NEC VersaPro VS-7 netbook manhandled, makes one reviewer positively giddy
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Jul 23rd 2009 10:07AM
posted Jul 23rd 2009 10:07AM
You know that new ultra-light, ultra-thin, and ultra-portable laptop from NEC you got an eyeful of way back in May? Of course you do. You've been obsessing, actually -- and frankly, we've been worried about you. Still, we'd be remiss in our duties if we didn't turn you on to this mini-review that Akihabara News scored of the VersaPro VS-7. And we must say, the kudos are flowing pretty freely over there: "freaking light," (that's right: freaking), "slim and robust." The reviewer is simply "amazed" at the netbook's performance. Even in full screen mode HD video plays "just fine," and 720p DivX video playback is characterized as "flawless." But that ain't all -- hit the read link for the full, unexpurgated tale. But not before peeping the video after the break.
Sweet looking, but gotta love the Windows Vista Basic sticker!
That needs to say Windows 7. It would make it a whole lot more appealing to me!
It would look a lot better if they offered in any other color than cheesy silver-painted plastic.
Simple to install Windows 7 RC for free...
EEk! No where to rest my palms when I type.
Fail.
sorry, I just down share your excitement with that keyboard placement.
It' seems someone didn't get the memo.
1980's called, they want they useless keyboard position back.
It's so thin, you don't need a palm rest... A desk will work just fine...
@encosion
good point
I really don't understand the funky keyboard placement either. Why waste all of that space north of the keyboard and eliminate a palm rest?
Resting your wrists is bad posture.
Welcome to RSI.
@Smartass: They just called again. They want their joke back.
the thing is so thin, u dont need a palm rest. check out the older sony x505 and you'll see what i mean. hopefully this NEC thing is priced around $500, which somehow i doubt.....
Yeah, it's going to be far more than $500, and at that point, I'd rather get a Panasonic R8 from Dynamism or whatever.
saw it listed for about 1800 USD :)
They could've fit a track pad at the bottom but instead they're dumb!
It's available for preorder directly from NEC here in Japan: http://club.express.nec.co.jp/store/ntpc/vs.html
It's around $1050USD including tax, and will probably be available from retailers for 20% less or so on the streets (if it will even be sold through retail channels). It comes with either XP Professional or Vista Business, so it's definitely geared toward business users. It's clearly in direct competition with the Panasonic CF-R8, which has just had its price reduced (with a Core Solo).
This is the first NEC computer I've ever been remotely interested in, though I'm not in the market for a netbook (nor will I ever be). The keyboard placement is unfortunate..
freaking awesome
I'm don't really like the keyboard position and the cheap-looking silver/white color scheme, but the superslim/-light formfactor really should be THE target for every netbook manufacturer out there.
Also, is it just Opera, or does Engadget glitch a little today? Especially comment section rendering?
The superior usability of Opera is actually the reason why I use it instead of another browser, but hey, whatever...
It's just Opera or your eyesight.
Google Chrome 3.0 seems to be rendering pages far faster and more accurately than this "Opera" you speak of.
im on opera, no glitches here
Although, when is Engadget not glitchy?
does it have ion or that broadcom chip ??? I mean the N270/N280 are definitely not capable of Full HD....
The NEC VersaPro VS-7 is one of a kind with impressive numbers
- Intel Atom Z540 (1.84GHz)
- 64GB of SSD
- 15.8mm Thick
- 725g
- A body that resists pressures up to 150kg!
Guess it's that Atom chip, article also says it is using Intel GMA still...
Well they only mention 720p and I can do 720p on my 900HA running Win7. Given the choice I'd still go with the 900HA; it may be a bit more clunky but I can buy alot of gadgets with the $700 I save.
Give me a decent netbook with 1080p and HDMI out and I'll get alot more excited than if you give me the same thing as I got only .5" thinner.
Is that a tracking nipple I see? I thought we had seen the last of that 90s laptop relic.
You know, somehow I overlooked the lack of a trackpad. I was so concerned with that keyboard position...
Wow. Talk about a way to kill it. Although nipples are nice, they have no place on a netbook.
I wish every laptop still had a pointing stick! I can't stand trackpads and only buy laptops that have the "nipple" as you called it. Unfortunately, this means I'm usually limited to business class laptops from either IBM/Lenovo or Dell.
All hail the tracking nipple!! I much prefer the nipple as it's much more precise than a trackpad once you get the hang of it.
-Send from my nipply X61 tablet
Agreed, my dell doesn't have a trackstick, those things are so much easier to use than track pads. Less movement required.
Trackpads are useless and inaccurate. Anything with a trackpoint gets my vote.
