MSI VR220 YA Edition Reviews

Total Rating: 6 of 10

Summary of review published by Laptop Magazine — December, 2008

Rated 3 of 5


The term ultraportable notebooks usually conjured images of price tags with lots of digits. MSI decided to go the opposite direction with its 12-inch laptop that won’t break the bank: the MSI VR220 YA Edition. It comes in several colors including Wasabi Green, Coral Pink and Denim Blue. The color of the lid matches that of the interior but in a lighter, metallic shade. It measures 11.9 x 9.1 x 1.2 inches and weighs 4.4 pounds. The 12.1-inch display is glossy and surrounded by an inch-thick bezel. While vertical viewing angles were decent, moving from side to side resulted in a reflection shift. The 1.3-MP camera above the display provided decent video quality over Skype. The full-size keyboard is comfortable and well-spaced. The touchpad is sized just right and comes with a textured feel. While it achieved below average scores during benchmark tests, the reviewer stated that it is powerful enough for everyday tasks. The VR220 pushed data along at a rate of 19.6 Mbps and 15.0 Mbps at 15 and 50 feet. The eight-cell battery provided power for 3 hours and 58 minutes - 20 minutes below the average. If ultraportables are too expensive and netbooks are too small, the 12-inch MSI VR220 YA Edition is a good compomise.
Pros:
-relatively cheap
-good performance compared to netbooks
-colorful options
-option for extended battery

Cons:
-heavier than other 12-inch systems
-keyboard feels cheap
-weak speakers
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