Product Summary
7
out of 10View score
The bad: Thick and heavy; poor speaker position; no easy access USB ports; stiff touchpad buttons; no security features for a business notebook; poor battery life.
The bottom line: The notebook has impressive processing and graphics power for a business machine. However, the lack of security features is a glaring omission which alienates those who require data protection.
Read full review of the Asus A6V »
Average User Rating
from 1 users
8
out of 10CNET Asia Review
For a laptop line which targets the business executive, its powerful computing and graphics performance may be sidelined by its lack of security features which notebooks such as the Fujitsu LifeBook P7120 and Lenovo's ThinkPad Z60m--both containing biometric fingerprint scanners and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chips--have.
Design
Molded from the same material used on racing vehicles, the metallic black exterior is formed from carbon fiber which is stronger than magnesium alloy, yet significantly lighter. Coming in at a hefty 2.85kg, the weight savings from the case material is probably the only factor stopping it from being classified as a desktop replacement. Executives or students who are required to carry their notebooks for long periods may want to consider a lighter machine.
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This metallic black notebook has no feminine side to it. |
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Two rows of function buttons, one found at the front of the unit and the other above the keyboard, provide easy access to applications. Next to the dedicated buttons are LEDs that display system status and use a single panel design that causes different colors to "bleed" into each other. The full-size keyboard sits above the two-button touchpad. Though we like the steely aesthetics of the latter, the buttons are the stiffest we have encountered and uncomfortable for extended periods. The layout of the keyboard is not friendly to first-person shooter games, as users who like to map actions to the bottom left Ctrl key may find themselves accidentally hitting the Fn button instead. This is a problem for those who frequently use shortcut keys as well.
The placement of ports requires some rethinking. Though as a business machine the placement of the Ethernet and modem ports on the right side of the unit permit quick network hookup, we wonder why all the USB ports are consolidated at the back. Most users, especially in the corporate world, rely on high-capacity USB flash disks to quickly and cheaply transfer data. So the omission of an easy-access USB port brings ill tidings to this laptop.
Features
The notebook is based on the previous generation of Centrino platform codenamed Sonoma. Though not as speedy or capable of dual-core processing as the newer Asus A6J notebook, it is still a powerful platform and more than adequate for most users.
The Asus A6V is one of the most connected notebooks available. Wirelessly, it can hook up to 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth and infrared devices. The modem and 10/100 Ethernet ports provide speedy access to wired networks. For external peripherals, four USB 2.0 and mini-FireWire are provided for high-bandwidth connection. Legacy peripherals can be connected to the parallel port. Digital camera buffs will appreciate the integrated memory card reader which is compatible with SD/MMC and Memory Stick formats. The PCMCIA card slot allows external devices to be hooked up, though this standard is due to be overtaken by the ExpressCard standard soon.
 The lack of an easy-access USB port is puzzling for a business machine. |
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The 15.4-inch transflective screen is the standard 4:3 aspect ratio. We are glad the display brightness is high enough to eliminate irritating reflections which are the bane of this LCD technology. Just above the screen lies a 1.3-megapixel Webcam which can function via Asus video application as well as any third-party software. Though image quality is nothing to shout at, it is still adequate for video conferencing and quick picture shots. The graphics is driven by ATI's Mobility Radeon X700 chip. With a 64MB of dedicated VRAM, it makes the A6V a decent gaming rig. Gaming and high-definition movies have no problem running on this machine. Users who bemoan that a 15.4-inch display cannot do justice to the video will be glad for the S-video and VGA output options.
The audio capability of the A6V does not fall short of its video capabilities. Using Realtek's HD audio chip, the aural output is easily optimized to the environment. The stereo speakers are adequate and loud enough for most users, though true AV buffs will link their Hi-Fi sets using the notebook's S/PDIF port for greater audio clarity and reproduction. The location of the speakers, however, leaves much to be desired. Found under the laptop, using the machine on a soft surface, such as a bed or cushion, muffles the sound significantly. Asus has also enabled this mobile to play music discs without having to boot into the OS. Though a step-down compared with models such as Samsung's X1 which can also display videos, this does not weigh too heavily against it as the A6V is not coined as a multimedia machine.
The DVD dual-layer Super Multi drive (DVD±R/DVD±RW/DVD-RAM) has an interesting feature rarely seen on portable devices, the LightScribe. Using compatible LightScribe discs, the optical drive uses its laser to burn black-and-white images on the label side of the CD. This is a wonderful convenience for those with a massive collection of backup discs and who dread having to paste stickers on every single one.
Shortcut keys give quick access to Power4 Gear +, email, Internet and touchpad lock functions. The former is Asus' own power management application that adjusts performance to battery life ratio. To prevent undesirable cursor movement during typing or gaming, the touchpad can be deactivated with the latter button. Asus also includes its proprietary live update and NB Probe software which monitors your system status and keeps the machine in top-notch shape.
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User Reviews
Good video card makes this a good buy
Mar 14, 2006Rating: 8 out of 10 (Excellent)
Pros: Good video card, 2 year warranty, onboard webcam, dual layer DVD+R, -R, RAM
Cons: Driver installation issues, outdated video drivers, poor placement of USB ports
Opinion:
When looking for a 15.4" notebook with a decent gaming card, you don't have much to choose from. For me it was this, the Toshiba M40, and a Sony Vaio. The Vaio was terrible, so eliminated immediately, but I chose this over the Toshiba because of the warranty, and the fact that it's made in Taiwan rather than China.
Everything works as expected, except drivers can be an issue. ATI's Radeon Mobility drivers do not work with Asus laptops, so you need to download hacked drivers, or use the incredibly outdated drivers from Asus' website (as of today - March 2006, the latest drivers available are from November 2005)
Other than these driver issues, everything else is as expected. I would have liked some USB ports on the side though.
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