X-bit labs

Traditions of Classical Notebook Building: Asus A8J Series Review (page 5)

Category: Mobile

by Alexander Britvin

[ 03/14/2007 | 09:42 AM ]

Putting aside the lack of the optional Bluetooth interface in our sample, the A8Jp boasts as many ports, interfaces and connectors as few notebooks of its form-factor do.

Its left panel offers the following (from left to right):

• 4-in-1 card-reader (supports Memory Stick/Memory Stick Pro/MultiMedia Card/Secure Digital)

• Optical drive with an eject button and an emergency ejection hole
• USB 2.0 port
• 4-pin FireWire port marked as DV meaning that it can be used to connect high-end digital video equipment
• Microphone input
• Digital S/PDIF output (headphones output)
• 26-pin ExpressCard/54 connector

On the notebook’s right panel there are two USB 2.0 ports and an IrDA port.

The following is located on the notebook’s rear panel:

• Power connector
• Two USB 2.0 ports
• TV output (S-Video)
• 15-pin D-Sub connector for an external monitor
• DVI-D connector
• LAN port (RJ-45)
• Modem port (RJ-11)
• Kensington lock

The rectangular 4800mAh battery resembles Acer’s rather than ASUS’ batteries. It has a large foot that serves as a support for the notebook itself. The battery is located under your right wrist, so your right hand won’t feel hot at work.

The following can be found on the notebook’s bottom panel: a CPU & memory compartment, a HDD compartment (its cover has a few feet the notebooks rests upon), a battery module with a spring-loaded lock, stickers with model information and the OS serial number.

There are two memory slots in the CPU & memory compartment. Each slot is occupied with a 512MB module, which means that you can double the amount of system memory (the max amount of memory supported is 2048MB).