Tech in Style Autumn/Winter 2013 [UK Edition]

ASUS recommends Windows 8.

ISSUE 23 Autumn-Winter 2013

BRINGING INNOVATIONS TO LIFE

Is it a laptop? Is it a tablet?

ZENBOOK™ UX301

Nexus 7 (2013)

Stunning, both to look at and to use

The latest 7” FHD tablet from Google and ASUS

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ZENBOOK™ Infinity UX301

Now & T

ZEN

he latest Zenbook™, the 1.2kg UX301, is stunning to look at. The drilled aluminium Midnight Blue lid is covered in the latest scratch resistant Corning Gorilla Glass, giving a unique finish.

A lot of care has been lavished on this machine. It uses the latest Intel® Haswell processor, which is fast and low-power, and the 13.3” screen is a stunning 2560 x 1440 pixels (4x as many as HD TV).

Both keyboard and touch pad feel exceptional. With SonicMaster tech, the sound quality is surprisingly good for such a slim machine. All in all, it is a joy to use.

UX301LA CPU : 4th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor Operating System : Windows 8 Touchscreen : 13.3” 16:9 FHD (2560x1440) Storage : 256GB SSD

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ASUS recommends Windows 8.

PC World, John Lewis & Amazon

where to buy

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Transformer Book T100

Best of a new I

Breed

n the affordable Windows notebook class, the new Transformer Book T100 with 10” FHD screen is ideal.

It uses one of the new Intel® low-power chips for allday computing without recharging.

Building on ASUS’ long experience in the 2-in-1 sector, the keyboard can be detached to provide an ultra lightweight Windows 8 tablet - perfect for browsing the web, reading office documents, and keeping up to date with emails.

Transformer Book T100 CPU : Intel® BayTrail-T Operating System : Windows 8 Screen : 10.1” 16:9 HD Touchscreen Storage : 32GB SSD

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ASUS recommends Windows 8.

PC World, Currys, John Lewis & Staples

where to buy

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Transformer Book Trio and PadFone™ 2

Designing B the incredible

oth consumers and manufacturers have been exploring their options when it comes to next-generation gadgets.

Intel® technologies have reduced power consumption, extending battery life. Google has made Android a reference ecosystem for onthe-go devices, while Microsoft is leading the way for touchscreen adoption.

ASUS designers have been pioneering new multifunction devices to fit the lifestyles of a new generation of users.

Transformer Book Trio Keyboard links up to a monitor, so you can carry on using Windows 8, whilst the Android tablet is detached.

Part of the effort of Asus Design engineers has been to produce machines that are great to look at, as well as to use. One of the inspirations behind the new Zenbook™ was that when held up and viewed from the side it should look like the hands of a top-end Swiss watch! But the idea of using glass to coat the top had to wait for the latest generation of Corning Gorilla glass which resists finger marks.

The designers have also been pioneering a series of new multifunction ideas to fit the lifestyles of a new generation of users. The first of these detachable keyboard solutions, featured on ASUS Transformer Pad, has opened the way to even more innovation in the category.

Today, the ingenious Transformer Book Trio has arrived. As a Windows notebook, it runs on the processor in the keyboard base. Once detached, the screen boots up Android to function as a tablet, that uses its own processor.

The base carries on running Windows, so you can plug it into a screen for simultaneous use.

Some apps sold separately; vary by market.

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Also interested in the smartphone field?

ASUS Design teams invented PadFone™ 2, an elegant way to transition between phone and tablet. Simply slide PadFone™ 2 into its station for a larger screen experience with no time lost transferring data.

ASUS recommends Windows 8.

Transformer Book Trio Operating System : Windows 8 OS Tablet : Android™ 4.2 Jelly Bean CPU (Dock) : 4th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 CPU (Tablet) : Intel® Atom™ Screen : 11.6” 16:9 FHD (1920x1080) Touchscreen Storage : 500GB HDD (Dock) & 16GB eMMC (Pad)

Transformer Book Trio

where to buy

John Lewis, Amazon & Ebuyer

PadFone™ 2 Carphone Warehouse, Amazon & Selfridges

Fonepad Carphone Warehouse, Amazon & John Lewis

Transformer Book T100 & MeMO Pad FHD 10

Smooth operators

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� is the perfect size if you need to do some serious work, but do not want to lug around a large notebook. The ASUS Transformer Book T100 has a HD screen and comes pre-loaded with the latest versions of Windows and Office. The IntelŽ quad-core low-power processor gives up to 11 hours battery life. It weighs just over 1 kg (2.2 lbs).

It has a special reading mode which reduces the amount of blue/violet light for a more comfortable viewing experience, over extended periods of time.

ASUS recommends Windows 8.

The keyboard is surprisingly good for a machine of this size. It can also be detached if you want to minimise weight. Just press the button on the hinge and you’ve got a light tablet, ideal for commuting.

Starting at under £300, the Transformer Book T100 is outstanding value for a multi-tasking machine that includes a keyboard for easy typing.

But, if you plan to use your tablet mainly for watching videos or browsing the web, then you

may be better off with Android, giving you access to the hundreds of thousands of apps on the Google Play store.

In that case, the MeMO Pad™ FHD 10 has a full HD screen with wide viewing angle, perfect for entertainment. SonicMaster audio and builtin stereo speakers give powerful sound. It has a 5 megapixel camera on the back and a front camera for video calls and comes in a choice of vibrant colours.

Transformer Book T100

MeMO Pad™ FHD 10 (ME302)

PC World, Currys, John Lewis & Staples

PC World, Currys & Amazon

where to buy

Nexus 7 (2013), MeMO Pad HD 7 & Fonepad

The Magic of

Majel

“Siri-style� voice searches and commands with intelligent prompts and information based on your habits and location.

