Asus Zenbook UX31-RSL8

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Reviews for the Asus Zenbook UX31-RSL8

80% Asus Zenbook UX31-RSL8
Source: PC Mag Archive.org version
The Asus Zenbook UX31-RSL8 tops the spiritual progenitors of the ultrabook category, the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch and the Samsung Series 9. While it may not be as affordable as the Acer Aspire S3 or the Protégé Z835-P330, it more than makes up for it in superior construction, a fuller feature set, and stronger performance. With models on the horizon, it may face some stiff competition soon, but for the time being, the Zenbook UX31-RSL8 is our Editors' Choice and the ultrabook to beat.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 11/23/2011
Rating: Total score: 80%

Comment

Series:

With the recent announced UX21 and UX31 Ultrabooks, provided by the Taiwanese manufacturer Asus and marketed under the self-created term Zenbook, the already existing UX series moves back to the foreground. In 2009 Asus showed the slim notebook UX50V with energy efficient hardware and a 15-inch display. Today, three years after the first device of this series Asus presents two devices in the Ultrabook-class with 11.6 - and 13.3-inch display. The category Ultrabook itself was launched by Intel to the fire up the market of the top dog Apple with its MacBook Air 11 and MacBook Air 13.

Significant milestones for this project are a sleek design, fast and energy-saving hardware as well as a decent battery lifetime. Asus uses a alloy-chassis, a solid state drive and a lithium-polymer battery, which is integrated. In the first reviews for the two new devices  the available ports, the bright screen and the minimalistic background noises in idle-usage models are highlighted. Disadvantages are the reflective surface of the display and the missing option to expand the integrated hardware.

Asus offers the Zenbook UX21 (11.6 inches) and the UX31 with the larger 13.3-inch screen from 999 € (MSRP) upwards. In regard to other devices you’ll see that Asus only sell premium devices at the moment. Acer offers the Aspire S3 Ultrabook already from 799 € (MSRP) upwards. But in comparison the devices from Asus get a better result in the most reviews out there.

Intel HD Graphics (Sandy Bridge): Processor graphics card which is integrated in the Sandy Bridge Pentium and Celeron processors. Similar to the desktop HD Graphics 2000 and not related to the old Arrandale processor graphics with the same name.

Only some 3D games with very low demands are playable with these cards.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.

2467M: Power saving ULV processor clocked at 1.6-2.3 GHz due to Turbo boost. Offers an integrated HD 3000 clocked at slow 350 / 1150 MHz and a DDR3-1333 memory controller.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.

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