MSI PS42: The Ugly Duckling With a Powerful Punch

　　When I first saw the MSI PS42, I couldn't help but cringe. It looks like it was designed five years ago by Acer or Toshiba. But after using it for a week, I have to admit that its performance and price are undeniable. This laptop is a budget-friendly beast that punches well above its weight.

　　Pros:

　　Fantastic battery lifeSolid performance, especially in gamesVery lightweightAffordable, starting at just $900

　　Cons:

　　Ugly designDim displayAwkward keyboard layoutSlow storage

　　Design: A Throwback to the Past

　　The MSI PS42 is one of the ugliest laptops I've ever seen. Its brushed aluminum finish is a fingerprint magnet, and the black plastic bezel around the display makes it look cheap. It's not just the looks that are dated, though. The keyboard layout is also a bit strange, with a group of additional buttons on the right-hand side that can be easy to hit accidentally. And the webcam is located near the hinge, which is a terrible place for it.

　　Display: Dim and Lackluster

　　The MSI PS42's display is another area where it falls short. It's a 14-inch 1080p panel, but it's very dim, maxing out at just 303 nits. Colors are rich and vibrant, but the overall brightness is just too low. This makes it difficult to use the laptop outdoors or in bright environments.

　　Keyboard: A Mixed Bag

　　The MSI PS42's keyboard is backlit and comfortable to type on, but the layout is a bit awkward. The additional buttons on the right-hand side can be easy to hit accidentally, and the function keys are located in a strange place. This takes some getting used to, especially if you're coming from a different brand of laptop.

　　Performance: Surprisingly Powerful

　　Despite its budget-friendly price, the MSI PS42 packs a punch in terms of performance. It's equipped with an Nvidia MX150 discrete GPU, which gives it a significant boost in graphics performance over laptops with integrated graphics. This makes it a great choice for gaming or other graphics-intensive tasks. The PS42 also has a fast Intel Core i7-8550U processor and 16GB of RAM, which makes it plenty fast for everyday tasks like web browsing, email, and office productivity.

　　Battery Life: Exceptional

　　One of the MSI PS42's biggest strengths is its battery life. It lasted an impressive 11 hours and 10 minutes in our battery test, which is longer than most other laptops in this price range. This makes it a great choice for students, business travelers, or anyone else who needs a laptop that can last all day on a single charge.

　　Conclusion: A Solid Choice for Budget-Minded Gamers

　　The MSI PS42 is a budget-friendly laptop that offers solid performance, exceptional battery life, and a very affordable price tag. However, its ugly design, dim display, and awkward keyboard layout may be deal-breakers for some people. If you're looking for a laptop that's both powerful and affordable, the MSI PS42 is a solid choice. Just be prepared to make some compromises on design and build quality.

　　README:

　　Super fast in games, only moderately fast in day-to-day tasks.Storage could be much faster.Battery life is exceptional.Very light.Starts at just $900!But boy is it ugly.