By Darius Chang
13/09/2007
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/notebooks/0,39050495,62032163,00.htm

SINGAPORE--Where once it exclusively targeted the mid-size market in Asia Pacific, NEC has made a surprise move into the desktop replacement segment with a 17-inch entertainment portable. unveiled at today's press event, the Versa P9110 is powered by a high-end graphics card and above-average audio capabilities, we nevertheless felt it could have done better by including a few extra features.

At the same time, the Japanese maker has refreshed its business portable lineup with a new 14-inch S970 model and two larger 15.4-inch units. The former aims for the mobile professional with its light body, while the Versa P570 and M370 are based on the same chassis with a choice between discrete and integrated graphics.

Consumer notebook

The 17-inch Versa P9110 competes with the likes of HP Pavilion dv9500 and Packard Bell EasyNote SB85 as an all-in-one entertainment machine for the living room. Based on Intel's latest Centrino chipset, the Core 2 Duo processor is coupled with an Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT video card that has a TurboCache memory of up to 1.79GB. Besides video performance, its audio qualities look promising as well with a total of four speakers and a built-in subwoofer and support for 7.1-channel sound output. Other notable features include HDMI output, integrated Webcam and dedicated numeric keyboard.

We wonder why a TV tuner was not thrown into the mix considering that this is not an expensive option and will significantly boost its role as a replacement for home entertainment needs. Moreover, there is no sight of a remote control to be found anywhere, unlike the HP Pavilion dv9500 which offers a full remote control device.

Business notebook

Of the three new business models, the Versa P570 and Versa M370 are actually based on the same chassis design with the difference being the graphics platform they sit on. The new series all come with an Eco mode button which reduces power consumption by cutting down processor speed and screen brightness as well as the fingerprint sensor/TPM security chip combination for data protection.

The Versa P570 offers a larger 15.4-inch screen and discrete graphics performance. Its Nvidia GeForce 8400M GS video processor may not win any gaming tournaments anytime soon, but for the business user involved in photo and video editing it is more than up to the task. The Versa M370 does away with the discrete video card in return for longer battery life and lower cost. Both units feature built-in Webcams and dedicated numeric keypads for the number crunchers.

The other, the NEC Versa S970, is the Japanese maker's portable solution for the corporate worker. The 14-inch notebook is relatively light at 2.2kg, considering other models like the ThinkPad T61 weigh 2.38kg. Though it lacks a built-in Webcam and discrete video card, the true strength of this Versa is its long battery life of up to 7 hours using the extended cell.

These new models will be available in Asia-Pacific markets before the month is out.

New products

Model name	In a nutshell
NEC Versa P9110 Click for more information	Wow factor: Possibly the first 17.1-inch entree from NEC, the P9110 is a serious contender in the portable entertainment arena with its powerful graphics card and 5.1-inch speaker system. A pity it did not decide to come with an integrated TV tuner. Notable features: Core 2 Duo processor 17-inch widescreen display Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT graphics Integrated optical drive Built-in Webcam Discrete numeric pad Four speakers with internal subwoofer Expected: End September 2007 Price: To be announced
NEC Versa S970 Click for more information	Wow factor: A portable business notebook with a relatively light heft and long battery life (up to 7 hours on extended battery). Notable features: Core 2 Duo processor 14-inch widescreen display Integrated Intel GMA X3100 graphics Integrated optical drive Eco Mode Intel Turbo Memory Fingerprint sensor with TPM security chip 2.2kg Expected: End September 2007 Price: To be announced
NEC Versa P570 Click for more information	Wow factor: With its discrete Nvidia graphics card, corporate users who need the extra power, screen size and Webcam will likely opt for this Versa. Notable features: Core 2 Duo processor 15.4-inch widescreen display Nvidia GeForce 8400M GS graphics Integrated optical drive Built-in Webcam Discrete numeric pad Eco Mode Intel Turbo Memory Fingerprint sensor with TPM security chip 2.7kg Expected: End September 2007 Price: To be announced
NEC Versa M370 Click for more information	Wow factor: Base on the same design as the Versa P570, the M370 does away with the discrete graphics processor in favor of the more power-efficient integrated video solution. Notable features: 12-inch widescreen display Integrated Intel GMA X3100 graphics Integrated optical drive Built-in Webcam Discrete numeric pad Eco Mode Intel Turbo Memory Fingerprint sensor with TPM security chip 2.7kg Expected: End September 2007 Price: To be announced