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ASUS N61JV-X2 16-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Dark Brown) | 
| Brand: Asus
Category: Personal Computer
Price
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New (3) Used (2) from $899.99
Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  36 reviews
Sales Rank: 91
Color: Dark Brown
Media: Personal Computers
Batteries Included: Yes
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium
CPU Manufacturer: Intel
CPU Speed: 2.53
CPU Type: Intel Core i5
Shipping Weight (lbs): 6.5
Dimensions (in): 15.4 x 10.6 x 1.5
MPN: N61JV-X2
Model: N61JV-X2
UPC: 884840576310
EAN: 0884840576310
ASIN: B00352LQYO
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | Intel Core i5-430M Processor 2.26 GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.53GHz | | • | 4GB of DDR3 1066MHz SDRAM, 2 slots, 8GB Max | | • | 500GB Hard Drive (7200 RPM); Super Multi Optical Disk Drive; Wi-Fi 802.11 bgn (bluetooth not included) | | • | 16-Inch HD LED LCD Display; 2.0MP Webcam; HDMI Port; NVidia GT325M Graphics Engine with 1GB DDR3 Dedicated VRAM | | • | Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit) Operating System |
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Product Description
Enjoy true entertainment and real sound with the ASUS N61JV. Equipped with Intel's new Core i5-430M processor and an NVidia GT325M graphics engine with 1GB DDR3 VRAM, the N61JV brings users true-to-life images for games, movies and videos. NVIDIA CUDA GPU
Amazon.com Product Description
Expect an Encore
The 16-inch N61Jv-X2 is masterfully crafted to deliver premium entertainment while on the go. Featuring the new Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA's GeForce® GT 325M graphics processing unit (GPU), featuring NVIDIA Optimus Technology, the N61Jv-X2 redefines mobile computing with the power of a desktop inside its elegant and portable design. Now with NVIDIA Optimus technology, the N61Jv seamlessly switches between the powerful GeForce GPU, and battery-saving integrated graphics engine depending on demands of the graphics processor- much like a hybrid car automatically switches depending on driving style.
This multimedia powerhouse excels in entertainment with awe-inspiring HD playback on its brilliant 16-inch HD LED-backlit widescreen driven by NVIDIA GeForce Graphics for a flawless HD entertainment experience. Delight your senses with rich sound from the Altec Lansing speakers, enhanced by the unique SonicMaster design –an exclusive ASUS design that improves sound projection and quality. Plus, introduce yourself to the latest standard of USB with Superspeed USB 3.0, enabling faster transfer rates for USB 3.0-enabled peripherals – up to 10 times faster compared to USB 2.0. Enjoy your favorite HD movies, listen to hit songs, and experience the impressive visuals of the N61Jv-X2- the possibilities are virtually endless.
The N61Jv-X2 boasts 4GB DDR3 system RAM, a chiclet keyboard, a multi-touch trackpad, a high-speed wireless 802.11n connectivity, a 500GB 7200 RPM hard drive, an HDMI connectivity, a 2.0MP webcam, and plenty of other convenient features.
| Now there is an even bigger reason to get the N61Jv by ASUS. Praised by the media for its outstanding features, it has been given the coveted Anandtech's Silver Editor's Choice Award. See what they had to say about it: “Features like USB 3.0 support and Optimus make our "must have" list for any new laptop purchase… the N61Jv is the best midrange ($800 to $1000) notebook currently available.”
