Maxdata NB Pro 7000X

The 7000X is Maxdata's first Centrino notebook, combining a 1.6GHz Pentium M processor with 256MB of memory and a 40GB hard drive. It combines good performance with an adequate battery life, but is quite chunky at 2.8kg.

Finished in silver and black, its twin-spindle design is stylish. Centrino technology and a small processor ensure this notebook won't burn your lap.

The keyboard is well placed and laid out, with responsive keys, but the build quality isn't that good as the keyboard flexes when you type. However, the mouse buttons and touchpad work well.

Although the screen is commendably thin, it doesn't flex much and has a native resolution of 1,024 x 768. You won't be playing anything approaching a decent game with this, as it only has integrated Intel graphics.

The 7000X has plenty of ports to connect to the outside world as, apart from the integrated wireless networking of Centrino, there is also 10/100 Ethernet, a V.92 modem and infra-red. Also provided are three USB2 ports and a single Firewire port.

Apart from the hard drive for storage, the 7000X has a single Type II PC Card slot and a Memory Stick, Secure Digital (SD) and Multimedia Card (MMC) slot, enabling a wide range of external cards to be used. The CD player can be used without booting up the notebook.

The graphics may be a bit of a letdown, but the 7000X is good value, and is one of the cheapest Centrino notebooks we've seen.

Contact: Maxdata
www.maxdata.co.uk

Specifications:

• 1.6GHz Pentium M
• 256MB of DDR memory
• 40GB hard disk
• Windows XP Pro
• Integrated Intel graphics
• 15in XGA TFT screen
• 2.8kg
• 327 x 270 x 29.8mm (w x d x h)