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Continuing with the sports car analogy, MSI doesn't disappoint with fast processors, powerful discrete graphics, and plenty of storage on the WS60. There is a lot of horsepower here, and the WS60 doesn't betray its workstation heritage.
Despite its modern specs, the WS60 feels like a machine stuck in the past, like a retro car. Unlike its contemporary rivals, MSI doesn't offer a touchscreen option for the WS60, and the only OS configuration you can select is Windows 7 Professional. The latter feature shouldn't be an issue given that Microsoft offers a free upgrade path to Windows 10 this summer, but the lack of a touchscreen may be a dealbreaker for some.
Here's how the unit sent to TechRadar for review was configured:
Spec sheet
- Processor: 2.5GHz Intel Core i7-4710HQ (quad-core, 6MB cache, up to 3.4GHz with Turbo Boost)
- Graphics: Nvidia Quadro K2100M (2GB GDDR5 video memory)
- Memory: 16GB RAM (DDR3L, 1,600Mhz)
- Storage: 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD (7,200RPM)
- Screen: 15.6-inch, 1,920 x 1,080, non-touch
- Camera: 1080p webcam
- Battery: Six-cell internal
- Wireless: Bluetooth 4.0; 802.11ac (B/G/N), dual-band Wi-Fi
- Ports: HDMI, Thunderbolt, 3x USB 3.0 (one always-on charging port), Gigabit Ethernet, memory card reader, microphone, headphone
- OS: Windows 7 Professional
Because Intel doesn't offer quad-core Broadwell processors yet, manufacturers like MSI and Lenovo are using the previous generation quad-core Haswell CPUs on their latest workstations to deliver the most power possible.
The WS60 lacks the enterprise-centric features found on the business-bent ThinkPad W550s, like military specification testing, dedicated docking connector, a water-resistant keyboard and optional fingerprint scanner. This makes the MSI notebook feel more like a consumer laptop than an enterprise workstation. If your business requires these features, you may want to look elsewhere.
Where the WS60 shines is storage. Despite its slim body, users can configure the WS60 with up to two solid state drives in addition to a 1TB hard drive.
Display
Even though the WS60 comes with a large 15.6-inch display, the large side bezels dwarf the display. Whereas the bezels on the 15-inch MacBook Pro (without Retina display) measure roughly 0.5 inches (1.27cm) all around, the top and side bezels on the WS60 are approximately 0.75 inches (1.91cm), making it 50% thicker. The bottom bezel is even larger at nearly 1.25 inches (3.18cm).
Despite the size of the bezels, they do little to protect the display. On our review unit, when I gripped the top bezel to tilt the display, I notice the LCD panel exhibited a rainbow effect near the pressure point.
The entry level $2,299 (£1,550, AU$3,035) configuration that TechRadar Pro tested comes with a standard full HD resolution display. Users who work with CAD and 3D modeling may want to splurge for the optional 3K display. That optional upgrade is similar to what Lenovo offers on its ThinkPad W541, a model that directly competes with the WS60 given both have similar processors, graphics, screen size and resolution.
A downside of the WS60's display is that the screen doesn't tilt far enough back to lay flat. When compared to Lenovo's ThinkPad W550s, this limitation means that for casual sharing of content on the screen, participants would have to huddle in front of the laptop rather than being able to glimpse what's on the display from around a table.
With a 327 nits-rated screen, the display is bright with a high level of contrast. The Samsung PLS panel - similar to LG's IPS screens - displays colors vividly with wide viewing angles. The WS60's full HD non-touch display appears slightly brighter than the ThinkPad W550s's 3K touchscreen.
I found the brightness was most comfortable at around 50% indoors under normal office ambient lighting, and between 70 and 80% outdoors under shaded conditions.
The lack of a touchscreen option would be a forgivable oversight had MSI equipped the WS60 with a more accurate trackpad. I found that the cursor movement was jumpy and not as accurate with the non-glass trackpad, a situation that made me yearn for a touchscreen to tap to make quick selections.
