‘HDR mobile computing’ is how I would neatly define the Ultrabook category. These surprisingly powerful laptops can work as efficiently as a netbook and then when you need the power, kick-in cores, turbo and other special features to give you a truly all-round solution that includes video editing, gaming and care-free desktop-style working. The Asus UX21 is one of the lightest, smallest and yet, most powerful of the Ultrabooks, at least in the Core i7 1.8Ghz version we have here. We’re impressed with what’s inside and with its weight and style but there are a couple of potential showstoppers for some people. Read-on to find out more in our detailed multimedia review of the ASUS Zenbook UX21E. Thanks ASUS Germany for the review sample.
Our LIVE REVIEW is planned for Thursday 17th November at 2100 GMT+1 (9pm Berlin time- meet everyone here. Your local time here.) so if you have queries and want to see the results live, add it to your calendar. We’ll have a live chat and video going for a few hours. The ASUS UX21 will get a good thrashing with benchmarks, videos, productivity, gaming and much more.
A more detailed first impressions article will go out within the next 48hrs. Check back here or subscribe on Twitter or Facebook.
And now to the video. Don’t forget to support Ultrabooknews by ‘liking’ the YouTube video and please, if you have a positive or negative thought, add it to the comments. It helps us all.
I’m pleased to announce that we have our first Ultrabook here for testing. Thanks to Asus for sending over the ASUS UX21E, the 11.6”, 1160gm (2lb 9oz) Ultrabook in Core i7, 128GB build. (Model details – ASUS Zenbook UX21E-KX008V)
It looks just a awesome as the first time I saw it at IFA in September, boots in an impressively quick time, turns in a 300ms Sunspider score, has good speakers, a very bright (but glossy) screen , is totally silent as I type this and it looks like it will allow you to web-work for about 4.5 hours.
Ive just read through 8 pages of Asus UX21 review and come away with a very positive feeling. You’ll probably experience the same too because the UX21 beats quite a few more expensive devices in a general performance test and even gets some positive comments about gaming on the platform but it is the SSD that’s really responsible here. The balance of great processing capability and an SSD that removes any significant traces of bottlekneck is proving itself.
“If ever there was a “Poster Child” for the benefits of SSDs, especially in notebook platforms, it would have to be the Zenbook UX21. “
As a result of the extremely fast SSD the UX21 beats more expensive laptops in the general computing benchmark, PC Mark 7.
Head on over to Anandtech and stay tuned because they’ve just got an Asus Zenbook UX21.
This $1199, 2.3lb, Core i7 1.8Ghz Windows laptop (try finding that combination in any other product. It’s truly groundbreaking) should get a thorough test and review by the well-respected team over there.
Without stealing their content I’ll just say that the UX21E-DH72 matches the MBA for battery life and turns in an excellent PCMark score in the first set of tests they Anandtech have done so far. Check out the details here.
Remember that you can get a Core i5, 1.6Ghz version of this for $999 which I personaly find a better value solution. European prices start at a (tax inclusive) €999 for the Core i5 version and €1099 for the Core i7 version – only a €100 premium.
Amazon are usually a reliable source of true specs and recommended retail price so when new devices go into their system, we take note!
Today we see the ASUS UX21 and two variants of the ASUS UX31 at Amazon Germany now available for pre-order.
The UX21 11.6”, the cheapest of the three models (KX004V) is now available for pre-order for €999 That’s more than we expected. €200 more than we expected. For €999 you’re getting the Core i5 with 128GB of SSD , 4GB of RAM and Windows Home Premium.
The jump to the UX31 will cost you, well, we can’t tell because the pricing is all messed up right now with the Core i7 + 265GB (UX31E-RY010V) costing €999, less than a UX31 with Core i5 and 128GB!
Given the errors we’d say wait for a day or two before they get the information sorted out. Or, get in there and try and order a Core i7 with 256GB for 999!
Update: Amazon.de have removed the Asus Ultrabook products. Maybe we should have kept it quiet!
We’ll see these events all over the place over the next few months as all the Ultrabooks filter into the market but given the pricing and specs of the UX21 and UX31, the Asus models could generate the most interest.
Blogeee.net (link below) are highlighting a New York event for the 11th Oct
Well how about that. Despite all the moaning by OEMs that they can’t reach the target prices, up pop some very interesting prices for the Asus UX21 and UX31.
€799 for an 11.6″ Core i5 laptop in 1kg undercuts every option out there under 1.5kg. Given that Asus is unlikely to be commiting to a huge production run and that the specs and brand will trump Acer’s S3 offering, it could be that availability will be tight.
