GADGET GIZMO REVIEW........ ASUSPRO Advanced BU201

GADGET GIZMO REVIEW ASUSPRO Advanced BU201

Business notebooks need not be boring. Case in point is the new ASUSPRO BU201. It marries desirable, consumer-class features with the efficient, no-nonsense practicality of business grade machines.

So, on the one hand, it is a small & light Ultrabook -with a 12.5-inch 1080p display . And that display opens 180 degees (to keep flat on a tablet) and is also matte finish ­ to reduce glare with harsh lighting and outdoors. The keyboard is chiclet style and backlit but it is also spill-proof and includes SensePoint in the middle of the keyboard (quite similar to the ThinkPad TrackPoint). There are three USB 3.0 ports (great for such a small machine), VGA and DisplayPort -but it is also compatible with a docking station. There is a hybrid HDD (500GB + 8GB) which provides a nice compromise between speed and storage -and a built in gyro sensor, HDD protection software and special mounts protect the hard drive in case of a fall or shock to the machine.

The machine is dark grey with a combination of soft touch and brushed metal finishes. The company says that they have reinforced the BU201 with UD (unidirectional) carbon fiber in key places to make it extra strong without adding weight. There is admittedly a certain level of shock and drop resistance ­ more than a typical notebook .

Thanks to the capable spec, there is lots of performance on tap. It also handles 4K video. The hybrid hard drive is faster than a conventional -but we can't help wondering if some would like the option of SSD. The screen deserves a special mention for being extra bright (400 nits) and with superb viewing angles (both horizontal + vertical). This means that with the screen flat on a table, everyone standing around will get a clear view. Asus' SensePoint works well and is pressure sensitive too -press harder and the pointer moves faster. Finally , there are some extras for enhanced enterprise security: a built in smartcard reader (for identificationauthentication), fingerprint reader with hardware-based cryptographic security (Trusted Platform Module ­ TPM) and built in software tools that monitor PC health, help backuprecover files and blockallow USB port use.

Our only gripes were missing HDMI and the average battery life. At best, it can do close to 3.5 hours and about 2 hours at worst (high brightness, performance mode). For a stylish crossover machine, you can also consider Dell's XPS 13 (2015 edition).

hitesh.bhagat

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