Evesham releases 12.1-inch, dual-core Quest A230 laptop

Our favorite UK laptop rebadger is back with a new 12.1-inch member of their Quest series, called the A230, that offers dual-core technology for around $1,500. Featuring AMD's Turion 64 X2 processor, Evesham's A230 also comes with 1GB of RAM under the hood, integrated two-flavor WiFi, a built-in ExpressCard slot, and almost certainly, integrated graphics. British shoppers looking for an ultraportable around 4-pounds (that refers to the weight, not the price, wiseguy) can pick up their very own A230 immediately.

[Via Core Duo Info]

[Clay @ May 22nd 2006 9:02AM]

I sincerely wish these ultraportables would stop with the integrated graphics; what is this, 1997?

[Joe Smith @ May 22nd 2006 9:15AM]

Well, Clay, that's one of the things Vista will hopefully be good for. Even if it's good for nothing else, it will make discrete graphics cards much more popular. Hell, it REQUIRES 15 gigabytes of space and discrete graphics cards just to run! That's like you needing a graphics card just to use the calculator! (in reference to one of the new mac ads)

[James @ May 22nd 2006 9:36AM]

I sincerely wish that people would stop complaining so much about integrated graphics in low-cost ultraportables.

Cheap ultraportables are NOT meant for games, and are NOT meant for powerful graphics & design applications.

For what they are meant for, integrated graphics work perfectly, and offer fairly significant cost savings. I can easily watch 720p HD on my 2 year old 2GHz Pentium M with integrated graphics.

So QUIT BITCHING you geeks, and buy a NOT CHEAP laptop for your gaming needs.

[Fishd @ May 22nd 2006 10:04AM]

#3, I don't think it's so much that people want "cheap" gaming laptops... people just want "small" gaming laptops!

I'd love a Core-Duo notebook with a decent chipset and a 12.1" or 13.3" widescreen... as it is usually the smallest screen you can get is 15.4"... which I find a touch too large lugging about on a daily basis or during air travel.

The only thing I've seen that comes close is the Sony Vaio SZ1. 2ghz Core-Duo with a 13.3" widescreen... only I've heard mixed reports about the performance of the GeForceGo 7400 turbocache (or whatever it's called). Anyone any direct experience of this notebook?

[Bob @ May 22nd 2006 10:21AM]

eh, it's an MSI rebadge. These are junk. If you're going to buy a rebadged notebook, go with an Asus. The quality of the build is much higher, and it's much simpler to upgrade. This one is a pain to take apart, and even worse to put back together correctly.

[DS @ May 22nd 2006 12:18PM]

These guys have a *LONG* way to go before they are anywhere near Apple design wise. Nice try but like every other POS I think Ill pass....

DS

[Marc Mayor @ May 22nd 2006 2:53PM]

The specs don't sound so bad, but man is this machine ugly...

[Ayrkain @ May 22nd 2006 2:57PM]

It's the chip, stupid.

It's not about the style of the thing or what colors it comes in. It's an entry level (and ultraportable) Turion 64 X2. It'll probably have really good battery life because AMD hasn't had the problems with their chipsets that Intel has had with the Core Duo.

[Clay @ May 22nd 2006 5:57PM]

Dear number 3: Die.

That said, I want a machine that will last me several years. The reason I want a non-integrated graphics card is because in the future, things like Windows Vista and even casual games will use more and more 3D power.

As well, for 300 dollars more, I can get a VAIO which is quite a bit better than this solution.

300 dollars in an investment that is designed to last years? That's nothing.

So in conclusion, number three, you should look towards the future (Q4 2006) instead of flaming me on Engadget.

[Disgusted @ Nov 12th 2007 3:39PM]

Until eveSHAM makes good on the warranty for the last product I bought from them, I must warn;

eveSHAM does not honor it's warranties and is horrible to deal with. They have no US presence and no contact info. Once their tech support (outsourced to a Caleris call center) decides to ignore you, you are just dead in the water.

Do yourself a huge favor and avoid eveSHAM no matter how cheap the product is.