ASUS U36JC-B1 Thin and Light 13.3-Inch Laptop (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)ASUS U36JC-B1 Thin and Light 13.3-Inch Laptop (Black)
Purpose: Home/Travel/Business Apps/Web/Graphics Editing/Macbook replacement
1 Star per Area/5 Stars Total
I am basing my review on my past uses of other laptops, and the major areas that are important to me. I've searched and looked for the model that has the features I need. For example, I don't deduct for lack of an optical drive, since I knew going in, the system didn't have an optical drive.
Star 1 - Build Quality
The body is rock solid. There is no creaking, twisting. It feels like a solid slab in your hands. The lid is very thin. Opens and closes smoothly. No binding in the hinges, or twisting. Little flexing in the display, but it is firm. The laptop is easy to carry and feels comfortable in your hand. The power brick is very small, 4"L x 1.5"W x 1.0"H. It is 2 parts, brick, and cord to the wall. Comes with a cable tie. Very little fan noise. Runs cool to warm, after use. But not hot. The battery has been through several charge/discharge cycles. The battery is fully charge and reports 9 hours and 44 minutes of life. Got about 6 - 7 hours of total usage before putting it back on the charger. So a full day of websurfing, and video playing, on and off. The surface is very nice, and easy to clean.
Star 2 - Ports
All ports are easy to access from the side of the system. USB ports are easy to insert devices and oriented the correct way, so if the USB logo is up on the connector, then it inserts. The RJ45 ethernet port is defective. The cable will not lock in. I tested several cables, and all do the same thing. This needs to be corrected by ASUS, should not have passed QAQC. Luckly I will use the wifi for most network connections. But still a defect and needs to be fix.
Star 3 - Display/Web Camera
The display is clear and bright. Using in normal household lighting, I haven't had any issues with viewing screen, or viewing angles. Yes it is glossy, along with the bezel. Looks fine to me. Attracts finger prints on the bezel. Using a soft cloth, the display cleans up nicely. The web camera functions as expected for a 0.3 web camara. Not the greatest image, but acceptable for a web camara.
Star 4 - Keyboard/Trackpad
The keyboard is the large chicket style keys. The keyboard is nice to type on, with little keystroke errors. The keys feel tight, and offer nice resistance. Don't feel like they will pop off, or break. They do not have a loud tactile noise to them. I like the ASUS keyboard. The trackpad could be a little larger, but is pretty good. Hard surface. Tracks well. The single button though is very loud when pressing. Loud tactile clicking noise when pressing the trackpad bar. But feels very solid though like it will stand up to many clicks.
Star 5 - Software
The laptop is LOADED with crapware. They did partition the harddrive into a 100 GB C: and ~350 GB D: drives. I've already wiped it, and put on a clean install of Windows 7 pro. Much better. Make sure you install all the drivers. I downloaded them from the website. Boot time pre-wipe was 60 secs., after wipe, it's down to 40 secs. to the logon screen. 10 secs to hit the desktop after logging on. I'm old school, so I believe I paid for the license, so I want the disks. I miss the days when you got ALL the software on disk with the system. It does come with a drivers disk.
Overall I give it 4 of 5 stars. This is a very well built laptop, that does not seem like cheap plastic. The ethernet port is a defect and should not exist. They lose points for all the bloatware and the fact I went ahead and wiped the HDD. Companies know we don't want it, so don't load it. It's called crapware for a reason. The noisey trackpad button also is a turn off to me.
I hope you find this infomation useful. Remember you get what you pay for, and this review was completely free! Put in your pocket, or throw it on the floor, it don't matter to me!

