Tech in Style Issue 14

Tech in

BRINGING INNOVATIONS TO LIFE

See more on page 2

the eee pad exposed How the Transformer tablet came to be

Ultrabooks!

Discover the fashionable future of mobility

ISSUE 14 november 2011 www.techinstyle.tv

In Search of Incredible Inspire the world with an incredible experience and you could win the chance to turn your tale into a short film

A

SUS believes that technology has the power to allow anyone to realise their full potential and the creativity of the people who use its products lies at the heart of a new campaign to celebrate innovation.

Together with Intel® and a number of influential creative partners, ASUS is embarking upon In Search for Incredible — a quest to find stories from around the world that will inspire the imagination.

Singer, filmmaker and traveller Jason Mraz launched the search at the end of September, with contributions from acclaimed video director Andy Morahan and award-winning film director Asif Kapadia. The stories are being collected at the In Search of Incredible web site, but this isn’t just something to observe at a distance — ASUS is actively seeking contributions.

Head to www.insearchofincredible.com and submit a short description of something you find incredible — it might be a sight, a sound or even something you’ve done. You can also upload images, audio and video clips, and the best submissions will be shared on the site every week.

Better still, a winner will be picked from each week’s submissions to receive a prize of the very latest N Series laptop with ASUS SonicMaster technology and 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i5 processor.

At the end of the search, an overall global winner will be chosen and offered the chance to turn their incredible story into a short film with the aid of a professional film crew. The film will then be screened at one of the world’s leading film festivals in Utah in the US and the winner, plus guest, will receive complementary flights and accommodation in order to attend.

So, what are you waiting for? The Search for Incredible has already started…

2

| in search of incredible special

ASUS recommends Windows® 7.

Find out more at www.techinstyle.tv

Fusing classical and post-modern design With a simple, yet sleek design by David Lewis, the new ASUS N55SF creates a unique mood of sophisticated elegance and modernity. Pianogloss covers and polished metal frames exude an exquisite premium appeal, while soft-feel touchpads, fast-type keys and a smoothed-out integrated power button emphasise luxurious comfort. The ASUS N55SF — where intelligent design and meticulous craftsmanship combine to embody a spirit of advanced computing and sensational simplicity.

Contents 02 In Search of Incredible

Inspire the world with an incredible experience and you could win the chance to turn your tale into a short film

04 Ultrabooks?

Richard Swinburne digs into the details of the new wave of ultraportables

Tech Specs

06 Little treasure

ASUS N55SF CPU Intel® Core™ i7-2670QM 2.30GHz Operating System Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit Screen 15.6” 16:9 HD+ (1600x900) Graphics NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 555M

2GB DDR3 VRAM Capacity 640GB (5400rpm) Memory 6GB (2048x3) DDR3 1333 MHz

SDRAM Audio Bang & Olufsen ICEpower®

SonicMaster

08 Spotlight: Behind the scenes of the Eee Pad Transformer

The best things come in small packages, like the sleek and stylish new ASUS U46 business ultraportable

We chat to lead designer, Derra Chen

10 Sliding in style

ASUS launches another innovative tablet to complement its Transformer

12 Colour that's meant to run The affordable K series laptops blend performance and style

14 The most affordable ultraportables

ASUS brings fresh inspiration to the netbook world with three slim and stylish new models

Tech in Style issue 14

EDITORIAL Editor Richard Swinburne

Where to buy

Comet, Currys, HMV, Micro Anvika, PC World, Dixons, Amazon and Ebuyer

PRODUCTION Production Manager Helen Ling Art Director Quawn Hsu Lead Designer Chiou Chong Lee

Copyright: ASUS Technology Private Limited, 2011. All editorial content in this magazine has been sponsored by ASUS. While every care was taken preparing this magazine, ASUS Technology Private Limited cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information nor any consequences arising from it.

in search of incredible special |

3

Where to buy

UX21E available from PC World, Currys, Comet, Micro Anvika and Amazon UX31E available from PC World and Currys

Ultrabooks?

