Asus Lamborghini VX7 review
Fantastic performance, in Windows and in games, but the VX7 can’t match other ultra-high-end laptops for build quality and battery life
Specifications
15.6 in 1,920×1,080 display, 3.8kg, 2GHz Intel Core i7-2630QM, 8.00GB RAM, 1,500GB disk, Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
It’s a shame these problems are so glaring, as the VX7 was actually great to use – the backlit keyboard uses full-size keys that have a pleasing springy action, and there’s room for a separate numeric keypad, which should make data entry a little easier. The touchpad buttons felt firm and were responsive as long as we pressed them in the right place. The touchpad is a good size, letting us navigate the desktop easily even at the laptop’s very high native resolution.
We were surprised that Asus has managed to squeeze a 1,920×1,080 display panel into a 15in laptop – this makes watching Blu-ray movies in full 1080p a possibility, although you’ll have to sit directly in front of the laptop to get the best view; viewing angles are fairly average and moving to the sides creates a lot of colour distortion. There’s a bare minimum of screen tilt and the glossy finish means direct light sources are reflected from the screen. Colours were also slightly muted.
The VX7 feels larger than the average 15in laptop because the stylised exhaust vents that jut out from its rear create a huge chassis. There’s at least room around the sides for a Blu-ray optical drive, multi-format card reader, three USB ports and a single USB3 port, as well as VGA and HDMI video outputs, plus two 3.5mm audio jacks for connecting a microphone and headphones.
At a massive £1,839, the VX7 needed to be outstanding in every way. Unfortunately, some build quality problems and its below-average battery life mean it’s not worth the premium. If you’re looking for a gaming laptop, the Dell Alienware M14x is better value.
Basic Specifications | |
---|---|
Rating | *** |
Processor | Intel Core i7-2630QM |
Processor clock speed | 2GHz |
Memory | 8.00GB |
Memory slots | 2 |
Memory slots free | 0 |
Maximum memory | 16GB |
Size | 50x402x309mm |
Weight | 3.8kg |
Sound | Realtek HD Audio |
Pointing device | touchpad |
Display | |
Viewable size | 15.6 in |
Native resolution | 1,920×1,080 |
Graphics Processor | Nvidia GeForce GTX 460M |
Graphics/video ports | VGA, HDMI |
Graphics Memory | 3,072MB |
Storage | |
Total storage capacity | 1,500GB |
Optical drive type | BD-R + DVD+/-RW +/-DL, DVD+/-RW +/-DL |
Ports and Expansion | |
USB ports | 4 |
Bluetooth | yes |
Wired network ports | 1x 10/100/1000 |
Wireless networking support | 802.11n |
PC Card slots | none |
Supported memory cards | SDXC, Memory stick Pro/Duo, MMC |
Other ports | minijack audio output, minijack microphone input, 1x USB3 |
Miscellaneous | |
Carrying case | No |
Operating system | Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit |
Operating system restore option | restore partition |
Software included | Microsoft Office 2010 Starter edition |
Optional extras | none |
Buying Information | |
Warranty | Two years RTB |
Price | £1,839 |
Details | www.asus.com |
Supplier | http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk |