(Re-wrote this review 12/6/09)
This is an excellent budget notebook with a 15.6" screen that's only 5.8 lbs. We just bought two for my wife's parents (don't buy it for 3D games, as it has integrated graphics, but office apps and browsing are fine).
Pros:
T6600 Core 2 Duo (not the Pentium Dual Core, lower-end C2D, ULVs, or Atoms)
Relatively quiet and light (5.8 lbs)
Big hard drive (mine had a Seagate Momentus 5400.6)
Screen has relatively good viewing angles, horizontal and vertical
Pretty good fit and finish for a plastic casing (although there's a somewhat flimsy lid that is separate from the battery)
4 USB ports
VGA output is crisp (to 1280x1024, didn't try bigger)
I haven't noticed the palm rest getting warm at all ... but you're not playing 3D games are you?
You can select one language during boot up that's set forever, that is, until you restore from the recovery partition. The first time I chose Traditional Chinese. Works great. I restored (press F9 at boot) and selected English. Works great, didn't need to put in DVDs, and all the software reappeared. I even choose the option to use one C:\ drive, instead of the default 60% C:, 40% D:.
Opening the notebook casing is easy -find the "electronic hardware" version (not the "hardware" version) of the manual on Asus's web site (search for K50, then click Download, then Manuals). The hard drive is easily replaceable. Relatively clean layout so I can imagine blowing out dust bunnies will be easy.
Includes Office Home & Student 2007 (Word/Excel/PowerPoint/OneNote) pre-installed WITHOUT a product key. It asks for that so I assume you just punch one in and everything's great.
Includes a trial of Trend Micro Internet Security for antivirus protection pre-installed.
Aside from the Asus utilities, relatively little bloatware
Turned off all of Win7's eye candy. Don't need that.
1-year international warranty. Includes accident protection (register for this within 60 days on the Asus U.S. web site, and it's non-transferrable from the original owner). No paperwork on extending the warranty. We're trying our luck in case the computer breaks down in < 1 year and they give us a hassle about it being a gift and the warranty being valid.
Cons:
A bit fat
The screen has a blue tinge, just like with Asus's TN LCD displays. You get used to it though.
Glossy screen (reflections), not matte
Two-finger touchpad scrolling is too sensitive out of the box with Firefox (although it might be okay with IE). Turning it all the way down, it's fine.
The numeric keypad uses smaller keys! Difficult to use for folks with big hands.
The arrow keys don't have space around them (and actually the right arrow key is bumped into the numeric keypad section), so you need to learn where they are.
The keyboard and touchpad are on the left side of the computer because of the numeric keypad. You quickly get used to that, though, so no biggie.
The touchpad buttons require some pressure to click, but you get used to it.
4 GB maximum memory. Just 1 user-accessible memory slot which contains 2GB. No biggie.
No DVI. No port replicator option with that option.
No Bluetooth, FireWire, eSATA, ExpressCard/PCI Express slot
Integrated Intel graphics (not for 3D gaming, but great for 2D apps)
The T6600 doesn't support Windows 7's XP compatibility mode. Most of the Win7 Home Premium notebooks I've seen have a CPU which doesn't support XP mode. Only Win7 Professional and higher supports VT mode anyway. Does XP mode matter at all? I have no idea. Search the Internet for that.
It doesn't wake up when you open the lid. It does sleep when you close the lid. Yes, I checked the settings. Tip: Change the close-lid behavior to Sleep instead of Hibernate for a faster sleep, but battery will drain faster.
Edit 12/10/09:
A few cons I've noticed:
The two speakers are on the bottom of the notebook, at the front lip. You really need a hard surface to reflect the sound up to you. Definitely below average compared with other notebooks IMO.
The Page Up / Down keys are above the numeric keypad -way out of reach. It's an incredible hassle with Internet browsing.
Remember how I wrote the graphics are good enough for 2D? If you watch a Yahoo! music video in full screen mode, that sucker will tear during fast motion. It's fine at the normal zoom level and with computers with discrete graphics.
I'm always accidentally hitting the DVD eject button. Other notebooks I've used recess this button.
I have researched the hell out of laptops netbooks etc. I actually had purchased a ASUS netbook eee PC. They are all well and good, but honestly just too small for my taste. The keyboards are small and really are only good for surfing the net. So I figured for 200 more bucks I can get the best of whats out there. This ASUS laptop is fast can run WOW easy for all you MMORPG guys and gals out there and can handle multiple apps no problem. Worth every penny! So much better than a netbook, more ram, better CPU, more hard drive space and the abilty to play DVD movies in a much higher resolution!
