Ivy Bridge Asus Zenbook Prime Now Available On Amazon

ASUS' latest get it while it's hot Zenbook Prime has hit the servers of Amazon, where you can grab one while they're in stock for just $1,149. What does $1,149 get you? Well, you'll get an Intel Ivy Bridge-based Core i5 processor, 13.3-inch 1080p IPS display, and an SSD by default.

Without so much as a peep (or a tweet), Asus' next-gen Ultrabook, the Zenbook Prime, has gone on sale on Amazon.

The Asus ZenBook Prime UX31A has a similar design as the original Zenbook, but features an updated Ivy Bridge processor, backlit keyboard and a full-HD IPS panel. It also has 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, which makes it almost identical to the 13.3-inch MacBook Air, but US$50 cheaper--the CPU on the Air is 100MHz faster.

Asus also has the Zenbook UX32VD, which comes with Nvidia discrete graphics for those who demand a slightly higher level of graphics performance. It's also available now on Amazon for US$1,299.

If you're looking for a Windows laptop with a high-resolution screen, the 13.3-inch Asus Zenbook Prime is definitely a contender. Although its 1,920 x 1,080-pixel screen doesn't quite match the Retina display on the new MacBook Pro, it's probably the best alternative in the market currently--unless you can afford a Sony Vaio Z.

Unfortunately, Amazon only ships this laptop to locations within the US. According to Asus Singapore, the Zenbook Prime will only be available in Singapore from August. Residents in Singapore who wish to get it earlier can try looking for it in Malaysia, where it is expected to be available sometime next month.

Source: Cnet.com

Tags: Asus, ASUS Zenbook, Ivy Bridge, Ultrabook, Laptop, Notebook

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Apple MacBook Air Vs. Asus Zenbook Prime: Battle of Ivy Bridge-Powered Notebooks

Notebook computers have been attracting a fair amount of press in recent weeks, thanks largely to Apple’s new MacBook Pro, which is likely to be announced next month. However, the MacBook Air line is likely to undergo some changes, as is one of its top rivals – Asus’ Zenbook series of ultrabooks.

Some of the key features to be found on the new 13-inch Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A include a 1920 x 1080 in-plane switching HD display, backlit keyboard and solid-state drive options of 128 GB and 256 GB. Also expected on Asus’ new ultrabook is a revamped audio system courtesy of Bang and Olufsen and a new wireless network card that promises faster-than-ever WiFi connection speeds.

The aforementioned storage units both run on 6G SATA 3 speeds and most are expecting great things out of the HD matte display. The Asus Zenbook Prime reportedly weighs just 3 pounds, giving it an ever-so-slight edge over the current MacBook Air.

Apple, on the other hand, has long been mooting a price reduction for the new MacBook Air, which is likely due in the third quarter of the year. Tech and business blog site Digitimes reported that Apple might reduce the price of the MacBook Air from $999 to $799, a significant price reduction but probably timely, given Intel’s emphasis on the ultrabook market.

The new MacBook Air will likely boast its own improved display, thanks to Retina Display technology. However, not much else is known about this device at this point.

It will be an interesting battle of ultrabooks, though we may need a few more weeks before we glean more information on both devices, particularly the new MacBook Air.

Source: Easternmorningherald

Tags: Apple, Asus, ASUS Zenbook, Ivy Bridge, Laptop, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Notebook, Ultrabook

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New MacBook Pro 2012 Rival to have same Width & Height like Design

Ahead of the rumored new MacBook Pro 2012 release date this quarter or early next quarter, Asus introduces a new lineup of slim and exciting new laptop computers that might join the upcoming Windows 8 ecosystem.

No, it is not an exo-planet, but a laptop computer, meet the new ASUS Zenbook Prime UX21A, a laptop computer with 11-inch display, joining other ASUS laptops, the Zenbook UX31A, the UX32A and the UX32VD, all with 13-inch screen. What’s with the letters and numbers combination ASUS?

Anyway, the new laptop computers appeared online courtesy of new reports posted by Engadget, The Verge, among others. The new laptop computers were introduced to tech sites with no price tag or release date, but additional reports with the twist of speculation say the new lineup will join the PC market later this year and likely before the official release date of the Windows 8 operating system.

So apparently, the new Zenbook Prime laptops are running Windows 7, the current version of Microsoft’s popular PC operating system, but if it will arrive after next month, then these laptops might be eligible for the rumored complimentary upgrade to Windows 8.

According to The Verge, the ASUS ZenBook Prime with the done UX32VD (note this name to get the exact PC model), will come with a full 1080P IPS LCD screen, and GeForce GT 620M graphics. The site’s prototype copy comes with no bootable OS to play with, so maybe, ASUS is planning the 13-inch ZenBook to use Windows 8 instead, though no word yet from them about the possibility.