Richard Swinburne digs into the details of the new wave of ultraportables

D

on’t worry; you’re not alone if you haven’t heard the term before. This is Intel’s new terminology for the brand new design of extremely thin and ultraportable notebook.

The thin and light transition has been a movement for some time, where it firstly started out just as a functional requirement because people didn’t enjoy lugging around a 5kg notebook.

However, as the weight has dropped off the choice of light laptops has improved, along with a new requirement for them to be fashionable as well. Eee PC netbooks, ‘CULV’ laptops and the Macbook Air are a few examples of the initial, fashionable ultraportables. None of these had all the ‘need’ boxes ticked though – some, sure, but not all. Ultrabooks differ by promising full laptop performance in super-skinny profiles at under £1,000.

That’s three important boxes to round up an affordable, sexy and uncompromising gadget.

Intel is so confident about its new market it’s just recently dropped the tune of $300M into an Ultrabook Fund to “accelerate innovation in the next revolution of personal computing”. The statement alone is certainly ambitious, and with that considerable investment it should definitely be taken seriously!

The money is to help develop super-slim (literally

Tech Specs

UX21E CPU Intel® Core™ i5-2467M processor (1.6 GHz) Operating System Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium Screen 11.6” 16:9 LED-backlit Memory 4GB DDR 3 SDRAM Capacity 128GB High-speed SSD Connectivity Bluetooth 4.0 / USB 3.0 / USB Charger+ Weight 1.1Kg

4

| in search of incredible special

millimeter depth) components like cooling solutions and electronics to fit in the minute space between keyboard and base. It’s not only the physical device that is seeking the benefits of the fund though; Intel is offering support to Cloud services such as online storage and streaming, enabling Cloud-based servers to handle the more strenuous processing tasks and create Cloud-based office apps that let you co-work with others while you travel, without leaving the security of your office VPN. To back this up, hardware infrastructure projects like mobile wireless coverage and lower power/ faster networking services are also getting a boost. Brought together, this is the vision of being truly ultramobile.

The foundations have been set by smartphones and pads, which have driven a huge surge in demand for mobile technology and bandwidth over the last few years, but expect the era of ultra to drive an even more intensive shift away from your desk.

This is all beginning now, and while a thousand dollars is still a sizeable sum in any currency, it’s the first step to lowering the premium of super-slims that are still now twice this price.

With Intel’s commitment to the platform, expect subsequent generations to further improve performance and battery life while also becoming more affordable. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves though; while the future certainly looks promising, this year will see an exciting addition to this new trend!

UX31E CPU Intel® Core™ i7-2677M processor (1.8 GHz) Operating System Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium Screen 13.3” 16:9 LED-backlit Memory 4GB DDR 3 SDRAM Capacity 128GB High-speed SSD Connectivity Bluetooth 4.0 / USB 3.0 / USB Charger+ / SD Card Reader Weight 1.3Kg

ASUS recommends Windows® 7.

Find out more at www.techinstyle.tv

Ultrabooks differ by promising full laptop performance in superskinny profiles at under £1,000.

That’s three important boxes to tick for an affordable, sexy and uncompromising portable.

in search of incredible special |

5

U46 ultraportable

Little

The best things come in small packages, like the sleek and stylish new ASUS U46 business ultraportable

T

he definitive ASUS ultraportable just got even more portable — meet the new U46. On the outside, there’s a gorgeously sleek design and a brushed aluminium lid that’s not only built to shrug off the knocks of a life spent on the move, but stunning to behold, too. On the inside, the U46 still crams an expansive 14" screen on and a standard-voltage 2nd generation Intel® Core™ processor, plus a battery that lasts for up to 10 hours. Weighing in at under 2kg, it won’t cause backache however long you spend travelling with it.

6

| in search of incredible special

The small footprint doesn’t mean that the ASUS U46 skimps on other features, though. There’s a full-size chiclet keyboard and internal DVD writer, not to mention USB 3.0 for connection to the latest high-speed accessories.