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS U36JC-B1 Thin and Light 13.3-Inch Laptop (Black)

13.3" HD (1366 x768) (LED) / i5-480M / 4G DDR3 / NV 310M 1G DDR3 + Intel GMA HD (Optimus Technology) / 500G 7200 / No ODD / Windows 7 Home Premium (64bit) / 802.11BGN / Bluetooth / VGA / HDMI / 1 USB 3.0 Port / 2 USB 2.0 Ports / 5-in-1 Card Reader / 0.3M Pixel / 8-cell 5600mAh / 2 Year Standard Warranty + 1 Year Accidental Damage Warranty

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ASUS N53SV-XV1 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Silver Aluminum) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Brief Review:
This laptop is perfect for desktop replacement home use; for the money $1,050, this is the best laptop available IMHO. It is very well rounded, with one of the fastest mobile processors available and a mid range GPU.
Pros:
Value
Top notch processor
Full HD Display 1080p
Low heat & low power consumption
Cons:
-Keyboard (I prefer chicklet)
-Wireless Adapter
-Wider than most 15.6" laptops
Further Detail:
Power consumption and heat are also strong points. This laptop has the latest Sandy Bridge CPU which sips power due to 32nm production process as well as integrated graphics (NVIDIA Optimus to switch to the dedicated GPU as needed).
The Full HD 1080p display is beautiful. Great for photo editing and multitasking with ample desktop "real estate."
The keyboard in my unit is not as squishy as other reviewers. What I find annoying is the lack of separation in the keys. I plan on swapping this out for a compatible "chicklet" style keyboard as soon as possible.
This is my first 15.6" notebook so it feels wide to me. Just to make sure it was not because I was new to this size laptop I verified that it is longer than other brands 15.6" laptops. Asus N53SV: 39.1 cm | Dell XPS 15: 38.1 cm | HP dv6t: 37.8 cm | Lenovo T510: 37.3 cm | Sony VAIO C: 37.5 cm.
I had planned (and since completed) several upgrades to the laptop including 16GB ram, 160GB SSD, and Intel 6200 Wi-Fi adapter. With these upgrades (and hopefully a "chicklet" keyboard in the near future) I rate this laptop five stars. For the money it is hard to beat what ASUS is offering with the N53SV.
Benchmarks:
Default Windows Experience Index
Base Score: 5.7 | Processor: 7.4 |Memory (RAM): 5.9 | Graphics: 5.7 |
Gaming graphics: 6.7 | Primary hard disk: 5.9
My Windows Experience Index
Installed Ram 16gb (4x4): Corsair 4 GB DDR3 Laptop Memory CMSO4GX3M1A1333C9
Installed SSD: Intel 2.5-Inch 160 GB X25-M Mainstream SATA II MLC Solid-State Drive - Retail Package SSDSA2MH160G2R5
Installed Intel 6200 [Intel 6200 IEEE 802.11n (draft) Wi-Fi Adapter - Mini PCI Express - 300Mbps]
Base Score: 5.8 | Processor: 7.4 | Memory (RAM): 7.6 | Graphics: 5.8 | Gaming graphics: 6.7 | Primary hard disk: 7.8
wPrime 32M - 15.195s
Super PI 1M Calculation - 13.463s
PCMark Score - 13,058
CPU Core Temp: Min 40-50C Max 74-82C
GPU Temp: Min 48C Max 74C

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS N53SV-XV1 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Silver Aluminum)

Feel the Power. Hear the Power. Turn up the volume on the 15.6-inch N53Sv-XV1 notebook and prepare to be impressed. Featuring ASUS SonicMaster Technology—co-developed by the audio experts at Bang and Olufsen ICEpower—and a unique top-mounted speaker design, this multimedia powerhouse combines hardware and audio for an unsurpassed, ear-pleasing experience. Powered by the 2nd generation Intel Core i7-2630QM processor with Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 Technology, the N53Sv-XV1 delivers the multitasking muscle and smart performance that senses the tasks at hand and dynamically boosts the processor for a stutter-free experience. Boasting powerful NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M graphics with NVIDIA Optimus Technology, the N53Sv-XV1 excels in video editing, DirectX 11-enabled gaming, and graphic rendering while conserving battery for less-intensive tasks. And with ASUS VideoMagic 3-in-1 software package, you get image-enhancing programs like PowerDVD 9 with True Theatre that instantly scales DVD-quality to Full 1080p HD with smoother frame rates so you can enjoy videos and movies in the quality they deserve. Specially built into the N53Sv-XV1, the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine extends battery life via the ASUS Power4Gear Hybrid utility. The N53Sv-XV1 also comes with SuperSpeed USB 3.0 that charges USB 3.0-enabled devices quickly and transfer files from USB storage devices to your notebook up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0.1 The N53Sv-XV1 features a 2.0 megapixel webcam with security lens cover, 500GB 7200RPM hard drive, ASUS Splendid Technology, multi-touch trackpad, Express Gate, and a brushed aluminum design.

