Asus X83VM-X1 user reviews (Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26 GHz, 14.1-inch TFT)

Pros Powerful centrino 2 processor, 4GB Ram, 1GB nVidia Card, 3+ Hour Battery life. Everthing I wanted in a new notebook. FAST, FAST, FAST!!! HDMI out. Stylish.

Cons Asus brand name, mouse pad/mouse keys should be better. Built in web cam should be better.

Summary This is exactly the notebook I always wanted, but was afraid to buy. I was shopping around for something powerful, not too big and with a battery that can go totally wireless for more than just looking up a phone number and address and happened to find this by accident. After comparing it to all of the other noteboks on display in Bestbuy, I could not pass it up----even though its made by ASUS. Especially not on sale for less that $900.00 with tax.

They only had two computers on display that had a windows vista experience rating of 5.0 (this one and a similar HP) and one that had a rating of 5.2, both of the others were over $1,100.00 before tax and neither one had a Core 2 Duo 8400. So the choice was easy. Even though it was a gift and I was using someone else's money!!! I just couldn't pass up the brown and tan color scheme.

After using it a couple of weeks, I think it is the fastest computer I have ever used (for general computing). Even faster than a new AMD Quad core desktop with more RAM.

A month ago I would have laughed at the idea of buying anything made by ASUS (especially with someone else paying). My view of the brand has completely changed. I figured why not. 10 years ago everyone would have laughed at the idea of the demise of the walkman at the hands of Apple or the demise of Sony's console gaming and TV business at the hands of Microsoft, Samsung and Panasonic. I say that after having bought a new, expensive Vaio notebook less than a year ago and then having a conspicuous pixel go out after the expiration of the bestbuy return policy. Sony refused to replace it under warranty stating that this is "NORMAL" !!!!

After a month of daily use I have had no problems and all programs run with ease. I never thought I'd be so happy to own an 'off brand' computer. And definitely never thought that an 'off brand' system would be one of the best I had ever used. I thought a 15.4 widescreen is necessary equipment, but the 14" widescreen on this notebook comes with no sacrifice------side by side with a 15.4 you can barely tell the difference. Except that the 14" on this notebook looks better than most out there. The glossy screen somehow reflects almost no light.

The cnet review is right, the mouse buttons are awkward, but you get used to them. They should have included multimedia controls. The built in webcam is horrible, I don't know where the claim that its 1.3 megapixels came from. The video and pictures look more like a 13 pixel camera. Another annoying feature is the memory card slot. Yes. it takes all the standard types of cards, but there is a fake card in there (which will get lost, I know it) that you have to pop out--then you have to pop your card in until it snaps into place. This is not easy. The slot is shaped to fit a thumb nail, but only from the bottom. That means if your left hand is not underneath the upper left corner of the bottom of the notebook it is nearly impossible to get a card in or out!!! Almost everytime I slide a card in, windows auto play pops up as if the card is in, but as soon as I move my finger away it pops back out. The only way to get cards in or out is to use your thumb nail-----Literally!!! And only a left thumb will do. The click in/click out feature is a nice idea, but the more simple design of just about every other notebook ever made is much more practical. Trust me, with a baby running around and mothers and grandmothers asking you to resize and email baby pictures every day, this design flaw will drive you crazy, too.

Aside from those strange type design quirks, the computer part of the notebook is about as good as it gets for a portable desktop replacement that can run over three hours on battery.