Gericom 3.06GHz Smart Power

Regular readers will know that when Aldi announces a computer deal you should drop everything and listen. This is the superstore's first foray into the notebook market but just like its previous desktop PC offerings, this is a deal that you're unlikely to see anywhere else.

The Gericom 3.06GHz Smart Power will be on sale from 26 February at Aldi stores nationwide and, if previous sales are anything to go by, if you're not queuing before opening time, you won't get one on the day. We have been informed, however, that in the event of the product selling out quickly, order forms will be available at all stores up to 6 March 2004.

As for the specification, how about starting off with a 3.06GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor, 512Mb of fast memory and a 60Gb hard disk? This is easily one of the quickest notebooks we've come across, supported by its excellent results in our tests. There is even room to upgrade the memory to 1,024Mb. First impressions are that Gericom has built a notebook to last.

Unlike many notebooks of this price, the Smart Power comes with a 15.1in screen that's capable of a 1400 x 1050 resolution. Combine this with the latest nVidia GeForce Go FX5600 graphics and you've got a notebook that's great for games as well as Windows applications. It's never going to compare graphically with a desktop PC of a similar specification, but it will play all the latest 3D games at acceptable quality levels. There are both VGA and S-Video outputs, which means you can plug the Smart Power into a monitor or TV.

It also comes with an LG multi-format recordable DVD drive that can read and write all DVD standards. This means that you can archive large amounts of data to DVD if the hard disk is getting cramped. Naturally, you can also watch DVD movies, although the on-board speakers aren't great, so use an external speaker system or headphones.

The Smart Power comes with all the usual array of ports and sockets and a 3-in-1 memory card reader. It also supports Wi-Fi but Gericom supplies a PC card for this instead of it being built in.

If there are a couple of downsides to this otherwise superb notebook, it's the bulkiness and battery life. At 3.5kg, it's not light and it's not as aesthetically pleasing as others, such as the Packard Bell EasyNote M3 325. The battery life also only racked up two hours in our tests, which doesn't say much for the Smart Power battery technology. Nevertheless, if you're using it as a desktop replacement, it'll be plugged into the mains anyway.

It does come with a good software collection, though, a free carry case and a two-year warranty and all-risk insurance policy that covers everything from theft to accidentally dropping it.

To sell this notebook one penny shy of £1,000 is a minor miracle. If you've been thinking of buying a notebook, make a note in your diary to be at your local Aldi well before the doors open.

Contact: Aldi 0870 513 4262 (locator only)
www.aldi.co.uk