Systemax Pursuit 4155

The Systemax Pursuit 4155 is proof that buying a budget notebook doesn't mean you have to forgo the latest generation of processors or settle for a bare-bones system. Priced at $999, this 6.5-pound system features a 1.66-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB of DDR2 memory, and a dual-layer DVD burner. You also get an 80GB hard drive and a bright 15.4-inch widescreen display with a 1280 x 800-pixel native resolution. Top it off with a 1.3-megapixel camera and you have a mainstream machine that can go toe to toe with the big boys.
 
Sporting a dull silver lid and a black lower case, the Pursuit 4155 is fairly plain-looking inside and out. The black full-sized keyboard is responsive and comfortable, as is the two-button touchpad controller. Four programmable hot keys and the power switch sit above the keyboard, off to the right.
 
An S-Video port and an integrated modem connection are located on the rear of the system along with the power plug, but the often-used USB and FireWire ports (three and one, respectively) are situated on the side of the notebook, making them easy to reach. Also on the sides are ExpressCard and PC Card slots, a VGA port, a gigabit Ethernet port, two audio jacks, and the optical drive. A 3-in-1 media card reader and a Wi-Fi switch adorn the front edge.
 
We recently reviewed six similarly priced dual-core notebooks, including Dell's Inspiron E1505 and the Lenovo 3000 C200, both of which were configured with the T5500 CPU and 1GB of RAM. Although the Pursuit 4155 couldn't match the E1505's robust multimedia feature set, which includes discrete graphics, MediaDirect for playing multimedia files without booting the OS, and a slew of multimedia control buttons, it did manage to squeeze out a better MobileMark 2005 score than the E1505 (248 versus 231). However, the Systemax machine uses an integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics solution, which means gameplay will be limited to older, low-res titles. And the six-cell battery managed a mere 3 hours and 38 minutes, well short of the 4 hours and 30 minutes of the Lenovo 3000 C200.
 
It may not be the flashiest notebook out there, but if you're looking for dual-core performance and a few neat multimedia features at a reasonable price, the Systemax Pursuit 4155 is a good option.

 

Systemax Pursuit 4155 (check prices).