Gigabyte is well known for its motherboards and videocards. The company has been leveraging their name in diversifying into none-core products such as CPU coolers and PC systems. More recently, Gigabyte has shown off their efforts in the laptop field, the latest being the Gigabyte W468N Laptop.

                                              The Gigabyte W468N

The W468N is a Santa Rosa chipset based laptop, which means it employs Intel’s Turbo Memory technology, basically flash memory that supplements main memory performance – codenamed Robson. Other requirements for fulfilling the “Santa Rosa” name is the inclusion of Socket P with support for current Meron series Core 2 Duos, Intel’s Mobile 965 Express chipset, Intel’s WiFi b/g/draft-n mini PCI-e adapter, and the GMA X3100 video adapter, although in this case this is replaced by a discrete Nvidia 8400M GS with 256MB. Our test unit came with 2GB of DDR II 667 memory, a Core 2 Duo X7900 Dual core CPU @ 2.80GHz, the aforementioned 8400 GS, a 14” “glare” type LCD screen, and 100GB of storage.

                                             The checkerboard design looks like carbon fiber in white.

Performance of this model during daily tasks is snappy, which is to be expected with the high-end specs that are comparable even to a good-priced desktop PC. At the same time, the exceptional specs tempts the reviewer to try out some demanding games, but this is where performance gets a bit disappointing, with the 8400 GS getting the majority of the blame (actually, all of it). Putting it into perspective, this part is much better than the default X3100, but still, it’s disappointing after seeing the other, lust worthy numbers produced by the other exceptional parts.

                                             The right side has 2 USB slots.

The body is pretty standard fare as far as laptop design goes; keyboard size and layout for a 14” LCD model is good, making this a mean typing machine. The top body shell carries a white “carbon fiber” motif, with the Gigabyte name front and center. Only the WiFi switch and three status lights are found in front; other connections like the four USB 2.0 sockets are found on both sides of the body (two on each side). A mini Firewire, SD card reader, S-video, Monitor-out, earphone jacks, and the LAN and Modem connectors are all found on the left side of the body. The rear is host only to a vent for cooling.

                                             The other side is chock-full of connections.

Windows Vista Business was pre-installed in our test unit, although we are informed that the operating system is optional. Aero glass performance looks as good as on desktop PC’s, perhaps better due to the “glare” type screen that eschews the standard matte coating for a super-reflective screen. The chassis is built from a standard-looking laptop chassis – meaning that unfortunately, other than the cheeky looking carbon fiber, the whole piece seems grossly ordinary; without the Gigabyte name in front, this could have been mistaken for any other laptop on the shelf right now.

On the other hand, Gigabyte may be treating these kinds of products as stepping stones to future, better-designed releases on the laptop and consumer electronics front, which is good news seeing how quality is already pretty good with the current releases, as well as for their core products of motherboards and videocards.

                                             Finger swipe security for the paranoid.

Readers can probably tell that I’m a bit disappointed with this product; not because of any lack in quality or performance, but because of the fact that Gigabyte obviously can already build unique and good-looking products that will surely sell well, but still has products that does not look distinctive and puts them squarely into “generic” territory. This is a shame, as I’ve seen first hand (as had many PC enthusiasts) how well Gigabyte’s products can turn out when the get serious (witness November’s HWM prize for the month, the Gigabyte GA-X38-DQ6). C’mon Gigabyte, get moving on your own designs and releases for these products – I’d love to see laptops with the verve and panache of a DQ6 motherboard.