For once, we aren't looking at yet another overpriced ultrabook

Apr 11, 2013 10:05 GMT  ·  By

Ultrabooks may be more often talked about, as a sort of new generation of laptops, but normal notebooks still have their advantages, and it's not like they weigh all that much in the end.

And yet, the ASUS VivoBook S500 is something that can be called both ultrabook and “normal” notebook, if only because it has an unusual keyboard itching to be used.

Notebooks often don't have numpads, because they take up too much space, and would need all keys to be smaller for them to fit.

The issue isn't really big on large notebooks, like 17.3-inch models, which actually do have enough room. It's smaller ones that are the problem.

Nevertheless, ASUS has managed to squeeze a full numpad in the 15.6-inch VivoBook S500.

Otherwise, the VivoBook S500 is just your usual, run-off-the-mill notebook, with Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system under the hood.

In fact, the item is available for order through the Microsoft Store, where all the details are neatly listed. The spec page is what labels the device as an Ultrabook.

For those who want a rundown, the aluminum case hides a 1.9 GHz Intel Core i7-3517U central processing unit (Turbo Boost 3 GHz) and 4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz memory, plus a combo storage array (500 GB SATA 5400 RPM + 24 GB SSD), Wi-Fi, Gigabit LAN, one USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0, two video outputs (HDMI and VGA), Headphone output/Microphone input combo, and a Kensington lock port.

Bluetooth is present as well, along with a 3-cell lithium-polymer (up to 5 hours) and everything else that users expect to see.

The VivoBook S500 measures 15.08 x 10.20 x 0.85 inches (383.00 x 259.00 x 21.50 mm) and has a price of $699 / 699 Euro. Pretty reasonable really, compared to $750 / 750 Euro, not to mention the $1,000 / 1,000 Euro of the really pretentious ones.