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Key Features - The new Intel Core i5-430M processor with Turbo Boost Technology for smart multitasking performance that adapts to your needs (Learn more)
- Vivid 16-inch HD LED-backlit widescreen for an immersive cinematic experience (Learn more)
- Powerful NVIDIA GeForce Graphics powered by GeForce GT 325M with 1GB VRAM for the latest multimedia and gaming enjoyment (Learn more)
- NVIDIA Optimus Technology for automatic and seamless switching between powerful NVIDIA GeForce graphics and battery-saving integrated graphics engine (Learn more)
- Altec Lansing speakers enhanced with SRS Premium Sound produce crisp, clear audio reproduction (Learn more)
- ASUS SonicMaster design for more detailed and richer sound quality
- 500GB 7200RPM hard drive for fast, convenient storage and access to all your documents, music, videos, and photos
- 4GB of DDR3 RAM brings increased performance with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit pre-installed
- Multi-touch trackpad lets you intuitively navigate through web pages, documents, and pictures (Learn more)
- Chiclet keyboard with numeric keypad for increased typing precision (Learn more)
- HDMI output for easy HD video and audio connectivity to your HDTV or LCD monitors with HDMI input
- USB 3.0 Superspeed connectivity for up to 10x faster transfer speed than USB 2.0 (Learn more)
- High-speed wireless N networking (802.11 b/g/n @ 2.4GHz) (Learn more)
- Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit for a faster and more reliable operating system (Learn more)
- ASUS Infusion Technology for scratch-resistant protection
- 2.0 megapixel webcam for video chatting with friends and family
- 1 year global warranty and 1 year Accidental Damage Warranty* (Learn more)
Learn More  | NVIDIA GeForce Graphics
The N61Jv-X2 offers you the latest in mobile graphics technology with its NVIDIA GeForce GT 325M with 1GB DDR3 VRAM. This powerful CUDA-enabled graphics card lets you enjoy the HD playback and the latest games.
NVIDIA Optimus Technology
Like a hybrid car seamlessly switches from gas to electric, the N61Jv features NVIDIA Optimus technology to automatically optimize your computing experience so you can keep working without interruptions.
By automatically switching between the energy-efficient integrated graphics solution, and the powerful GeForce graphics processor, you can now experience longer battery life and amazing visuals without having to manually change settings-Optimus technology dynamically manages this balance so you don't have to! Watch HD movies, surf the web or play top 3D games knowing that you’ll get the long battery life you need and the performance you expect from ASUS and NVIDIA. |
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 | Sit back and relax with premium multimedia features that make the N61Jv-X2 the ideal desktop replacement. Equipped with Altec Lansing speakers with enhanced SRS premium sound and the ASUS proprietary SonicMaster design, you’re ensured a cinematic experience when on the go.
With included HDMI connectivity, this entertainment notebook turns into your personal media center when you synchronize it to an external monitor or HDTV - letting you enjoy flawless 1080p HD playback anytime, anywhere.
Perfectly complementing the N61Jv-X2’s Optimus seamless graphics optimization technology are its brilliant 16-inch HD LED-backlit widescreen and Video Magic software that lets you enjoy the latest HD movies wherever you go with more battery life than ever.
The ASUS N61Jv-X2 does not only run your demanding applications, it will also wow you with its premium entertainment features. |
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 | The N61Jv-X2 is one of the first notebooks to debut the new Intel Core i5 processor. With Turbo Boost Technology, the Core i5 mobile processor will automatically speed up to match your demands for multitasking and demanding applications. Plus, it features Intel Graphics Technology for an excellent HD video experience, and Intel Hyper-Threading Technology that intelligently enables its 2 cores for simultaneous 4-way multitasking.
Along with the ASUS exclusive Power4 Gear to control system performance, the N61Jv masterfully optimizes the system performance for the task at hand. With a push of a button, you can select the power profile that matches your need. |
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 | The N61Jv-X2 is one of the first notebooks to introduce USB 3.0 – the latest standard of USB – that far surpasses the speed of its predecessors with transfer rates up to 10 times faster. This means it takes only 20 seconds to transfer the content of one DVD (6GB) using USB 3.0, instead of 3.3 minutes with USB 2.0.
The N61Jv-X2 also boasts an array of wireless features that make it simpler than ever to connect to your mobile world, including built-in high-speed wireless N (802.11 b/g/n @2.4 GHz). With high-speed wireless N, not only do you get improved range, you can explore with greatly increased transfer rates –that means quicker downloads and faster video streaming.
With all these latest quick and simple connectivity options, it is now easier than ever to transfer large amount of data within no time. |
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 | Protected by scratch-resistant ASUS Infusion Technology, the N61Jv-X2 will captivate you with its eye-catching aesthetic. With an Eagle-eye design, the unique-looking power-button lights up a cool indigo blue so whether you’re in light or dark areas you always know where to find it.
Specialized for ease of use, the N61Jv-X2’s elegant chiclet keyboard is seamlessly built into its beautifully shaped chassis and features a numeric keypad for easy input. But, there’s more to its chiclet keyboard than just looks, its uniquely-spaced layout gives users more typing precision and effectively protects it from dust buildup.
