Asus U31SD-A1
Specifications
Pricecompare
Average of 6 scores (from 7 reviews)
Reviews for the Asus U31SD-A1
Source: Techreview Source Archive.org version
This laptop has the ExpressGate instant-on operating system that is Linux-based, which lets you boot into a basic operating system in about 10 seconds by pressing a button above the keyboard. Here you can do basic tasks, like surf the Internet using Google Chrome, view pictures, watch videos and play some basic games. Battery life with the included 8-cell battery is an astounding 9-10 hours, which is almost double what other similar laptops provide.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 08/15/2011
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: CNet Archive.org version
The term "thin and light" has a flexible meaning in the laptop world. Currently, to be truly thin, a PC must be in the same range as the MacBook Air. The Asus U31SD-A1 is a compact 13-inch laptop that should appeal to back-to-school shoppers, especially with its impressive graphics/battery life combination, despite some cut corners.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 08/11/2011
Rating: Total score: 70% performance: 80% mobility: 90%
Source: Computer Shopper Archive.org version
Not every laptop gets to be a star, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth your time. A good sub-$800 thin-and-light with long battery life and good performance is nothing to sneeze at, and here, Asus delivers. Asus delivers respectable performance, long battery life, and a low price, but we wish the case were built with better materials.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 08/01/2011
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: Laptop Mag Archive.org version
The caveat with the Acer is that you have to give up about 2.5 hours of unplugged time. If you want all-day endurance along with the ability to game between classes or meetings, the U31SD-A1 is a fine choice.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 07/31/2011
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: Laptop Mag Archive.org version
The ASUS U31SD-A1 is an attractive 13-inch laptop with decent overall performance, good graphics power, and superb battery life. Overall, we prefer the Acer Aspire Timeline 3830TG, which offers even more graphics oomph and a faster Core i5 processor for the same price. The caveat with the Acer is that you have to give up about 2.5 hours of unplugged time. If you want all-day endurance along with the ability to game between classes or meetings, the U31SD-A1 is a fine choice.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 07/31/2011
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: Notebookreview.com Archive.org version
The U31SD is lackluster at best in nearly every other area, however. The keyboard and touchpad are uninspiring; the build quality is questionable at best; and furthermore, there is a barebones selection of input/output ports. The ASUS U31SD is still recommendable in the end; it is a good traveling companion -- just be careful not to treat it roughly given the build quality.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 07/20/2011
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 60% performance: 70% features: 60% mobility: 60% ergonomy: 60%
Foreign Reviews
Source: Laptop.bg BU→EN Archive.org version
positive: design, battery, big and fast hard disk; negative: performance
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 07/19/2011
Comment
NVIDIA GeForce GT 520M: Entry level graphics card based on the new GF119 chip with a 64 Bit memory bus or on the GF108 with 128 Bit memory bus but lower clock rates.
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.
2310M:
Dual-core processor based on the Sandy Bridge architecture with an integrated graphics card and dual-channel DDR3 memory controller. The CPU is clocked at 2.1 GHz and features the Turbo Boost 2.0 only for the graphics card (650/1100MHz).
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
13.30":
There are hardly any tablets in this display size range anymore. For subnotebooks, on the other hand, it is the standard format.
The advantage of subnotebooks is that the entire laptop can be small and therefore easily portable. The smaller display also has the advantage of requiring less power, which further improves battery life and thus mobility. The disadvantage is that reading texts is more strenuous on the eyes. High resolutions are more likely to be found in standard laptops.
» 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.
70%: This rating is poor. More than three quarters of the models are rated better. That is rather not a purchase recommendation. Even if verbal ratings in this area do not sound that bad ("sufficient" or "satisfactory"), they are usually euphemisms that disguise a classification as a below-average laptop.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.