Hel80 Views
The Crown P 15:2 reviewed here is PowerNotebook.com's version of the Compal HEL80, a 15.4 mid-range notebook with a wide array of features. The main focus of the HEL80 is performance while still retaining some portability and battery life. It features an Intel Core Duo processor, 256MB Nvidia graphics, and a high-resolution display.
The HEL80 is about as solid as they come. The chassis is very rigid, and there is hardly any flex on the unit. The only flex I found was when putting more than usual pressure on the palm rests. The aluminum areas surrounding the keyboards are rigid and flex-less. Copper trim surrounds the keyboard, and gives it a sharp and elegant look. The plastic used on the rest of the unit is high-strength and the whole unit feels like it is put together well. Tapping the plastic yields a solid sound, not a cheap, rattling noise as so many notebooks exhibit.
My HEL80 has a matte WSXGA+ (1680x1050 pixels) resolution display. This is one of the best matte screens I have seen. It is evenly lit, and contrast is excellent. Colors are very vibrant, white is white and black is black. Horizontal viewing angles are very good, and the vertical viewing angles are considerably better than average. From the bottom of the display, there is a small amount of light leakage, but it is unnoticeable unless the screen is completely black.
The two integrated speakers on the HEL80 actually sound decent; they are not tinny like most notebooks, and have measurable bass. They have good volume; I could watch a DVD without straining. Games are very enjoyable, and I did not notice any distortion while playing with maximum volume. Being laptop speakers as they are, I did not walk away disappointed.
Hel80 Images
