MSI VR220YA 12 Zoll
Source: Com! - 5/09
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 04/15/2009
Rating: Total score: 85% price: 80% performance: 40% features: 80% ergonomy: 80%

80% Preiswert und peppig
Source: Notebook / Organizer / Handy - 3-4/09
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 02/01/2009
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 80% performance: 80% mobility: 80%

68% Der neue Standard
Source: mobile Zeit - 2/09
Comparison, online available, Length Unknown, Date: 01/01/2009
Rating: Total score: 68% price: 90%

Comment

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500MHD: Onboard (shared Memory) GPU built in the GM45, GE45 and GS45 chipset (Montevina). Because of two more shaders and a higher core clock, much faster than the old GMA X3100. Still not advisable for gamers (DirectX 10 games not playable or only with very low settings). The integrated video processor is able to help decode HD videos (AVC/VC-2/MPEG2) , e.g., for a fluent Blu-Ray playback with slow CPUs.

Only some 3D games with very low demands are playable with these cards.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.

Intel Pentium Dual Core: The return of the name Pentium, though it is a Yonah core. In fact, it is a double Core processor with a very good relation of performance to current consumption.

T3200: Entry-level dual core processor with a slow performance due to the old Merom core and a small level 2 cache.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.

12.10":

This range of display format is largely the upper limit for tablets and the lower limit for subnotebooks.

The advantage of subnotebooks is that the entire laptop can be small in size and therefore easily portable. The tiny display has the added advantage of requiring little power, which further improves battery life and thus mobility. The disadvantage is that reading texts is exhausting for the eyes. High resolutions, which one is used to from a standard laptop, are almost not usable.

The same applies to tablets in this size range.

MSI: Micro-Star International (MSI) was founded in 1986 in Taiwan. MSI is especially known as a manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards for PCs, but also offers computer accessories, complete systems, motherboards, graphics cards, laptops, desktop PCs, monitors and other components. However, the Microstar brand name in Germany belongs to the Medion company. MSI is known for its gaming products and has developed a wide range of gaming laptops and desktop PCs. The company is also active in workstations, servers and industrial automation. MSI has offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

73.25%: This rating is poor. More than three quarters of the models are rated better. That is rather not a purchase recommendation. Even if verbal ratings in this area do not sound that bad ("sufficient" or "satisfactory"), they are usually euphemisms that disguise a classification as a below-average laptop.

» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.

Devices from a different Manufacturer and/or with a different CPU

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