After 14 days of intensive use I am using the Zenbook more than satisfied. Some minor Schöheitsfehler in the details, the consistently positive overall impression but hardly dull!
The device seems to me extremely wertig, perfectly shaped and polished. The aluminum housing has nowhere to any gaps or irregularities in the processing. Everything looks like made from a cast; No creaking or wobbling. The color was a bit of getting used to, especially since this also slightly oscillates depending on the influence of light. In artificially lit rooms, the Zenbook looks more silver, while under the influence of sunlight the color tends more towards old rose. Nevertheless, the color language sets out against the MacBook Air, also located in our household: There is no likelihood of confusion. The display can be opened with one hand without the floor lifts; Top! The surface has a very pleasant texture that wertig feels and is not very prone to fingerprints. Also, the weight is still quite moderate with 1,4kg. The keyboard layout has a classic and gives a simple and reduced to the essentials, appealing impression (9/10)
Screen
The screen is a real highlight and was one of the weightier selling points for this configuration. The Full-HD resolution is a real feast for the eyes and creates beautiful crisp images. Watching movies is really fun. Furthermore, this resolution is just about acceptable in terms of scaling problems of some programs under Windows. Although some buttons run extremely small, but they are still to achieve quite comfortable. I decided, however, to scale the resolution to 150%. Because then regarded as both Spotify OpenOffice fairly washy and blurred out. Second big plus of displays is the viewing angle stability. In principle it is irrelevant at what angle I am to the display there arise virtually no color distortion. The brightness is measured very abundant in my opinion. Level 3 of 10 is more than adequate in lit interiors. I miss more nor a less bright level at the lower end of the scale, because even under minimum brightness settings, the diplay still quite bright (and in really dark rooms a little too bright). The fact that the display does not reflect, but completely matt comes, completes the almost perfect impression. For color fidelity I can not say anything, but subjectively I could not identify any disturbing color distortion. (10/10)
Keyboard
Using the keyboard, I had read various, sometimes contradictory reviews. Some of them complained about a spongy typing feel. Since I had been working on a ThinkPad, I was however important that the keyboard corresponds at least tidy. My expectations have been clearly surpassed in this regard, however. For a device this small height, the pressure point and the stroke falls subjectively very good. Thus, the partial criticism I can not empathize. On the ThinkPad it tapped although again a bit more comfortable, but by no means are worlds between the two keyboards. The reference model MacBook Air has, at least subjectively over a less-necked pressure point. But these are personal assessments. Here everyone must lend a hand and possibly compare models with each other. The keyboard is backlit and dimmable in three steps. A great feature and a real asset for low-light environments (and the bedroom). A pity, I find that the ON / OFF switch is integrated into the keyboard and lies adjacent to the DEL key. This I have the Zenbook ever accidentally sent unhappy in hibernation. Unfortunately, you can control the brightness, volume and key illumination also not directly but only via a hotkey. Because these elements are behind the F-keys. Thus, you can not regulate the volume with one hand, occasionally a bit cumbersome anmutet. I have come to appreciate the writing feeling very much and am comfortable with the feel of the keyboard very well. (9/10)
Touchpad
The touchpad has not only reaped laurels in test reports. And here I can at least understand parts of criticism. Although the size falls really lush and the sliding properties of the glass surface are pleasant. But the physical buttons are quite noisy and moreover a little stiff for my taste. The swiping do not work equally reliable in all Windows programs. When scrolling through the photo library be more pictures from time to time in succession skipped, for which I could find no explanation so far (despite adjustment of speed leaves). When scrolling in web pages then it works but again everything perfectly and without jumps and jerks. You can use the touch pad thus quite solid and comfortable work and it corresponds usually very decent. The comfort difference for MacBook Air drops in my eyes but made quite clear. (7/10)
Battery Performance
The biggest downside is the mobility of the Zenbook for me. Although the battery power is not in itself bad, yet I have often wished that one or other hour longer before I have to visit an outlet again. Without that I would have made reliable measurements, I believe that the Manufacturer's specification of approximately 6 hours runtime is quite realistic. With an adjusted brightness mixed range of applications (mail, photos, movies View, Surfing the web and Office) rarely keeps my Zenbook by longer. While this is not a bad value, but the MacBook Air is here for miles ahead. While I have to load every day, the Apple device holds often times by two days. For my application, the battery power is subject to the restrictions described above, but usually more than adequate. Only those who really should have available all day long no outlet, will probably not be happy with this device. (7/10)
Price-Performance
For 1000 you get from any other supplier in such a configured notebook. All competing models that were in my short list (XPS13, X1 Carbon, MacBook Air) offered at comparable prices significantly less power, or were in those corresponding setup is a lot more expensive (partly 500 price difference). When buying an Asus UX303LA it is however important to note that only the top configuration with a Core i7 processor also has a Full HD display. In principle, the selected processor for my needs is oversized, but this was linked to the high-resolution display configuration that I would not have missed in a premium notebook about anything! The equipment offered is almost unrivaled for the scheduled price! (10/10)
