MSI's race car inspired F Series packs NVIDIA Optimus, we go hands-on

While MSI didn't have an official unveiling of the new F Series laptops at CeBIT, the 14-inch FX400 and 15.6-inch FX600 models and their NVIDIA Optimus placards were the first thing that caught our eye at the company's booth. In typical MSI fashion, it looks like there will be a number of configurations of the two models, but it appears that both with pack Core i5 processors and use NVIDIA's technology to automatically switch between the integrated and discrete GeForce GPU. While there's no word on availability, an MSI rep on hand suggested that the systems would start somewhere in between $800 to $1,000. That doesn't sound too bad, though the early units we got to play around with were a bit plasticy and the keyboards could sub as a trampoline. Those issues aside, we're quite excited that MSI's been added to the Optimus team, and that the company has designed a fairly nice looking chassis with a (thankfully) non-glossy lid.

MSI F-Series hands-on

[andy6 Posted Mar 3rd 2010 8:07AM]

If I hadn't just bought a new laptop yesterday, this would be mine!

[Prevacator Posted Mar 3rd 2010 8:25AM]

I hate chiclet keyboards.

Hate hate hate hate hate hate.

[Steve78 Posted Mar 3rd 2010 8:58AM]

@Prevacator

Why?

[4ENsic Posted Mar 3rd 2010 9:45AM]

@Prevacator I love chiclet keyboards. I can't go back to using the mush turd keyboards of years past. I think they look better and work better.

Love Love Love Love Love Love

[Prevacator Posted Mar 3rd 2010 9:56AM]

@Steve78
After using a ThinkPad keyboard, I can't use anything else on a laptop. Chiclets are just horrible for me to type on. Not comfortable at all.

[Steve78 Posted Mar 3rd 2010 10:59AM]

@Prevacator

I went from a ThinkPad to a Vaio Z and I love the 'chiclet' keyboard.

Remember, there are bad chiclet keyboards and then there are exceptional one's...

[jpzante Posted Mar 3rd 2010 8:28AM]

form factor: acer timeline
keyboard: acer timeline
hood: lenovo g450

but nice!

[nemein Posted Mar 3rd 2010 9:04AM]

So... what kind of video card do these have? If they are 335m and above, I might just be interested in these, since the N82 from Asus seems to have just vanished off the face of the planet.

[skchan2 Posted Mar 3rd 2010 9:29AM]

wonder what the resolution on these are...

[poached Posted Mar 3rd 2010 11:03AM]

screen resolution?

[aniym Posted Mar 3rd 2010 12:18PM]

any chance the MX400 weighs under 4 pounds? I've been looking for a laptop with i3/i5 and a discrete card for casual gaming (but mostly work/youtube), but they're always heavy or ugly. Asus ul30VT provides the best notebook in that space right now, but I want something a bit more powerful.