Asus ASUSPRO ESSENTIAL PU550CA
Specifications

Price comparison
Reviews for the Asus ASUSPRO ESSENTIAL PU550CA
Source: Ferra.ru

Positive: Reasonable price; stylish pattern on the cover; matte screen; very good keyboard; excellent wired LAN.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 07/17/2014
Source: Itsvet

The configuration is based on a 1.8GHz Intel Core i3 3217U dual-core (4 threads) processor with 8GB of RAM with integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 graphics card and a 500GB SATA hard disk. This is sufficient for good results and performance that is going to be adequate for most business users. In the basic version, the laptop comes with no operating system installed, while you can pay extra for the latest version of the Windows 8.1. Judging by the price, this is a serious and reasonable offer for business customers, offering high build quality and it is more durable than the laptops of the same price category.
Positive: Very high quality workmanship; great balanced configuration; good keyboard.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 09/02/2014
Comment
Model:
The Asus ASUSPRO ESSENTIAL PU550CA is aimed at business customers who want some level of data security. It went through strict reliability testing standards. The hard drive is shock protected and an accelerometer detects sudden movements. Furthermore, Asus claims that it can withstand drops from more than double the height standard notebooks can, the hinge testing is stronger, the pressure endurance is 20% higher compared to normal notebooks and the spill-resistant keyboard can withstand minor spillage. In addition, it comes with a fingerprint scanner for added security.
The PU550CA is powered by a 3rd generation Intel Core i3, which will suffice for all office tasks. 8 GB of RAM ensures smooth multitasking. The Intel HD Graphics 4000 can play older games on low settings or undemanding newer games.
The 15.6 inch screen has too low a resolution of 1366 x 768 and is nothing spectacular. The battery life is pretty solid but carrying the 6 cell battery means the device will weigh in at 2.5 kg. This device is definitely not meant for the average consumer with its security features, small businesses should give it a look.
Intel HD Graphics 4000: Processor graphics card in the high end Ivy Bridge models. Offers a different clock speed in the different CPU models (ULV to desktop quad core) and therefore a different performance.
Non demanding games should be playable with these graphics cards.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
3217U: Ivy-Bridge-based ULV-CPU in Q2 2012. Offers a core clock of 1.8 GHz (no Turbo Boost) and an HD 4000 GPU (350 - 1050 MHz). The TDP is rated at 17 W.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
15.60":
15-inch display variants are the standard and are used for more than half of all laptops.
The reason for the popularity of mid-sized displays is that this size is reasonably easy on the eyes, often allows high resolutions and thus offers rich details on the screen, yet does not consume too much power and the devices can still be reasonably compact - simply the standard compromise.
» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.Asus: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. is a major Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer based in Taipei, founded in 1989. Under the Asus brand name, the company manufactures a wide range of products, including laptops, desktops, motherboards, graphics cards, monitors, smartphones and networking equipment, complete systems and PC components for end users.
Under the ROG (Republic of Gamers) brand name, ASUS manufactures gaming laptops known by gamers for their powerful specifications, dedicated graphics cards, high refresh rate displays and advanced cooling systems.
Beyond gaming, a wide range of notebooks are offered for different needs and budgets, from ultra-slim and lightweight ultrabooks to versatile 2-in-1 convertibles and budget-friendly options. In 2023, Asus had a 7% global market share of the PC market.
Customer satisfaction with ASUS notebooks concerns performance, the features, and the good price-performance ratio of ASUS notebooks. However, as with any brand, there are occasional reports of problems such as overheating, driver compatibility, or build quality issues.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.