ASUS bucks Ultrabook trend with new Zenbook

by Steven Mostyn - Oct 13 2011, 13:09

Unveiled during a global launch in New York earlier this week, computer manufacturer and netbook pioneer ASUS has formally announced the retail availability of its new ultra portable Zenbook.

While the iconic ASUS Eee PC netbook was hindered somewhat by its limited processing performance and functionality (i.e., no optical disc support), the Zenbook is a much more muscular and mainstream proposition.

Similar in form and style to the Ultrabook line of devices trotted out by Intel during the summer, the lighter ASUS Zenbook weighs in at just 2.4 pounds for the smaller 11.6-inch UX21 model, and 2.9 pounds for the larger 13.3-inch UX31 version.

Such meager shoulder weight is made possible thanks to the inclusion of an aluminum alloy chassis, a glass trackpad, and an all-metal keyboard. Yet, beyond being startlingly pretty and lightweight, the Zenbook is also no slouch under the covers—as it were.

Moreover, the Zenbook line is powered by a choice of Intel’s Core i5 and i7 processors, 4GBs of RAM, up to 256GBs of SSD data storage, support for USB 3.0 and Bluetooth 4.0, up to seven hours of single-charge battery time, and screen resolutions of 1366x768 in the UX21 and 1600x900 in the UX31.

Other fixtures and fittings include energy efficiency via the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine II and SonicMaster audio technology, the latter of which has been developed with Bang & Olufsen ICEpower. 

The ASUS Zenbook computer is available now across the United States, with a starting price of $999 USD for the base UX21 model. The slightly more oomph-worthy UX31 starts at $1,099 USD and tops out at $1,449 USD.

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