Pros
- Intel 520 Series SSD means faster performance
- Integrated optical drive is rare on an Ultrabook
![NoteMagix U450]()
- US-based warranty and support
- Nice selection of wireless and wired connections
Cons
- Not as thin or light as other Ultrabooks
- No touchscreen
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The Geek’s Take
Velocity Micro may not be as well known as the Dell’s, HPs, and Samsungs of the world, but they have quite the rabid fanbase in the enthusiast PC community. While the NoteMagix U450 may not exactly be a high performance notebook in the vein of Velocity’s famous gaming desktops, it’s still a very nimble, well styled Ultrabook that should appeal to all types of shoppers in the market for a new notebook. Their US-based support only sweetens the deal further.
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Full Review
Performance
Velocity Micro built its reputation on high performance desktops, and the NoteMagix U450 does a good job of not letting that legacy down. Powered but a multicore Intel Core i5 processor and 4GB of RAM, the U450 is nimble and smooth, even when working with large files or more complex applications. Where the U450 really impresses, is in the hard drive arena with its Intel 520 series Cherryville solid state drive. Based on the same type of technology as USB flash drives, SSDs access data and load Windows faster than mechanical drives, and the 520 series drives are simply the best of the best both from a speed and reliability standpoint.
As impressive as the U450’s performance is, we’re happy to say that battery life is not something that Velocity sacrificed to get it. Velocity claims around 6 hours, depending on the application, and our tests have shown about the same. That’s plenty of battery life to get you through a couple of movies on all but the longest flights.
Design
To be classified as an Ultrabook, notebooks must meet certain requirements for thickness and weight. The U450 comes in under the maximum allowances, but only just barely. It’s still thin and light compared to traditional notebooks – about 21mm and 4 pounds – but not when compared to other Ultrabooks like the Asus Zenbook. That aside, the NoteMagix U450’s design is steller with a solid aluminum shell that gives the system a nice quality feel.
The reason for that extra bulk? A DVD-RW drive built into the side of the U450 – a rarity for Ultrabooks and other ultra thin notebooks (we’re looking at you, Macbook Air). It’s a nice addition to the U450, and a feature that you may miss if you go with one of the alternatives. Additionally, the U450’s design also includes two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI out, and 10/100/1000 wired ethernet, another connection missing from many ultrathin notebooks.
Warranty and Support
Velocity Micro brags about their US-based technical support a lot, and with good reason. If you’ve ever struggled to understand an overseas tech who’s clearly reading from a script, you know what we mean. The ability to be able to talk to an actual English speaking person when you’re having an issue is worth its weight in gold. The trade off though, is that support is only open from 11am to 8pm Eastern time. 24/7 support is an option, but only with Velocity Micro’s high end custom desktops.
All Velocity Micro PCs including the U450 come with a one year parts and labor warranty and a lifetime of that complimentary phone support goodness.
Value
The NoteMagix U450 definitely has the pieces and parts that add up to a high end notebook. We have no trouble calling the $899 pricetag justified. Sure, you can pay less and get almost as much from one of the bigger brands, but we just don’t think it’s worth the sacrifice.
Summary
With power and performance almost incomparable in this category, a nice sleek look (though a little bulkier than we would like), and that stellar support reputation, you can do much worse than the NoteMagix U450 from Velocity Micro. If an Ultrabook is what you’re looking for to quench that mobile thirst of yours, we highly recommend giving the U450 a very close look. This is one you can buy with confidence.
*Where does this rating come from? Check out How We Review