First Looks: NEC Versa L2100 Notebook
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There's Always Room For Black
There's Always Room For Black
Many people tend to purchase products like LCD screens, PC casings, and other gadgets clad in the customary black hue. This color has come to epitomize sophistication, class, and elegance. The NEC Versa L2100 is one of these notebooks sporting black, but is that enough for it to join the high-end and stylish crowd?
NEC On My Mind
The most noticeable thing upon removing the notebook from its package is its textured, grey leather cover. It will not only protect the L2100 from accidental and unsightly scratches, but also conveys a professional look. Feeling around, we found an ExpressCard slot, FireWire (IEEE 1394) port, two USB 2.0 ports, modem and LAN port jacks, charging port, and VGA-Out port located on the left side of the notebook, while a Super Multi DVD optical writer (DL+/-R Double Layer) is located on the right side of the unit. Moreover, two additional USB ports as well as an S-Video output port can be found at the back of the unit. Finally, the speakers, microphone input, headphone-out, and a four-in-one card reader is conveniently located at the front of the notebook.
A black interior with a well-spaced and well-labelled keyboard, touchpad, and a 14-inch widescreen will greet the user upon opening the Versa L2100. In addition, an integrated microphone, web camera, and a One Touch Teleconference Button that automatically launches Skype (the most popular Internet telephony application) are located at the top of the screen. Additionally, users can easily find the Wireless On/Off button, the Eco button, and the Power button on the upper right portion of the base. Judging by the location of all the various features, an apt word to describe the Versa L2100 is probably 'simplicity'.
No-Frills Computing
Processes like office applications will definitely run smoothly, thanks to its Intel Core Duo Processor T2350 clocked at 1.86GHz. What’s more, this notebook comes pre-installed either with Windows Vista Home Basic or Home Premium editions, allowing users to utilize features such as ReadyBoost or Sidebar, both of which are exclusively found in the new OS. Furthermore, with NEC's SSV display technology, users will be assured of a wider spreadsheet view, clearer text, vivid photos, and crisp DVD images.
The NEC Versa L2100 lasted for 135 minutes during our DVD playback test and took almost the same time for it to attain a full charge. However, users may encounter difficulties using it for gaming, as its integrated Intel graphics only garnered a low score of 2893 in our 3DMark 2001 (1024 x 768) test. Not to mention, we also have found the speakers too soft even at the maximum volume setting, forcing us to plug in our headphones or external speakers when using this notebook for multimedia or gaming purposes.
Final Thoughts
While the NEC Versa L2100 is not meant for gamers, this 2.3kg notebook will certainly satisfy those who will utilize it for typical office processes and requirements. And with the latest Microsoft OS to boot, everything just seems to come together quite nicely. Simply put, the NEC Versa L2100 is a capable computing notebook that definitely exudes a professional façade and offers a fine balance of performance, features and looks for the business-computing crowd.
