Zoostrom?

[johnnygg]

Hello,
I'm looking to spend ~ 400 British Pounds Sterling on a new laptop. Here are the options I'm looking at:

http/www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5084825.htm

http/www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5085886.htm

http/www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5072583/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7COffice%2C+PCs+and+phones%7C14418968/c_2/2%7C14418968%7CLaptops+and+netbooks%7C14419039/c_3/3%7Ccat_14419039%7CLaptops%7C14419040.htm

Here's a quick summary of those links:
1. MSI CR640; 450.00 GBP; i5 2410; 4Gb of RAM; 500 Gb HDD; 2 USB ports; 6 hrs of battery life (estimated); 2.6 Kg

2. MSI A6200; 400.00 GBP; i5 460; 4 Gb of RAM; 320 Gb HDD; 3 USB ports; 4 hrs of battery life (estimated); 2.4 Kg

3. Zoostrom 7001; 400.00 GBP; i3 2310; 8 Gb of RAM; 500 Gb HDD; 3 USB ports; 5 hrs of battery life (estimated); 2.6 Kg

They're all 15.6"; 1366x768 res; have HDMI ports, and the CR640 looks like it has a metal finish. Also, the zoostrom comes with a '9-in-1 card reader', while the CR640 comes with a 4-in-1 and the A6200 comes with a 3-in-1.

Here are my questions:
1. Does anyone here have any experience with zoostrom or MSI's laptop build quality? I know that MSI has been around for ages doing mobos and clocking graphics cards; but as far as I know, zoostrom is relatively new, right?

2. is it worth paying an extra 50 GBP (~$82 USD) to get the sandy bridge i5, when I could get a sandy bridge i3 or an older i5 and stay within my budget?

3. the MSI CR640 really has 4 USB ports built-in (two 2.0 and two OPTIONAL 3.0). The model I'm looking to buy only has the 2.0, and it looks like (from the pics on the site) that the 3.0 ports are physically built-in but are disabled. If I buy this model, is there anyway I can take advantage of these disabled ports (either using them as 3.0 or 2.0)?

thanks in advance,

johnny

 

[WR2]

Hello johnnygg;

Have you talked to Argo about who manufacturers the Zoostrom? It will likely be one of the well known ODMs and put their badge on it.
Unless you can find out, your only resource is to try and find some Zoostrom forum somewhere and see what the owners are saying.

As far as quality and reliability - any £400 laptop is likely to be about the same as any other £400 laptop.

 

[WR2]

The main advantage is getting the i5-2410M over the i5-460M is not so much in the CPU but in the GPU.
i5-460M & Intel HD graphics
i3-2310M / i5-2410M & Intel HD 3000 graphics

 

[WR2]

If I buy this model, is there anyway I can take advantage of these disabled ports (either using them as 3.0 or 2.0)?

Probably not. But there is no real way for me to know for sure.

 

[johnnygg]

Hello johnnygg;

Have you talked to Argo about who manufacturers the Zoostrom? It will likely be one of the well known ODMs and put their badge on it.
Unless you can find out, your only resource is to try and find some Zoostrom forum somewhere and see what the owners are saying.

As far as quality and reliability - any £400 laptop is likely to be about the same as any other £400 laptop.

actually, i looked it up, and, apparently, zoostrom is made by CMS computers http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CMS_Computers
unfortunately, I don't know anything about these guys either

 

[johnnygg]

The main advantage is getting the i5-2410M over the i5-460M is not so much in the CPU but in the GPU.
i5-460M & Intel HD graphics
i3-2310M / i5-2410M & Intel HD 3000 graphics

well, that and the wi-di, right? at any point, in your opinion, is it worth the extra 50 pounds?

 

[johnnygg]

Best answer selected by johnnygg.