Best of all, there’s a clever screen hinge that sits further forward than usual, which means the U46’s screen can open at a more comfortable angle when it’s squeezed into the tight space of a passenger jet or train seat. Why can’t all ultraportables be so well designed?

ASUS recommends Windows® 7.

Find out more at www.techinstyle.tv

The advanced mechanical design of the U46SV has the thinnest 14” panel available in a compact frame for superior ultraportability.

Tech Specs

CPU Intel® Core™ i5 2410M (2.3GHz) Operating System Genuine Windows® 7 Professional Screen 14” (1366 x 768) Memory Up to 8G DDR 3 SDRAM Graphics NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 540M with 1GB DDR3 VRAM

Where to buy

Available from Comet and Micro Anvika

Dimensions 333 x 245 x 24.6~26.2mm Weight Under 2kg

in search of incredible special |

7

Spotlight:

Behind the scenes Despite the extremely busy schedule of the Design Center team, we recently managed to grab (literally) a few minutes with Derra Chen the lead designer on the Eee Pad Transformer project - for a quick, behind the scenes chat about its development and design.

8

| in search of incredible special

of the Eee Pad Transformer

ASUS recommends Windows® 7.

Find out more at www.techinstyle.tv What does the ASUS Design Center do for ASUS? We help to figure out what people need and want from future products, and then what the best way is to design them.

Does the Design Center look at every product ASUS does or just special ones?

Every product gets looked at in some way by us.

What was the inspiration for the Transformer design?

It has to be comfortable to read on and watch media because we think the core value to this kind of product is instant video and internet consumption. It has to be extremely mobile for people to take it with them any time. Bigger sizes are better for viewing media, but not too big so that it doesn’t fit in your bag. That’s why we went with 10 inches on the Transformer, although a smaller size is admittedly better to hold and put in your pocket. Our previous experiences from the Eee netbooks told us that 10 inches is preferred, having previously gone through everything: 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 inches.

hold a 10” tablet with a flat backside, it is more difficult without a textured rear bezel. We gave it a texture to enhance the tactile experience and make it non-slip. It also helps to make the tablet look more interesting and beautiful.

As you can see in this sample of the rear side is in the early development stages, the feeling is not right. The texture is too strong and the curved lip is too acute. The final one has a slightly smoother texture and the curve is moved inwards towards the center, around the area where the fingers grab (rather than palm), so it feels more natural and comfortable.

Why did the Transformer end up in brown?

The black on this early concept looked too much like a computer. It was too harsh with the texture. We went for brown because it looks more like a leather bag; more like a fashion accessory than gadget, which is important for both the aspect of stylish appeal and to lower the perception of “difficulty”. We also had a pearl white version which looks great until you actually use it. We found after extended use it picked up dirt from fingers too easily within the textured grooves.

How does the Design Center collect feedback for future designs?

Having come so far in the first design then, how will future Eee Pads evolve?

We constantly collect feedback from product managers, ASUS global sales teams, media reviews and our social media programs.

Even before we launched the Transformer, our research found that a keyboard is an essential feature that many wanted, so it was always in our design idea pool. However, after the launch, we now understand that some people find the clipping mechanism difficult to line up or lock properly, so we are looking how to improve this for the next generation.

In addition to the clipping mechanism, we feel the weight is one very important element to improve. Even if we can reduce it by 100g, it makes a big difference. The ideal situation would be to end up with something like a book: as light as paper. Thickness can be offset by usefulness, but lightness is the unparalleled key to avoiding fatigue.

Not only that but paper gives an appealing tactile sensation and interaction too, so it would be interesting to mimic it. Obviously we can’t make a paper Eee Pad because of the essential requirement of durability and ultimately materials choice depends on the scope of cost and availability too, so the weight issue is always an uphill struggle.

So why did you choose a textured and not a flat rear side?

