Novatech Centrino 2 X20mv Pro laptop: better than AMD Puma?

Review: Novatech Centrino 2 X20mv Pro laptop: better than AMD Puma?

Final thoughts and rating

Based largely around the Centrino 2 base, Novatech's X20mv Pro is a sub-2kg laptop that packs in considerable CPU processing power in a package that costs £599, including VAT and delivery.

The Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo P8400 makes short work of our benchmarks, handily beating out AMD's Turion X2 Ultra processors found in similar-priced machines, so if heavy computational processing is key in a thin-and-light notebook, look no further than the Centrino 2 platform.

The laptop also features a bright, even 12.1in screen with a 1,280x800 native resolution, and the onboard graphics, Intel's GMA X4500MHD, whilst a significant improvement over previous integrated solutions, fall short of the standard laid down by AMD's Puma - fast-paced gaming, then, is best undertaken with a laptop housing a discrete graphics card.

Novatech's use of a Clevo chassis means that the overall package isn't as polished as, say, a Dell or HP, but that shouldn't really matter as build quality is good. Integrated FireWire and draft 802.11n would have been nice, however.

We'd like the choice of a bigger battery at the time of purchase and, really, better pricing on upgrades, but if you're after a light, powerful laptop that does most things well, the Novatech X20mv Pro is good enough to go on a shortlist.

The good

Decent processing power in a sub-2kg laptop
Good build quality
Easily upgradable
Nice screen

The not so good

Battery upgrade needs to be an option at the time of purchase
802.11n and FireWire would have been nice
POS upgrades need to be better-priced

HEXUS Rating

HEXUS scores products out of a possible 10. A score for an average-rated product, therefore, is a meaningful ‘5’, and not ‘9/10’, which is common practice for a great many other publications.

We consider any product score above '5' as a safe buy. The higher the score, the higher the recommendation from HEXUS to buy. Simple, straightforward buying advice.

Novatech Centrino 2 X20mv Pro

HEXUS Where2Buy

The Novatech X20mv Pro can be purchased for £599.99, including Windows Vista Home Premium.

HEXUS Right2Reply

At HEXUS.net, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any Novatech representatives choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.

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Thanks for the review, but i'd like to ask that you reconsider one of the ways that you do your reviews.
I have always been unhappy with the idea of extrapolating battery times based on what the device itself tells you

percentage left after 60m Batman Begins DVD

The always quite brilliant Dans Data however was able to encapsulate it well with this article (as well as his usual provision of evidence, rather than just giving opinion).
I wholeheartedly agree with that article, and feel that it would be a little remiss of Hexus to ignore it.

Anyway, just my 2 cents. Other than that, thanks for the review.

The battery-test is run for an hour because the majority of laptops cannot play the entire DVD without shutting down.

After the 60 minutes is up and the percentage left has been measured, the film is left to play until the battery drains down. We've yet to see instances where the 60-minute mark, extrapolated out, was way off.

The other method of doing it, I suppose, is to see how much of the film has played until the first battery-warning signal is presented.

Ok, i take your point, but i think to say how good a battery is, based on what the device itself tells you is… a little dodgy.
I backed a horse once because the guy said it was a “guaranteed winner”. Learnt my lesson. :)

The other thing might be to have a stopwatch running by the side of it, but of course it would rely on you guys being on the ball to see when it all konks out; Then again the low battery warning would let you get ready, so it's possible.

All just ideas anyway, i want you guys to maintain a high standard.

I think now Intel have produced reasoanable IGP for HD playback their combo is perhaps the better deal overall as the AMD's only real advantage is light gaming which to be fair most people will skip over with a small/thin and light laptop anyway (myself not included).

Obviously PUMA is a let down on CPU grunt which is where the intel lands it's deadly blow but to be frank good PUMA and X4500 laptops should be sub £500, I can't imagine who would pay £600 for that novatech laptop when the XPS M1330 is in and around the same price with discrete graphics and very good battery options.

If my 8400gs hadn't given up the ghost (nvidia's fault naturally) my xps m1330 is the perfect blend of power and performance and also has an HDMI out to properly utilise HD playback capabilities.

Samsung also offers laptops in 12“ - 13” with a similar price (£600 - £700) with some nice options :)

The X20mv Pro is sold with a standard one-year collect-and-return warranty, with the customer footing the courier bill in both directions should the unit require repairing.

I think collect & return means Novatech cover the shipping both ways not the customer.