MEDION AKOYA MD 96640 EXCLUSIVE REVIEW.

MEDION AKOYA MD 96640 EXCLUSIVE REVIEW.

MEDION AKOYA will be something new to most, it was to us.
Just when you think you have seen most laptops up comes a new one which really is amazing value compared with other laptop or should that be notebook ?
The Medion Akoya "Multimedia Entertainment Notebook", (MD 96640) to give it it's proper name is compact at the usual 15.4 screen size. The cost is £599-99 which seems a lot of cash for what your average notebook will cost.
What you get for your money makes you wonder where their profit is;
Spec;
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T5550 1.83 GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, FSB 667 MHz
320 GB hard disk
3 GB memory
NVideo GeForce 9300M G with 128 GDDR3 memory
15.4" TFT WXGA Widescreen display 1280 x 800 pixels
16:10 cinema format
Integrated Bluetooth 2.0
TV everywhere: Express Card DVB-T TV-Tuner incl.
RF remote control
Integrated VGA webcam with Array-microphone.
HDMI out.
eSATA port...eSATA stands for external Serial ATA and is used for connecting external hard disks.
unlike common USB standards, the transmission speed of an eSATA connection is higher than that of external USB hard disks. This connection is a "combo slot", to which both USB and S-ATA devices can be connected.
Biometric fingerprint reader (extra security)
Wireless LAN 802.11n-Draft with up to 300 Mbit/s. 802.11b/g compatible
8 X Multi-Standard DVD/CD Writer with DVD-RAM and Dual Layer compatibility.
6-channel audio out (analogue + S/P-DIF)
4 in 1 memory card reader (SD/MMC/MS and MS Pro)
2 multimedia speakers
Fast ethernet 10/100 Mbit/s. onboard
V.90 Modem incl.
modem connection cable
Medion notebook carrying bag.
Li-ion high performance battery.
DVB-T antenna.
USB scroll mouse.
Included software is;
Windows Vista Home Premium with new Media Center UI
Microsoft Works 9
Medion Home Cinema Suite;
PowerDirector 6
PowerProducer 4
Power DVD 7
MediaShow
Nero Essentials;
Nero Burning ROM 8
Nero Recode 2
Nero Express 8
Nero Vision 5
Ulead Photoimpact 12 SE
Omnipass 5.0
Trial versions;
Microsoft Office Home and Student (60 days test version)
Bullguard Internet Security (90 days trial)
All discs in case of data loss.
3 years warranty.
Help line that is NOT premium rate.

The notebook has everything you need for home and office and the spec can handle all existing games.
The notebook is faster than anything used so far and this is where the 3 Gig of ram comes in and simple office stuff is a breeze.
It will be very difficult to find a notebook with so much built in and comes ready to switch on as all software is already loaded.
The TV picture in the multimedia section of the notebook is perfect and there is no empty echo on the audio which is so obvious on many laptops and notebooks.
You will be hard pressed to find better value anywhere and if you are in the market for a new notebook or laptop then look twice at this one.
Conclusion;
As a confirmed laptop and notebook hater and also a confirmed Windows XP minimum 17" screen fan I did not relish the idea of trying a 15.4" screen combined with Windows Vista on top. After about an hour testing all the littel features and programs on the notebook had me converted and the 15.4" screen slipped into forgotten mode, it must have been the widescreen format ?
The Medion MD 96640 Multimedia Entertainment Notebook is how a Laptop/Notebook should be and we have decided to keep it.
We reckoned buying all parts, cables, software etc... we would have needed approx. £1000+ the cost of a three year warranty so for the asking price of £599-99 from Aldi who can complain ?
Is it news to you ? then you read it here first!