In a world where 3 pound lightweight notebooks command a premium price and 2 pound notebooks cost even more, Asus has produced an interesting alternative. I've been using an X series IBM Thinkpad for years and have been satisfied with it's performance. But at around 3.5 pounds, in the back of my mind, there's always been a longing for something even more lightweight. Don't get me wrong, as far as notebooks go, my Thinkpads x21, and x60 have served me well. They provide a good balance of size, weight, and performance. Nowadays, the 3 pound 12.1 " notebooks cost significantly more than their 14", 15.4", and 17" counterparts. Integrating all the components into a small form factor apparently is expensive. You also end up giving up certain features like extra usb ports, expansion slots, CPU speed, and 3D graphics performance. Once you move down to the 2 lbs. "ultraportable" category, you give up even more in terms of performance and pay even more of a premium in price.
Recently, Asus has produced a line of 2 pound ultraportable notebooks, and the general consensus seems to be quite positive. This notebook has already stirred up Continue reading »
tags: affordable laptop, Asus Eee, laptop, notebook review, review, ultraportable