Introduction and Specifications

The ASUS U6S is an ultra-mobile machine that offers us a slim, low-weight design with an Intel Core 2 processor and Windows Vista Business. But can it also bring a battery life to make it an all-day notebook?
Introduction

The market for notebook computers has been growing at a much faster rate than desktop PCs for several years now and many expect the “tipping point”, where notebooks officially outsell desktops, to occur in 2008.  The reason behind this growth is easy to discern: laptops have become more powerful, smaller, lighter and are running longer on batteries than they ever have.  Couple that with the incessant need for people of our generation to be on-the-move so to speak and you have a recipe that spells success for companies like ASUS, who have taken it upon themselves to really push the mobility market.

Today’s review looks at one of ASUS’ new flagship parts, the U6S, an ultra-mobile platform based around a 12.1″ screen with a 1280×800 resolution that is LED backlit, adds in a powerful Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 2GB of DDR2 memory to create a machine that is both light and responsive – but does that combination inherently mean that battery life won’t be ideal?  Read on to find out.

Specifications

The ASUS U6S is a great machine when you look at it on paper and most of that translates well into the implementation of the machine:

Processor & Cache Memory
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T7500: 2.2 GHz, 4MB L2 Cache, 800 FSB
Operating System
Genuine Windows Vista® Business
Chipset
Intel® 965PM
Main Memory
2048MB DDR2 667MHz (1Gx2) up to 2048MB
Display
WXGA (1280 x 800)
Video Graphics & Memory
NV G8400M G 128MB (DX10)
Hard Drive
160GB 5400RPM SATA
Optical Drive
Super Multi
Card Reader
8-in-1 card slot
Video Camera
0.3 Mega Pixel web camera
Fax/Modem/LAN/WLAN
Integrated 802.11a/g/n(optional)
Built-in Bluetooth™ V2.0+EDR(optional feature)
3G/3.5G Antenna support(optional)
On board 10/100/1000 Mbps Fast Ethernet controller
Integrated MDC Fax/ Modem (Asus)
LED Status Indicator
Power-on/Suspend
Battery Charging/full/low
Storage device access
Capital Lock
Wireless/Bluetooth on status indicator (optional)
Interface
1 x Express card
1 x Microphone-in jack
1 x Headphone-out jack (S/PDIF)
1 x VGA port/Mini D-sub 15-pin for external monitor
4 x USB 2.0 ports
1 x RJ11 Modem jack for phone line
1 x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert
1 x HDMI
Hot Keys
Instant launch Keys,3 buttons:
Wireless/Bluetooth Switch, Power4Gear eXtreme,Camera Instant Key,

Function Keys:
Fn+F1 Suspend switch
Fn+F2 WLAN/Bluetooth switch
Fn+F3 Access to the E-mail
Fn+F4 Access to the Internet
Fn+F5 Brightness down
Fn+F6 Brightness up
Fn+F7 LCD on/off
Fn+F8 LCD/CRT switch display
Fn+F9 TouchPad Lock
Fn+F10 Volume on/mute
Fn+F11 Volume down
Fn+F12 Volume up
Fn+Ins Numeric Key Pad on/off
Fn+Del Scroll Lock on/off
Fn+Space Power 4Gear eXtreme
Fn+C Splendid
Fn+T Power4Phone
Fn+↑: Stop
Fn+↓: Play/Pause
Fn+ ←:Skip to Previous Track
Fn+ →:Skip to Next Track
Audio
Built-in Azalia compliant audio chip, with 3D effect & full duplex
Built-in speaker and microphone
KeyBoard
83 keys with MS-Windows function keys
Battery Pack & Life
6-cell
AC Adapter
Output: 19 V DC, 4.74 A, 90W
Input: 100-240 V AC, 50/60 Hz universal
Dimension & Weight
Mocha Brown
3.46lbs
11.7″ * 8.6″ * 0.9″-1.2″
Security
BIOS Booting / HDD User Password Protection and security lock
Kensington lock hole
TPM(Trusted Platform Module) V1.2
Fingerprint
Supplied Accessories
Carrying bag
Mouse
Multimedia Software
ASUSDVD V7.0 ( *For Basic & Business only)
Power Director V5.0 (*For Basic & Business only)
Medi@Show V3.0 (*For Basic & Business only)
* Premium & Ultimate are with MCE support from Windows Vista
Virus & Tool Software
Norton™ Internet Security 2007
NERO Express V 7.0
Adobe Acrobat Reader 7.0
ASUS Utility
Asus Win flash for BIOS and Driver live Update
ASUS CopyProtect
ASUS SmartLogon
ASUS Net 4 switch
Asus Live Update
Asus Multi-Frame
Power 4 Phone
Asus NB Probe +
ASUS Life Frame III
ASUS Wireless Console
ASUS Security Protect Manager(ASPM)
Virtual Camera
Warranty & e-support
2-year limited global hardware warranty
1-year battery pack warranty
30days Zero Bright Dot LCD
On-line problem resolution through web interface (BIOS, Driver update)
OS (Microsoft Windows Vista) install/uninstall consultation
Bundled software install/uninstall consultation
ASUS software supporting

Hardware Analysis

Unlike build-to-order notebook suppliers like Dell or HP, the ASUS lines of laptops usually come in just a handful of configurations.  The U6S is in the same boat with only a few optional components listed on their while rest are fixed – this helps ASUS save money on building the machines and of course we expect that savings to be passed on to the consumer.

The processor inside the U6S is the Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 that runs at 2.2 GHz on an 800 MHz FSB.  This CPU will definitely not hold back a computer like this and should be enough power for most any applications you might run on it.  The Intel 965PM chipset is used here with 2GB of DDR2-667 memory; the 965PM chipset doesn’t have integrated graphics so instead the U6S comes with the NVIDIA 8400M mobility GPU and 128MB of discrete video memory.  The 8400M is a great chip in and of itself – it supports DX10 and just enough gaming to make most machines that utilize it at least decent for games.  ASUS has another version of this notebook, the U6E, that doesn’t use NVIDIA’s GPU and instead uses integrated Intel graphics.

The U6S also sports a 160GB hard drive that spins at 5400 RPM – slower than the 7200 RPMs we have come to love but saves on power and heat.  Other features on the notebook included Bluetooth support, a built-in web camera, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/g/n wireless support and host of connections and ports that we’ll go over in detail on the upcoming pages.



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