ASUS offers some
of the sleekest-looking notebooks around, but the company needs to pay
more attention to ergonomics and support.
Reviews: 14 out 20 points
With mostly solid but unspectacular systems (10 out of 18 receiving 3.5 stars) and only one Editors' Choice (the
G74SX-A2 gaming rig)--down
from four in 2010--ASUS fell to the lower half of the pack in 2011,
mainly owing to issues such as flexing keyboards and lackluster audio.
Having a 2.5- and a 2-star rated notebook (the woefully underpowered
Eee PC 1015B) didn't help, either, resulting in a fourth-place finish.
Design: 14 out 20 points
ASUS has really upped the lust factor on its machines over the past year, and the
Zenbook UX31
is a great example. The brushed metal finish is even more striking than
the MacBook Air. We've used such words as "sleek," "handsome" and
"attractive" to describe many of ASUS' other laptops, from the
forward-hinge aluminum design on the
U46S to the stealth fighter-inspired G74SX.
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Keyboards & Touchpads: 8 out of 15 points
Some
of the keyboards on ASUS laptops provide decent tactile feedback and
key placement, but others, such as the ZenBook UX31, suffer from mushy
keys. The
U31JG (pictured) featured undersized keys, and the
G53SW
exhibited noticeable flex. The touchpads are also a mixed bag of
mediocrity. Plus, some ASUS machines failed to perform multitouch
gestures smoothly.
Tech Support: 9 out of 15 points
ASUS
has made a few improvements to its technical support in the past year,
cleaning up its website design and improving phone support. But
switching from a U.S.-based customer-support center to a Caribbean-based
one resulted in trouble with our tester understanding directions. And
while the representatives were polite, we felt rushed through the calls.
We also experienced a dropped call during testing, which is very
frustrating.
Displays & Audio: 7 out of 10 points
We enjoyed bold colors and clear images on systems such as the
Asus U31SD,
though viewing angles tended to be narrow. The UX31 outclassed
competing ultrabooks with a sharper 1600 x 900 screen. ASUS' speakers
were clear on most of our tests. The ASUS Zenbook UX31 was particularly
impressive, which boasts Bang & Olufsen speakers. The
G74SX boasts THX sound for a home theater-like experience.
Value & Selection: 8 out of 10 points
ASUS'
notebooks are widely available at most major retailers, including
Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart. We reviewed a total of 17 ASUS laptops
this past year, with prices ranging from $209 for the
Eee PC X101 netbook up to $2,269 for the gaming-centric
Automobili Lamborghini. ASUS does not let you configure systems to order, but the company offers a wider variety than some other brands.
Software: 3 out of 5 points
A
convenient application, ASUS Power4Gear, offers a way for you to manage
your processor power settings as well as screen brightness and sleep
mode. ASUS Tools, found on the desktop, serves as the home for ASUS's
bundled utilities; Backup and Restore, the LifeFrame webcam and more.
Other ASUS apps include VibeCenter (an entertainment portal), ASUS
WebStorage (online backup) and SmartLogon (facial recognition logins).
Customer Satisfaction: 2 out of 5 points
The
Better Business Bureau has issued a consumer alert for ASUS stating
that consumers have complained that products sent to the company for
repairs have been returned without being repaired. However, BBB
representatives said ASUS is working to address those complaints. ASUS
tied with Sony for fifth place in Rescuecom's list of the five
most-reliable brands. Laptopmag.com users, meanwhile, praised ASUS for
its powerful multimedia and gaming machines.
Innovation: 3 out of 5 points
ASUS is directing more of its focus toward hybrid devices such as the
Eee Pad Transformer Prime and
Padfone,
but the company has continued to innovate on laptops. The Zenbook UX31
delivered best-in-class audio inside a remarkably slim design, while the
G74SX uses a unique venting design to keep a very powerful gaming rig
cool.
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