WHEN I shop for a new laptop, I prefer mobility to power and ergonomics to style. On these counts, NEC's line of notebooks had never won me over.
However, the Versa 9100, with a Core 2 Duo ULV 1.2GHz processor, has one strength which impressed: It can take the pressure, physically, that is.
It's not exactly svelte. The ultra-portable is blocky with a plain black cover that attracts smudges. It looks weighty even though it's just 1.25kg, with a built-in DVD drive and a magnesium alloy body.
Its utilitarian minimalism belies its ruggedness though. This Versa touts an ability to withstand an applied pressure of 300kgf (kgf stands for the kilogram force exerted by the Earth's gravity on 1kg of mass). That makes it stronger than Panasonic's Toughbook series which can endure up to only 100kgf.
I gave it my all. I manhandled the cover with my hands and detected a reasonable amount of flex but the 12.1 inch WXGA display simply shrugged it off. Poking hard at the screen's glossy rear did not result in display rippling either.
I even gingerly stood on this Versa with its cover closed. I was impressed.
Then I thought: Just how important is pressure strength? I guess it might be handy if you find yourself constantly warding off fellow commuters with your laptop in packed-as-sardines trains.
Well, there's no real world value in paying for such a hefty premium. For make no mistake, pressure strength does not equal toughness - a drop from table height is just as likely to break it.
The Versa 9100 has a latch-less design. The lid stays in place by hinge pressure.
I was also curious about a large latch key on the side. It turned out to be a release for the PC card slot, something very different from the tiny release mechanics favoured in other laptops.
I liked the large gap between the chassis and the cover, which kept the indicator lights for the Versa's internal works visible with the lid closed. Its keyboard is very generous for an ultra-portable, yet key travel is kept to a minimum.
With a standard six-cell battery, it gave up the ghost after a DVD run of two hours and 50 minutes and after intermittent usage of just three hours and 45 minutes.
The warranty could have been beefed up a little. For a corporate-level laptop, a one-year regional onsite is too stingy.
FINAL SAY
If you are willing to pay big bucks for a laptop that offers little more than outstanding resilience in an ultra-lightweight body, the 9100 is your ticket.
