Asus VivoBook S200 review
It's a shame the screen is a bit dim, but this is still a great-value touchscreen Windows 8 laptop
Specifications
11.6 in 1,366×768 display, 1.4kg, 1.8GHz Intel Core i3-3217U, 4.00GB RAM, 500GB disk, Windows 8
The S200 has a 500GB hard disk for your media collection, as well as plenty of connectivity options, including two USB2 and one USB3 port, an SD/MMC card reader and VGA and HDMI ports for connecting the laptop to external monitors and projectors. There’s no optical drive, though, but this helps keep the laptop’s weight down to a travel-friendly 1.4kg.
It’s not quite an Ultrabook, but it’s impressive-looking given its price
This is a cheap laptop, so it’s not exactly a powerhouse. The S200’s 1.8GHz Intel Core i3-3217U processor helped it to an overall score of 29 in our benchmarks. This means it will be fine for web browsing and office tasks, but will struggle with video editing and multitasking. The laptop’s integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics makes it a poor machine for gaming; our Dirt Showdown benchmark didn’t run at anywhere near a playable frame rate, so you’ll have to stick with older or more casual gaming titles (there’s bound to be lots of the latter designed to work on such laptops for sale through the Windows 8 store).
The processor’s “U” suffix means it’s a low-voltage model, which should help with battery life. The S200 lasted 5 hours and 26 minutes in our battery life benchmark, which, while not an all-day figure, is still par for the course for a budget laptop.
The Asus VivoBook S200 does have some drawbacks, notably a lack of screen brightness, but it’s still excellent value, and a remarkable first effort from Asus for a budget touchscreen laptop. It’s not suitable for intensive tasks such as video editing, but is still an inexpensive way to get the most out of Windows 8. It’s a Budget Buy.
Basic Specifications | |
---|---|
Rating | **** |
Processor | Intel Core i3-3217U |
Processor clock speed | 1.8GHz |
Memory | 4.00GB |
Maximum memory | 4GB |
Size | 21.7x303x200mm |
Weight | 1.4kg |
Sound | SonicMaster Waves MaxxAudio 3 |
Pointing device | touchpad and touchscreen |
Display | |
Viewable size | 11.6 in |
Native resolution | 1,366×768 |
Graphics Processor | Intel HD Graphics 4000 |
Graphics/video ports | VGA, HDMI |
Graphics Memory | 192MB |
Storage | |
Total storage capacity | 500GB |
Optical drive type | none |
Ports and Expansion | |
USB ports | 3 |
Bluetooth | yes |
Wired network ports | 1x 10/100 |
Wireless networking support | 802.11b/g/n |
PC Card slots | none |
Supported memory cards | SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC |
Other ports | 1x USB3, 1x 3.5mm headphone output, 1x 3.5mm mic input |
Miscellaneous | |
Carrying case | No |
Operating system | Windows 8 |
Operating system restore option | restore partition |
Software included | none |
Optional extras | none |
Buying Information | |
Warranty | one year RTB |
Price | £400 |
Details | www.asus.com |
Supplier | http://www.expansys.com |