ASUS continues to use a now familiar two-tone silver and black exterior. The U31SD is made of plastic with the exception of the cover, which is aluminum. Plastics are of average quality, not thin enough to qualify as cheap, but not the other way either. The chassis does not have the inner strength, and it twists easily when bent around corners. This curvature allows circuits at risk of cracks in time, if U31SD is amplified when the laptop is likely to be carried around deep.
The aluminum screen again gives a decent protection against the pressure, push in the back cover screen does not give any significant wrinkles on the screen. Aluminum is a nice touch, it would be nice the rest was covered with palm trees, alas, it is only a plastic imitation. Overall the build quality could use a revision to the next iteration of this laptop. For now, the quality is passable, but barely.
The aluminum screen again gives a decent protection against the pressure, push in the back cover screen does not give any significant wrinkles on the screen. Aluminum is a nice touch, it would be nice the rest was covered with palm trees, alas, it is only a plastic imitation. Overall the build quality could use a revision to the next iteration of this laptop. For now, the quality is passable, but barely.
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| ASUS U31SD-A1 |
Do-it-yourselfer looking to upgrade U31SD find it relatively simple to do, there is a single large access panel on the bottom of the laptop held by a single screw. Under the cover of two slots of RAM, hard drive and wireless card. Only one of the RAM slots are occupied.
Ports and Features
U31SD its port selection method is best described as adequate. It lacks a USB 3.0 and eSATA, and there is no way to add them, from laptop lacks an ExpressCard expansion slot. U31SD has no internal optical drive. All descriptions are from left to right.
Ports and Features
U31SD its port selection method is best described as adequate. It lacks a USB 3.0 and eSATA, and there is no way to add them, from laptop lacks an ExpressCard expansion slot. U31SD has no internal optical drive. All descriptions are from left to right.
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| ASUS U31SD-A1 |
Our review unit U31SD ASUS-A1 is configured as follows:
* 13.3-inch glossy screen, 720p (1366x768 resolution)
* Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
* Intel Core i3-2310 m dual-core processor (2.1GHz, 3MB cache, 35W TDP)
* Intel HM65
* Nvidia GeForce GT 520 W / 1 GB of GDDR3 dedicated video
* 4GB of DDR3-1333 (1x 4 GB, supports up to 8GB - 2 x 2 GB)
* 640GB 5400RPM Hard Drive Western Digital (WD6400BPVT)
* Intel Centrino Wireless-N 100 Wireless Network Adapter
* No internal Bluetooth
* Built-in webcam
* No internal optical drive
* 2 year limited global warranty w / 1 year accidental damage coverage
* 8-cell Li-ion battery (14.4V, 5800mAh, 83Wh)
* Weight: 4 lbs.
* Dimensions: 12.9 x 9.2 x 1 cm
* MSRP: $ 799
* 13.3-inch glossy screen, 720p (1366x768 resolution)
* Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
* Intel Core i3-2310 m dual-core processor (2.1GHz, 3MB cache, 35W TDP)
* Intel HM65
* Nvidia GeForce GT 520 W / 1 GB of GDDR3 dedicated video
* 4GB of DDR3-1333 (1x 4 GB, supports up to 8GB - 2 x 2 GB)
* 640GB 5400RPM Hard Drive Western Digital (WD6400BPVT)
* Intel Centrino Wireless-N 100 Wireless Network Adapter
* No internal Bluetooth
* Built-in webcam
* No internal optical drive
* 2 year limited global warranty w / 1 year accidental damage coverage
* 8-cell Li-ion battery (14.4V, 5800mAh, 83Wh)
* Weight: 4 lbs.
* Dimensions: 12.9 x 9.2 x 1 cm
* MSRP: $ 799
