Review: Philips X56 Freevents notebook computer

Here at Computeractive we’re used to seeing computers that skimp on power, memory or features to meet a certain price.

So, when the Philips X56 Freevents arrived with a Core 2 Duo processor and Windows Media Center for just £699, we set out to find the catch.

Exclusive to the Dixons Stores Group (PC World, Currys.Digital and Dixons online), the Philips X56 Freevents comes in a solid yet genuinely lightweight (1.85kg) silver chassis. The design isn't quite up to the latest Sony Vaio or Apple Mac Book, but you certainly won't mind taking it out at the airport or on the train for a spot of work.

In fact, the clear 12.1in widescreen display and comfortable, almost full-size keyboard make it especially good for using on the move, though it can get a little too hot to use on your lap for extended periods. We also like the relatively slim palm rest, which puts the keys at hand rather than halfway across the base as on some larger models.

Inside the X56 is a nippy 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB of memory and an 80Gb hard disk. Graphics, meanwhile, are Intel's own integrated flavour. This chip won't cope well with 3D games but its fine for general office work and even high-definition video.

It's also fully compatible with the new Aero interface in Windows Vista – PC World is offering buyers a free upgrade to this when it’s available.

Given that the graphics chip shares the main memory, we were pleased to find that upgrading the existing module with a 2GB one presented no problems; we found compatible memory at Crucial.

Three USB ports and a Firewire connector allow for external add-ons, while a network port, a 56k modem and built-in wireless networking provide connections to the outside world.

You also get jacks for headphones or speakers and a microphone at the front, plus a VGA socket for hooking up to a separate screen. Annoyingly, however, there's no TV output.

Meanwhile, an integrated 4-in-1 memory card reader lets you quickly transfer digital photos, videos or mp3 files between devices. Other noteworthy features include an Express card slot and a dual-layer DVD writer.

The X56 comes bundled with the excellent Microsoft Works for basic office tasks, plus CyberLink’s Power2Go and PowerDVD for burning discs and watching movies respectively.

You also get Norton Internet Security 2006 but with just a 30-day trial subscription, which seems a tad mean. We’d have liked to see at least three months of updates thrown in.

Interestingly, the system is also billed as part of Streamium range and will happily stream video, photos and music across a wired or wireless network using Philips’ Connected Planet Media Manager software. It’s a powerful, easy to use utility but perhaps overkill given that Media Center and Media Player already allow for this. Still, it’s good to have a choice.

Battery life is quoted at four hours and the system BIOS allows for calibration to get the most from the rechargeable cell; we managed to get just over three hours of ‘normal’ use.

Ready for Vista, the Philips X56 Freevents is a fast, expandable and truly portable notebook at a very good price.

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