Since it was mainly this forum that persuaded me to go for the Freevents (where did that name come from?), I thought it only fair to report back.

After 48 hours with the X52, I have to say I am delighted with it. Size and weight are ideal - it really is a nice machine to carry around and use. Stand-out hardware features are the keyboard, which is compact but positive with a solid key action and the screen, which is crisp and well-defined. The whole thing is well laid out and easy to use.

I like the quality of the build - typical Philips, practical and free from silliness. There is a good selection of ports, and I like the built in card-reader and PC Express port. Some have complained about the lack of Bluetooth, but a dongle will solve this. The wireless connectivity is excellent.

Negatives? Well I am scratching for complaints but the preloaded software should be rationalised and anything relating to the grotesque and foul AOL should be exterminated. I would quite like S-video out as well.

The biggest mystery is what to do with the heavy black cube supplied with the machine. There are no instructions on what to do with it. It is clearly intended to clip around a cable, but which cable and why continues to baffle me. Any ideas?

http://www.greatermen.co.uk

Just like to say how useful this forum was to me before I bought my laptop. As there is no forum for the philips X61 I'll post here.

I am now a happy owner of a Philips X61. Was looking for an ultraportable. In Dixon dutyfree at any airport it was between this or the Sony Vaio VGN-TX2. This was half the price (£850 as no tax) and they throw in a free bag. The screen is good, widescreen, v. bright, maybe a bit too reflective in the sunlight. Great specs, even the wi-fi worked on the train. Handly sliding switch on the front to turn wi-fi on/off. The weight is the best part about the machine. At 1.5kg I can at last take this anywhere. I used to have a 3kg 13in machine but never took it anywhere. Now it regularly comes on train journeys and I often watch a widescreen film on it. The battery is not bad. After the battery learning process was completed the monitor always says 4 hours on a full charge. I think 3 hrs is a better reflection especially if wi-fi is on. The memory is a good 1Gb and hard drive a respectable 60Gb. I haven't had too much trouble with my touchpad although I can see what everyone is going on about. It can be slightly sensitive.

I was sceptical of this machine at first. After having it for a month I can definitely recommend it. Great valve and a true widescreen ultraportable.

The Philips X61 is actually a rebadged Twinhead 12D or Averatec 1050.

The averatec was reviewed here before:

http://www.itreviews.co.uk/hardware/h884.htm

I've just seen an X 53 in Currys. A new model seems to be popping up every couple of months !

in reply to message #53 from 'jh'..

if you're looking for a lap tray for your notebook, you ought to look at these guys... http://www.lemanza.com

they've got a nice folding tray for laptops/notebooks.

I have problems viewing the image on the shiny screen of the X51. I took it out into the garden at dusk, and it was like looking into a mirror. Apart from hanging a black sheet behind me and wearing a balaclava does anybody have any suggestions. I might be put away if I tried this on the train.

The black cube with the magnet in is also a confusion to me. Can't see any reference to it in the manual.

I think it is some kind of surge protection, I've clipped it over the power cable - I'll wait for a surge to see if it works - could be sometime waiting for lightning!!!

I would like to know a bit more of what people think about the X52. IT is a great price (759£) and it looks great. But I read so many problem about the X51 that I am afraid that the X52 will have the same. Does anyone want to advise me about the X52? Does it still have the same problem with the screen as the x51? and the touchpade? Batery?
Thanks a lot!!

Like Suz, I'm looking at the X52 right now. I was very tempted with the X51 a few months ago until I read some of the review re flickering. Can anybody advise?

Also, does it come with Word and Excel, or do these have to be loaded seperately? If not, can anyone advise me a cheap place to buy please?

Thanks.

Re: Black blob for fitting around the cable.

It is a ferrite for blocking EMC glitches getting in/out of you machine down the power cable. Just like the one usually fitted around the video cable feeding your monitor. Clip it around the power cable near the power connector that plugs into the laoptop. (Or don't actually 'cos it is not likely to do a lot unless you need to use it near a radio and I think it is just extra weight.)

I got my X52 a couple of weeks ago and find it great.
1. Nice screen. Yes it is only 12", but I bought mine specifically because it was small, so that is an advantage as far as I am concerned. You can easily buy someone elses 14/15/17 incher if you want - I didn't. Not bad anti-reflection as well. I have seen others with screens just as nice, but with so much reflection you cannot see the screen.
2. Nice touchpad. I have tried many others and I think this is superb in comparison. You can catch the built in up/down and left/right edge but not that often and would prefer it with than without.
3. No bluetooth. So what. I don't need it.
4. Base get warm. Sure does but not so much as to cause discomfort. Power supply get warm too.
6. I like the switch to disable the wireless (bit of a fiddle), but wish it would remove the 'wireless not connected' message and icon.
7. Dont like the soft keys to change the volume. It is marketed as a media centre and I think that means I should be able to change volume without fiddling with the keyboard.
5. The worst, absolutly the worst thing is the bl***y AOL popup screen on startup. No matter how many times I tick the 'do not see again' box, it keeps coming back. A feel a registry hack comming on.
6. The Philips media centre software starts on startup and takes up a large chunk of memory. I disable it unless I need to play a DVD etc.

Just to see, I have tried booting from a live CD with linux (suse 10.1?) but it hangs. Ah well.