Editbattery life is lasting me about 4hrs and 25 mins. With basic apps running such as iTunes and internet surfing. This notebook is still the best thing I've seen around. I was lucky enough to purchase it for 599 during the black friday sale. But amazon still has a great price and more than worth the value!
Edit 12/4/09I have to disagree about the review about the keyboard. I was able to type 3 papers very efficiently and had no typos. It feels very comfortable. I don't use the number pad. I'm not an accountant and don't have a need to use the number pad like its a calculator. Some people might need it. I do not.
As for Windows 7 being a unstable system. I totally disagree. I've built all my desktops since I've gotten into PC gaming and windows 7 by far surpasses any OS i've used. XP is way to basic for my taste and Vista was a compatibility nightmare. I've ran windows updates already and it was flawless, boot up is literally half of what I'm used to on a desktop. As for upgrade options. No not really. This is a notebook not a desktop. 4gb is more than enough to do most things and as for the hard drive 500g is pretty massive. My desktop has 3TB, but thats mostly for storage.
Con: The speakers sound great. However, when the laptop is on your lap the sound isn't as clear, but this is to be expected. If the laptop is on a desk or whatever it sounds great. Altec Landsing speakers are pretty amazing.
The touch pad took a few moments to get used too, but besides that great product.
TO the supposed "THE REAL REVIEW Only 100% Truthful Reviews"
"My ASUS was DOA and it was a rather bad experience.....AMZN saved the day. Feel free to read my review on my ASUS that is now dead and buried and sent back after 15 hours of ownership and that 15 hours was a NIGHTMARE!" November 16th 2009.
"The unit seemed very cheaply made...dvd drive was dead....power cord was sparking when plugged in...lousy viewing angles....no backlit keyboard makes this BLACK keyboard impossible to see.....got a zillion error messages..one after another after another..Customer support was a joke...14 hours on the phone with these guys and all I can say if if they are the best, I dont want to experience the worst..... I am very sorry I rolled the dice with ASUS but very thankful I bought from AMZN as they do a great job of resolving things for customers which is why I will continue to give AMZN my business...." December 4th 2009.
Are you kidding me man? Stop writing reviews to hear yourself speak. At least show a shimmer of intelligence in what you say. Yes, I'm sure the laptop that you just purchased actually through off sparks lol. Bottom line is this laptop is excellent for the price you pay and people don't need to see your crap reviews that obviously are bias and EXTREMELY EXAGGERATED!
Edit: 12/5/09I had mentioned previously that the touchpad was a little difficult to get used to initially. But asus has a excellent option for configuring it as you desire. I just turned down the sensitivity and it really has helped with scrolling and web surfing. ALSO for those who are picky about fingerprints this machine does attract very well. There are many options for skins out there that fit this laptop perfectly. Just an option! I've continued to fool around with the new options within Windows 7 and it is really amazing the amount of custom-ability that is possible. There thousands of options for display and such and the laptop handles the shading/pixels/ and resolutions like a champ!
Buy ASUS K50IJ-X8 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Black) Now
Most people before have said it all so I'll keep this basic and easy to read.
1) ASUS is a top notch maker of motherboards etc. So it's no wonder that recent statistics on laptop reliability yielded ASUS as being the most reliable laptop maker based on number of returns or repairs. ASUS also offers a fantastic warranty on this product.
2) You get a great laptop for the money. I had initially purchased a Dell Inspiron model laptop at Walmart but for the same money I got a better processor, an LED screen, a number pad, better warranty and the ASUS Ice Cool feature. The better processor is what I was really after and the LED screen.
I highly recommend this laptop to anyone who doesn't want to spend a fortune. This laptop is a solid performer and a good bang for the buck. It's fast, runs smooth and looks good if cosmetics are important.
Read Best Reviews of ASUS K50IJ-X8 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Black) Here
I received this laptop yesterday. Amazon is quite good with its two-day shipping. It shipped via Fedex and arrived here on time. The packaging wasn't done well though, and the outer box was partly opened, which at first made me worry that the box of the laptop itself might have been damaged. Thankfully that wasn't the case. I'll be updating this review as I continue to use the unit. I bought it as a replacement for my 17" HP (Core2Duo) that I thought was too bulky. So far this one's working alright.
