Digital Trends

Sharp M4000

December 4th, 2005 | by Brandon King

Features and Design

It's no secret that the laptop world has become somewhat stagnant recently. While Intel's Centrino technology has done wonders for eliminating the confusion involved in picking the right laptop and has created a more stable platform for manufacturers, creativity and originality have gone the way of the dodo. Each company adds its own touch, but in the end, laptop users have shown that they hunger for something unique.

The Sharp M4000 WideNote follows the standard Centrino map for a successful, stable and functional system. Based on the Intel 915GM chipset, the M4000 has everything you would expect. The Intel Pentium M 740 processor runs at 1.73 GHz, and the system ships with an 80GB hard drive and 512MB of DDR2 RAM, of which 128MB are shared with the VPU. The VPU itself is of the standard Intel variety, so no frills there. The integrated DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive maxes out at 24x. There is one PC card slot and SD card slot, as well as headphone/microphone, LAN, modem, VGA, and two USB 2.0 ports. Of course, true to Centrino form, the M4000 supports 802.11b/g. The 13.3-in. 1280x800widescreen display is the centerpiece of the unit.

Unfortunately, that's all. There are no customization options through Sharp, and there are even some standard features missing. For instance, there are no IEEE 1394 (Firewire) ports, there is no DVD writer, no extended use battery, no Bluetooth, or upgrading of any of the main specifications. That means no upgrading the hard drive, RAM, CPU, or graphics card. Want 802.11a support? Too bad. If by some narrow chance the M4000 is exactly what you want in a notebook, you're set. Otherwise, it is hard to recommend a system lacking in customization when the competition is so tight. Overall, this was our biggest gripe by far, especially when it was being tested side by side with a VAIO S series system.

Port layout is standard, with VGA, AC, audio, and PC Card ports along the left side for easy headphone hookups. The front is connection barren, save the SD card slot and status LEDs that are mounted in such a way as to make them completely unseen during regular operation. The right side sports the two USB ports, LAN, and Combo drive. The back of the unit is occupied mainly by the battery, with the modem port awkwardly placed within the curvature of the battery docking section.

Aesthetically, the M4000 is a beauty. The brushed aluminum motif is used on all surfaces of the case, and gives users a glimpse of what an Apple Intel Powerbook might look like. Mouse, power and wireless buttons have a faux chrome coating, which historically has not stood up to the test of time/usage. The shiny coating also looks slightly gaudy rather than the ostensibly intended classy. The full-size keyboard feels nice and snappy and continues with the metallic theme using a gray, reflective coating or plastic. The screen is covered by a highly reflective coating, similar to that of other manufacturers. This helps increase the contrast ration and make the screen more readable in daylight (as long as the angle of the screen isn't in a glare prone orientation). What we did notice, and it took away from the beauty of the M4000, was a lack of port coverings. More specifically, all ports are black and left open to the damaging elements. At 3.8 pounds, the unit is incredibly light, and will fit comfortably in any laptop bag.