14 DAY TRIAL // Asus has recently announced that it has started selling the 14-inch U46 notebook in the UK, which is powered by Intel's second-generation Core processors while maintaining the ultrathin design and high build quality that made their predecessors famous.
According to Asus, the new notebook is less than an inch thick and is designed to feature an ultra-slim bezel that reduces the overall dimensions of the device.
Under the hood, users will be greeted by a standard voltage Intel Core i5 processor which can be paired with as much as 8GB of system memory.
Various hard drive options are also available, ranging in size from 320GB to 750GB, and two of the listed models come with a spindle speed for 7200RPM for faster data access.
As far as graphics is concerned, the standard models use the integrated Intel HD 3000 GPU, but select laptops can also be configured to feature Nvidia's GeForce GT 540M discrete graphics card with as much as 1GB of GDDR3 video memory.
The rest of the specifications list is pretty much standard for this type of notebook design, with features ranging from a built-in 0.3MP webcam and HDMI output to optional Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity.
A rather interesting addition is the support for USB 3.0, which has now finally begun to make its appearance in mainstream notebook.
Users interested in purchasing Asus' newly introduced ultrathin laptop will also be glad to know that the 8-cells 5900mAh battery which is fitted on the U46V can provide up to 10 hours of use.
All of these components are housed inside an elegant chassis with durable spun aluminum covers and optional soft-touch palm rests.
The Asus U46 is available right as we speak from Comet and has a recommended price tag of £699 (excluding VAT).