NEC Versa M500

...that my mum purchased a NEC Versa M500e (the e I presume differentiates it from the slightly higher model?) primarily for herself, but everyone else is having a go too. With ability to share broadband it seems a nice time to get one.

This Versa notebook doesn't have the braun of higher end notebooks, but for a budget machine it still packs quite a punch. First timers and those with undemanding needs (net, office applications, some ...
...the boldest name in computing but you've heard of them!

It's been a long time since beige machines were out of fashion, and the M500e isn't one machine that dares to go back. It's a gorgeous silver case with black keys and pad sensor, all sleekly designed.

Windows XP Home is the obligatory OS that runs the 1.3GHz Celeron M processor. The desktop Celeron range took quite a lot af flak in performance, and even though the ... more

In over 10yrs of PC computing I've owned 3 desktops and 2 palmtops, but never a laptop. To rectify that my mum purchased a NEC Versa M500e (the e I presume differentiates it from the slightly higher model?) primarily for herself, but everyone else is having a go too. With ability to share broadband it seems a nice time to get one.

This Versa notebook doesn't have the braun of higher end notebooks, but for a budget machine it still packs quite a punch. First timers and those with undemanding needs (net, office applications, some games and multimedia) will find this perfect. NEC mightn't be the boldest name in computing but you've heard of them!

It's been a long time since beige machines were out of fashion, and the M500e isn't one machine that dares to go back. It's a gorgeous silver case with black keys and pad sensor, all sleekly designed.

Windows XP Home is the obligatory OS that runs the 1.3GHz Celeron M processor. The desktop Celeron range took quite a lot af flak in performance, and even though the M version cannot compete with the mobile computing power of a Centrino, it's adequately fast and capable enough for the aforementioned new/undemanding user.
256MB RAM might be half of what's standard these days, but again if it's cost cutting over performance 256MB is more than capable for the common tasks. 40GB of hard drive space (4200RPM speed) is fairly generous for a budget laptop; enough to last for eons if you're a disk tidier like me (hey, I used Windows 3.11 and DOS with a 250mb HD in '93!). A few of the GBs have been reserved for system recovery. I haven't cut through much of the 60GB on my desktop machine.

The (dead pixel free!) 14.1" TFT XGA screen has good clarity and brightness aswell as being easy on the eye, as TFT's are. It mightn't satisfy the most image hungry user for it's size but it helps keep things small and light. It can obtain a max resolution of 1024x768. You could also connect your laptop to your TV if you acquired a relevant cable.

The speakers are expectedly tiny - just beneath either side of the monitor - but they do a decent job for the price. Yes, they're tinny, but unless you hook it up to a cinema surround setup you'll have to bare with it.

32MB video memory provides sweet graphics for the internet and DVD and gaming. Speaking of DVD you also get a multi-format DVD-RW drive (handles + and - formats), perfect for for backing up large quanties of data and video files, and of course you can also burn standard CD's. The drive is located on the right of the machine and discretely pulls out it's tray for loading.

One PC card slot type II allows you to add in adaptors such as those for wireless internet. But if you're happy being wired there's also a built in 56k modem (with a cable to connect to your phoneline) and a 10/100 LAN port for connecting to your network and/or broadband router.

The Li-On battery takes a couples of hours to charge and gives 2 hours usage away from the AC adaptor. This mere 2 hours will dissapoint laptop travellers, but for us this is of little relevance as it's parked in one of a few spots to the living room and is wired for broadband access.

4 USB 2 ports allow you to connect devices such as a printer, scanner at the current speed standard.

The software bundle completes the package in the standard form of Microsoft Works 7 (basic office suite), PowerDVD and RecordNow (for DVD watching and recording respectively) and a 6mth trial of Norton AntiVirus. It's just a pity it's the 2004 edition!

This 2.6kg package comes with a 1yr warranty, a printed guide, a CD guide and a drivers CD. Due to WinXP familiarity I got my mum up and running in to time. It mighn't be built like a tiger but this little kitty does indeed the job for a person with basic needs. I recommend it. 

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