Voodoo Envy M:860 - AMD 64-bit at Widescreen

Final Words

Overall, the M:860 is a sleek clean widescreen notebook ready for 64-bit computing with a few points that need some tweaking. At this time, we feel that Voodoo really needs to make the switch to DDR400 on the mobile side, as that is what their closest competitors are using (Alienware's Area-51m and Dell's Inspiron XPS), and the sooner that they make the switch, the better. The problems in the past with DDR400 memory modules in notebooks were supply and volume, but with Dell now using it, it is no longer really an issue. Because of the architectural difference between Intel and AMD systems, there probably won't be any performance increase with DDR400 in general application use for Voodoo's M:860, but there should be some in gaming and memory bandwidth dependent scenarios.

The other big issue that we take with the M:860 is the lack of a built-in microphone, which is such a small thing, but it goes a long way when you need it. Buying a small external microphone should cost just a few bucks at Radio Shack or some nearby electronic store, but that kind of defeats the purpose of having an integrated microphone. If you don't use the microphone on the laptop, this probably should be a large concern, but we use it often enough for recordings, audio instant messaging, etc.. for it to be an issue for us.

For the first half of 2004, desktop replacement systems really started to pick up steam and close the performance gap in comparison to their desktop big brothers, but within the past couple of months, several desktop processor and chipset announcements have been made. And again, desktop performance has pulled ahead of many of the fastest desktop replacement systems. This will always be cyclical, but at this particular point, we seem to have hit the apogee in the performance catch up game. Desktops just started to get technology like DDR2, PCI-express, NCQ, so it is probably going to be some time before they hit DTRs.

Until then, DTRs like the Envy M:860 are going to be one of the best that money can buy, and it is still only one of the major Athlon 64 laptops available. Though, the Envy M:860 still runs at a cool $3,300 (USD) starting price, which makes it the second most expensive notebook from Voodoo. Our system actually rang in at about $3,498 (WinXP Pro configuration). Compare this with an equivalently configured M:855 at $3,264 (A64 3400+, 1GB PC2700, 60GB 7200 hard drive with XP Pro), Alienware's Area-51m at $3,106 (P4 3.4GHz, 1GB PC3200, 60GB 7200RPM hard drive, MR9700 with XP Pro), and Dell's Inspiron XPS at $3,127 (P4 3.4GHz, 1GB PC3200, 60GB 7200RPM hard drive with XP Pro).

If you have to make a buying decision now for a desktop replacement system, we would probably pick a M:855 over a M:860, since it is the only powerhouse notebook to make a significant impression on us with its over 3-hour battery life. But with the M:855, you lose the benefit of a widescreen display and fair quality audio (among other things like the lack of a microphone). The speakers on the M:855 are usable, but they aren't fair speakers, especially if you are one to notice the audio while playing a movie off a DVD or listening to some MP3 tracks.

We still have yet to compare the M:860 against Dell's Inspiron XPS (it's been a while since we used one) and Alienware Area-51m, but we are trying to contact both companies, so hopefully we will be able to make a more thorough comparison soon. At the moment, the only immediate benefit that you would get by buying a M:855 or M:860 over a Inspiron XPS or Area-51m is the claim that you'll be ready for 64-bit computing, since Dell and Alienware are both in the Intel camp in this regard. Even so, a 64-bit OS is still a bit off, and this is going to be one of those chick and egg games.