Some of the things I like about the ASUS K501J: (1) inexpensive ($ 649 with a $ 100 rebate = $ 549, not a bad deal at all, (2) Core2Duo processor, (3) 500 GB hard drive, (4) 4 GB memory, (5) crystal clear screen, (6) laptop doesn't get hot like my old toshiba, (7) no bloatware, (8) quite light (less than 6 lbs I believe), (9) 4 usb ports.
Now for the things I don't like (initially at least): (1) the laptop feels "fat" as one reviewer here says; it isn't sleek or stylish at all, feels a tad bulky, but that's ok I guess, (2) fingerprint magnet (though not as bad as my HP,(3) no HDMI port(but given the price, I'm not complaining),(4) plastic feels a bit cheap (but again, for $500+ that's nothing to complain about, (5) the product description says 30 seconds boot up, I think it's a tad longer than that (but again, negligible).
I like the laptop so far. I wanted something smaller than my 17" and given the specs, it's a decent little thing considering the price.
UPDATE: NEED HELP HERE!!! I hooked up this laptop to my 22" monitor using only the VGA port that's available on it. I used to be able to get to the recommended resolution for my monitor (with my HP laptop). With this ASUS unit I can't seem to get the resolution beyond 1024 x 769, leaving me with a screen that's not as sharp but is in fact a tad blurry. I tried using a VGA/DVI converter, but that didn't work. Can anybody please help me out here with suggestions as to how I can get a better resolution for my monitor. It's a 22" Sceptre LCD. I'd very much appreciate the help. THANKS!
UPDATE: Received the $ 100 rebate early March. I must say it was rather quick as I had expected to receive it in 8 weeks. Turned out much less than that. Still disappointed though that I couldn't get my 22" monitor resolution higher than 1024 x 769 when I attach it to the laptop's VGA port. Tech support was pretty useless. The support personnel on the other line didn't know exactly what to do, and was not very knowledgeable about the ASUS models and the components. I guess for a $500+ laptop with its specs, the low resolution on my external monitor is really a minor thing, especially since the monitor of the laptop itself is pretty sharp and clear.
Want ASUS K50IJ-X8 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Black) Discount?
This is my first laptop. I did a lot of research before purchasing it. I spent hours at Best Buy and Costco talking with the sales people and trying out the display laptops; and researched many on-line retailers and pc review websites checking prices and reviews for different laptops. I chose this one because the t6600 dual core processor was rated well amongst the lower priced laptop processors. I also liked that it has 4gb memory and a 500gb hard drive which is more than most of the lower priced laptops. I wanted windows 7 since I am coming from XP on my old tower pc and have heard Vista is not well liked. It comes with a really good warranty 2 years plus 1 yr accidental for free, and they pay the shipping if you need to send it in. While doing my research most of the sales people and reviews said that ASUS is top quality and have the best customer service. Amazon.com had a great price on this item. I got it for $599. I was a taking a bit of a chance buying it from Amazon because I couldn't see it and try it out before I bought it, and no one had reviewed it yet since it was a new model. I am glad I took a chance on it.
I am very happy with this laptop. It is really comfortable to type on. A nice size small enough to carry and big enough to easily read the screen and type. I like the number pad on the keyboard. I really like the cool smooth plastic hand rest. It is quiet, comfortable, and cool. It was easy to set up right out of the box, and I am not a techie. It walked me through everything I needed to get up and running. I called ASUS tech support twice once to ask if I should charge the battery for a specific length of time before using it (they said yes, the first battery charge should be 8 hours), and also a question about getting rid of some of the software that was preloaded that I didn't want. They were very friendly and helpful. They have 24/7 tech support which is really nice. I had to wait a little while on hold when I called in the evening but my daytime call was answered fairly fast. I appreciate that even though I was asking very basic questions and I know they are busy, they were friendly and happy to help me.
I haven't tried it out on the internet or watched any videos as I am still adding and removing programs and setting it up, but so far I really like this laptop. I'll report more once I've had a chance to really see how it handles. At this point I am very happy with it!
Cons: The computer is much heavier than expected, the sound out port is a tiny proprietary plug that only takes the Asus speaker unit (I have not been able to find any adapter units so I can hook it to my external speaker system on the desk), performance is fine but not blazing. The absolute worst feature is that it comes with Windows 8 installed. What an awful Operating System! Any busienss that buys a computer with Windows 8 will regret it from the first time their employee turns it on.. none of my networked scanners are supported, some of my online sites are incompatible with the new Internet Explorer version, etc. I am buying a new license for Windows 7 so I can remove Windows 8 from this computer... resulting in another $400 Microsoft extracts from my company.
