Introduction

A while back OCZ, which is most well know for their enthusiast memory, has acquired the computer maker Hypersonic.

From Hypersonic's web page:

Hypersonic PC Systems is dedicated to "Performance Beyond Expectations" and is a leader in providing cutting edge technology to the most astute and selective gamers and enthusiasts in the PC market. With world-renowned commitment to service and support, Hypersonic has been paving the way in high performance computing since 1996. Hypersonic offers customers more than just high-end computer systems. We offer them quality, craftsmanship, world-class support and personal attention, and it is these elements that have resulted in numerous industry awards and recognition. Our customers demand the very best, and our handcrafted systems deliver the preeminent gaming experience with the ultimate blend of performance and style.

Their brand new Hypersonic AG2 notebook which we have on our testbench today is available in a wide range of colors which can be easily configured online.

You can pick from the following colors:


Additional options like processor, memory and harddrive size and configuration can also be adjusted according to your needs and budget.

The system we received for our testing had the following specifications:

• Processor: Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo T9300 (Penryn), 6 MB cache
• Memory: 4 GB OCZ PC2-5400 @ 667 MHz (2x 2 GB)
• Chipset: Intel GM965 + ICH8-ME
• Network: Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit Ethernet
• Wireless: Intel WiFi Link 4965AGN 802.11 b/g/n
• HDD: Hitachi Travelstar 7K200, 200 GB, SATA
• OS: Windows Vista Home Edition

Packaging & Contents

The Hypersonic AG2 comes to you in a surprisingly small package, I included a CD in the pictures for easier size comparison.


A seperate cardboard box contains the required acessories.


The notebook is protected very well against shock or other damage by the white plastic foam and a clear plastic bag.


Sheets of plastic cover the paint job, so it won't be scratched during transportation.


Inside the package you will find:

• Notebook computer
• Windows Vista Home Premium
• User's Guide
• Personal letter from the Hypersonic CEO - yes it's personal. Says "Dear W1zzard"
• Software bundle: Nero, Power DVD, Drivers
• Soft cleaning cloth
• Thermal paste (uh.. why?)
• AC adapter + power cord

The Notebook

As mentioned before I received the black version which is extremely high gloss. This notebook is by far the most difficult thing to take photos of I ever encountered.
The looks of the Hyper Sonic AG2 are absolutely stunning - if you are into high gloss. It will definitely make an excellent impression with your friends/visitors. At some point during testing my sister came by for a visit, spotted the notebook in a far away corner "nice notebook", grabbed it and started asking a lot of questions about it.


Please note that the HyperSonic logo is arranged in a way that it will show the logo upright when the notebook is opened. This might confused you when trying to open the notebook the first time because you might try to align it facing to you.


Hypersonic uses a 12.1" WXGA TFT LCD which has a native resolution of 1280x800 pixels. The display is easy to read and has very little reflection, even in brighter rooms.


Above you see how the lid is attached to the notebook. The curved designs causes the display to be a few inches below where you would usually expect it. This takes a bit time to get used to, but is no problem otherwise. Even though I found no real evidence of any weakness, the plastic construction felt a little bit flimsy to me. The lid opens easily and stays open even when the notebook is moved around a bit.


The display stays well readable even if you look at it from an angle.


The keyboard is your normal notebook keyboard layout. By pressing the blue function key to the left of the Windows key in combination with the function keys for example you can invoke special function - just like on most other notebooks.
A trackpad is located below the keyboard to control your mouse pointer. It is of the normal size and is easy to use if you have used one before. Below the trackpad you will find two buttons for the left and right mouseclick. In order to scroll through documents easier you can drag on the right side of the touch pad, where the white dotted area is.


Above picture shows the right and the left side of the notebook. Here you can see the DVD-RW optical burner, a USB port and a connector for your modem. The other side features the AC adapter input, Gigabit Ethernet, Analog VGA (why no DVI?), FireWire and two USB ports. The back has no additional input connectors.


On the front you will find the audio connectivity and a CardReader port for MMC and SD.


In the lid a small webcam is installed, its resolution of 1.3 MPixel is sufficient for WebCam use but nothing outstanding.