Packaging & Design & Delivery:
Holding the dark blue carton of UX301 the first time in his hand, one knows that one has resorted here to a high-quality product. Asus here seems much emphasis on the place to "trappings", which I think is a positive development, in such an expensive product. If you open the box, directly comes to the fore the Zenbook, well protected by films on fore- and back, as well as by the board just mentioned. It was impressive to keep this device in hand (and in a as super thin and super light). I had never seen such a noble and perfectly crafted instrument in my hands, at this point a compliment to Asus, all right! With regard to the glass surface, will find very often a groan at a high level instead. I mean everyone who purchases this Zenbook, will know that glass particularly attracts fingerprints and complain afterwards about it ... is not my opinion!
For other accessories is to say that it is more than adequate for normal applications! A DisplayPort to VGA Adapter for playback on other screens or projector and a USB 3.0 LAN adapter on the wired Internet. These two products also just as well made as the Zenbook in!
First start & Power:
Once you start the UX301 for the first time, you should bring 10min to reasonably configure the Ultrabook with the set up of Asus software and set up. Then upgrade to Windows 8.1 is recommended, since it does bring some advantages in my opinion, which are not heard in this review.
Now to the actual product: The UX301 starts begin to work smoothly from "completely out" down to the Windows screen in impressive 5sec and you can already during the startup programs load yet. The Touchbad sets the movements perfectly and to the touch panel is as accurate, is mainly used for the new Windows 8 Home used. The keyboard is a dream! The pressure point is perfect, it can be quickly and fluently write to confuse without buttons, which is to thank the sufficient distance between them. The crown is the keyboard set up by the backlight which very, very classy looks especially in darker environments and also has its benefits.
External devices, such as speakers or AUX on an external mouse via USB as easy to install and ready for use within seconds.
The performance of the UX301 is also impressive. That in such a sleek and slim notebook as much power and power lies is incredible. Games of last year, as well as older very CPU-heavy games and simulations (FSX) can be prepared easily, even with the highest graphics settings! Ultrabook must put up only at the very latest graphics firecrackers and graphics must be screwed down.
Thanks to the built-in SSD's, USB 3.0 and SSD card slot, it is no problem to copy large files quickly and easily, or to move from A to B.
Battery performance is also not to be underestimated. While playing, the battery lasts not expected to be as long as in office work or seeing movies. For DVD evening the Zenbook is good but all times! 3 movies in HD are successively possible and with only one battery charge. After that, the Zenbook has connected to the grid again, charges the battery but faster than expected again.
Last remains something about the sound of Asus and Band & Olufsen to say and indeed wow: the sound through the chassis speaker is already extremely clear and impressed at the look of recent films, however, includes high-quality external speakers, believed his ears hardly. With the right settings, which are easy to make thanks to the supplied software, you get the perfect sound on its investment. Here you can tell very clearly the difference between high-quality sound card and the cheap competition. So good speakers are not all, at least I do not want to do without this sound!
In summary, I would like this Ultrabook praise! Asus has done everything right and his Zenbookreihe complemented perfectly with the UX301. An absolute Hardly recommendation for people who travel a lot and plan to use this product in a confined space (plane), a beautiful, noble and high-quality product you want to call your own, and hopefully a bit longer have what it than from the low competition, it's been promising !
Furthermore, kudos to Amazon! Saturday evening ordered eingetoffen Monday at 12 clock! Super, keep it up!
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Update 1: I had to return the first UX301 since begun a fan in the housing after a few days, to rattle. This constant and ongoing chatter has allowed no more decent work.
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Update 2: Today I received the usual replacement unit fast as Amazon. Result: Schrott !! I suspect there is a delivery damage. The entire left side of the touchpad is lagging behind and can not be properly operated, USB, AUX and other connections do not fit properly in the cans on the device itself. I put an AUX cable to the microphone input, this causes the sound driver to go up and over and over again on the Bimdschirm! Loose contact. In addition, the keyboard backlight works only sometimes disguises himself independently in brightness! It seems as if I had received a Monday device or Asus has enormous production problems. At ~ 1600 for a notebook I expect a perfect device without flaws! The fact that I now have to return for the second time this is very annoying. I'll take one last time to spare efforts in the hope to get a perfect device.