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Good For Short Bursts? - The Asus UL20A-A1 |
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I have always been a "desktop person" simply because I did not need the portability and desktops provide a better dollar-to-performance ratio. However, it was becoming tough to ignore those falling notebook prices. I started to convince myself how handy it would be to have a cheap laptop as a second computer. So when I saw Newegg run a special on the Asus UL20A-A1 for $535 with free shipping, I leaped at the opportunity. |
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Let me start with the good. This is a lot of machine for the price. The processor is an Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 1.3GHz. Initially, I was a little concerned about not getting the T9300, which is essentially the SU7300 running at 2.5GHz. However, with a TDP of 10 watts, the SU7300 is wonderful in terms of battery life. Since I never game on this machine and my work is limited to Word and Excel, I have not missed the additional clock speed. The UL20A also includes 2GB of memory. While most people want 4GB with Windows 7, 2GB is plenty for surfing and office applications. Now, let me consider some of the bad aspects. While the 250GB HDD is plenty for most casual users, the 5400RPM speed is noticeably sluggish, especially if you are used to 7200RPM or faster drives as I was. To make matters worse, I had just installed one of Intel’s 80GB SSDs in my desktop. After that, the 5400 was just unbearable to use, so I purchased another SSD and installed it in the laptop. That transformed the machine, but at the cost of $200. Another issue I have is with the 12.1-inch screen. This is my fault for purchasing online without first looking at a similar size in a store. The quality is fine, but a 12.1-inch screen is just far too small for me. Because of this I only use the Asus UL20A-A1 thin and light in short bursts at home, when travelling, or when web surfing while watching television. For those purposes it's perfect. By Tony for Cheaperlaptop.com Thursday, July 07, 2010 - Asus Eee PC 1005HA Netbook Review - Overview of the Asus Eee PC 1000HE - Dig Deep in the Bargain Basement - Gateway MX6650 Review - Site map - Privacy policy |