Asus' new VivoBook S is a solid MacBook-alike for just $500
This new laptop packs Nvidia graphics and an Intel i7 processor into a thin form factor for just $500.
Not every Asus laptop announced at the company's Monday Computex press event in Taipei has powerful specs. Take the new Asus VivoBook S15 S510 -- it's a laptop designed with your wallet in mind.
The 15.6-inch S15 weighs just 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) and is 17.9 mm (0.7 inches) thick. It features Intel's seventh-generation Core i7-7500U processor, which was designed for ultrabooks . Despite its slim chassis, the laptop also manages to squeeze in Nvidia GeForce GTX940 discrete graphics.
Another cool design trick is the VivoBook's ultrathin bezel, designed to maximise the display area and keep the laptop's footprint small. The keyboard didn't impress me too much, but I did like how light the whole machine was. It's a laptop you can easily carry around for work or study without having to stress your shoulders and back.
No, your eyes deceive you. This is not a MacBook.
As with the new VivoBook Pro, the VivoBook S15's design is inspired by the ZenBook range and shares a similar industrial design to the series. That said, after spending some time with the VivoBook S15 on the showfloor, it struck me just how much it resembles the Apple MacBook .
It will go on sale with a $499 starting price (roughly £390 or AU$670), though no word yet on when it will be available. And as my colleague Luke Lancaster points out, if Asus can make something that's pretty close to the MacBook for such a low price, it's probably a good deal.
Key specs
- Intel Core i7-7500U processor
- Up to 16GB RAM, 2TB HDD storage
- 1.5 kg
- 15.6-inch full-HD display
- $499 (£390 or AU$670 converted)
Check out the rest of CNET's Computex 2017 coverage here.