BY: VANESSA ROBERTS
Once upon a time, computers had a pretty easy time of it – so long as they typed the odd letter and didn’t mercilessly delete our assignments the night before they were due, we were happy.
Oh how things have changed. With technology demanding such a huge part of our lives – those untold hours spent typing, tapping and swiping, it comes as no surprise that we expect more from our gadgetry than ever before.
We don’t just want our technology to be smarter and faster, we want it to look the part as well! We want our laptop to slide into a designer clutch one minute, and power through those heavy-going workloads (all with a hundred tabs open) the next.
With form and function being the prerequisite for any savvy laptop owner these days, ASUS invited me to road-test a model from their VivoBook range, then preview their latest and greatest products during a special media showcase in Sydney.
Read below for my top 2 picks from the ASUS 2017 showcase, and the VivoBook Pro review!
#1 – ASUS ZenBook Flip S UX370
Without any exaggeration whatsoever, I absolutely loved the ZenBook Flip. On display in royal blue and gold, this was THE most stylish and chic laptop I have ever seen. Perfectly at one with the glamourous office surroundings they had styled the laptop within, there was no doubt that ASUS had designed this powerful machine to be the perfect compliment to the stylish person’s life.
Ultra thin, the ZenBook Flip S is just 10.9 mm thick thin, and it weighs a tiny 1.1kg. Far from flimsy, it is made with a super-durable brushed metallic finish on the lid, with shiny gold highlights and edging throughout. Love!
As the name implies, the laptop flips with a 360 degree display, meaning you can use it in multiple ways, for example: positioned on a desk as per a normal laptop, propped up vertically like an A-frame, or you can use it in tablet mode.
Powered by up to an Intel® Core™ i7 processor, it also boasts up to an 11.5-hour battery life, with super fast charging.
I particularly loved the ASUS Pen which is included as an accessory – you can literally scribble and write on the screen, marking up documents or taking notes, which is supported by Windows Ink.
The ZenBook Flip S UX370 is available now, starting at $2,199.
#2 – ASUS VivoBook S15
The second laptop which caught my eye was the VivoBook S15. A minimal, streamlined, more “everyday” computer, this product has been designed to offer all the key benefits and components you’d expect – without a high price tag.
A 15.6” device and 17.9mm thick, this laptop weighs just 1.7kg. It’s equally perfect for home, work, or uni, as it can easily fit into a messenger bag or backpack. It comes in a chic ‘Icicle Gold’ metallic finish (a very pale, neutral metallic colour-way), so it is suited to any environment.
One element I really loved about the VivoBook S15 was the integrated fingerprint sensor on the mouse pad, which allows for easy one-touch, password-free logins with Windows Hello (..welcome to the future!)
And for those who hate having to wait for a battery recharge, the fast-charging technology of the VivoBook S15 takes an almost empty battery up to 60% capacity in just 49 minutes.
The ASUS VivoBook S15 is available now, starting at $1499.
Roadtested: ASUS VivoBook Pro 15 N580
And finally, blending somewhere between the two versions I shortlisted at the showcase, is the VivoBook Pro 15 which I used at home. My first impressions were how quickly I was able to go from box to browse – I was up and running in a minute at most, and the screen quality was excellent – noticeably better than my current laptop.
Once I was up and running, the VivoBook Pro 15 was very fast to use, expressing no difficulty at all in managing my multiple open tabs, with some heavy uploads and downloads thrown in for good measure. This product has been designed to handle video processing and movie downloads without any hiccups, and you can tell!
Sharing a similar elegant and minimalist design as laptops from the showcase, this product has a scratch-resistant metallic lid in a fine brushed texture, and also comes in Icicle Gold. The smooth edges and tapered sides (which made using the keyboard more comfortable and streamlined in appearance) did not go unnoticed either!
Starting at $1699, this laptop has been designed to offer elite components at a lower than expected price-point, and represents great value for money in my opinion. It is available in Australia now.
For more information, visit the ASUS website or follow them on Instagram!
This story is a collaboration with ASUS, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.
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