This is one of our findings during initial testing: when you

in search of incredible special |

9

10

| in search of incredible special

ASUS recommends Windows® 7.

Find out more at www.techinstyle.tv

ASUS Eee Pad Slider

Sliding in Style

ASUS launches another innovative tablet to complement its Transformer

S

ome people prefer a touch-screen tablet as their go-to computer for use on the move, others prefer the comfort of a keyboard with a traditional ultraportable.

With the ASUS Eee Pad Slider, it’s possible to have both.

At first glance, the Slider looks like a stylish 10.1” multitouch tablet with an ultra-wide 178° viewing angle display, making it perfect for watching movies, browsing the web and playing Android games. However, the slimline case hides a secret and with the two halves slid apart, the screen pivots upwards to reveal a compact Qwerty keyboard, turning the Slider into an ultracompact ultraportable.

As well as offering full support for Adobe Flash and Full HD video playback, the Slider packs enough performance for serious productivity tasks too, thanks to its NVIDIA® Tegra 2 dual-core processor. Polaris Office is pre-installed for Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint document editing under Android, while the USB port, built-in memory card slot and unlimited ASUS WebStorage make light work of exchanging files with others.

Where to buy

Eee Pad Slider available from PC World Eee Pad Transformer available from Comet, Currys, HMV, Micro Anvika, PC World, Amazon and Ebuyer

Tech Specs

EeePad Transformer TF101 CPU NVIDIA® Tegra 2 Screen 10.1” (1280 x 800) LED-backlit IPS display with Corning Gorilla glass Capacity 16/32GB storage with unlimited ASUS WebStorage (complimentary 1-year) Operating System Android 3.2 OS Connectivity 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 2.1 Dimensions 271 x 176.8 x 12.98mm Battery Life Up to 16 hours (with keyboard dock) Weight 680g

Eee Pad Slider vs Eee Pad Transformer

ASUS may have two near-identical Android tablets in its lineup, but while their core specifications are essentially the same, the Eee Pad Slider and Eee Pad Transformer are two very different beasts.

Both offer outstanding multimedia performance and a brilliant 10.1” IPS display with ultra-wide viewing angle that’s protected by tough Corning Gorilla glass.

The Slider’s built-in compact keyboard makes it best suited for mobile users who need to type all the time, but the Transformer, on the other hand, is a 10.1” touch-screen tablet that can be connected to an optional keyboard dock for desktop use. This provides a larger keyboard for more prolonged typing sessions and also extends battery life to up to 16 hours, but while the clamshell design keeps the Transformer portable, the dock does bring a small weight penalty that may not suit everyone.

EeePad Slider SL101 CPU NVIDIA® Tegra 2 Screen 10.1” (1280 x 800) LED-backlit IPS display with Corning Gorilla glass Capacity 16GB storage with unlimited ASUS WebStorage

(complimentary 1-year) Operating System Android 3.2 OS Connectivity 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 2.1 Dimensions 273 x 180.3 x 17.3~18.mm Battery Life Up to 8 hours Weight 960g

in search of incredible special |

11

Colour meant ASUS K Series laptops

ASUS K Series laptops

Tech Specs

CPU Intel® Core™ / Intel® Pentium™ Operating System Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium Screen LED-backlit Capacity 320GB/500GB/640GB/750GB HDD 2.5” SATA Memory Up to 8GB DDR3 1333Mhz memory Optical Drive DVD Super Multi DVD Connectivity 802.11b/g/n Weight 2.45 ~ 3.2kg

12

| in search of incredible special

Sleek, stylish design with tough aluminium keyboard surround

Second-generation Intel® Core™ processors deliver new levels of mobile performance and intelligent power management

Optional NVIDIA® GeForce GT 520M/540M DirectX 11 graphics with Optimus 20% better battery life than previous K Series models

iF Design Award-winning chiclet keyboard, large multi-touch trackpad and ICE Cool palm-rest makes even long laptop sessions cool and comfortable

ASUS recommends Windows® 7.

that’s to run The cool K series laptops that blend performance and style

Find out more at www.techinstyle.tv

Where to buy

Available from Comet and Micro Anvika

B

uying a new laptop has never been easy, but the new ASUS K Series is ideal for anyone looking for a splash of style. The sleek design with a tantalizingly textured lid and metallic interior, is available in eight appealing colors to suit every taste.