It also features a multi-touch trackpad that’s sized larger than average notebooks, allowing for remarkable control while scrolling through web pages, documents, or photo albums.
You can now use two or three fingers to easily command your applications with gestures such as zooming in/out or rotating the picture. |
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 | Recently rated #1 in consumer reliability among Windows-based PCs by SquareTrade, and PCMag.com, ASUS gives you the peace of mind you deserve every time you start your N61Jv-X2 notebook.†
ASUS worked extensively with Microsoft to develop time-saving features like FastBoot technology –reducing the time needed for startup and shutdown by up to 40% –and LocalMe –a GPS-like application.
Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. And, thanks to Windows 7’s enhanced power management, you can enjoy unplugged gaming longer.
Click HERE to learn more about the time-saving ASUS FastBoot feature. |
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F9 Key for Quick Recovery  | Built into every ASUS notebooks and Eee PCs is a quick and simple recovery process. By pressing the F9 during the boot-up process, you can restore your ASUS notebook to its original factory state making it like new again.
Make sure to back-up your data prior to system recovery so you can pick up wherever you left off without a hitch.
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 | Offers a level of coverage that would add hundreds of dollars to the price of competing laptops:
1 Year Global Warranty
30-Day Flawless Display Guarantee: If you discover one defective bright dot within 30 days of purchase, ASUS will replace the panel at no cost.
Two-way free standard shipping
24/7 tech support |
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Accidents Happen  | You have extra protection when accidents happen to your ASUS notebook purchased in the US or Canada. ASUS will fix or replace your notebook for you at no charge during the first year after purchase in the event of damage from accidental spills, drops, electrical surges, or fire.*
Warranty covering accidental drops, spills, power surges, and fire damage
Target 3 business day turnaround time for repair / replacement; not including receiving and shipping time
One-way shipping (from ASUS to the user) at no additional cost
24 hour toll-free phone support
One incident covered per notebook |
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What's in the Box The entire ASUS N61Jv-X2 package contains a warranty information card, notebook, 6-cell battery pack, and AC Adapter.
ASUS N61Jv-X2 (Brown) AC Adapter 6-cell Battery Pack Warranty Information Card
Specifications Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) Display: 16-inch HD LED-backlit Widescreen (1366 x 768) CPU: Intel Core i5-430M processor 2.26 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.53 GHz Graphics: NVIDIA Optimus-Enabled: NVIDIA GeForce GT 325M with 1GB DDR3 VRAM + Intel GMA HD Wireless Data Network: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz) LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet Memory: 4GB DDR3 (up to 8GB) Storage: 500GB 7,200RPM hard drive Optical Disc Drive: Super Multi DVD drive Camera: 2.0 Megapixel Speakers: Altec Lansing speakers with SRS premium sound Microphone: Digital Array Microphone Card Reader: : 1x 8-in- card reader (MMC/SD/Mini-SD/XD/Memory Stick/MS Pro/MS Duo/MS-Pro-Duo) Input/Output: 1x HDMI output, 1x Headphone-out jack (SPDF support), 1x Microphone-in jack, 1x Express Card 34, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 1x USB 3.0 port, 2x USB 2.0 ports, 1x E-SATA Battery Pack: 6-Cell Dimensions: 14.98 x 10.33 x 1.08 (W x D x H) Weight: 6.38 lbs Color: Brown
† Rated number 1 Windows-based PC maker in PCMag.com’s Service & Reliability Report 2009. Rate number 1 PC brand according to SquareTrade, the leading direct-to-consumer warranty company (for more information visit http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109/ ).
* For notebooks purchased on or after Sept. 10, 2007. The ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty covers “ASUS” brand notebooks only, and does NOT extend to: “Built on ASUS,” “ASMobile,” “Powered by ASUS,” the Eee PC, or some other models. These retailers are currently among the companies that do NOT participate in the ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty: Best Buy, MicroCenter, and The Source by CircuitCity in Canada. Limit of one claim per notebook for Accidental Damage Warranty. ASUS reserves the right to discontinue this program and to modify the terms and conditions thereof at any time. ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty Program starts from the date of your ASUS notebook purchase, when all the requirements are met. One incident covered per notebook.
All specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers on selected models. Products may not be available in all markets. Product may not be exactly as shown in photos.
Celeron, Celeron Inside, Centrino, Centrino Inside, Core Inside, Intel, Intel Logo, Intel Atom, Intel Atom Inside, Intel Core, Intel Inside, Intel Inside Logo, Intel Viiv, Intel vPro, Itanium, Itanium Inside, Pentium, Pentium Inside, Viiv Inside, vPro Inside, Xeon, and Xeon Inside are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 36
 Great gaming laptop, but update GPU drivers February 27, 2010
J. Manarang (S.F., CA)
100 out of 101 found this review helpful
PROS:
On the initial setup, the laptop played a pretty cool Asus video that showed many "on" buttons forming various images. It made the purchase seem even more personal. Nice touch Asus. Here's a link: paste "ASUS Laptop Startup Video (2009 ASUS)(HD)" on Youtube. Watch in HD fullscreen to get the same feel. Yes simple things amaze me x_o.
My first impression of this laptop is its big size. I'm used to running a netbook, in terms of mobile pc. Examining the layout closely, the screen isn't the perpetrator here- the speaker adds roughly 2 inches to the width. Although this is easily forgiven once I heard the sound quality, which is similar to an HDTV's. This may make the laptop slightly bigger than regular 16in notebooks, but for an "entertainment"-advertised laptop, it was necessary.
I'm happy it has an eSATA port because this allowed me to couple my internal hard drives with a hard drive docking station (Thermaltake BlacX). Really helpful for storage and backups. The USB3.0 is a great addition as well. Makes it a bit more future-proof. As for the touchpad, my netbook had the same exact touchpad and I always turned it off because I was not a fan of it. Nothing beats a mouse!
Battery life depends on 4 settings through a power-managing software called Power4Gear. At "High Performance" setting, no power saving option is on and the battery life drains within 2 hours. The more balanced "Entertainment" setting, lasts 3 hours. With the power option set to "Quiet Office", the battery life lasts 4 hours. Lastly, the"Battery Saving" mode increases the battery life even longer. What it does is it disables your wallpaper, gadgets, autohides the taskbar, lowers brightness to 20% and sets every setting to maximum power savings. Of course the realtime battery life will be ultimately affected by what task you are doing.
In terms of performance, this thing packs a wallop! It will not beat a same-priced desktop, but what's important is portability. It's a great purchase for the performance. Although keep reading to learn about the current GPU driver as a caveat emptor. Another warning: I believe this was first advertised as having bluetooth. I can confirm that it does not. While this is not a deal breaker, I feel it should have been included being an entertainment laptop. Some of the pre-installed softwares are helpful, like the Power4Gear battery managing software and the Splendid Utility which enhances the screen's color/contrast/brightness settings with preset modes. The Cyberlink TrueTheater HD software is amazing. I popped in my "LotR: Fellowship of the Ring" DVD and with the smoothest playback settings (60FPS) and sharpest modes, it seemed like a whole new movie. I do not own a bluray player so I'm not used to this type of quality, but yes, it is better than any YouTube 1080p HD trailers or any HD channels I've seen.
Graphic Card Tests (Gaming):
All games were tested on the Geforce GT325m (Optimus driver version 189.07), running at 1366x768 native resolution, full screen, and with FRAPS frame counter benchmark. I wanted to keep it at native resolution to show the highest resolution capability of this GPU. Lowering resolution and some graphical settings will unquestionably increase the frame rates, but playing graphically-lush games is always a delight.
Batman Arkham Asylum: (Fight sequence VS 5 inmates at start of game)
Settings: VSync Off, Hardware PhysX Off, Detail level: Very High, 2xAnti-aliasing
Min FPS: 25, Avg FPS: 33 Max FPS : 50
Verdict: Smooth gameplay, lag-free.
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Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare 2 : (Single Player: Heavy gun fight on "Act II: Hornet's Nest" level)
Settings: VSync On, All Graphic Settings On, All Textures set to Extra, 4xAnti-aliasing
Min FPS 30, Avg FPS 35, Max FPS 60 (Remember VSync caps this at screen's refresh rate, which is 60 in this case)
Verdict: Very playable considering it's at max in-game settings. Will experience some tiny lag spikes, which I also experienced on my desktop PC which has better specs than this laptop, so it must be the game.
