the ugly duckling: beauty without looks

Reviewer Comments: I am a gigging musician and purchased this computer for live performance with Ableton, Native instruments and other applications.

Right out of the box I was struck by the super shinny mirror black cover surface with oodles the extra gloss silver trim, it gives the machine a cheesy pander’s look that goes beyond offense and places it in the realm of consciously in your face bad taste. Almost a satiric comment on Apple and Sony fashion statement machines (my girlfriend squirms at the look and I am somewhere between laughing and throwing up every time I close the lid).

Once we open the lid (and don’t have to look at it anymore) things get dramatically better, this is a very fast and powerful machine with a quality display and graphics. It handles allot of VST plugins without fatigue and can power usb driven outboard gear (a Novation SL controller, a Korg nano keyboard, NI Kore 2, and a jump drive) without going under - though I prefer to power the Novation with its own AC supply, one should never press one’s luck especially if we want to perform well).

It is useful, if you feel up to it, to get rid of much of the junk software that comes with the machine, do you really want to be part of an ASUS social network? The machine will run faster if you do. On the other hand the security software works well and is easy to configure.

A real negative is the keyboard, it is extremely clicky and needs to be beaten sternly so as not to drop letters (perhaps this goes with the look?). For a touch typer like me this is a real pain.

Battery life is ok, if you are a battery freak you will probably complain but for my one or two hours excursions away from real power this machine does perfectly well and does not let you down.

The bottom line is if you can get past the sheer tastelessness of its looks (or if you go for them) and if you hit the keys with passion, this is a powerhouse computer at what is a bargain price. The T9400 dual core processor and graphics with one gig of dedicated VRAM make this ugly duckling rock. Check it out.

Originally posted at J&R Electronics (legalese)