Similar to the MacBook Air, and the rumored MacBook Pro 2012 (according to multiple news sites and some analysts), the new portable but powerful machine will ship with Intel’s Ivy Bridge processor, and similar to the Air’s design, the new Zenbook Prime sports a wedge-shape design that features a “bit of a chin,” mainly to differentiate itself from the crowd of new “cutting-edge” laptop computers, can this wedge-like shape also cut my Apple fruit?

The good news, according to the site’s source, the new laptop computer will hide inside a Core i5 ULV processor, and the bad news is, the laptop is reportedly getting a jaw-dropping, not credit card-friendly $1,299 price tag. The report’s author, Sean Hollister, said the release date is still not available at the moment.

Meanwhile, Engadget also presented one of the new ASUS laptops, the ZenBook UX21A, also with the “Prime” branding. The site revealed that the display of the laptop is 11-inch with an attractive 1080p IPS display too, all the new ZenBook Prime laptops actually.

Similar to its big brother UX32VD, the smaller Zenbook also features the wedge-like design with the little chin. Engadget reviewed the laptop, and the article’s author, Dana Wollman, said the keyboard and trackpad have shown improvements compared to last year’s Zenbook products. She also added that they’ll run a new test once the final, consumer-copy, Zenbook Prime UX21A is available.

Separate reports say the smaller Zenbook will be cheaper than Apple’s MacBook Air, with price tag reportedly starting at $799, each, not bad.

The MacBook Pro threat

The new MacBook Pro is coming. In fact, “stars are aligning” already according to Ars Technica, and the new product, with a similar MacBook Air-like design with no optical drive and with a new processor, is on the verge of starting the ultrabook fight night, and sources of various tech outlets said that Apple, more likely than not, is set to introduce the new laptop next month an event.

The new MacBook Pro will not only compete with the globally popular and cheaper iPad, but will also challenge the upcoming product of Microsoft, the new Windows 8.

With the rumored, yes read it again, rumored new design and with no optical drive, and with lighter component, it looks like the new MacBook Pro will focus mainly on the internet and its power to provide content like software products to movies and music than providing media coming from third-party sources like discs.

Can the Zenbook laptops compete with Apple? Of course, but I think the Taiwan-based tech company should wait for the Windows 8 first before retailing these devices.

Apparently, the MacBook Pro 2012, or the MacBook Air (if Apple will create a new one), is expected to ship with a new, iOS-like complex OS X operating system that adds new features to the product, like the Notification Center similar to smartphones, and other goodies that might attract more customers.

The Windows 8 is the latest version of Windows, and based on Microsoft’s teaser videos, it looks like the Redmond-based tech giant has been focused on polishing and redesigning the user interface, adding new color combinations that blend with software features that improves the quality of the operating system. If ASUS will retail the new Zenbook Primes with Windows 7, then it might not create a buzz that will catch the attention of consumers.

Source: Popherald

Tags: Apple, MacBook Pro, Laptop, ASUS Zenbook, Asus

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Official Ivy Bridge 1080p IPS:ASUS Zenbook Primes

We’ve seen details leak out about the Zenbook Primes several times, but now ASUS has officially announced that its bringing the new Ultrabooks to the United States. Previous details were pretty much spot on: the new laptops will feature Intel’s Ivy Bridge processors in Core i5 and Core i7 forms, and while the default displays will have the standard 1366×768, a 1080p IPS option will be available on all models.

There are three variants: the 11.6-inch UX21A, and 13.3-inch UX31A and UX32A. All will have the option to include a 350-nit 1080p IPS panel (yes, even the 11.6-inch), feature keyboards with adjusted pitch plus backlighting, and a tweaked touchpad. The UX21A and UX31A will include Intel’s integrated HD 4000 GPU and SSDs, while the UX32A will feature a hybrid hard drive. Meanwhile, the UX32VD will have a discrete NVIDIA GT 620M graphics card. Connectivity on the 13.3-inch UX31A includes two USB 3.0 ports, microHDMI, and an SD card slot. Radios include WiFi b/g/n, and support for dual band 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz.

ASUS say that the 13.3-inch models will start from around $999, although that price will climb north pretty quickly once you start adding on all the upgrades. There’s no word on pricing for the 11.6-inch model. As for when you’ll be able to feast your eyes on those 1080p panels, ASUS isn’t saying, although we imagine Intel isn’t quite ready to debut the mobile Ivy Bridge chips just yet. When they do, expect to see a firmer date for the new Zenbook Primes.

Source: Slashgear

Tags: Asus, Ivy Bridge, Laptop, ASUS Zenbook

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