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Mass Effect 2: (Gun fights on mission to recruit Prof. Mordin)
Settings: VSync On, All graphic settings on except for Film Grain, 4xAnti-aliasing, 8xAnisotropic Filtering
Min FPS 24, Avg FPS 38, Max FPS 49
Verdict : Smooth gameplay. Some random lags but does not ruin the experience.
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Crysis: (From game start all the way to "First Light" gun fights)
Test 1: VSync Off, Everything to Medium, No AA
Min FPS 19, Avg FPS 26, Max FPS 34
Verdict : Smooth gameplay, lag free even if the FPS results seem low. Graphic texture pop-ins on some of the vegetation, especially when using "maximum speed" boost.
Test 2: VSync Off, All graphic settings to medium, except for Texture and Shader at High. 2xAnti-Aliasing .
Min FPS 13, Avg FPS 16, Max FPS 20
Verdict : Clunky gameplay. With these settings, the texture looked sharper and much easier on the eyes, and while there are no dramatic lag spikes that will get you killed easily (it's a steady 15-16 frames on gun fights), the slow gameplay is quite noticeable.
Test 3: VSync Off, Everything to High except Shader to Medium, No AA
Min FPS 14, Avg FPS 22, Max FPS 29
Verdict : Smooth gameplay, but sometimes has that laggy feel to it. No jittering lag. Pretty impressive for the High setting- I guess Shader is what really stresses the framerates.
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World of Warcraft: VSync off, Effects at Medium-High, Window Mode + Maximized option to properly scale the resolution
Test 1: Riding mount around Dalaran's North Bank steps with ~30 toons around me.
Min FPS 22, Avg FPS 33, Max FPS 39
Verdict: No lag
Test 2: Outside Dalaran, flying epic flight
Min 50, Avg 85, Max 150
Verdict: No lag
In instances, the gameplay is very smooth. Depending on the instance, some will be over 100FPS whereas the newer ones + raids, will be in the low 50s.
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6008 pts in 3DMark06
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10594 pts in 3DMark05
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CONS:
Note: This part of the review will only be valid until Nvidia releases the proper Forceware drivers for the laptop's GPU. The GT 325m series is relatively new; NVidia has one official release for it on their website: Optimus Driver 189.07. This driver is not bad. As shown by the benchmarks, 3D gaming works well. But here's where things tend to get annoying: the Nvidia GPU, with its current drivers, rely on the Intel integrated graphics to handle screen scaling. Meaning if you connect this to a larger monitor, in my case an Acer 21.5" 1080P native res widescreen LCD, scaling works well when the GPU running is the Intel IGP, but when you switch to games, you are forced to use the 1080p resolution through the in-game settings, which will be taxing on the framerates. I know the native resolution of the laptop does not match the monitor's, but with the "normal" geforce drivers, scaling to fit the screen works well and allows the laptop's native res to stretch the image onto the monitor. My ASUS 1201n netbook does this easily through it's Nvidia Control Panel, with the same native res as this laptop. I hope NVidia releases this capability with the next driver update.
I still do not trust the current Nvidia driver for this GPU just yet. Once it is properly optimized and up to date, the fps will increase. I'll update this entry if the graphic drivers are updated through NVidia or some modding website.
NVidia Optimus: This technology sounds great but I'm having a little problem with it. See, when my laptop is plugged in, the Optimus technology works just fine: the intel switches to the nvidia GPU when loading a 3D game. But when I load a 3D game while this laptop is unplugged (regardless whether battery is full or low charge), the GPU does NOT switch. It stays on the Intel GPU and I get low framerates. This problem occurs even if I use "High Performance" mode on the power settings, even if my preferred GPU is NVidia, even if I assign the game profile to load with Nvidia GPU, even if I right click and "run with graphics processor: High performance Nvidia processor". I do notice that if I suddenly plug the laptop to the outlet, the frames will go up fast again (as if the Nvidia GPU was suddenly turned on). There needs to be a better software-based of forcing the GPU on since the NV Control Panel is faulty at this point. Isn't the whole point of Optimus to provide performance when necessary and lengthen battery life, when available? Here is NVidia's claim: "Watch a HD movie, surf the web or play top 3D games knowing that you'll get the long battery life you need and the performance you expect from NVIDIA." This technology should work even on battery, as stated there. I would like to know if this is just my laptop doing this- comment if you can help.
