Lg Lm50-3 Notebook
The Age
Thursday February 26, 2004
Notebook Computer Review: LG LM50-3 notebook, Price $4499, Rating ***?
THE LOWDOWN - When you are a newcomer to portable computing and are charging considerably more than your rivals for a notebook, you need something special.
A similarly configured HP Compaq nx7000 model costs $1000 less and a Toshiba Satellite Pro 2300 will leave you with $1250 change from what LG is asking for its LM50-3. So what justifies the extra cost? At first sight this is a standard lightweight notebook built around Intel's Centrino chipset with a 1.6 GHz mobile Pentium processor. There is built-in wi-fi networking, a generous 512MB of RAM and a 60 GBhard drive. It weighs about
2.4 kilograms and is about 30 millimetres thick. There is no obvious heating effect, so you can safely sit the computer on your lap without getting burnt. The large 15-inch display with 1400 x 1050 pixel resolution allows a lot more information to be viewed. LG's ace lies in extended battery life. According to LG, the batteries on the computer will last up to
10 hours between charges. Notebook makers have a habit of making optimistic claims about battery life and this is no exception.
The default power management settings are so aggressive the screen darkens after two minutes without activity and the computer hibernates after 10. In practice that means you will get about five or six hours of work between charges. Settings can be changed.
LIKE THIS - The LM50-3 has an elegant chrome trim that gives it a smarter finish than its rivals. The machine packs a much better screen too. Despite the power management, battery life is twice as much as any rival system's.
DON'T LIKE THAT - In theory the CD-RW drive can read DVDs but in testing it had trouble with some discs. At 60 x 45mm, the touch-pad is a little smaller than most, which makes controlling the mouse difficult. In testing it would occasionally cut out for no apparent reason.
PARTING SHOT - If you find other notebooks do not operate long enough on a single charge, the LM50-3 makes a lot of sense.
www.lge.com.au
-- Bill Bennett
© 2004 The Age
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