Check out a latest similar model: ASUS S56CA-WH31 15.6-Inch Ultrabook
ASUS Company could well be counted among its new 15.6-inch model ASUS K56 to trend ultrabook class, because it is made in ultra-slim metal body and is based on efficient processor Intel Ivy Bridge, providing a solid battery life.
On the other hand, the device is equipped with a discrete graphics card NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M and the optical drive, it has an estimated its scope wider than that of a typical ultrabook.
This is a good medium format notebook ASUS K56 with balanced performance / endurance. Let’s find what’s the reality of this laptop?
Design
Cover of ASUS K56 is finished with black painted aluminium sheet with a characteristic horizontal texture. In its upper part, above the placement of antennas Wi-Fi-module, we can find a plastic cap with a visor for easy opening the laptop.
The lower part of the cover of ASUS K56 is quite unusual, there are the original U-shaped cutout protruding above the work of the unit. Because of textured porous coating this structure resembles the acoustics, but in reality it is only a decorative overlay on top of the battery.
At the front of the housing foundation ASUS K56 provides door to upgrade RAM (there are two SODIMM slots) and the HDD, and the two speakers are placed in the far part of the bottom of the user. By the way, with such a placement acoustic sound character very much depends on what kind of surface is the laptop (a table, a blanket, knees, etc.).
The ASUS K56 notebook comes with a relatively easy removable battery or irregular capacity 44 Wh (15 V, 2950 mAh). Besides familiar punching a radiator, at the bottom you can find a few more groups of openings for air intake, which is not surprising given the small thickness of the body and the presence of a discrete graphics card.
The working of the laptop and the upper part of the sidewall is designed as single aluminium plate silver. On the front side of the ASUS K56 handed a card reader and a group of point indicators, the back face is completely free of connectors. The left side panel contains the port USB 3.0, folding AC plug RJ45, two video outputs (HDMI and D-sub), and the radiator grille of the cooling system and the charger jack. Most of the right-side edge is the optical disc drive, which is an opening for a Kensington lock, in the area closest to the user posted a pair of USB 2.0 ports and audio ports combined.
Note that the ASUS K56 comes with a compact power unit of the new model, which simply cannot be confused with the “charger” of other laptops.
Ergonomics
The interior surfaces of the notebook ASUS K56 are in classic silver and black color scheme. Edging the glossy 15.6-inch TN-matrix with a standard resolution of 1366 x 768 is made of non-staining matte black plastic.
Maximum angle of the display unit is wider in middle, so that problems with the selection of a comfortable position did not arise.
ASUS K56 has a Island-type keyboard which is also black, but the aluminium operation panel has retained its natural color. The keys are arranged in a shallow groove with a metal “bottom”, so that the keyboard is different enviable stiffness. The keyboard layout is typical for medium models from ASUS: the main character block supplemented numeric keypad, and between them to “squeeze” the block arrows. In general, such a solution does not cause any inconvenience, but for those who actively use the arrow keys and the “dialer” would need some time to adjust. Cyrillic localization made symbols of green in the lower right corner, the English and standard signs marked on the center key.
Thanks to a solid touchpad in ASUS K56 turned out pretty big, using it is really comfortable. Surface of the touch panel, the touch only slightly different from the metal work panel, so that the moments of the fingers of its borders have to catch on the sharp edge of the slot under the touchpad.
Despite the small thickness of the shell and the presence of the optical drive in this laptop case is different and shows good stiffness, but the ultra-thin lid features a pretty flexible – despite the reinforcing metal plate.
Functionality
Model ASUS K56 is available in two basic models: K56CA only uses integrated graphics processor in the Intel HD Graphics 4000, while version K56CM additionally equipped with a discrete graphics card NVIDIA GeForce GT 635M with support for Optimus. In all cases, using efficient Intel processors with a TDP of 17 watts, specifically powerful Intel Core i7-3517U is used. The maximum amount of memory is preinstalled 8 GB drive – 1 TB.
ASUS K56CM configuration is above average: Intel Core i5 3317U, 4 GB DDR3-1600 RAM and a hard disk of 750 GB. The speed is pretty good balanced solution with 3D-graphics, and with considerable attention to the battery life. As a result, not of the most capacious four-segment battery 44 Wh laptop worked for 1 hour and 40 minutes at full load and 5 hours and 30 minutes in the emulation mode of reading.
Results
As a result, ASUS K56CM – nice Glossy screen with a discrete graphics card, built-in optical drive and a decent battery life. Due to such characteristics of the combination of this ASUS K56 laptop is quite able to become the main computer at home and at the office, because if you want, and it can provide a decent gaming performance and long battery life in a comfortable for the 15-inch form factor.
Pros:
+ Thin and lightweight body with a metallic finish
+ Hybrid graphics engine Intel
+ NVIDIA
+ Availability of optical drive
+ Solid square touchpad
Cons:
– Not the highest battery capacity
– Stiffness of display unit
– Features of keyboard
This was all regarding the one of the slim notebook available in the market i.e. ASUS K56.