Update 1: there is a fix that works. Make sure your HDMI is in digital mode and not analog. This allows your monitor to do the scaling. Although, if you only have analog mode for HDMI, you can try using a DVI to HDMI cable. Or just wait for Nvidia to update the driver and you won't have to go through all this.
Update 2: March 15, 2010. Well it seems that Nvidia actually listened. I opened a technical ticket on their website and though I can't take credit for them actually solving this, I can tell you that they have put up a solution. New Optimus drivers are out on their website: version 189.42. The highlights of this release is eerily accurate to the issues I was having with my N61JV. It fixes the incompatibilities with the Intel IGP driver and corrects the Optimus Profile system. The sad news is I have already returned my N61JV almost 2 weeks before the release of this driver so I cannot personally test its reliability. I have since gotten a replacement laptop (Gateway NV5925u) or I would have loved to test this out.
Update 3: April 29, 2010. Another GPU driver is released on the Nvidia website: Driver 189.79. Although the main highlight is, "This is an Optimus driver update that fixes an issue with the beta release of StarCraft II."
Hope this review helped those who may be thinking of buying this notebook!
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Great laptop for the price! April 2, 2010
Preeti (Chicago, IL)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
I've had my laptop for over 3 weeks and not experienced any problems. Guess my mine was manufactured on a good day compared to some others. It started fine, no problems burning the recovery dvds, no problems waking up after the lid is closed --just hit the power button. It wakes up exactly where I left off ---internet, word document, etc. An earlier reviewer mentioned the screen brightness then dimming after a few minutes but you can easily adjust the settings to your preference.
The i5 processor is fast, the laptop runs quiet even when the fan comes on. The laptop does not heat up much. I use it on my lap while sitting on the couch and even after 2-3 hours, my lap is fine (not warm or uncomfortable). Guess I'm a couch potato! The multi-directional touchpad is pretty cool but really sensitive. It takes some getting used to but that's because I'm a die hard mouse person. However, I do like the touchpad and may be converting. Sound is crisp and clear. Battery life depends on what you're doing. I get about 2.5-3 hours when surfing the web. It's around 2 hours if watching a dvd. There's a lot of bloatware on it which I haven't removed since I need to brush up on how to remove it.
Warranty: There is only one warranty card in the box, it's for the Accidental Damage Warranty. The 1-year global warranty is automatic. Amazon was going to let me return it because it was missing info on the global warranty but I called Asus to see if I was supposed to get a separate card in the box. Asus said only the ADW card is in the box because the global warranty is automatic. Asus confirmed by running my serial number. Anyway, you can register your laptop online at Asus and register your ADW online too. But you still have to mail a copy of the invoice and ADW email confirmation to the address they tell you.
Comments on Asus: Asus's website is challenging to navigate but eventually you find what you're looking for. Their customer service was very helpful. I did not have any technical issues so I cannot speak about their tech help.
I hope this review is helpful. I did a lot of research on this site and others before buying this laptop and I'm very happy with my purchase. $899 for a quality 16-inch i5, 500 GB hard drive, NVIDIA graphics, and a warranty that includes free ADW too. The only improvement would be if the laptop could play blu-rays but no biggie.
UPDATE 6/28/10: After having the laptop for 3 months, it just froze at the Asus logon. I tried the hard reset several times per Asus Tech help, but since the computer did nothing, Asus said to send it in for repair. I was not pleased since i had to take it a repair shop for data recovery (which cost me $95) before sending it to Asus. Once I get it back, I'm going to be sure to save all things to an external hard drive on a daily basis. Thank goodness my old Toshiba is still working while I wait for Asus to fix this one.
