Mini laptop shows limitations

The Belinea s.book 1 from Maxdata is a miniature laptop with a footprint about the size of an A5 sheet of paper. Its compact size and low weight make the system easy to carry, but these also dictate a small built-in display that some users may find restrictive. Performance is also on the low side, but perfectly adequate for productivity tasks while on the road.

Shipping now in the UK, the s.book 1 blurs the boundaries with ultra-mobile PC (UMPC) models. But while UMPCs are typically designed for hand-held use, the s.book 1 follows a conventional laptop design, albeit with some novelties such as a detachable Bluetooth handset for making voice-over-IP (VoIP) calls.

However, enterprise buyers should note that this handset only works with the Skype VoIP service.

Other potential drawbacks are the lack of a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip, required by some corporate security tools, and that no desktop docking station is available from Maxdata.

The focus with the s.book 1 is on portability ­ - it weighs just over 1kg ­ and at 23x17x2.9cm, can slip easily into a briefcase. However, this comes at the cost of a built-in DVD or CD drive and users will also have to live with a 7in display with a resolution of just 800x480 pixels. Although bright and clear, we sometimes found text hard to read.

The hardware is based on a VIA C7M processor clocked at 1.2GHz and the system has 1GB of memory, which is not expandable. Our review unit had an 80GB hard drive and shipped with Windows XP Professional installed. Network connectivity is via Ethernet or 802.11b/g Wi-Fi.

In tests using the Winstone 2004 benchmark suite, the s.book 1 achieved a score of 10.5, which is low when compared with full-size modern laptops that are equipped with dual-core processors. However, this score is perfectly respectable for such a portable system.

One of the more unusual features of the s.book 1 is a VoIP handset that is built into the laptop’s lid alongside the screen. A catch on the side of the screen pops out the handset, and it links up to a supplied copy of Skype running on the s.book 1 via Bluetooth.

The idea behind this design is that travelling executives can save on mobile phone charges by using the s.book 1 to make VoIP calls from hotel rooms or at customer sites where Ethernet or Wi-Fi is available. The detachable handset is about the same size as a compact mobile phone, and means the user does not have to sit hunched over the laptop when making a call.

However, we feel that the space taken by the VoIP handset would have been better used to give the s.book 1 a larger display, especially as the handset itself only works with Skype. The lid is also smaller than it could be ­ - it does not entirely cover the system when closed ­ - meaning that the screen is smaller than could have been provided, even in this compact form.

We were also unable to test the handset, as the unit in our review machine would not associate with Skype, despite Maxdata providing a special driver for this purpose.

The keyboard of the s.book 1 is on the small side by necessity, but most of the keys are well sized and we had no difficulty typing on it. The only really small keys are the function keys across the top of the keyboard. The s.book 1 also has the smallest touchpad pointing device we have ever seen on a laptop, covering about the same area as a postage stamp. However, this gave us no real problems.

The s.book 1 also has touch-screen capability. This requires a special piece of utility software to function, and a stylus is tucked away inconspicuously in a slot above the top left corner of the screen.

We found that care must be taken when using the s.book 1 on your lap. Because of its small size, we found we had to tilt the screen right back to get a comfortable view of the display, but in this configuration the unit has a tendency to tip over backwards.

While the s.book 1 has no built-in DVD drive, it does have two USB ports, allowing an external unit to be plugged in, and a Memory Card slot that lets the laptop use SD Card, Multimedia Card, Memory Stick and Memory Stick Pro Flash storage devices. The Ethernet port, DVI video out port and audio jack sockets complete the s.book’s set of connectors. There is no docking station, but Maxdata does have an optional port bar available for £40 + VAT that connects to a USB port.

The s.book 1 is quoted as having a three hour usable life with its 2200mAh battery. In tests with the BatteryMark 4.0.1 benchmark we found the unit lasted for 2 hours and 43 minutes, which was carried out with all power management disabled. This means users should realistically get at least three hours, depending on their use of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wireless communications.