The Bottom Line
If MSI is a company that you aren't familiar with, here's your chance to get to know more about their L735 laptop.
Pros
- Excellent, clear and bright display.
- Integrated card reader is very useful.
- Battery life not too bad for a desktop replacement model.
- Hot Keys make it easy for opening programs quickly.
- Comfortable keyboard.
Cons
- DVD drive makes some noise.
- Some issues with wireless connectivity.
- No Bluetooth.
Description
- Processor: MD Turion™ 64 X2 Mobile Technology TL 56 / TL 60
- Graphics: nVidia® GeForce® Go 7600 256MB
- Display: 17” TFT Super Glare Type WXGA Display
- RAM: 2GB DDR2 533 MHz, Max:2 GB
- Connectivity: Built-in 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet LAN and Modem Module
- PC Card Slots: PCI Express x 1
- Integrated Card Reader: 5-in-1 Card Reader, SD/MMC/XD/MS/MS Pro
- I/O Ports: DVI Port, 3 USB 2.0, Mic-in, IEEE 1394, Line-in, Headphone Out / SPDIF out, Internal Mic, RJ-11, RJ-45, S-Video
- Integrated Digital Camera 1.3M pixel CMOS
- Dimension/Weight: 15.6” (w) x 10.90” (D) x 1.04” - 1.37" (H), 7.95lbs
Guide Review - MSI L735 Desktop Replacement Laptop
The L735 that I reviewed included a portable USB mouse, nylon carrying case and cleaning wipes for the display. This laptop arrives ready to use.One of the issues I had with the L735 was that the wireless didn't co-operate well with my Wi-Fi network, I was able to see the wireless networks of my neighbours. Connecting via Ethernet or modem worked well and I was able to access the Internet using those methods.
The L735's best feature is the 17" display. It's very bright, sharp and images look great even if the quality of the image wasn't so hot. The Super Glare type display is useful even under uneven lighting conditions or with a window behind you. You won't see any glare spots or distortions.
The DVD drive did make some noise when I inserted either a DVD or audio CD. I'm not sure what caused it, whether it was just this particular laptop or something particular to the DVD drive.
The keyboard was very comfortable to use and even for someone with larger hands they should have no problems. It is also a solid feeling keyboard, without the squishy feeling that some laptop keyboards seem to have.
The Hot Keys were very useful and make accessing programs a snap and much quicker than using a mouse or scrolling through menus.
The lack of a Bluetooth connection was a bit of a surprise. I've gotten used to syncing my cell phone and PDA via Bluetooth. The integrated card reader kind of makes up for that loss. It is not having to worry about carrying an external card reader while traveling.
While I didn't use the integrated digital camera a great deal, it could have some good uses for mobile professionals. If you need to record meetings or participate in a web conference, there's another accessory you don't have to carry.
Overall, this was a very nice laptop and could prove quite useful to mobile professionals who require a desktop replacement model.