JAL XP 1800+ Virgo

We've not seen a great many JAL PCs in Computeractive, but the company really has pushed the boat out with its latest offering. Coming with a quick processor, plenty of memory and Windows XP, the XP 1800+ Virgo looks to have all the ingredients to be a great computer.

To avoid confusion, it's important to identify that the speed of the Athlon processor is actually 1.53GHz, rather than the 1.8GHz the XP 1800 implies. The reasoning behind this is purely marketing-led, with AMD insisting that it performs as well as an Intel Pentium 4 1.8GHz processor.

This isn't just a case of all mouth and no trousers either. Like most Athlons we've tested, the JAL XP 1800+ notched up very good scores in our system tests. Of course, this is bolstered by a whopping 512Mb of memory, which ensures great performance and the ability to run dozens of applications simultaneously without problems.

The first thing we noticed was that there was no poster to help set up the JAL, so novices could well find themselves stuck before they start.

It's doubly important here, as the JAL has a curious removable hard disk that could confuse the unwary, but at least the 54Gb capacity means there's little to complain about size-wise. It sits in a drive bay dock, freeing up an internal drive bay but allowing the drive to be removed for safekeeping.

Although we endorse keeping your data secure, the removable aspect could be seen as a little futile. You could argue that the hard disk can be swapped between PCs, making it simple to transfer work. Windows XP doesn't take kindly to being passed around numerous PCs though, making it almost impossible to take advantage of the swappable benefits of a removable hard disk.

If you're that worried about keeping your files safe, the integrated Acer CD-RW drive will allow you to write data at 20-speed and re-write at 10-speed. It also doubles as a 40-speed CD-ROM drive. The JAL also comes with a DVD-ROM drive and a great audio setup.

A former 'Buy It' winner in issue 98 of Computeractive, the Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy is a superb sound card that offers Dolby Digital decoding and a FireWire port for ultra-fast data transfer. An additional MIDI port is also included but this obscures one of the vacant PCI slots, cutting down on upgrade options.

For full surround sound, a set of Cambridge SoundWorks DT2200 5.1 speakers also form part of the JAL bundle.

Where graphics are concerned, the JAL is well equipped and sports the latest GeForce 3 Titanium 500T graphics card. Capable of resolutions up to 1600 x 1200 it will play all the latest 3D games and then some.

However, the card is somewhat hampered by the 15in Hansol TFT monitor. Although it saves space and is a relatively sharp performer, its maximum resolution of 1024 x 768 means the GeForce card never really gets to flex its muscles.

Being a big tower case, the JAL provides a lot of scope for future upgrades. After all has been accounted for, the system is still left with three PCI slots (although one is blocked by the aforementioned MIDI port), two internal 3.5in drive bays, one external 3.5in and one external 5.25in drive bay. For external connections, it also has the usual PS/2, parallel and serial ports plus four USB ports.

On the software front, the JAL comes with a copy of Microsoft Works Suite 2001 and Nero CD-writing software. However, the most eye-catching extra is the truly delicious Logitech Cordless Desktop package of a stylish keyboard and mouse.

For a PC like this, you would expect to pay top dollar and in all fairness, it's not the cheapest system we've seen. However, for good performance, great hardware and good upgrade potential, the JAL XP 1800+ Virgo is well worth the investment.

Contact
JAL Systems: 01782 848100 www.jal.co.uk

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