ASUS W5F reviewed

That 12.1-inch ASUS W5F ultra-portable pulled an enthusiastic review over at PC Perspective. They ran a 1.66GHz T2300 Core Duo model packing 512MB of DDR2 RAM and a 5400rpm 100GB disk through the gauntlet of tests and found this "attention magnet" to make all contenders look "bulky and unrefined." They were stoked by their unit's performance and integrated 1.3 megapixel webcam, bundled Bluetooth mouse, and SPDIF output for full-on digital audio. They also noted the laptop's battery life compared to others in the class even though their W5F only eked-out about 3.5 of the 4-hours advertised under a "reasonable office load." The biggest knock came for the single SODIMM slot for RAM upgrades and that "Vista-ready" Intel GMA 950 graphics engine which means you won't be doing any serious fraggin' here. But hey, if that's your gig then you should be looking elsewhere anyway.

[Elijah @ May 1st 2006 9:36AM]

Can you say iBook replacement? What has Apple gotten themselves into? It's going to be an ugly Fall season battle of Duo Core Laptops.

[vinegar @ May 1st 2006 9:40AM]

#1 - it's somewhat likely that this IS the next ibook. ASUS is an Apple supplier.

[j @ May 1st 2006 9:41AM]

I hope the new iBook (macbook??) follows this baby. I like how the Asus looks... but am surprised at the number of stickers on it. All it needs is an 'STP' logo and maybe a large, outlined number and it could give a Nascar rig a run for the money.

[weaver @ May 1st 2006 9:44AM]

oh god, that's a pretty one... how much $

why do they have to put a stinkin camera on everything these days... next thing you know they're gonna start shipping ipods with cameras...

[Jason @ May 1st 2006 9:45AM]

#1, #3 --> Very funny! I had to control my outburst of laughter here at the office. Right on.

[Ohhh Noooo @ May 1st 2006 9:47AM]

All that power and they stick an Intel graphics chipset in it.

No offense, but that would make it unusable.

[toholio @ May 1st 2006 9:48AM]

Wait, hold it a minute! Just slow down! I can still see the case in a couple of places, better put some more stickers on it.

Seriously though, why have a sticker pointing that it has a webcam? The camera mount is ugly enough that no-one is going to fail to notice it.

[vinegar @ May 1st 2006 9:50AM]

jeez people, the stickers are supposed to be taken off after purchase. do you leave the options details on the window of your car when you take it home from the dealer?

[Chris @ May 1st 2006 10:04AM]

stickers leave a mark with the stuff that makes it stick and trying to get that off is kinda not the thing people want to deal with.

[Fuzz @ May 1st 2006 10:30AM]

I have a few ASUS laptops here, and on all of them they were covered with "stickers". These are good quality, and come off very easily, leaving no residue. So you can all stop your bitching about the stickers now.

[PodMonkeys @ May 1st 2006 10:55AM]

That is a rather pretty laptop. Too bad I don't have the cash for it. :(

As for the stickers. Heres a little trick. The residue comes off with a little oil, such as rubbing your finger on your nose then rubbing it on the residue. Once thats off, you then use a cleaner such as windex to remove the oil. Easy-peasy.

[Mark Sumner @ May 1st 2006 11:20AM]

I don't suppose it has a backlit keyboard?

Of all the features Apple sticks on thier notebooks, that keyboard backlight is the one that I can't live without. I'd like to upgrade my machine, but I won't do it until I can find another with this feature.

Does any PC maker stick a backlight in their notebook keyboard?

[Jeff @ May 1st 2006 11:26AM]

"stickers leave a mark with the stuff that makes it stick and trying to get that off is kinda not the thing people want to deal with."

The stickers on my Acer laptop came right off with no residue. Most laptop makers are smart enough about this stuff these days.

The exception is the Windows XP sticker, which is a Microsoft thing - that thing is so strong (and it's actually made of metal) that I have yet to be able to get mine off at all, residue or not. I could pry it up with a razor blade but that's gonna scratch the casing. Obviously, this sticker is on pretty much every laptop out there and it's yet another reason to curse MS.

[Ryan @ May 1st 2006 11:37AM]

usually the only time stickers like that cause problems is when the buyer uses the laptop for a while with them on there, lets their wrists set on them for some extended time, and THEN tries to take them off.

[Jon @ May 1st 2006 12:05PM]

Sticker residue can be removed easily by using a little bit of paint thinner or any kind of mineral solvent. Then use mild soap and water to get rid of any residue from the thinner.

Just be sure the solvent you use can be used safely on plastic. Test using a plastic utensil or something similar first.

[i'macomputa @ May 1st 2006 2:30PM]

i can't believe this thread got turned into a thread about stickers...are you guys 13?

[j3oomerang @ May 1st 2006 2:44PM]

i dont like all the plastic around the screen, the smaller the border around the screen the better. and judging by that border it seems this laptop will have a bigger foot print than other 12.1" laptops

[Jon @ May 1st 2006 3:26PM]

The bezel around the screen / increased footprint can be blamed on the camera it seems. Those extra controls and mic need space.

6-cell battery sticks out of the back too. 4-cell will probably sit flush.

[hondosan @ May 1st 2006 3:50PM]

i've got mine for a month now (picked up the 1,86ghz version in taiwan), and i'm overwhelmed by the power a 1,6kg notebook can produce.

only the 6 and the 9 cell batterypack stick out of the back. the 3cell batterypack fits nicley.

and it looks great with the stickers off ;)

[Jesus Hernandez @ May 1st 2006 4:45PM]

I wonder where all the companies are getting this SUPER COOL idea of a webcam built in.... cough*MacBook Pro*cough

[Silver R. Wolfe @ May 1st 2006 7:05PM]

This is a nice lookin' lappy. Too bad it's probably hella expensive. A nice form factor and definitely enough power behind it. I'd definitely get this over the iBook or even the Macbook.

[Stephanie @ May 1st 2006 9:54PM]

honestly, "Jesus"...
I love Apple, but they were NOT the first people with webcams in their laptops. Asus has been doing this W model with cameras for years.

[Vision33r @ May 2nd 2006 12:58AM]

The Sony Vaio Picturebooks were out in 1998 and they had built in webcam way before the Apple Powerbooks shrunk in size. And before Steve Jobs came back to save Apple.

Apple fans are so blind, thank god its only single digits % of the computer users base.

[Perrey Z. @ May 2nd 2006 8:16AM]

ASUStek is an OEM/ODM partner for various computer companies. However they are not allow to copy the product's design from their clients. HOWEVER... White is not an Apple Trademark, so anyone can manufacture and design products using THAT color.

And for thouse of you in here who claim or **think** Apple "invented" built-in webcam on the bezels i'm sorry to say you wrong, Apple stole that idea/invention from Legend now known as LENOVO. The have been building webcams on their computers since the mid 1990's.

Before LENOVO acquire IBM they where exclusive to China and certain Asian regions and not know in the west, so Apple though no one would know about they stole the built-in webcam innovation.

[MOGua @ May 5th 2006 1:57AM]

like hondosan, I got mine from Taiwan.

http://qster.com/2006/05/01/white-duo/

Great little laptop.

[renoir @ May 22nd 2006 12:50PM]

Jesus, you guys.. why the apple hating? Just because they used a webcam (beautifully, i might add) built in doesnt mean they stole it and tooke credit for being the first. I'm a PC user, but you have to give credit where it's due, and the new macbook is very well designed andthe webcam looks better than any other i've seen, including this one and sony's