Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I bought this laptop because of the great specs. And indeed, it does have great potential but at the end of the day ASUS still doesn't get what it takes to make a premium notebook, in my opinion.
Let's start off with the PROS.
- Fast processor
- Great graphics card
- Incredible sound, it really is amazingly crisp and clear, and can get very loud with almost no distortion. The speakers were the only thing that absolutely amazed me in this notebook, at least in a good way.
- 7200RPM HDD
- Great warranty, two years + accidental damage for one year is definitely worth mentioning. Better than every other manufacturer, and a great value.
And that's basically it, all the good things I can say about this machine are from the components alone. However, stuffing a bunch of great components in a sub par enclosure, and having cheap feeling notebook is not a great solution. I personally would prefer weaker components, but a sturdier more premium feeling notebook.
So for CONS:
- Although this is meant to be a 14" portable notebook, the case is huge. It is almost the same size (Length, width and height) as my old Dell E1505 with a 15.4" screen. Personally I think this is ridiculous, basically I'm getting a smaller screen in the same form factor. Either way, it's not as portable as a 14" notebook should be.
- Not only is the case huge, but it's also very poor quality. ASUS adds gimmicky aluminum around the trackpad, but the whole rest of the keyboard is enclosed in cheap plastic (and you can tell). If you are going to use aluminum, do it right, and not as a cheap gimmick. I mean, by notebook wouldn't even sit completely flat on a desk, the bottom right corner (closest to the user) would hover about a millimeter above the ground.
- The keyboard shows an ALARMING amount of flex around the E key in particular. Although the keyboard is actually pretty responsive, and even nice to type on, it feels extremely cheap because of the huge amount of flex.
- Battery life: Again, I would like a decent amount of battery life in a 14" notebook. I wanted a smaller form factor to be more portable, unfortunately the battery doesn't even last 3 hours (but comes close). Factor in that most batteries loose capacity, and soon it will be lasting closer to 2 hours... I don't find this acceptable by today's standards.
- It's also somewhat noisy. I wouldn't call it loud, but it isn't quiet either. This is somewhat subjective, and I am pretty picky about noise, so maybe you won't notice.
So in conclusion, I feel like this laptop has great specs, and performs great, however feels flimsy and cheap, and is just not a pleasure to use. I feel like ASUS took all the newest and greatest parts, and just decided to stuff it into the first laptop they could find, without any sort of finesse. If you are looking for a great performing notebook and are willing to overlook some functional/aesthetic issues, you'll probably love the N43JF. If you were hoping for a more premium notebook feel because of the "aluminum" and ASUS' reputation for reliability, look elsewhere.
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ASUS N43JF-A1 14-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Silver Aluminum)Feel the Power. Hear the Power. Turn up the volume on the 14-inch N43Jf-A1 notebook and prepare to be impressed. Featuring ASUS SonicMaster technology—co-developed by world-renowned audio experts at Bang & Olufsen ICEpower—and a unique top-mounted speaker design, this multimedia powerhouse combines hardware and audio for an unsurpassed, ear-pleasing experience. Boasting new NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M graphics with battery-boosting NVIDIA Optimus technology, the N43Jf-A1 excels when performing graphic-intensive tasks like video editing, DirectX 11-enabled gaming, and graphic rendering. And with ASUS VideoMagic 3-in-1 software package, you get image-enhancing programs like PowerDVD 9 with True Theatre that instantly scales DVD-quality to Full 1080p HD with smoother frame rates so you can enjoy videos and movies in the quality they deserve. Powered by the Intel Core i5-460M processor with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, the N43Jf-A1 delivers the multitasking muscle and smart performance that senses the tasks at hand and dynamically boosts the processor for a stutter-free experience. Specially built into the N43Jf-A1, the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine extends battery life via the ASUS Power4Gear Hybrid utility. The N43Jf-A1 also comes with SuperSpeed USB 3.0 that charges USB 3.0-enabled devices quickly and transfer files from USB storage devices to your notebook up to 10 times faster than previous generation USB 2.0 speeds1 The N43Jf-A1 features a 2.0 megapixel webcam with security lens cover, 500GB 7200RPM hard drive, ASUS Splendid technology, multi-touch trackpad, Express Gate, new wave keyboard, and a brushed aluminum design.
