14 DAY TRIAL // Following reports that ASUS will soon announce its debut into the fast growing market for ultrathin and lightweight portable computer systems, the Taiwanese company has recently announced the introduction of a new series of notebooks, specifically designed to provide its fans with an alternative to the current Intel CULV-based laptops. The new ASUS U Series offers an impressive and stylish design, while still managing to provide the end-users with a higher level of computing performance, by comparison to today's netbook systems.
One of the main features of the new series of laptops from ASUS is that they will be powered by Intel's latest line of ULV processors and Core 2 processors, enabling the system builder to develop a computer that is both energy efficient and high on performance. As part of its new series of ultrathin portable PCs, ASUS launched 7 new models, grouped into two different categories. The main U series offers a choice for both an energy-efficient model but also for systems that provide a larger display and higher-performance components. By contrast, the UX series has just two models, equipped with Intel's energy-efficient processors.
ASUS launched five new systems for its new U series, with sizes ranging from 12.1-inch to 15.6-inch. All of these systems are designed to support a maximum of 4GB of memory and high-capacity 500GB hard disk drives. They provide a choice for Intel Core 2 Solo or Core 2 Duo processors, enabling the end-user to choose between performance and energy efficiency. On the graphics side, they can be equipped with either Intel's integrated GMA 4500MHD graphics or the discrete NVIDIA GeForce G105M and ATI's Radeon HD4570, both of which are featured with 512MB of VRAM.
The two UX-series laptops, dubbed UX50V and UX30, are both based on the Intel GS45 chipset and are available with a 15.5-inch or a 13.3-inch LED-backlit HD display. They provide support for up to 4GB of memory, a large-capacity 500GB hard drive and Intel's latest energy-efficient Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Solo processors. Additional features include the integrated wireless 802.11 a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR connectivity and an integrated slot-in DVD super-multi drive for the UX50V model.
Unfortunately, ASUS hasn't released any details regarding the pricing and availability of the new U-series of ultraportable PCs, but the company is bound to reveal more before next month's Computex show in Taiwan.