The less desirable features include a Sempron SI-42 processor from Advanced Micro Devices running at 2.1GHz. It's one of AMD's lowest-end chips and more comparable to a netbook processor than a mainstream laptop chip. Another drawback for me was the pre-loaded Windows Vista Home OS, which can't be upgraded to Windows 7 for free. But for $298 I couldn't ask for a world of top-notch features.

Equipped with a 2.1GHz AMD Athlon X2 QL-64 processor, a whopping 4GB of DDR2 RAM, and ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics with 256MB of dedicated video memory, the NV5214u returned decent benchmark-test scores for the price. We ran our iTunes encoding test first; the laptop converted our 11 iTunes test tracks from MP3 to AAC in 5 minutes and 50 seconds, which is on the slow side for a mainstream notebook (defined as those with 15.4- or 15.6-inch displays) but not far behind the score achieved by the average budget notebook. (We define budget models as $800 or less, and most of them we've tested have taken at least 5 minutes to complete this test.) Our Windows Media Encoder test, which, like the iTunes test, measures CPU performance, took 9 minutes and 53 seconds, 2 minutes slower than the average mainstream system, and about a minute longer than the $549 Acer Extensa 4630z, the Gateway laptop's closest price competitor in the mainstream-laptop category.

White-box netbook makers in China have recently started to manufacture netbooks with panels sized larger than 12-inches that adopt either an AMD or VIA processor platform, as market demand for such netbooks is rising, according to a Chinese-language Commercial Times report.

The basic running spec of the MSI VR630 is quite impressive for the price: there's the quarter-terrabyte hard disk, 3GM RAM, a choice of two card slots, 16in widescreen LCD and dual-layer DVD rewriter. Costs have mainly been cut with the choice of processor, a 2GHz AMD dual-core Athlon CPU that doesn't have the speed or efficiency of the latest Intel parts. Based on older 65nm technology, it lists a reasonably good thermal design power (TDP) of 25W.

The combination of the dv2's processor and a discrete graphics card also made the system run hot and led to fan-noise issues. I noticed when I had the dv2 propped on my lap that the underside was extremely warm, and traces of heat were detected on the palm rests. I took readings with a Fluke infrared thermometer and found that temperatures got as high as 110 degrees Fahrenheit at the base. The palm rests measured 92 to 95 degrees while video encoding tests were running, and the fans could be heard the whole time, working constantly to cool the laptop (even when it was idle). The Mini 12 and the NB205 run much cooler and quieter, as do most netbooks that use the Intel Atom platform.

Yeah, killer hot. It was that hot here in Austin last week. You can pick up this laptop here starting at $629. Yeah, you are right. That is a lot less than what this review said it cost.