Advent 4211 notebook

Will this put the Wind up MSI?

Reviewer: Chris Hall
Review Date: 15 July 2008
Manufacturer: Advent
Price as reviewed: £279.99
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Our score

9/10

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Reader score

8/10

Reader review

User: Profairy (profile)
Location:
Date Posted: 9 September 2008
Review: I bought one 3 days ago after my old laptop died. I decided to go for a basic laptop just for surfing the net and got way more than i expected with this great little machine. I went out shopping looking for an eepc but saw this first and fell in love. It has an ample spec to deal with most of your everyday software requirements. It runs Microsoft Office and even photoshop 7 with no problems.
Pros: Over all size, Screen size and brightness, portability, connectability and so much more.
Cons: I did have a minor issue with the wifi connection dropping intermittently but after searching a few sites I found out that the WLAN driver just needed updating and once this was done the connection was solid and has been ever since.
Score: 9/10
Rating: 29 people have rated this review helpful

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Reader review

User: sirbrianmiddleton (profile)
Location:
Date Posted: 13 August 2008
Review: After years of lugging around at - tablet of stone - my trusted an venerable Toshiba Pro Sat, I was lusting after a really small and light laptop/notebook. Airport browsing of Sony offerings had me salivating, but my credit card feeling very stressed! I searched eBay and came across a broken MSI Wind. A liitle more searching came up with the deal that PC World had on a near identical machine - the Advent 4211. The Non-Tech Guy at PC World explained that "it had no sound or graphics card", but fortunately I knew better (where do these people come from, surely a morning just looking at the products would have given him better knowledge than this?). So he was just a box shifter and he shifted the box to the check-out.

Now I am not an IT whizz. Self taught grey surfer, with lots of knowledge gaps and bad habits, but I must say I have never had a more pleasant PC switch on experience. Found my BT Broadband, accepted the code and allowed me to download the essential machine-gun-nest bits and bobs of protection in moments. Fast little blighter I have to say.

Next day it went on the road. First to my work place where it easily dealt with the proxy server we use and worked wireless in several places I could not get access before (but remember I was useing a Neanderthal laptop with an external USB WiFi dongle).

The next few days I was out and about. I have a BT total Broadband account and with this info the Advent could find and connect just about anywhere I needed it. It is highly intuitive in loading new connections. My fellow travellers were amaazed that this wee "chocolate tray size" could do what it could do...that is simply deliver what you need on the move...eMail, Web, basic work items, picture handling etc. Of great joy was it's ability to handle my Humyo account - all my files, music and videoos there in my hotel room 300 miles from home (mind you how many 1000's of miles are my Humyo files actually sitting?)

Used Bluetooth today wityh a phone - worked fine. I don't think you can use WiFi and Bluetooth together, not sure, but not a problem.

Debits? No CD/DVD Drive. But I have bought a slim one on eBay for £23 for the odd time I meght need it. No 3G, but I have an HTC thingy with BT so if were in Outer Mongolia I could use that. Or I could buy a 3G Dongle. Battery is small - so find handy airport cleaner 13 amp plugs etc...I will also study the battery saving power option stuff in the machine. Bet you new super-power OEM batteries start popping up for this once they start selling.

Frankly at £279 - if you are looking for a sub compact laptop to travel with and have other computing power elsewhere, this is a total no-braner.

Go buy one.

But just get the guy from PC World to find the box in the store-room. I am sure there are informed and articulate ones out there - I just have not found one yet!
Pros: Micro! Does all you really should need. Price.
Cons: None you cannot overcome
Score: 9/10
Rating: 37 people have rated this review helpful

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User: pepsimaxmjs (profile)
Location:
Date Posted: 2 August 2008
Review: A great machine. Wonderful display, good compromise on reolution. Very bright!

Keyboard is OK, although the comma and fullstop keys are 3/4 size and if you have big fingers this could be a problem.

Runs very cool, and is fast. Very quiet machine even when the fan runs.

Simple but effective design. Not stunning looking, but plain and wholesome! Best with upgraded memory (easy DIY removal of back cover). Hard disk a bit more tricky to upgrade, but doable if you are brave enough to remove the wireless network card.

The thing is really light, and very small. Makes my Dell M1330 look HUGE, and that's pretty small! I prefer the non glossy screen approach, and it has a brighter display than my Dell which was a real surprise.

Runs Office 2007 like a dream, but you need to hide the dreaded ribbon (here the 600 dpi height becomes a problem). Also it looks horrible with clear view type because of a finish on the screen. In native resolution with no Microsoft sceeen rubbish, it is pin sharp and really clear. You'll be amazed.

Since buying mine, 1 colleague has bought one, and a HP Netbook buyer has regretted his buy...

Nice utilities loaded by 'the TechGuys' (PC World), and the starting build has Works and a few other extras ready to run.

Awesome value for money, makes the Eee look like the toy it is. Competition coming from Acer, and Dell - but at this price (less than the Wind it is based on), plus PC World walk in service / support you can't go wrong.

Buy one and smile.

WARNING: Battery life is horrible - joke life of the 90's, but shortly for £54.99 the 6 cell, with 5 hours will ship. Then this beast is a killer! I needed mine to lighten my load on frequent flights abroad, so traded off early adoption with the better battery due in September.
Pros: Screen, keyboard, expansion, noise, heat, price point
Cons: Track pad (can't turn off the finger tap, and the mouse button is a rocker that not all folks will like). Battery.
Score: 9/10
Rating: 29 people have rated this review helpful