Hypersonic Avenger AG2

Known for high end boutique systems like the SR7 we reviewed last year, Hypersonic is branching into the thin and light laptop realm with the Avenger AG2. This total able system doesn't offer the same gaming prowess as the company's other notebook lines in fact, it doesn't even offer an option for discrete graphics. But users looking for more processing power in a lightweight package should be pleased with this system's performance, and its midrange price as long as they don't need to use it away from an AC outlet.

Weighing 4.1 pounds and measuring 11.8x8.6x1 inches, the Avenger AG2 barely misses the cutoff for a true ultraportable. Hypersonic lets buyers choose from five colors yellow, pink, white, black, and blue for the system's case our test unit was metallic blue paint with a glossy finish.

Open the lid and you're greeted by a glossy 12.1 inch wide screen TFT. That's a decent sized display, but considering we've seen thin and lights and ultraportables with roomier 13.3 inch screens, we wish Hypersonic had opted for a larger model.

(The same goes for the system's cramped keyboard.) That said, the 1,280x800 resolution display does a nice job with movies: In our tests, colors looked sharp and crisp, blacks were deep, and skin tones looked realistic and natural. The screen's viewing angle is also excellent, though its glossy coating does make for significant glare in bright environments. Above the display is a built in 1.3 megapixel. Webcam below it, you'll find hotkeys for adjusting screen brightness, muting audio, and launching applications.

As for connectivity, the Avenger AG2 comes with a pretty standard array of options, including three USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire jack, mic and headphone connections, an ExpressCard slot, a media card reader, and modem and Ethernet jacks. An analog VGA port is the only option for connecting an external display a digital connection, such as DVI or HDMI, is notably absent. Though wireless networking is standard on most thin and lights, our 802.11a/g/n Wi-Fi radio was a US$ 45 add on Bluetooth 2.0 also costs $25 extra.

The Avenger AG2 starts at a midrange price of $1,359; our test unit cost $1,599, but the price jump seems worth it considering the components packed inside namely, a speedy 2.5GHz �Penryn� Core 2 Duo T9300 processor, 4GB of RAM, a DVD burner, and a 200GB hard drive spinning at a desktop caliber 7,200rpm. Graphics are the system's weakest point. Instead of a dedicated card, Hypersonic opted for integrated Intel GMA X3100 graphics with up to 256MB of shared memory.

While integrated solutions are standard fare for most thin-and-light notebooks especially those as slim as this one it would have been nice if this system had more 3D power. Alas, until manufacturers can come up with a thin and light case capable of managing the heat produced by discrete cards, users will have to settle for the low end gaming and graphics abilities.