Conclusion

The developers of the M50Sv notebook should be given credit for creating a product with an optimal price/quality/performance ratio. The price of this notebook is reasonable, while its quality and performance are superb, so we now have a new appealing product in the sparsely populated sector of multimedia 15-inch notebooks. In fact, it is easier to tell what the M50Sv cannot do. The configuration we tested could not work as a TV-set as its lacked a TV-tuner and could not work in 3G networks. Otherwise, the M50Sv is a good multimedia computer that easily handles games, movies and office applications.

As for the new Penryn-core processor, it can do better on the upcoming Centrino-2 platform codenamed Montevina. On the current platform it brings about but a small performance gain.

Our tests also show that the GeForce 9500M GS graphics adapter is about as fast as the GeForce 8600M GT, so we can expect the new 9 series solutions with high indexes to have a large advantage over the previous generation of Nvidia’s mobile graphics cards.

Highs:

• Stylish design (ASUS Infusion Technology)
• Superb performance in any applications
• Modest but sufficient accessories
• Good cooling system
• Fingerprint scanner together with a Trusted Platform Module
• (optional) TV-tuner and 3G module
• Touchpad supports positioning and multimedia modes
• Ambient lighting sensor
• Altec Lansing speakers
• 4 gigabytes of system memory in dual-channel mode
• Integrated 1.3-megapixel web-camera
• Full-size keyboard with a dedicated numpad
• E-SATA and HDMI ports

Lows:

• “Glassy” matrix
• Touchpad’s multimedia feature can be enabled accidentally
• Low battery life
• 1 gigabyte of system memory cannot be utilized under 32-bit Windows
• Easily soiled glossy surfaces of the case
• Poor color reproduction setup of the LCD panel