Asus launches Zenbook Ultra-Thin laptop, Guided by Four Key Principles

Let the ultrabook wars begin! Hot on the heels of Acer’s S3 pricing and availability announcement, Asus CEO Jonney Shih has taken the stage in NYC to reveal details of its newly-named Zenbook UX21 and UX31. The new name is supposed to be indicative of the “peace of mind” and “balance of elegance and power” provided by the machine; however, a new name doesn’t mean a new design or product. The 11.6- and 13.3-inch Zenbooks are identical to the ones we saw at IFA and IDF — the aluminum chassis measures .11 to .71-inches in thickness, weighs 2.9 pounds (the 11.6 weighs 2.4), the lid has an interesting halo effect, and the machine resumes from sleep in two seconds.

See Also:

• Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook VS. Apple MacBook Air, Ultra-thin Laptop Review
• Asus Ultra-Thin Zenbook Launches: Does It Win the MacBook Air?

ASUS introduced the ZENBOOK ultra-portable 11-inch and 13-inch notebooks they are calling Ultrabooks which mimic the ultra-thin design of Apple's MacBook Air. Both ZENBOOKS measure 0.11-inches at the front to 0.35-inches at the rear. The 11-inch models (UX21) weigh 2.43 lbs, while the 13-inch models (UX31) weigh 2.86 lbs.

Configuration are offered with 2nd Generattion Intel Core i5 or i7 processors and each comes installed with Windows 7 Home Premium - 64bit, 4GB RAM, Bang and Olfusen ICEpower SonicMaster audio. Both include a single USB 2.0, USB 3.0, microHDMI, microVGA port and the 13-inch models also includes a SD card reader.

ASUS says their new ZENBOOK was designed for elegance and power, guided by four key principles:

Pure Design - Art melds seamlessly with technology upon viewing the ASUS ZENBOOK. The silver exterior panel features a concentric circle design that refracts a halo of light that excites the senses. With a thickness of 0.11" at the front and 0.35" at the rear, the ZENBOOK's exterior lines are sleek, making it the thinnest Ultrabook on the market and perfect for users constantly on-the-go or in the classroom.

Unrivalled Performance - The ZENBOOK is designed with an instant-on feature that resumes the system in about 2 seconds and features incredible standby times up to 2 weeks, which is four times more than the industry standard. Although svelte and sleek, the ZENBOOK packs an impressive and uncompromising list of technological breakthroughs. It uses the latest Intel 2nd generation Core processors (optimized for mobile use), SATA Revision 3.0 solid state storage (SSD), Bluetooth V4.0 and USB 3.0. ASUS has also added USB Charger+ technology, which uses the powered USB 3.0 port to recharge portable devices in a fraction of the time it would normally take. To accommodate all of these technologies, ASUS engineers designed custom cooling technology using a V-shaped channel with a unique copper fin design for improved airflow and cooling. When battery lifedips below 5 percent, the ZENBOOK will automatically save files in progress to prevent data loss.

Incredibly Green - The ZENBOOK provides its users a peace of mind in knowing that they are consuming less energy. It utilizes ASUS' patented Super Hybrid Engine II technology, which intelligently conserves battery life and allows the ZENBOOK to have up to 25% more battery life than other Ultrabook designs.

Transcending Audio - Recognizing that an ultrabook is not only a tool for work, but also for entertainment, each ZENBOOK is equipped with ASUS SonicMaster technology, an optimized fusion of hardware and software developed by the ASUS Golden Ear team and Bang & Olufsen ICEpower. SonicMaster provides a wide sonic spectrum surround sound that can fill a room with smooth jazz or the tranquil sound of a mountain stream.

"Today's introduction of ASUS ZENBOOK is a vivid proof that Ultrabooks are ushering in a fundamental transformation of personal computing," said Mr. Tom Kilroy, ASUS Marketing GM & SVP. "In the few months since Intel first unveiled this new type of device, ASUS has delivered an amazingly light design powered by the visibly smart performance of the second generation Intel Core i7 and Core i5 processors. It's packed with the security, responsiveness, and other exciting features, that deliver on the promise of the Ultrabook, to offer the most complete and satisfying computing experience."

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