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Quad-core processor

10 hours battery

FHD Screen (1920x1200)

T

he 2012 Nexus 7 by ASUS was one of last year’s hot products; the new Nexus 7 by ASUS released at the end of July 2013 is even better.

The most dramatic change is the 1920 x 1200 pixel display which gives it 323 pixels per inch, the world’s best for a 7 inch tablet.

Equally important has been the steady improvement in the associated “infrastructure”.

Google Now, or “Majel” after the computer voice in Star Trek, introduced with Android™ Jelly Bean, has steadily improved. Backed by the vast Google databases it now offers not just “Siri-style” voice searches and voice commands (“set alarm 9:45”), but a range of intelligent “cards” providing prompts and information based on your habits and location.

Describing it as a “personal assistant” is no longer absurd hype. Those over 30 tend to be unnerved by all the information Google and others collects on our habits, Majel is one way to get some value from it!

The MemoPad­™ HD 7 has built on the original Nexus 7 by ASUS to provide a tablet that’s great value for money. It has a vivid screen with IPS display and SonicMaster audio, providing deep sound from such a small device. It also has an expandable storage slot, allowing you to store up to 32GB more of your movies, songs or photos.

If you can resist the allure of the new Nexus 7 by ASUS and you’re looking for a tablet to consume media on, it is an excellent choice.

Then there’s the Fonepad™, which gives users the added ability to make phone calls from your Tablet.

7” Android™ tablets are everywhere right now, but ASUS is making some of the best on the market, and giving you a wide range of choice too.

So whatever you want from your 7” tab, there’s one that’s right for you!

MeMO Pad™ HD 7

where to buy

PC World & Currys

Fonepad™ Carphone Warehouse & Amazon

Nexus 7 (2013) PC World, Currys, John Lewis, Carphone Warehouse, Argos, LIttlewoods, Tesco, Amazon & eBuyer

Touch.

The Future for Notebooks

The Power M of Touch

ost of us have got used to touch from using smartphones, and there is no doubt that some things are much easier with touch. Pinching to zoom in and out on an image is a prime example.

There is no doubt that some things are much easier with touch

An experienced Windows 7 user may find Windows 8 takes some getting used to. What’s more the Windows app store is a little bare at the moment and the ever present Office suite is yet to be optimised for touch screens.

However, Microsoft’s long awaited Windows 8.1 update is on the horizon, expected before the year ends. And for those who prefer the desktop layout, there are apps available that provide a temporary solution (Pokki).

It will soon be hard to find new notebooks without touch screens, and by the end of 2014, Microsoft will almost certainly have improved Windows and fixed Office, so it would be silly to buy a non-touch machine.

VivoBook X200

Anyone who has not bought a notebook for a while will be delighted by the new offerings.

Almost every aspect of the specs has noticeably improved, whilst the price for all but the top end machines is noticeably lower.

The VivoBook S550 has a 15.6” screen and one of the latest Intel® Haswell processors for less power consumption and longer battery life.

It looks good and comes with SonicMaster sound.

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If you want a smaller and lighter machine, the VivoBook X200 has an 11.6” display and weighs less than 3lbs. It has a good quality keyboard and is only slightly thicker than an Ultrabook™.

ASUS recommends Windows 8.

VivoBook S550 CPU : 3rd Gen Intel® Core™ i3/i5/i7 Operating System : Windows 8 Screen : 15.6” 16:9 HD (1366x768) Multi-touch Storage : 500GB/750GB/1TB

where to buy

VivoBook S550

VivoBook X200

PC World, Currys & John Lewis

PC World, Currys & Tesco

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Autumn-Winter 2013 | www.techinstyle.tv

N550 Series Notebooks

Music

to your ears T

he N550 is a serious multimedia machine for movie addicts and music lovers. It is thinner and lighter than ever (weighing 5.5 lbs), with an attractive, sturdy aluminium case.

It has the top-end Intel® Haswell Core™ i5/i7 processor and a separate gaming-grade GPU for improved graphics on the 15.6” full HD display. It is not intended as a gaming machine, but runs typical games smoothly, perfect for a little Crysis 3 or Tomb Raider Legend on the train.

But it really comes into its own for movies. It is the first ever notebook to have four built-in speakers and includes an external subwoofer, to enhance the bass. With SonicMaster Premium tech created in conjunction with Bang & Olufsen, the sound is exceptional.

Of course, the N550 also works well for everyday tasks, whether browsing, writing or more processor intensive work like editing video or writing software.

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ASUS recommends Windows 8.

N550 Series CPU : 4th Gen Intel® Core™ i5/i7 processor Operating System : Windows 8 Screen : 15.6” 16:9 HD/FHD (1920x1080) Multi-touch Storage : 500GB HDD / 1TB HDD

PC World, Currys, John Lewis & Amazon

where to buy

SHARE THE MAGIC WITH ASUS & WIN A BRAND NEW LAPTOP To celebrate the arrival of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug in cinemas, ASUS is offering you a chance to win a fantastic ASUS N550 laptop.

To enter, just go to www.asus.co.uk/thehobbitmovie and follow the instructions.

The competition closing date is 15/12/2013 Please visit www.asus.co.uk/thehobbitmovie for full terms and conditions.

www.asus.co.uk/thehobbitmovie #THEHOBBIT

www.warnerbros.co.uk/thehobbitmovies

/thehobbitmovies

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and The Hobbit, names of the characters, events, items and places therein, are trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Middle-earth Enterprises under license to New Line Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.