Type: Media, Ultraportable, Small BusinessOperating System: Microsoft Windows Vista BusinessProcessor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo P7500Processor Speed: 1.6 GHz
RAM: 2 GB
Weight: 3.5 lb
Screen Size: 13.3 inches
Screen Size Type: widescreen
Graphics Card: Intel GMA X3100
Storage Capacity: 80 GB
Networking Options: 802.11n
Primary Optical Drive: External
The Voodoo Envy 133 is the latest addition to the exclusive "laptops that fit into a manila envelope" club. Seen for the first time, it draws the same oohs and aahs as the MacBook Air. The Envy 133's dimensions (9 by 12.7 by 0.7 inches, HWD) are thinner than those of the Air (8.9 by 12.8 by 0.7 inches, HWD) at its thickest part. Of course, the Air has a tapering design that becomes even thinner as you move toward the bezel, so neither one can proclaim itself the thinnest here. If it's any consolation, the Envy 133 is thinner than the Lenovo X300 (9 by 12 by 0.9 inches, HWD).
The Envy 133 could have been speedier if it weren't for a slow (4,200-rpm) 80GB hard drive. The competition has the edge here, as the Air bundles a 5,400-rpm drive, while the X300 goes with solid-state drives. Getting the most out of this processor, unfortunately, did have some minor side effects. You can hear the fans kick in to cool the CPU, and the right side of the palm rests does get a little warm. Not a big deal, but this shouldn't happen on a laptop this thin. Voodoo Envy 133
The 133's feature set is far better than the Air's, but not as road-ready as the X300's. Voodoo managed to fit in an HDMI-out port and an eSATA port that doubles as a USB port—extraordinary extras in such a thin laptop. With the eSATA port, you have a total of two USB ports, one more than the Air. The pair of speakers sounds amazing on an ultraportable this thin, and they're easily better than the ones on the Air and the X300. Unlike the Air, the 133 has an ExpressCard slot, which you might need because it doesn't have an option for an integrated cellular modem. The X300, on the other hand, has every wireless technology at your disposal, which makes it better suited for a business traveler. It also has an integrated dual-layer DVD burner, while the Envy 133 comes with an external one.
The Envy 133 is essentially a dual-boot system. It doesn't actually have a full-blown second operating system, but it does have a stripped-down Linux environment that you can get into within seconds. If you don't want to boot into Windows Vista Business, the Voodoo IOS (Instant Operating System) puts you into a pre-boot environment, complete with a Web browser, a file manager, a photo editor, and an SMS client. You also have access to your Wi-Fi and hard drive from this mini-operating system
