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Systemax is known for making inexpensive PCs for its owner TigerDirect.com. The computers are assembled and supported in the United States, which is a rarity when many companies are looking to outsource tech support and manufacturing to other countries. While they don't hold the cachet of the so called top tier notebook manufacturers, the company does make some solid systems at surprisingly affordable prices.
The company sent a Systemax Pursuit notebook with a 15.4-inch LCD display for review, and I've been pounding on it for about two months, using it to capture, edit and play back video, edit digital images, cruise the Internet, and basically put the machine through the test of everyday life. So far, the system has run fairly flawlessly with not a single operating system crash or glitch yet.
Specifications
This particular Systemax system ships with Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate. It is powered with an Intel Core 2 Duo T5300 1.73GHz CPU. It features a 533MB front side bus. It features 1GB PC4200 DDR2 533MHz SODIMM memory (the new minimum for any PC), and an 80GB 5400RPM SATA drive with a 15GB and 65GB partition. Graphics is provided by Intel via the mobile Intel 945GM/GU Express Chipset family. It is used to power a 15.4-inch widescreen WXGA LCD TFT display. It also ships with an Optiarc DVD RW drive and an integrated camera for video or web messaging. One nice note about the camera is that when not in use, it is protected by a sliding lens cover.
In terms of connectivity, the Systemax includes dual PC Card slots (one type 2 PC Card slot and one Express Card slot), a 4-pin FireWire port, Realtek RTL8168/8111 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet port and a USB 2.0 port on the left side of the system, and two USB 2.0 ports, a VGA port, and mic and speaker ports on the right side of the unit. The DVD-RW drive is also located on this side. At the rear you will find an Agere Systems HBA modem, an S-Video out port, as well as a Kensington Lock mechanism. The front of the system is where you can find the SD/MMC card reader port, wireless on/off switch to control the Intel Pro/Wireless 3945ABG chip. In short the system has virtually all latest available technology to get you on the Internet, either via wireless connectivity, hardwired Ethernet, or dial up.
Performance
The Systemax Pursuit for the most part performed fairly well in most tests. In the CEN Photoshop Elements Gaussian Blur test, which involves applying a 6.3 radius Gaussian Blur on a 9.51MB image, the system completed the task in 52 seconds. This is compared to the previous Systemax notebook that performed the same test, but using a 1.66GHz Celeron M CPU. That system, a Vigor model running Windows XP Home Edition with 1GB RAM, completed the task in 66 seconds. However, in order to get to 52 seconds, I had to turn off Aero in Windows Vista. Aero in Vista Ultimate is a RAM hog. With Aero turned on, the same blur took 1:47 seconds to finish. So, if you are doing any kind of graphics work with an image editor, turn Aero off for the best performance.
First Impressions
This is the third Systemax notebook computer that I've looked at in the last year, and the systems, though they don't feature whiz bang high tech features, have been fairly solid. This is the longest I've had the opportunity to pound away on a Systemax notebook, and to tell you the truth, I see no difference between this system and comparably equipped systems from the so-called first tier vendors. In fact, Systemax systems may even be better society wise due to the fact that they are assembled and supported in the United States and not farmed off to China for assembly or supported by folks in a third world country. This means jobs for Americans. The system case is not made of some exotic high cost materials, but rather, it is made of plastic, and made in China. Without opening the system, the components are probably similar than what you'd find in more well known manufacturers systems.
The thing with Intel Core 2 Duo processors is the fact that they really make your computing efficient. Couple this with a battery that can last 3 hours and more, and you have a proficient machine. You can do more with more horsepower. Video editing is more fun rather than a chore. The same goes with image editing and other every day tasks. It ships with a one year warranty standard. A two year warranty is available for an additional $50 while a three year warranty is $90. The pricing for the Pursuit as configured starts at around $1100. For more information, visit www.systemaxpc.com.
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John Virata is senior editor of Digital Media Online. You can email him at jvirata@digitalmedianet.com
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