Key Features
14-inch LED-backlit HD display with ASUS Splendid Technology for crisp HD visual quality (Learn more)
ASUS SonicMaster Technology co-developed by world-renowned audio experts at Bang & Olufsen ICEpower delivers improved clarity, volume, and resonance, and more detailed sound. (Learn more)
Intel Core i5-460M processor with Intel Turbo Boost Technology for smart multitasking that automatically senses whatyou're doing and boosts performance(Learn more)
ASUS Super Hybrid Engine and ASUS Power4Gear Hybrid optimizes the system to extend battery life for the task at hand (Learn more)
SuperSpeed USB 3.0 for quicker device charging and up to 10x faster transfers than USB 2.01(Learn more)
New wave keyboard features larger-sized keys for an enhanced typing experience
NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM and battery-boosting NVIDIA Optimus technology delivers fast performance for Full HD playback and gaming (Learn more)
ASUS VideoMagic Software for clearer images and smoother visuals (Learn more)
Express Gate mini-operating system grants instant access to internet, music, Skype, and more in seconds
Learn More
Relax, ASUS Has You Covered Ranked as the #1 most reliable PC brand by 3 independent sources2, readers and editors alike choose ASUS as their trusted notebook and netbook. ASUS relentlessly strive to exceed expectations of quality to ensure you an unmatched peace of mind every time you start your PC. We also back our commitment with the industry's most comprehensivewarranty.
1 Year ASUSGlobal Warranty3 Offers a level of coverage that would add hundreds of dollars tothe price of competing laptops:
1 year global warranty
30 day Flawless Display Guarantee
2-way free standard shipping
24/7 tech support
1 Year Accidental Damage Warranty (ADW)3 Whether your notebook is damaged by accidental spills, drops, electrical surges, or fire, ASUS will fix it or replace it for you during the first year after purchase.
Covers accidental drops, spills, power surges, and fire damage
Target 3 business day turnaround time for repair / replacement; not including receiving and shipping time
1-way shipping (from ASUS to the user) at no additional cost
24/7 toll-free phone support
What's in the Box
N43Jf-A1 Notebook
AC Adapter
6 cell Battery Pack
Warranty Information Card
Specifications
OperatingSystem: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Display: 14-inch LED-backlit HD display (1366 x 768)
Processor: Intel Core i5-460M processor (2.53 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.80 GHz)
Chipset: Intel HM55
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM
WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz), Bluetooth v2.1
LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
Memory: 4GB DDR3 SDRAM, 2 x SODIMM socket (expandable to 8GB)
Storage: 500GB 7200RPM hard drive
Optical Drive: Super Multi DVD
Camera: 2.0 megapixel with security lens cover
Speakers: Built-in speakers with SonicMaster Technology
Microphone: Digital Array Microphone
Card Reader: 1x 5-in-card reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS-PRO/MS Duo)
Input/ Output: 1x Headphone-out jack, 1x Microphone-in jack, 1x VGA port, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 2x USB 2.0 ports, 1x USB 3.0 port, 1x E-SATA, 1x HDMI port
Battery: 6 cell
Dimensions: 14 x 9.6 x 1.3 ~ 1.48 (W x D x H)
Weight: 5.28 lbs (with 6 cell)
Color: Silver
© 2010 ASUS Computer International. All Rights Reserved. ASUS is a registered trademark of ASUSTeK Computer. All specifications are subject to change without notice and features are only in select models. Products may not be available in all markets. Brand and product names mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies. © 2010, Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel, the Intel logo, Intel Inside, Intel Core, and Core Inside are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Intel® Turbo Boost Technology information: http://www.intel.com/technology/turboboost 1All figures theoretical values compared to USB 2.0 benchmarks for reference purposes. Actual speed depends on device and system status. 2Rated number 1Windows-based PC maker in PCMag.com's Service & Reliability Report 2009.Rate number 1 PC brand according to SquareTrade, the leading direct-to-consumerwarranty company (for more information visit http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109/ ). Rated number 1 reliable PC maker in Spring 2009's RESCUECOM report http://www.rescuecom.com/RESCUECOM269.html 3For notebooks purchased on or after Sept. 10, 2007. The ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty covers "ASUS" brand notebooks only, and does NOT extend to: "Built on ASUS", "ASMobile", "Powered by ASUS", the Eee PC, or some other models. These retailers are currently among the companies that do NOT participate in the ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty: Best Buy, MicroCenter, and The Source by Circuit City in Canada. Limit of one claim per notebook for Accidental Damage Warranty. ASUS reserves the right to discontinue this program and to modify the terms and conditions thereof at any time. ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty Program starts from the date of your ASUS notebook purchase, when all the requirements are met. Check your retailer for specific warranty information. One incident covered per notebook.
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