Trigem Averatec N1200

Trigem doesn’t come out with laptops all that often, and when it does, they’re usually Sony VGP-BPS13A/B Battery inexpensive and stylish, but just miss the mark in one aspect or another. The company’s latest effort, the Averatec N1200, continues this pattern. While this $349 netbook sports a gorgeous aluminum lid and is considerably lighter than the competition, its wimpy two-cell battery just doesn’t cut the mustard. Don’t even Fujitsu Laptop Battery think about buying the N1200 without the six-cell battery (bringing the cost to $379). Yet even HP/Compaq Laptop Battery with that necessity there are other weaknesses that will cause many netbook shoppers to pass.

Design

Reminiscent of the HP Mini 5102, the Sony PCGA-BP2V Averatec N1200 has a brushed magnesium alloy lid that not only repels fingerprints, but also makes the system more rugged than the typical all-plastic netbook. It adds a touch of class, too, and we like the subtle Averatec logo. In fact, the N1200 looks cooler and sleeker than most systems in Sony VGP-BPL9 its class. The bottom of the system is a matte black plastic, as is the keyboard.

Netbooks are known for their small size and weight, but at 10.7 x 6.5 x 0.9 inches and 2.2 pounds Sony VGP-BPS13 the N1200 is thinner and lighter than most. Of course, this is partially due to the fact that the configuration we tested has a two-cell battery—smaller than on most netbooks these days.

The bezel and keyboard deck on the N1200—including the touchpad—are a glossy black, which shows fingerprints fairly easily. Oddly, the N1200 has a webcam that sits on the left side of the bezel instead of above the Sony VGP-BPS2B Battery display, resulting in extremely awkward video chats. And we have no idea why there needs to be a strip to Lenovo/IBM Thinkpad R51E Battery the right of the keyboard that houses the power button and two LEDs of Num Lock and Caps Lock. That’s a serious waste of space, and it negatively impacts the typing experience.

Heat

The thermal readings of the N1200 were a study in extremes. After playing a Hulu video for 15 minutes at full screen, both the space between the G and H keys and the middle of the underside were a relatively cool 91 sony vgp-bps13/b degrees Fahrenheit. However, the touchpad registered a hot 105 degrees, and the front left underside—Sony VGP-BPS9/S Battery which rests on your thigh—was an uncomfortable 120 degrees. We consider anything over 100 degrees to be a good battery cause for concern.