Electronics
Asus VivoBook S14 First Impressions: Bringing twin screens to the lots
Asus VivoBook, essentially the most reasonably priced collection of ultra-portable notebooks, has simply acquired a refresh at Computex 2019. Because it goes with yearly refresh cycle, Asus VivoBook 2019 has acquired new Intel ninth technology processors together with enhancements in design and the introduction of ScreenPad 2.zero to this phase. Addition of recent processors and tweaks to the design will not be new for brand spanking new generations of merchandise. Nevertheless, the addition of the ScreenPad 2.zero is a big transfer for Asus.
It is because not many corporations truly add such newly developed expertise in its low-end laptops. Although, the corporate clarified it’s transfer stating that it desires to deliver the most recent expertise that it’s engaged on to the lots and including that to all its laptop computer lineups throughout the board is an fascinating strategy to go about it.
Nearly a day earlier than the launch of the Asus VivoBook collection together with the brand new Asus ZenBook collection and the highest of the road Asus ZenBook Duo Professional, I received a while with the VivoBook S14. Listed below are my preliminary impressions of the Asus VivoBook S14.
ScreenPad 2.zero; innovation for the frequent man
If in case you have already learn my first impressions for the Asus ZenBook Duo Professional and the Asus ZenBook 13 then this primary part is not going to come as any shock to you. The truth is, I’ll forgive you for pondering that it sounds acquainted to the remainder of the 2 Impressions. In case you haven’t, it’s best to test them after studying this to get the concept of the entire image that Asus is attempting to current this yr at Computex 2019. I’d wish to tackle this because it ties into what I feel Asus VivoBook is supposed to do.
The highest of the road Asus ZenBook Duo Professional is all concerning the craziest that Asus can pull off and it truly has. Speaking concerning the Asus ZenBook 2019 collection, Asus is attempting to rope in customers who don’t actually have the cash for the ZenBook Duo collection, however nonetheless need a succesful system with a contact of future. That is the kind of buyer that’s not actually ordinary to such fancy trying options however they received’t be shocked to get one standout function on their new machine as the worth level remains to be increased. Nevertheless, such a function on a substantial low-end machine is an entire one other ballgame.
Introduction of the ScreenPad 2.zero on the VivoBook collection is as a lot a calculated transfer to make the expertise and imaginative and prescient of the way forward for computing as it’s betting on its innovation. In my restricted time with the expertise, I feel I can ensure that this function will not be actually a gimmick or one thing for present and it has some actual makes use of for nearly everybody on the market. This can be nice for individuals for are ordinary of utilizing two screens and it’ll introduce a number of new customers with the idea of secondary shows. Utilizing secondary shows is in itself a behavior that after built-in, it laborious to return to the outdated methods of a single display.
Speaking concerning the display itself, it’s a secondary show that’s built-in within the touchpad of the world, and Asus has improved the second technology in additional significant was as in comparison with the primary technology that it showcased final yr. The second technology comes with higher decision (with an possibility to regulate it), extra brightness, and higher display refresh price with the choice to crank it down. The brand new technology has additionally launched battery saver mode for the ScreenPad to preserve as a lot energy as doable. Much like the ScreenPad 2.zero within the ZenBook lineup, Asus has added its ScreenXpert software program together with the secondary display. The software program comes with native apps like ‘Handwriting’, ‘Fast Key’, ‘Slide Xpert’, ‘Doc Xpert’, ‘Sheet Xpert’, and ‘App Offers’ but it surely fortunately it isn’t locked to such apps and works as a standard secondary show.
Asus VivoBook S14 design and sprint of recent Colours
The corporate has made some adjustments to the design of the laptop computer by introducing its new “ErgoLift” hinge design that lifts the keyboard by three.5 levels from the hinge space. This improves the typing expertise on the laptop computer for the customers. Past this, the laptop computer comes with skinny bezels as a part of its “NanoEdge” show and normal Asus design cues. Nevertheless, one vital factor that I observed was the elevated variety of coloration choices for customers.
As reported within the launch publish, the corporate will supply the VivoBook laptops in 5 colours together with Moss Inexperienced, Punk Pink, Cobalt Blue, Clear Silver, and Gun Steel. Speaking concerning the coloration, we are able to solely see the colour on the highest aspect of the laptop computer, or fairly the again aspect of the show as an alternative of the entire laptop computer immersing in these colours. The corporate is looking this end as “color-blocking” which seems to be completely different than the earlier VivoBook laptops.
Refreshed internals on the Asus VivoBook S14
We now have already lined the specs of the laptop computer however to recap, the Asus VivoBook S14 sports activities a 14-inch LED-backlit panel with 16:9 side ratio, FHD decision, with NanoEdge for slim bezels. Consumers can rise up to Intel Core i7-8565U processor with Quad-core CPU clocked at 1.8GHz and turbo speeds of as much as four.6GHz with Nvidia GeForce MX250 that options 2GB DDR5 VRAM. The ultra-portable laptop computer can be accessible in several storage and RAM combos of as much as 1TB PCIe SSD and as much as 16GB LPDDR3 RAM.
Asus has additionally added Wi-Fi 6, together with Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.zero, one USB Sort-C three.1 port with USB three.1 Gen 2 protocol, one USB three.1 Gen 1 with Sort-A port, one USB 2.zero port, one HDMI slot, one combo audio socket, and a microSD card reader by way of connectivity. The VivoBook S14 contains a full-size keyboard with 1.4mm key journey, the built-in quantity pad on the keyboard (solely accessible on Clear Silver fashions), Home windows Precision Touchpad and palm rejection.
Different options embrace Asus SonicMaster tech with encompass sound and sensible amplifier tech, Harman Kardon licensed audio system, Asus Tru2Life Video, Asus AudioWizard, and Asus Splendid software program options. It’s powered by a 47Wh 2-cell lithium-polymer battery with assist for the quick cost to as much as 60 p.c in 49 minutes.
First Impressions
Asus VivoBook S14 seems to be like a uncommon piece of expertise the place the corporate behind the brand new expertise, on this case, Asus, is totally behind the imaginative and prescient that it has showcased to the world. There isn’t any place for doubt or second guess right here and the corporate has gone all out with three completely different product lineups with new expertise in an try and push the envelope. VivoBook S14 together with the VivoBook S15 is supposed to the lots and there doesn’t appear to be a lot distinction within the ScreenPad 2.zero that this lineup will get when in comparison with the ZenBook collection.
The laptop computer and the ScreenPad expertise actually is spectacular and surprisingly helpful in my restricted testing. However, we must anticipate the entire evaluation to provide any verdict on the ScreenPad 2.zero expertise and simply anticipate the market to answer the inclusion of a secondary mini show on their laptop computer.