Key Features
15.6-inch LED-backlit Full HD display with ASUS Splendid Technology for crisp 1080p HD visual quality (Learn more)
ASUS SonicMaster Technology co-developed by world-renowned audio experts at Bang & Olufsen ICEpower delivers improved clarity, volume, and resonance, and more detailed sound. (Learn more)
2nd generation Intel Core i7-2630QM processor with Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 Technology for smart multitasking that automatically senses what you're doing and boosts performance (Learn more)
NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM and NVIDIA Optimus Technology delivers fast performance for Full HD playback and gaming and switches to Intel HD graphics to save battery for less intensive tasks (Learn more)
ASUS Super Hybrid Engine and ASUS Power4Gear Hybrid optimizes the system to extend battery life for the task at hand (Learn more)
SuperSpeed USB 3.0 for quicker device charging and up to 10x faster transfers than USB 2.01 (Learn more)
ASUS VideoMagic Software for clearer images and smoother visuals (Learn more)
Express Gate mini-operating system grants instant access to internet, music, Skype, and more in seconds


Learn More
ASUS Makes Your Windows 7 Experience Better Recognized as the #1 reliable Windows-based portable PC maker by three independent sources2 and most recently in the PC Magazine 2010 Service and Reliability Report, ASUS gives you peace of mind every time you start your N53Sv-XV1 notebook. Accelerate startup speed with FastBoot Technology, a performance boost developed by a unique collaboration between ASUS and Microsoft. With Windows 7 Home Premium, it's easier than ever to create a home network and share your favorite photos, videos, and music. And thanks to the enhanced power management Windows 7 provides, you can enjoy unplugged computing longer.
Warranty
ASUS 1Year Global Warranty ASUS 360 offers a level of coverage that would add hundreds of dollars to the price of competing notebooks:3
1 year global warranty
30 flawless display guarantee
2-way free standard shipping
24/7 tech support
ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty Accidents happen. But when they happen to your ASUS notebook purchased in the US or Canada, you have extra protection. Whether your notebook is damaged by accidental spills, drops, electrical surges, or fire, ASUS will fix it or replace it during the first year after purchase.3
Target 3 business day turnaround time for repair / replacement; not including receiving and shipping time
1-way shipping (from ASUS to the user) at no additional cost
24-hour toll-free phone support
What's in the Box
N53Sv-XV1 Notebook
AC Adapter
6 cell Battery Pack
Warranty Information Card

Specifications
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Display: 15.6-inch LED-backlit Full HD display (1920 x 1080)
Processor: 2nd generation Intel Core i7-2630QM processor (2.0 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 2.9 GHz)
Chipset: Intel HM55
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM and NVIDIA Optimus Technology
WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz) , Bluetooth v2.1
LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
Memory: 4GB DDR3 SDRAM, 4 x SODIMM socket (expandable to 16GB)
Storage: 500GB 7200RPM hard drive
Optical Drive: Super Multi DVD drive
Camera: 2.0 Megapixel with security lens cover
Speakers: Built-in speakers with SonicMaster Technology
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 Headphone-out jack, 1x Microphone-in jack, 1x VGA port, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 2x USB 2.0 ports, 1x USB 3.0 port, 1x HDMI port
Battery: 6 cell
Dimensions: 15.6 x 10.6 x 1.2 ~ 1.6 (W x D x H)
Weight: 6.4 lbs (with 6 cell)
Color: Silver
© 2011 ASUS Computer International. All Rights Reserved. ASUS is a registered trademark of ASUSTeK Computer. All specifications are subject to change without notice and features are only in select models. Products may not be available in all markets. Brand and product names mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies. 1All figures theoretical values compared to USB 2.0 benchmarks for reference purposes. Actual speed depends on device and system status. 2Rated 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/ ). Rated number 1 reliable PC maker in Spring 2009's RESCUECOM report http://www.rescuecom.com/RESCUECOM269.html 3For 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 Circuit City 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. Check your retailer for specific warranty information. One incident covered per notebook.

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