JVC MP-XP7230

Size isn't necessarily everything and you've probably lost count of the number of times we've told you not to get carried away with how a system looks. At the end of the day, you want it to perform well too.

However, even we found it hard to look beyond the appearance of the new MP-XP7230 from JVC. This is JVC's latest mini notebook; it's about the size of an A5 book, weighs the same as a bag of sugar and looks amazing.

Unfortunately, the small size means that you get a fairly low-specification PC by today's standards so if you are looking for a performance notebook, this isn't the one for you. The processor is a mobile Pentium III 933MHz, backed up by 256Mb of memory and onboard graphics that share 16Mb of system memory.

It's fair to say that this notebook isn't good enough to play the latest games, as our system tests showed, but the MP-XP7230 has not been designed to compete with larger notebooks. What it will happily do is let you browse the internet, send email, word process and do some light photo editing on the move, which is all most mobile users need.

There's more to being portable than size so JVC has provided loads of connectivity. Alongside the standard modem and network ports, there's wireless networking ability, which can be used to connect to hotspots. There's also the usual range of ports, including a mini-FireWire port that can be used to hook up a digital camera, and an SD memory card slot. This is particularly useful for downloading pictures when your digital camera gets full so you don't have to invest in more memory cards.

As the case is too small to house a CD-ROM drive, JVC provides an external unit that plugs into the PC Card slot. In all likelihood, this is going to remain sitting at home and will only be connected when installing the odd bit of software.

Despite the small 9in screen, we were impressed by the quality. Running at a resolution of 1024 x 600, the picture looks great and remains large enough to read easily. Once back home, though, you can connect the MP-XP7230 up to a standard monitor, although you will need a special adapter.

As you might expect, the tiny keyboard can be a little fiddly to type on and controlling the mouse through the track point - there's not enough room for the usual touch pad - is equally as tricky. You will probably find it more convenient to invest in a portable USB mouse and use that instead.

Battery life on a computer like this is critical and while the standard battery only lasts around 1.5 hours, you also get a long-life battery that clips onto the back of the notebook. This increases the overall size by a couple of centimetres but increases battery life to around seven hours.

It comes pre-installed with Windows XP Professional, which bumps the price up a little, but very little other software. Only Norton Antivirus 2003 is of note.

As far as performance goes, the MP-XP7230 doesn't rule the roost but it's not designed to. It's a niche product and if you want the smallest, snazziest notebook PC and don't mind the cost, this is a superb product that will meet all your travelling needs.

Contact: JVC 0870 330 5000
www.jvc.co.uk