NEC Versa M300

This sleek, silver NEC Versa M300 notebook could be just the thing if you're looking for a notebook that will spend most of its life on a desk, with occasional use on the train or in an airport lounge.

The M300 has the smallest screen you could expect from a desktop replacement at 14.1in, but you do get an adequate resolution of 1,024 x 768.

The graphics chip is the new ATI IGP 340M, which uses 32MB of the system memory that can be adjusted up to 128MB if you so choose. There would be little point though, as our 3D test results show this isn't a gaming solution.

The ATI chip does, however, help to save battery power and makes the screen look absolutely stunning. The screen itself doesn't have a particularly wide viewing angle, but 2D objects look vivid and clear.

As a business notebook the only obvious deficiency is the lack of wireless networking. Of course you can add a PC card to one of the two Type II slots and the price reflects the specification, so we couldn't be too harsh to NEC on this point.

The CD-RW/DVD-Rom combo drive is a handy luxury, as we all know that watching DVD movies on a notebook has its merits on long journeys.

The chassis feels solid and well made and it has a decent touchpad, with a one-piece mouse button that rocks from side to side for a left or right click, while in the middle is the scrolling button. It may sound odd but it works well and suits the styling of the notebook admirably.

We found the keyboard action is a little stiff and had to press the keys firmly and precisely, but as a neat touch the speakers are in the front edge of the chassis well clear of your hands.

DETAILS

Price: £1,233 (£1,049 ex VAT)
Contact: NEC 0870 010 6322
www.nec-online.co.uk

SPECS

• Intel Pentium 4 mobile 1.8GHz processor
• 256MB of PC2100 memory
• 40GBhard disk
• 16x 10x 24x 8x optical drive
• Floppy drive
• Ali Chipset
• S-Video, 3x USB, serial, VGA, parallel, modem, Lan, Mini Firewire, headphone, mic in and volume thumbwheel
• ATI Radeon graphics
• 32MB shared memory
• 14.1in TFT 1,024 x 768 resolution
• XP Professional
• 3kg
• 33 x 26 x 3.8cm
• One year collect and return