Specifications and external analysis
Specifications| Laptop name | ASUSTek W1 Carbon |
| Processor | Intel Pentium M 750 - 1.86GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 533MHz FSB - Dothan core (single) |
| Motherboard | Intel i915PM (dual-channel support, PCI-Express, Sonoma-certified) |
| Memory | 1GByte (2x 512MByte DDR2 PC5200 SODIMMs @ 4-4-4-12) |
| Hard Drives | Fujitsu 100GB 4,200PM with 8MB cache |
| Screen | 15.4" WSXGA+ (16800x1050) - ZBT TFT |
| Graphics card | ATI Mobility Radeon X700 128MB |
| Optical drive | Matshita UJ-845S multiformat drive |
| Optical drive characteristics (write) | 8x DVD-R, 8x DVD+R, 4x DVD+RW, 4x DVD-RW, 2.4x DVD+R-DL, 24x CD-R, 16x CD-RW, 5x DVD-RAM, 8x DVD-ROM (read), |
| Sound | Intel High-Definition Audio |
| Modem | 56k |
| Networking | Marvell Yukon Gigabit Ethernet LAN (PCIe), Intel PRO/Wireless 2945ABG 802.11a/b/g Wireless, Bluetooth v2.0+EDR | Ports connectivity | 3x USB2.0, 1x 4-pin FireWire400, modem, GbE, TV-Out, VGA, AV/S, audio (SPDIF/headphone, microphone, audio input), Infrared, PC Card slot, memory card reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO) |
| Operating system | Windows XP Pro SP2 |
| Weight | 3.2kg (without charger) 3.5kg with |
| Dimensions | 364mm (w) x 264mm (d) x 32mm (h) |
| Warranty | 2-year global collect and return |
| Price | £1499.99 inc. VAT (as at 1st February 2006)for this model |
| Shipping | Included in above price |
| Other notables | AVerMedia M103 TV Tuner (Analogue+DVT-B), carbon lid, LED display |
The name of the laptop gives away one of its special features. The mesh-type pattern shows that the lid is made out of carbon fibre; an ultra-strong, lightweight material often used in the aerospace industry. Coming from a mountain biking background, carbon fibre frames tend to be both lighter and substantially stronger than aluminium models, and, in keeping with this, ASUS claims that it is 60% lighter and twice as strong as aluminium chassis used on other high-end laptops, so good for taking knocks, eh?. Subjectively speaking, the W1 Carbon certainly stands out from the crowd, and its distinctive looks may well encourage buyers on pure aesthetics alone.
We must stress that only the lid receives the carbon treatment; the remaining parts of the case are made out of plastic and brushed aluminium, which is effectively the same as the basic W1 model. The Carbon iteration packs in a 15.4-inch wide-aspect LCD and weighs in at 3.2kg (including 4400mAh battery). That's a little heavier than we'd had hoped for, especially in view of ASUS' similar A6JA notebook's sub-3kg weight. One neat feature, however, is the latchless design; you simply push in and lift the lid up. The W1V Carbon is also a reasonably thin laptop for one that houses a 15.4-inch LCD, measuring in at just over 3cm at its thickest point.
The front has a couple of speakers on either side. Sound quality is a subjective issue, yet the W1V Carbon's Intel High-Definition Audio-powered output was crisp, clear and reasonable for the most part. The central section, which looks recessed on the above picture, houses the various audio inputs/outputs jacks, including S/PDIF-Out.
To the right, behind the front grille, is a display that uses a series of LEDs to highlight the laptop's various A/V functions. It gives short text messages that correlate with the W1V's entertainment system. More on this later.
Turning it around to the left shows, initially, the DC power input. ASUS has kept the host of inputs hidden behind a pull-down cover.
Flipping it down and going from left to right, we have a regular VGA output, an antenna input for the laptop's pre-installed AVerMedia M103 DVB-T tuner, GbE LAN and modem ports, and audio video input (AV/S), flash memory slot, infrared port, PC card slot, TV-Out, mini-FireWire400 and, finally, a couple of USB2.0 ports. Phew, that's a lot to take in.
The mini-PCI AVerMedia M103 hybrid TV Tuner/Radio allows you to watch both analogue and free-to-air digital TV on the laptop, as well as listen to FM radio broadcasts. The quality of the reception will depend upon just how far you are from the nearest transmitter, obviously, but we were able to receive a reasonable picture once the supplied antenna was connected and positioned in the best location. The accompanying software was a cinch to use, too, and it also supported time-shifted recording.
The right-hand side is home to the remaining USB2.0 port, multiformat, multilayer DVD ReWriter and Kensington Lock port. What pictures don't necessarily highlight is the excellent build quality of the ASUS W1 carbon. It's rugged yet sleek, and will definitely look good sitting on a coffee table, should you wish to show it off.