Whether it’s a first-time laptop for a new user or a household’s second (or even third) computer, the K Series is the perfect all-rounder that can cope with any task, without breaking the bank. Based on the latest Intel® ‘Huron River’ mobile platform with ‘Sandy Bridge dual and quad-core processors, each model combines outstanding performance with incredible energy efficiency to give up to seven hours mains-free use on certain models.

Optional DirectX 11 graphics with NVIDIA® Optimus technology boosts battery life and also provides incredible multimedia potential and the power to play the latest games.

The K Series includes thoughtful touches seldom found on affordable laptops, too. An award-winning keyboard with exclusive ASUS IceCool Technology gives an extra-comfortable typing experience, with palm-rests that remain cool at all times, while the generously sized trackpad makes it easy to exploit a wide range of multi-touch gestures. Brilliant LED-backlit displays and high quality Altec Lansing speakers ensure stunning multimedia performance.

in search of incredible special |

13

ASUS EeePC 1011PX Available in black and white

The most affordable

ultraportables ASUS brings fresh inspiration to the netbook world with three slim and stylish new models

G

iven that ASUS invented the whole idea of the netbook with the Eee PC launch just a few years ago, it should be no surprise that it continues to innovate with low-cost ultraportables.

Three new models lead the charge this year, and they’re among the best-looking affordable portables ever to appear in Tech in Style.

Available in four striking colours, the ASUS Eee PC X101 is an excellent choice for anyone who wants an ultraportable that offers a perfect combination of portability, performance and style. Thanks to an Intel® Atom™ N570 processor that, while extremely capable, still offers outstanding energy efficiency, the Eee PC X101 generates much less heat than other netbooks. This in turn allows the Eee PC X101 to feature an all-new super -slim design, making it the ideal travelling companion for people who want a computer to hand, wherever they go.

A large chiclet Qwerty keyboard with wide palm rest makes for comfortable typing, while the LED-backlit screen gives a crystal clear view of the task in hand.

For those looking for notebook-like performance in a netbook-size package, the new Eee PC 1011PX and 1015PX are just the thing.

Powered but the new Intel® Atom™ dual-core N570 processor, they offer seamless video playback and smooth multitasking with several applications — not to mention all-day battery life, courtesy of ASUS Super Hybrid Engine technology. Express Gate Cloud offers an instant-on solution when it comes to web browsing and email too, while the exclusive ASUS Eee Docking service delivers a convenient, one-stop solution for easy access to digital content, services and other ASUS useful software.

EeePC X101 Available in red, white and black

14

| in search of incredible special

ASUS recommends Windows® 7.

Find out more at www.techinstyle.tv

Tech Specs

ASUS EeePC 1011PX CPU Intel® Atom™ N570 processor Operating System Genuine Windows® 7 Starter Screen 10.1” LED-backlit (1024 x 600) Capacity 320GB HDD Battery Life 8 hours ASUS EeePC 1015PX CPU Intel® Atom™ N570 processor Operating System Genuine Windows® 7 Starter Screen 10.1” LED-backlit (1024 x 600) Capacity 320GB HDD Connectivity Bluetooth 2.1 Battery Life 11 hours ASUS EeePC X101 CPU Intel® Atom™ N570 processor Operating System Genuine Windows® 7 Starter Screen 10.1” LED-backlit (1024 x 768) Capacity 250GB HDD Connectivity 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz Battery Life 4 hours

ASUS EeePC 1015PX

Available in black, white, red and blue

Where to buy

Eee PC X101 available from Dixons Eee PC 1011PX & 1015PX available from Currys, PC World and Dixons

in search of incredible special |

15