Core 2 Duo T7100 Processor 1.86GHz, 1GB RAM

Ever since the Apple MacBook, 13.3-inch seems to be the new de facto standard for thin-and-lights. Do you feel that ultraportables sacrifice too much with their underpowered processor, while 14.1-inch screens are an overkill? Then get a 13.3-inch model. The BenQ JoyBook S32 is impressive in that it manages to squeeze almost all consumer feature sets into a light albeit thick chassis. In trying to grab a piece of the pie from the likes of the Apple MacBook, NEC Versa S3200 and Sony VAIO VGN-C22, it went for a two-prong approach--price and design. One of them hits the mark, while the other is more a hit and miss.

Design of the BenQ JoyBook S32 Notebook PC

When we reviewed the larger but more powerful JoyBook S41, we were not too hot on the polka-dot texturing on the top cover. Hence, when we heard that the S32 comes with the same design in white, we did not expect to go gaga over the look. But BenQ gave us a surprise. Instead of the white edition, our review unit came with what BenQ refers to as a "stunning 3D metallic shading" cover. We feel it's more accurately described as a deep blue turquoise look which, though unique, seems to be more comfortable in an antique jewelry store than as a piece of high-tech equipment. Though the official product page declares that this JoyBook is crafted from aluminum, the glossy cover is made from plastic and requires a little maintenance to keep those nasty fingerprints away.

Though nine out of 10 in our unofficial poll said they didn't really like the new look, you may be sure of one person who feels a certain kinship with it. Even then, unless your office has a hip culture, whipping this out while presenting your latest findings in court will certainly elicit some stares, not all of it good. The insides, thankfully, go with a more conventional black design with nice silver trimmings.

Despite its rather thick 30mm body, it weighs in at a reasonable 2.16kg, more than the NEC Versa S3200 but quite a bit lighter than the MacBook and Sony VAIO VGN-C22. As we will see later, it's footprint of 334 x 227.5mm holds more connectivity ports than its nearest competitors. The latchless design opens smoothly, while the integrated Webcam with a mirror finish is set above the display. The touchpad even incorporates an attractive wave look. Those with a fetish for dedicated buttons will be sorely disappointed as the S32 has only discrete keys for the SRS Surround Sound, Webcam and wireless function.

Features of the BenQ JoyBook S32 Notebook PC

Priced at S$1,899 (US$1,249.92), the JoyBook S32 is a clear target for the budget user. Despite its low cost, we were pleasantly surprised that it has one of the most complete feature sets in its class. More expensive 13.3-inch units with discrete graphics cards like the ASUS W7S and Dell XPS M1330 may offer slightly more in the form of security features or HDMI output, but they cost well above the S$2,500 (US$1,644.01) mark.

The BenQ S32 is certainly generous with its USB 2.0 ports, offering a total of four connectors. With the exception of the ASUS W7S and NEC Versa S3200 with their three USBs, all the other notebooks mentioned in this review hold only two. ExpressCard slot and mini-FireWire port fleshes out the JoyBook's external connectivity. For accessing external media, the S32 holds a DVD Super Multi Writer, while a 5-in-1 memory card reader grabs from SD/MMC, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro and xD-Picture Card standards. Wired networks go through the built-in Gigabit Ethernet and modem ports, while Bluetooth and 802.11a/b/g/n radios are also available. Not bad at all for a unit that goes under the hammer for below S$2,000 (US$1,315.96).

The 13.3-inch transflective widescreen is nice and bright indoors, though avoid using it under bright lights as the display's reflections tend to be distracting. A 1.3-megapixel Webcam sits above the display for video conferencing and the occasional snapshot. The engine powering the LCD is an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100 chip capable of sucking up to 358MB of system memory for video use. Though traditionally integrated graphics chipsets like this one do poorly at games, a recent driver upgrade boosts its performance so much that games which could not even install before, like BattleField 2, are now playable at low settings. However, it is still no hardcore gaming solution, so users should take appreciate the GMA X3100 chip for its power-saving properties instead. VGA and S-video outputs are available for hooking up to larger displays or projectors.

The full-size keyboard is quite comfortable to type on, while the touchpad is responsive. We would have liked a button to disable the latter when an external mouse is used but, unfortunately, not many machines out there offer this feature. Despite its lack of an integrated subwoofer, the HD audio chip with SRS TruSurround XT technology produced rather good sound through its front-facing speakers. The SRS TruSurround feature can be disabled, if desired, with a simple button press.

Performance And Battery Life of the BenQ JoyBook S32 Notebook PC

Our review unit held a Core 2 Duo T7100 1.86GHz processor, 1GB RAM and 120GB of storage space. We were unable to install MobileMark 2007 for benchmarking purposes due to software conflicts. We did, however, run a few common applications like Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop with minimum slowdown. Unless you are a hardcore gamer or love to render high-definition videos, the JoyBook S32 should be able to catch up with your needs.

We ran The Incredibles DVD at half screen brightness and with the volume turned up. The JoyBook shut down just after 2 hours, not spectacular by any standards but certainly competent enough. For usual Web surfing and productivity tools, one can expect a single charge to last significantly longer.

After-Sales Service And Support for the BenQ JoyBook S32 Notebook PC

The JoyBook comes with a one-year local warranty. At BenQ's support Web site, laptop owners can download the latest drivers and software updates as well as register for the warranty online. In the event of a hardware failure, the laptop has to be sent to the service center for diagnosis or repair. Telephone support is available. Unfortunately, there is no online database or FAQ to assist users for common issues, though there is an online email form which can be used for this purpose.
The JoyBook comes with a one-year local warranty. At BenQ's support Web site, laptop owners can download the latest drivers and software updates as well as register for the warranty online. In the event of a hardware failure, the laptop has to be sent to the service center for diagnosis or repair. Telephone support is available. Unfortunately, there is no online database or FAQ to assist users for common issues, though there is an online email form which can be used for this purpose.