Zenbook Prime - all good things come in threes, or is at the end of all good [Update 11.07.2012]

Most objective reviews I can confirm (positive as well as negative), some write-downs I can not understand, such as the fan control. Because a) is actually only if the Zenbook wakes from sleep, b) there will certainly be an update to and c) there freeware with which you can control the fan itself. Since the startup of the Zenbook only takes a few seconds, I'm going down there forever. So do not bother me. And each notebook so has its quirks, it should be said. I am thinking of Alienware notebooks cost 2500 euros and more and have real problems, but I digress.

My Zenbook Prime has a i7, 256GB ADATA and a display without any pixel errors. The case is not over 3 feet and I have a Top-Fi reception and also the touchpad responds super and is built plan. For the touchpad there immediately after you set the Zenbooks an update. Before gruesome reacts after super. I think some who complained that this update had not been made.

But why I forgive only 3 stars?

Well, the Zenbook that I have now in fact has full marks, but the road was gone long and nerve-wracking.

At first I had fished this model at Cyberport, since it was first available there. As it happened, I had noticed that the Zenbook stood 3 feet. On the housing bottom a screw looked a little further out than any other and the touchpad was installed wrong. I thought struck by lightning. 1400 Euros for such impertinence, that was too much to me. So the Zenbook went back again. The reversal of the way, ran without any problems, the money was a day later back on my account.

Then, Juhu, the Zenbook was also on Amazon for pre-order. I was pleased with the service from Amazon before, I wanted to order there. After a few days the Zenbook was available and I have received my shipment confirmation. Full of joy, I ran to the packing station to me to pick up my new toy. Meanwhile, I have also read about buyers who had dead pixels or just the SanDisk SSD verpöhnte was installed. So I have been forewarned.

Right after I had brought the Zenbook of the packing station, I unpacked the piece of cake it aaaaand wobbled ... Since only a thin sheet of paper had space, I thought with matter, fits already, even if it is not beautiful. But this Pixelfehler thing did not go out of my head. So downloaded program, tested and, .... 4 dead pixels found.

I was so upset that I ever wanted to buy no more Zenbook. Incidentally, I've also found that the touch pad was installed wrong. Not as bad as the first Zenbook, but I passed it. The part went back to Amazon.

Since just Zenbooks were available I thought "all good things come in threes" and have ordered again. The transition to the packing station was accompanied by a sick feeling in my stomach.

My patience was rewarded, however, I finally found a defect free Zenbook, which is now already a few days I enjoy. That with the fan can be fixed via software, so no reason to complain. The touchpad works after the update super. On the keyboard I got used quickly, otherwise I can so connect an external keyboard.

Now I'm still looking for a decent USB 3.0 Hub, in case anyone has suggestions, bring it on. 8-Port Hub would be great, but is certainly expensive and not necessary.

I think after half a year you can again draw a conclusion. Should the Zenbook do so, I would forgive this certainly 5 star. But viewed in the aggregate, it may not be that from 3 Zenbooks were 2 waste, or of inferior workmanship. This must not happen at such a high price and is not the claim of ASUS. Therefore, the 2 star trigger, so be prospective buyers roused and read the reviews maybe by. Because let's face it, if a product has 500 positive reviews and it 480 with 5 stars, which already you can not do wrong.

So to all prospective buyers, give the Zenbook a chance. Maybe your patience will be rewarded like me. Because if you ever have a that no irregularity, ye shall be satisfied safely. In the end everything will be fine.

[Update 11.07.2012]
Now I've been here for about a week in the possession of the notebook and am so far impressed.

I have the Zenbook every day at work and hear so sometimes music, read e-mails and surf in the break the Internet. This works perfectly in conjunction with the iPhone, only Windows is annoying, since it is the iPhone as a connection always counts up (Connect with iPhone1 ... 2..3 ... 9). For the Zenbook can of course not.

The practical test was listening to music 85%, checking emails 5% internet surfing just 5%, 5% times open images in Photoshop or shown a video. For this was the iPhone off at 60% (state of charge) and was charged. The Zenbook has been through the approximately 9 hours, which I think is absolutely great. Of course I was not always in place and have the screen always (controlled music through WinAmp and the keypad) from made that power settings were set to minimum, the display brightness. Nevertheless, a considerable achievement I think. If you think something home with the energy to get quite far.

Since I am a casual gamer and only occasionally allude to relax, I can not serve with elaborate games. But I do not hide from you my result. The game "Supreme Commander 2", similar to "Command & Conquer" runs with me very well. At medium details which runs quite smoothly in FullHD (!!!). At high resolution, it is all well, as long as no major explosions come. I am so happy.

Technically music I have tested different pieces across all divisions. For a notebook of this size the clear sound is pure awesome. The depths are missing and if you get tickled about WinAmp, missing the middle. Unfortunately, two go not. But here you have to see as a critic that the Zenbook was not designed as a "sound machine". So the sound is quite pasabel.

By now I am used to 100% even on the keyboard, it writes quite well, by the short stroke can be felt write faster. Only a number pad I miss sometimes. Not these separate keys, the numeric keypad there in some notebooks on the FN key, which would have been here can also make. Who has to enter his PIN, know what I mean.

The touchpad I like very much. After the update, it responds fast and there is almost nothing wrong. The two keys I would have liked as soft keys, but somehow it does not work on the driver software, at least not as I would have liked. The touchpad is slightly raised in the center to the left, it shows but only if one goes about it with your finger, you see it practically nonexistent. But that would be the only drawback.

The USB 3.0 ports are super. WD MyBook ran and data can be moved with about 100 MB / sec.. My fastest USB Stick provides 40 MB / sec., It just depends not only on the interface. USB 3.0 I would miss in any case.

Wireless internet is super, no connection problems.

The display is outstanding, could not be better. With gestures, you can zoom in web pages easily, works just fine. If you want to make a Pixelfehlertest, which I can recommend "Rizone Pixel Repair". If you find dead pixels, we had bad luck, or should you send in the case, the Zenbook back. In all other cases, the program can repair the pixels might.

The fan problem has been addressed several times. The program "SpeedFan" does not work (yet) with the Zenbook, I suspect because of the new processor and motherboard. Shutdown fixes the problem, I am sure there will soon be a bios update or maybe someone knows a program for fan control, in keeping with the Zenbook. No point deduction, other notebooks have just other concerns and there is nothing you can not fix.

From the accessories I use the bag often, however, a little more grip would be better, but as a protective covering over ok. The LAN adapter I think that's great, other manufacturers have to pay for it. Nice that ASUS has thought of something.

As mentioned before this notebook gets 5 stars, maybe even a sixth if the touch pad would be better built and no updates were equally been necessary. But the Zenbook is a recommendation.

The 3 stars in the overall standings but I think it justified. After all, the other two Zenbooks were anything but free of defects and there are no individual cases.

For the next generation Zenbook I would like a glass touchpad that fits in my opinion, rather the noble character of Zenbooks. But because Apple, the shape has patented we see perhaps soon no longer Zenbooks in this form, let alone with a glass touchpad.