Multivision Visage

Buying a notebook computer doesn't have to be an expensive affair any more. There are plenty of affordable computers on offer these days and, for those who want a spend a little more, the choice of features and specifications is vast.

The Multivision Visage falls into that category, combining good features with a competitive price tag. Things don't start off well, though. The metallic blue casing may look quite stylish but unfortunately the lid is a bit stiff to open up.

Once unlocked, the screen is a 14.1in TFT colour display with a resolution of 1,024 x 768 pixels. The keyboard keys are smooth to use, with ample space around the touch pad to rest your hands.

If the touch pad doesn't suit, you can always connect a mouse to one of the three USB ports. However, with no PS/2 ports, if you do prefer a mouse, you will end up losing one of the USB slots, which could be limiting if you want to plug in lots of other peripherals.

The Visage comes equipped with a Pentium 4 1.8GHz processor and 256MB of memory. As a bonus, there's also a free memory slot if you want to upgrade later on.

The 30Gb hard disk is ample for the majority of most home users. When tested, the general performance was good but there are many faster processors available.

It achieved average scores in our system tests although it fared rather better in our graphics tests. This is due to the GeForce 4 MX420 GO chipset.

It cannot compete with a desktop computer but among notebooks, it is one of the best graphics solutions available. It is good enough to play the majority of modern games.

As far as back-up devices go, a DVD-Rom/CD-RW combination drive should be enough to take care of all your needs. An external floppy disk drive is available as an option if you really can't do without.

The built-in speakers are as good as the majority of notebooks but just don't expect cinema quality sound when you watch a DVD movie. At 2.7Kg, the Visage's weight is average for a well-featured notebook.

If your digital camera uses SmartMedia memory cards, you're in luck as the Visage has a reader built into the case for easy transfer.

There are also two PC Card slots, suitable for two Type II or one Type III device and the three USB ports. Two are positioned at the back of the computer, while the other is on the side with a mini-FireWire socket for hooking up devices like digital camcorders.

Other means of communication are provided with an internal modem and a network socket. If the screen isn't big enough, there is an S-Video port for connection to a television.

An external monitor can be connected using the VGA port. The parallel port for printer connections allows you to keep the USB ports free for other devices.

The system comes with Windows XP Home and DVD playback software but unfortunately that's your lot, with no productivity or even antivirus software included.

All in all, the Visage offers plenty of features and few gripes. Aside from a lack of software and an awkward to operate lid, the Visage is pretty good but lacks anything that would enable it to stand out from the crowd.

Price: £1,150 (inc. VAT)
Contact: Multivision 0870 220 2822
www.multivision.co.uk

Also consider:
HI-GRADE ULTINOTE M6400. A very capable notebook. £1,562 ****.