The desktop came cluttered with icons for Web backup, Smart Logon Manager

Calendar September 7, 2010 | Posted by admin

The desktop came cluttered with icons for Web backup, Smart Logon Manager, the Asus “Splendid Utility” (a glorified gamma-correction routine), among others.

Value-added software is fine, and we appreciate the Microsoft Office 60-day trial and all, but keep that stuff in the Start menu.

At the front edge of the case is an on/off switch for the N200’s built-in Bluetooth and 802.11a/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity. The back has only an S-Video out, a modem jack, and the power connection, but overall it’s a solid lineup of ports.

On the right are headphone and mic jacks, three USB 2.0 ports, a double-layer DVD burner, and a VGA out; the left side hosts another USB 2.0 port, a mini-FireWire port, an Ethernet jack, an ExpressCard slot, and a flash-memory-card reader.

Once you do boot the 64-bit version of Windows 7, you’re presented with a very cool-looking (if somewhat dark) reskinned version of the operating system.

The bundled utilities aren’t of the annoying variety: HP’s MediaSmart Premium app is a slick-looking, easy-to-use app for playing music/videos and viewing your photos, and many common utilties such as Skype.

Full versions of Corel Video Studio Pro X2 and Paint Shop Pro X2 are included, but the Norton Internet Security 2009 package is just a 60-day trial.

Dell includes CyberLink PowerDVD for DVD playback, Roxio Easy Media Creator 9 for CD and DVD creation, and the company’s own management utilities (Dell Connection Manager, Dell Security Manager, and Dell System Manager).

If watching high-definition (HD) content is a must, make sure your display supports HD-capable resolutions. Windows Live Mail and Messenger, Shockwave, Flash, and Java are preloaded.

You may also want to add a Blu-ray drive, which can play compatible HD movies, as well as write up to 50GB of data to double-layer Blu-ray discs.

This upgrade is pricey, however—usually around $600. For standard-definition media playback, look for a multiformat (DVD±RW) DVD burner, which writes to CDs, as well as plus- and minus-format DVD media.

We also appreciate the diminutive AC adapter, which ensures that you won’t be loaded down with a power brick when you do want to bring the cord along.

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