Asus Core i7 laptops preview

 

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Posted on 21 Oct 2009 at 16:20

Asus has launched its first Core i7 laptops, the G60J and M60J.

Until now Intel's powerful Core i7 processors have been restricted to desktop PCs, but Asus' new laptops are the first we've seen equipped with the mobile versions of Intel's flagship processors.

The G60J is equipped with a Core i7 720QM. Like its desktop counterparts, it's a quad-core processor with Hyper-threading, which makes Windows see eight cores. It should therefore speed through programs designed to take advantage of multiple cores, such as video editing suites.

The laptop is also equipped with 4GB of RAM and two 500GB hard disks, but these can't be configured as a RAID array.

The dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 260M graphics chip has 1GB of memory. There's also a Blu-ray drive for watching movies, but it can't burn Blu-ray discs as well.

Although there's a 16in screen, its 1,366x768 pixel resolution is relatively small compared to other 16in laptops we've seen that have resolutions as high as 1,600x900 pixels.

We liked the large keyboard. It felt comfortable to use, and the backlighting is useful for working in dim conditions. The numeric keypad is a little small compared to a standard desktop keyboard though. The touchpad feels accurate, although the metallic buttons feel a little stiff.

The G60J is a powerfully-equipped desktop replacement laptop, but it's also quite expensive at £1,700.

A cheaper alternative is the M60J. Its specification is very similar to the G60J's, the only notable difference is the different graphics chip - a 1GB GeForce GT240M.

The keyboard is just as large as the G60J's, but the keys have a grainy texture, aren't backlit and feel springier. There's a numeric keypad, but it's also smaller than a keypad on a desktop keyboard. The touchpad is large and feels accurate, but the buttons have a slippery texture and feel wobbly. It is considerably cheaper at £1,300.

The M60J will available shortly, while the G60J will be available in November.

Author: Alan Lu