X-bit labs

ASUS W2P00VB Review: More than Just a Notebook

Category: Mobile

by Galina Sudareva

[ 05/16/2005 | 09:05 AM ]

This notebook model easily handles office and multimedia tasks, DirectX 9.0 games and graphics applications. The built-in TV-tuner together with a widescreen 17.1" matrix makes this notebook an entertainment and multimedia center, too. Add here a few more attractive and useful functions and you will get a great portable replacement for your home or office system.

Table of contents:

• Design and Ergonomics
  
• Software Bundle
  
• Configuration
  
• Testbed and Methods
  
• Performance
  
• Conclusion
  

Choosing a home a computer, most of us would think of some typical tasks the machine is expected to perform and certain requirements it should meet, like:

• being fast not only in office and multimedia applications, but also in modern 3D games that require DirectX 9.0 support;
• having extended multimedia features so you could listen to music, watch movies or TV programs (with an additional TV-tuner);
• having excellent ergonomic qualities and functionality, and all the necessary communications, ports and connectors;
• complying with the present-day design requirements.

Yes, a desktop personal computer is a very useful appliance and is now to be found at almost every home, I guess. A home notebook instead of an ordinary computer is a less common phenomenon, although there are notebooks that meet all of the above-mentioned requirements and can make a good substitute for a desktop PC.

One such machine is going to be the subject of this review. It is the W2P00VB model from ASUS. This notebook is an embodiment of recent advances in computer-building, being based on the new version of the Centrino platform. It also boasts an astounding 17.1” LCD screen, an inbuilt TV-tuner, and an original appearance. With all that is can really become a full-featured replacement of a desktop computer, while retaining the advantages peculiar to mobile devices.