If you are looking for Ultra thin and powerful non-gaming notebook, you may want to consider this new Dell Vostro V131. Highlights:

1. Ultra thin: Height: 16-21mm (MBA is 3-17mm)
2. Full Sandy Bridge i3-2330 CPU: 2.2Ghz
3. Affordable: Starting price at RM2,099
4. Good connectivity: (compare to MBA)
- 2 x USB 3.0 + 1 USB 2.0/eSATA combo
- VGA & HDMI
- RJ45 Ethernet
5. Good battery life: 8 hours battery with Wifi (based on real testing, not what advertised!)
6. Matte screen!
7. CPU runs really cool; Furmark + Prime95 for 30 minutes Max CPU = 81C!

Cons:

1. Screen brightness is just 170 nit, very average.

Notebookcheck review: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Dell-V...ok.60602.0.html
Review: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/laptops/369...ell-vostro-v131
Review: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2390893,00.asp
Review: http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/dell-vostr...txt#reviewPage1
Review: http://www.laptops.co.uk/models/dell/dell-vostro-v131.html
Review: http://apcmag.com/notebookhunter/dell-vost...1-u5208f3au.htm
User review: http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-latit...tml#post7823699
Review: http://www.ringhk.com/news2.php?id=4282

Official Dell website: http://www.dell.com/my/business/p/vostro-v...id=vostro-v131&

Here are some home-made photo and review:

Screen
Although the screen is just 170 nit, by comparison to Acer 3820tg (200nit) screen, it is not bad. In fact, there is no problem looking at the screen all day.
(Left - V131; Right 3820tg)


Keyboard
The keyboard is comfy, but the key actually smaller. Should not be a problem. As you can see, the palm rest is non-glossy as well, less fingerprint and feel quite nice. Really like the full directional keys.


Sound
The speaker is louder than 3820tg, but still it's a notebook speaker so don't expect much. I am now doing furmark+prime95, the fan is being pushed to max and it's quite loud if compare to my 3820tg. I don't have any device to measure this, but according to NBR, it's 46.1 dB (A) in V131 compare to 38.3 dB(A) in 3820tg. The HDD is quiet despite being 7200 RPM. According to NBR the HDD make some noise even in idle, I can't hear it.

Temperature
According to NBR, furmark+prime95 for 1 hour 23 minutes, the max temp is just 77C. Their room temperature is around 23C. I did my own testing, running furmark+prime95 for 30 minutes with an i3 CPU, max CPU is 81C. From what I notice, it is around 77C-78C and stable, not sure why Hardware Monitor recorded 81C, but all in all, for a that kind of stress test, the temperature is low. I will not worry that 'ordinary' user will make the notebook overheat. Compare to my 3820tg max CPU is 94C (with AIDA64 as well). My room temperature is probably 26C (that's what I set in Aircon...) or higher.



Boot time:
Just run Windows Performance Toolkit, without uninstall anything, without disabling / change any services. Boot time is 20.779 seconds!



This post has been edited by cowithgun: Sep 3 2011, 05:36 PM

got your unit already? im hoping for some review

wow its look so sexy =)

Will definitely do some write up once I get my unit. All other reviews are too shallow! Will test how is the temperature in heavy loads in this slim profile. I am especially interested in the so-called Intel hyperbaric cooling system in this notebook.

However, I only got the free backpack today. Notebook will come later.

Macbook Air is much thiner

Fuyoh, can't wait for the review

---

Added on August 16, 2011, 10:21 pm...and is around RM1k dearer (MBA 11)... and weaker... and smaller

This post has been edited by [PF] T.J.: Aug 16 2011, 10:21 PM

LOL!! No one asked

Agree. MBA 11" was my first choice before this come up. Finally go for V131 mainly for price and connectivity (VGA and RJ45).

how u review? not u using also! but ur chicks got repay u bo??

This post has been edited by ngkhanmein: Aug 17 2011, 09:32 AM

i seldom see gals using matted screen ; business class notebook


-____-"

the gal studies MBA so is ok cos no she pay but cow pay & who cares??

but cow not willing play for MBA as well cos MBA sure suit those fella who getting MBA. in the meantime, cow already ate her so is ok de..

That's why there's the need to change

She totally hate glossy screen. She is unique.

@ngkhanmein: notebook not here yet! got the free bag nia!

buy laptop sure got free bag lah.. my mum sell sch bag 1~ u want buy laptop bag with me also can & the supplier is from penang!

13" http://www.amazon.co.uk/Laptop-Apple-Macbo...y/dp/B004X1AMMS

This post has been edited by ngkhanmein: Aug 17 2011, 10:37 AM

^ Not all laptops come with free bags

sure bo?? nowadays all come with free bag lah.. only those mostly free dos come w/o bag but rarely lah!!!

Certain Dell models doesn't come with bags
And almost all netbooks don't have bags, merely sleeves

net-book different story ma.. 13" can called net-book or laptop or notebook so is kinda confusing~

cow: u got tried the game i intro u?? Crazy Chicken Skybotz & Family Farm

i miss old days harvest moon back to nature!!!

The other Vostros e.g. Vostro 1450, 3350, 3450 etc. doesn't come with free backpack anymore...
Still have when I purchased that time

My M14x originally din't come with backpack as well... After I bargain only have

yup. thanks to advise from ngkhanmein, i call back Dell, trying to get a discount, they gave me the bag instead...

@ngkhanmein: i havent test those game ler, been busy like hell...