UPDATE 7/20/10: Asus failed to repair my computer on the First try. They replaced the hard drive and sent it back to me. Once I turned it on, I got a black screen with instructions to insert a boot device. Called Tech Help again, tried to use Bios menu but did not work, told to send it back to Asus for the Second time. This time it went to Asus HQ in Fremont, CA. Turns out there was a screw missing when the first place replaced the hard drive. Got the computer back and it actually works. This time system recovery requires 3 dvds instead of 4. Wondering if I'm missing files but Asus says the files are just compressed. In total, I was without a working computer for 6 weeks during the 4 months I've owned it. Will I buy Asus again? Probably Not.
Ideal Performance/Battery Life Machine February 26, 2010
Anthony
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
First off, the Nvidia Optimus technology is GENIOUS. Asus is the only brand I know currently utilizing it, but I am sure others will quickly change to it. I changed the default video card to the nvidia 325, and I noticed with only using the nvidia 325 video card, and playing games, battery life is around 2 hours. This is of course with the core i5 doing it's thing and turbo-booosting to 2.53ghz. I know you're probably wondering about game performance. Alright, so after installing the update for the nvidia drivers, I ran tf2 COMPLETELY maxed out on highest resolution, and it ran at about 100fps. And remember that TF2 doesn't utilize multi-core processors as well as some of the even higher end games that have come out after it. I am anxious to see how this machine will handle BF:Bad Company 2. Anyways, the great thing is that I don't have to change anything with the cards. Optimus defaults to the integrated and then switches to nvidia 325 when needed. This, partnered with the smart i5 that adapts based on system needs, allows for a respectable battery life of about 3 hours with only a 6-cell lithium battery! Not too shabby. Next is the mousepad. Oh wow. I love it! It's quite intuitive, and once you get the hang of it, you will be DISAPPOINTED when you go to your friends' laptops without the multi-touch pad. It has almost 10 actions that are possible through the multi-touch pad! I know I caught myself trying to 3-finger swipe to go back a webpage. Needless to say it didn't work on theirs. Ha. Finally, for now, the Asus Software and Windows 7. Asus REALLY set the bar INCREDIBLY high with the production of this laptop. The Asus software that comes with it has some really cool features such as facial recognition. If you want, you can set the laptop to lock out whenever your face is not in front of the webcam for however long you want. Kinda a cool trick to play on your friends when they are facebook. Just give them time to login and them BAM, locked out. Ha. Funny stuff. Windows 7 really just tops the cake with the laptop though. I have loved everything about windows 7, and I learn new things almost daily as to what it can do. oh yea. the ONLY complaint I have with this laptop is that the 500gb hard drive came partitioned. The (C:Drive), or OS drive, comes at 100gb, and the (D:Drive), or Data drive, comes at 330gb. This can be useful for some, but I didn't care for it. However, with Windows 7, I am EASILY able to just stretch the size of the (C:Drive) as long as nothing is on the (D:Drive), without losing ANY data from the (C:Drive). Love it! And lastly, this thing comes with USB3.0! So this laptop is the PERFECT compromise of performance/battery life and all for less than $1k. Stop reading and buy already!
The Perfect Notebook... February 20, 2010
E. Borkowski
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
What can I say? For the money this pc offers the best of the best. The casing is sleek and the power under the hood is exactly what most will be looking for.
I've been using the pc for a day now and can't think of a complaint. The specs are above so there is no need to restate them. If there is one thing I can say is that ASUS offers some great utilities for this pc...from quick boot, to face recognition log in, to quick power settings - it's just cool! You can even replace the windows logo upon boot to your own image. If you have questions let me know...
It's 5 stars for me!
Great Laptop! Optimus Rocks!!! February 28, 2010
Simon J. Anderson
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I just ordered this laptop last week and I love it! The keyboard is the best I've ever used. The Core i5 is the best of both world's for a CPU because it is much faster than the i3, but doesn't suck up power like the i7's. I don't really game on the computer, but I'm sure it can run whatever. I run numerous programs simultaneously and it doesn't ever even hiccup.
The Optimus GPU is amazing! I can guaranty that virtually every laptop will have this technology in the next year. Don't buy a laptop without this feature! The speakers don't sound great to me, but I'm used to my Bose Companion 3's, so I'm a bit spoiled I guess.
One issue though.... yesterday when I turned it on, there where lines across the screen. I had to restart it twice, but now it has been working fine ever since. I'm not too worried about it though- when you send in the registration it bumps up your warranty to TWO YEARS GLOBAL! Wow!!!
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