I still gotta disagree with all you guys. In my experience tracking nipples have always been slow and cumbersome to use, like trying to use a console joystick to control the cursor. Of course a real mouse is ideal, but other than that, for me the trackpad (with the sensitivity turned nearly all the way up) wins every time.
http://xkcd.com/243/
*totally related. not porn, or junk. i promise.
@Khaz It works better if you adjust the sensitivity. I couldn't use one at first either, but when I turned up the sensitivity and used it for a few hours, I couldn't ever go back to the touchpad. Nipple 4 lyfe!
Yeha guys, what's a tracking nipple? All I see is a clit mouse.
trackpoints are the best. You can use them and never take your hands off the keyboard/homerowz
I won't buy a laptop without one.
No trackpad?
Are they serious?
http://www.ratemyeverything.net/image/21230/0/Not_sure_if_your_serious.ashx
There's no trackpad *because* they're serious.
Of course they are serious.
Trackpads suck!
Did anyone else notice that the screen housing twisted a bit as it was opened?
Yeah, plastic - it's fantastic
You guys do realize not EVERYONE wants a trackpad? I have a Lenovo X200 that lacks a trackpad. It only has a nipple and I'm perfectly fine with it - I prefer it over constantly swiping my finger on a trackpad. Although the X200 lacks one to make room for the full keyboard.
This laptop has extra space, so I could see it having room for a trackpad. At least move the keyboard up to give a little palm rest space if you're going to leave out the trackpad.
Cool - a net book that I might actually get. Questions over the keyboard placement though.
If the pricing and build quality are right, I'd just buy a usb trackpad and call it even.
Yeah? Instead of a USB mouse? Interesting choice...
I'm in love as long as they sort that nasty colour scheme.
Agreed.
White and Silver... seriously?
This is the first Netbook I would consider buying. I'm an IBM Thinkpad user for years and the only way to go is the "TrackPoint" like device in the middle of the keyboard for "mousing" around. Once you are use to that you will never ever want to use a track pad again.
I'm surprised Lenovo hasn't put on in their netbooks!
Yeah I would never use a slushpad again.
For me it was the opposite. I had a laptop with only a nipple for a while, and as soon as I got one with a trackpad I never went back. That one had both the nipple and trackpad, and even though I had been using a nipple for mousing up to that point, once I started using the trackpad I couldn't go back.
Finally, a machine to replace my NEC PC-8201.
Only ever used one machine with a trackpoint (the first laptop I ever used come to think of it) and didn't get on with it that well, although I only had it for a week. I think what I would miss the most is some way to scroll without moving the pointer over to the right of the screen.
See the middle button?
At least on IBM/Lenovo's TrackPoint equipped machines, holding the button puts it into a two-axis scroll wheel mode. I believe other manufacturers do the same thing.
Useful to know, thanks. I assumed it was just the middle mouse button.
Does anybody know when or where this will be available, especially in the US? I just searched to find an online retailer for it with no luck. Also, doesn't the Dell Mini10 have the GMA500 with HDMI out? Doesn't that mean this one does or could have HDMI? Either way this netbook looks great and I'll be getting it right away if battery is decent. Love the nipple instead of the trackpad after my IBM ThinkPad use through the years so this is the #1 netbook on my radar now. My Lenovo S10 is nice but this looks way better. Good looking keyboard too with full sized right shift key.
How'd they train a gorilla to wear a watch and open a laptop?
haha,that's the first thing i noticed too
Damn, you should of put a NSFW warning for that video Engadget. That's some hard core gadget porn right there.
PRO - AWESOME Form Factor
CON CON CON - $2k and it's an ATOM. And for that price you don't get GPS, 3G, etc.
Nice try. No thanks. $800 maybe.
Anyone seen the video? Apparently the Wolf Man is the reviewer.
A netbook that isn't laughably ugly? Wow. I might seriously consider getting one of these, though the ultra-flexing screen is a bit worrisome.
Beautiful. Reminds me of the Vaio X505.
Trackpoint > trackpad
especially when space is limited.
What's with the porno music in the background.
Agreed Gadget porn to the max.
I like the fact it doesn't have a trackpad.
They're annoying anyway, especially when on a netbook.
I agree, it at least needs some type of lip or edge with the keyboard for people to place their palms.
It's def the first netbook that has really piqued my interest.
No touchpad? Waste of real estate. Move the keyboard up.
Touchpad is a waste of space. This thing was built with usability in mind.
I like nipples and thin bodies, so I guess this is the one for me.
I feel slightly dirty after listening to that, for some reason.
WTF is going on with the music playing in the background on this video?
Sony will have to cut the Vaio P's price now. Competition is a great thing.
Bring back the Trackpoint!!! I'll never use anything else. The day the get rid of the trackpoint on the Thinkpad I'll quit computing.
This is a clone of Sony VAIO X505, the thinnest notebook, yes, thinner than Macbook Air.
did a monkey open it up in the beginning?