facebook rss twitter

Review: ASUS U20A laptop - taking Intel's CULV platform to the premium space

by Tarinder Sandhu on 3 July 2009, 08:25 3.2

Tags: ASUS U20A, ASUSTeK (TPE:2357)

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qasvb

Add to My Vault: x

Introduction


Purchasing a notebook computer requires a bit more thought than just setting a budget these days. Arriving in a multitude of weights and sizes, there's something for everyone.

Small, light, and cheap notebooks have gained traction since the netbook category was born. Designed as Internet-centric devices that forego power for size, the sector will continue to grow in 2010, industry analysts reckon.

Good as they might be for their intended purpose, Intel and AMD are now pushing notebook platforms that offer more power and better battery life - usually in slightly larger chassis that ship with 12-14in screens.

Intel CULV platform takes in low-power derivatives from the mobile Core 2 and, in the basic form, couples them up with the company's own chipset and graphics. We saw such an example from Acer's Timeline laptop.

ASUS trumpets the arrival of CULV in considerable style, releasing the U-series laptops. We take a look at the U20A, to see if the Taiwanese giant has it right.