ASUS UL30A-A2 13.3" screen aluminum/black 500GB laptop computer

Half a day, cord-free

The whole advantage of having a laptop instead of a desktop is the convenience laptops offer. Their portability lets you take them on the road, working without a wired power source. But how convenient is a laptop that only lasts two or three hours off the charger? That's not even enough for a moderately long flight. You need a notebook that can stand up to the pace of your everyday life. That notebook is the ASUS UL30A. This energy-efficient dynamo offers up to twelve hours' computing without the need to be plugged in. Once you factor in some sleep time, that's enough even for trans-oceanic flights. Try getting that on a notebook from a few years ago.

And on the 7th OS . . .

This ASUS notebook comes with Windows 7 Home Premium Edition. Microsoft's latest OS got back to the core of making great products: give the customers what they want. So, Windows 7 is full of you-centric features to shorten your work day, like a newly improved Task Bar. There are also plenty of convenience features like Snap or Aero Peek. Sharing files and devices like external hard drives or printers is a breeze with the new HomeGroup functionality, and searching for files is easier than ever. Plus, if you plug a TV tuner in, you computer can act as a great DVR to be your home media center. But even with so many great new features, Windows 7 is the fastest, most energy-efficient version yet.

Destined for the spotlight

One look at the ASUS UL30A should tell you that it's no ordinary laptop though. It's one sleek machine. It's under an inch thick, for one thing. This gives it a very streamlined look. Helping to make it even more sleek is its aluminum finish. On the inside, though, black is accented. The contrast between the two refined colors makes this one very attractive computer. It's more than a couple steps up from the big, plastic case most laptops are housed in.

Flexing its guns

Sure, the UL30A comes in a compact package. But don't think a small box makes it a small performer. This computer is more than ready to compete with some of the most powerful machines out there. It's got an energy-sipping 1.3ghz SU7300 processor as its brains. How often do you only have one application open though? That's why the UL30A includes 4 GB of installed DDR3 RAM, so you can run all your applications flawlessly. On top of that, 500GB of hard drive space leave you room to store everything you need to and then some. But actual computing wasn't the only area performance was optimized. Support for 802.11n wireless networking offers fast online activity. Meanwhile, if you use that fast internet access to listen to music, Altec Lansing speakers with SRS premium sound bring you great sound.

Little features can be a big deal

The appeal of this ASUS notebook isn't just in the circuitboards and outer shell, though. There are plenty of small touches that make this computer desirable. Take, for example, the built-in web camera. Or, consider the chiclet-style keyboard with expanded keys for comfortable typing. Other nice touches include the 5-in-1 card reader and the HDMI port, in addition to the three USB ports. IceCool technology keeps your palms from getting scorched, even with the thin enclosure. SmartLogon detects your face and automatically logs you in when you use the computer. It even comes with a carrying bag and a separate mouse. All those little features together can make a big difference overall when you're selecting you're computer.

Poor punditry

Speaking of little touches, the UL30A has multi-touch trackpad functionality. This is one of the most popular features on mobile devices in the last year or two. With multi-touch gesture support, the intelligent trackpad senses the motion of your fingers to determine whether you're trying to scroll, zoom, highlight, and more, all without needing to remove your hand from the trackpad, or move the mouse across the screen. It's another tiny time-saving tool on this ASUS laptop. Multi-touch is one small touch that's a great help.

Gotcha covered

One of the biggest worries with most new laptops is what should happen if things go wrong. And that's one area many laptop manufacturers fail at. Sure, they might offer coverage of actual defects for 90 days, or at most a year. But product malfunctions aren't the only concern with laptops, and the first year isn't the only time they can happen! That's why ASUS offers an industry-leading warranty coverage. Unlike other companies, who would sell you the same amount of coverage for upwards of a hundred dollars, ASUS keeps your best interest at heart by offering a full 2-years of service coverage for a defect. But, if your computer should suffer damage from an accident, like a drop, within the first year, you get one complimentary incident, so you're covered. Comforting, isn't it?