NEC Versa AX

A few months ago we looked at the last NEC Versa AX (reviewed issue 79, p169). With its 700MHz AMD Duron processor, it had the speed to succeed, and the sub-£1,000 price point was just as attractive. If we hadn't felt that the Versa's superior CPU horsepower was wasted on a low-resolution 12.1in TFT screen and compromised by some lacklustre components, we would have been singing its praises. Thankfully, with this swift revision, NEC has answered at least some of our criticisms.

The biggest improvement, and by far the most noticeable, is the screen. Gone is the antiquated fun-sized SVGA display and in its place we have a far more impressive 13.3in TFT running at 1,024 x 768. This still might sound small in these days when 15in monsters rule the earth, but this combination of screen size and resolution works perfectly well, and particularly when the screen image is as clear and capable of vivid colour as the one presented here. On a low-priced notebook, it's really pretty good.

NEC has also pumped 64Mb more RAM into the Versa AX, taking it up to 128Mb. With Office XP now on the shelves and the more demanding Windows XP coming this autumn, 128Mb is looking more sensible. However, should 128Mb ever seem insufficient, don't despair: unscrew one of the removable plates on the base of the notebook and you'll uncover a standard SODIMM socket ready for filling.

Sadly, the graphics chipset remains the same. The ATi Rage Mobility-M is fine for 2D and an excellent choice for DVD playback - not that the Versa is fitted with a DVD-ROM drive - but when it comes to 3D it's running out of gumption. What's needed is a GeForce2 Go chipset or a mobile ATi Radeon when it's released.

While we're complaining, NEC should also take a look at the case design. We don't expect sleek, metallic glamour at budget prices, but the Versa remains a brick of a notebook, and no silver spray-job can cover that up. At over 3kg, it's also too heavy to carry around. Think desktop replacement, not portable PC and you'll be fine. It's also worth noting that you only get a basic one-year collect-and-return warranty as standard.

These things aside, the latest Versa AX remains the epitome of the well-built, budget notebook. The keyboard is full-sized, with large, flat-topped keys, a standard layout and a comfortable, responsive typing action. The glide pad, meanwhile, is accurate and doesn't suffer from the wandering pointer-syndrome that afflicts many low-cost notebooks.

While a DVD-ROM would be nice, a 24-speed CD-ROM and floppy drive will satisfy storage demands for now. As far as connectivity goes, the Versa is well equipped. Tucked just behind the drives on the left are two USB ports, while the rear houses PS/2, VGA, parallel and serial ports, plus a composite video output. The right-hand side carries on the good work with two stacked Type II PC Card slots and a V.90 modem.

A curious thing about this particular Versa is that it came fitted with a NiMH battery pack. Even the most basic budget notebooks have dumped NiMH, and for good reason. Not only do most NiMH batteries perform badly in comparison to the lithium ion cells that are standard in modern notebooks, but they store less charge the more they're used. The choice of a NiMH battery is also a contributing factor to the Versa's woeful performance in our tough rundown tests - expiring after just 49 minutes, which will mean no more than an hour and a half even in normal usage. Luckily NEC is offering an upgrade to a lithium ion battery for an extra £88, which is advisable if you're serious about work on the move.