Mythlogic Callisto 1512 (Clevo W550EU) Ultrabook Review

Conclusion: Best of a Bad Situation

With the Callisto 1512, Mythlogic has essentially done the best they can with what they've been given by Clevo. The W550EU offers plenty of options for boutiques, but if you'll pardon my expression, Mythlogic basically cut out the crappy ones. Nobody wants a low resolution panel or a low capacity battery, so Mythlogic simply doesn't offer them.

As far as the notebook itself goes, the shell is unappealing and efficiency leaves something to be desired, but despite the low gamut, the display will continue to be a strong selling point. 1080p IPS in a 15.6" form factor really needs to be the standard, and it's the kind of standard that only occurs when everyone gets on board. And while higher resolution notebook displays are very slowly beginning to appear in the marketplace, high resolution matte displays are still rarefied. If that's your top priority, the W550EU may be one of your only options.

Mythlogic has also done a good job of keeping both their website and their options modern, neat, and orderly. This is in comparison to the almost fire sale, Sunday paper double-page ad style of CyberPowerPC and iBuyPower's sites, and the overabundance of confusing options available on AVADirect's site. They're not wasting time with underpowered or questionable value propositions; as far as I'm concerned, the mobile Core i3 should only be an absolute last resort for anyone. Linux fans also take heart: Mythlogic will sell you the W550EU either with no OS installed or with Ubuntu.

Presently, Mythlogic is about one of the only places you can get the W550EU, so that scarcity gives them some leeway. Under the circumstances their Callisto 1512 is probably going to be more desirable than a "sleekbook" from HP or a Dell Inspiron 15z, but you're hanging out in dangerously close proximity to the infinitely more desirable XPS 15, which features standard voltage CPUs but a far superior fit and finish along with dedicated graphics hardware. You're also in the neighborhood of HP's Envy Spectre notebooks, complicating things further.

It's tough not to be ambivalent about the notebook itself. If you're willing to make the compromises, Mythlogic will cut you a good deal at a fair price. The one year warranty seems stingy, but it's really no worse than you'll get at any major vendor, and they'll cut you loose completely after one year as opposed to at least offering tech support. I think Mythlogic has done about the best they can with the W550EU, but the ball continues to remain in Clevo's court to produce notebooks that can compete directly.