Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I couldn't pass up this notebook when I read the specs. This is simply the best notebook that you can get for the price.
I've built around 8 desktops for myself and family members over the past several years and have used Asus motherboards exclusively. The only issue I've run into was a NIC failure on one of them, around 4 years into the life of the computer. It was probably due to a surge, either through the cable line or a faulty modem, so I can't necessarily blame it on the board. That problem was easily and inexpensively solved with a PCI-based NIC.
Choosing an Asus notebook seemed like a logical step.
What this computer has that others in the same price range don't:
- Full HD (1920x1080) display
- Blu-ray drive with DVD burning capabilities
- USB 3.0
- Dedicated graphics with 1GB dedicated VRAM
- a relatively large 7200rpm hard drive
- 1-year warranty INCLUDING accidental damage
Other nice-to-haves:
- Core i5 processor
- 64-bit OS
- 4GB Memory
- Wireless N
- Gigabit LAN
- HDMI port
- eSATA
- a number pad
- webcam lens cover
Please note, at the time of this review, there are a couple things in the "Product Description" that are incorrect:
- The display is indeed 1920x1080 as stated in the "Technical Details" section, not 1366x768.
- There is no ExpressCard 34 port.
Some not-so-great things:
- No FireWire
- No ExpressCard slot
- Comes with Home Premium and not Professional or Ultimate
- LOTS of pre-installed applications and trialware
Thoughts:
I consider myself well-versed in computers. For all of the facets of life, it seems like I always needed a different computer for different things: a notebook for travel, a basic web/email workstation, a media center for home theater use, and yet another computer for audio production (a hobby of mine). Just in the past couple of years, computers have finally become powerful enough to where I can start consolidating all of these different functions into fewer machines without worrying about performance or resource issues. That's where the N53JF-XE1 comes in. It's essentially a desktop replacement. The high-res screen and number pad ensure that you're not sacrificing ergonomics for portability, but the computer is not unweildy. Don't get me wrong, this thing is pretty big, even for a 15" notebook. My work-issued notebook has the same screen size, but it's at least 1" narrower than the N53. Yet, the weight is well-distributed and the shape doesn't make you feel like you're holding a cinder block.
This isn't my first Windows 7 computer, so I was familiar with the changes that MS has made to Windows since XP (I stayed faaaaar away from Vista). There's a couple steps that I would recommend when setting up this computer:
- MAKE THE RESTORE DISCS. You will want to do this. You will get prompted on startup until you create them. It will take 5 DVDs. Unless you have a Windows 7 x64 (any version) disc laying around, you will be SOL if your HDD dies without the restore discs.
- Install all Windows updates.
- Uninstall some of the bloatware/trialware. It's hard to wade through what you'll need and what you don't need. There are games, 3rd party apps like New York Times Reader and Kindle, and some Asus-branded utilities. My best advice is to run these apps and figure out what they do. If you think you'll use them, keep them. If not, uninstall. If you're a month in and you still haven't used the app, you can probably uninstall it.
As I mentioned, this notebook has no firewire or express card port. A firewire port would have been helpful since there's still a lot of A/V equipment that uses FireWire. Since there's also no ExpressCard port, I can't add FireWire ports.
Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS N53JF-XE1 15.6-Inch Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Silver Aluminum)
Feel the Power. Hear the Power. Turn up the volume on the 15.6-inch N53Jf-XE1 notebook and prepare to be impressed. Featuring ASUS SonicMaster technology—co-developed by world-renowned audio experts at Bang and Olufsen ICEpower—and a unique top-mounted speaker design, this multimedia powerhouse combines hardware and audio for an unsurpassed, ear-pleasing experience. Boasting new NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M graphics with battery-boosting NVIDIA Optimus technology, the N53Jf-XE1 excels when performing graphic-intensive tasks like video editing, DirectX 11-enabled gaming, and graphic rendering. And with ASUS VideoMagic 3-in-1 software package, you get image-enhancing programs like PowerDVD 9 with True Theatre that instantly scales DVD-quality to Full 1080p HD with smoother frame rates so you can enjoy videos and movies in the quality they deserve. Powered by the Intel Core i5-460M processor with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, the N53Jf-XE1 delivers the multitasking muscle and smart performance that senses the tasks at hand and dynamically boosts the processor for a stutter-free experience. Specially built into the N53Jf-XE1, the ASUS Super Hybrid Engine extends battery life via the ASUS Power4Gear Hybrid utility. The N53Jf-XE1 also comes with SuperSpeed USB 3.0 that charges USB 3.0-enabled devices quickly and transfer files from USB storage devices to your notebook up to 10 times faster than previous generation USB 2.0 speeds.1 The N53Jf-XE1 features a 2.0 megapixel webcam with security lens cover, 500GB 7200RPM hard drive, ASUS Splendid technology, multi-touch trackpad, Express Gate, new wave keyboard, and a brushed aluminum design.
Key Features
15.6-inch LED-backlit Full HD disdplay with ASUS Splendid Technology for razor-sharp Full HD visual quality (Learn more)
ASUS SonicMaster Technology co-developed by world-renowned audio experts at Bang & Olufsen ICEpower delivers improved clarity, volume, and resonance, and more detailed sound. (Learn more)
Intel Core i5-460M processor with Intel Turbo Boost Technology for smart multitasking that automatically boosts performance (Learn more)
ASUS Super Hybrid Engine and ASUS Power4Gear Hybrid optimizes the system to extend battery life for the task at hand (Learn more)
SuperSpeed USB 3.0 for quicker devi ce charging and up to 10x faster transfers than USB 2.01(Learn more)
New wave keyboard features larger-sized keys for an enhanced typing experience
NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM and battery-boosting NVIDIA Optimus technology delivers fast performance for Full HD playback and gaming (Learn more)
ASUS VideoMagic Software for clearer images and smoother visuals (Learn more)
Express Gate mini-operating system grants instant access to internet, music, Skype, and more in seconds
Learn More
Relax, ASUS Has You Covered Ranked as the #1 most reliable PC brand by 3 independent sources2, readers and editors alike choose ASUS as their trusted notebook and netbook. ASUS relentlessly strive to exceed expectations of quality to ensure you an unmatched peace of mind every time you start your PC. We also back our commitment with the industry's most comprehensive warranty.
1 Year ASUS Global Warranty3 Offers a level of coverage that would add hundreds of dollars to the price of competing laptops:
1 year global warranty
30 day Flawless Display Guarantee
2-way free standard shipping
24/7 tech support
1 Year Accidental Damage Warranty (ADW)3 Whether your notebook is damaged by accidental spills, drops, electrical surges, or fire, ASUS will fix it or replace it for you during the first year after purchase.
Covers accidental drops, spills, power surges, and fire damage
Target 3 business day turnaround time for repair / replacement; not including receiving and shipping time
1-way shipping (from ASUS to the user) at no additional cost
24/7 toll-free phone support
What's in the Box
N53Jf-XE1 Notebook
AC Adapter
6 cell Battery Pack
Warranty Information Card
Specifications
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Display: 15.6-inch LED-backlit Full HD display (1920 x 1080)
Processor: Intel Core i5-460M processor (2.53 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.80 GHz)
Chipset: Intel HM55
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 425M graphics with 1GB DDR3 VRAM
WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz)
LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
Memory: 4GB DDR3 SDRAM, 2 x SODIMM socket (expandable to 8GB)
Storage: 500GB 7200RPM hard drive
Optical Drive: Blu-ray combo drive
Camera: 2.0 megapixel with security lens cover
Speakers: Built-in speakers with SonicMaster Technology
Microphone: Digital Array Microphone
Card Reader: 1x 5-in-1 card reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS-PRO/MS Duo)
Input / Output:1x Headphone-out jack (SPDF support), 1x Microphone-in jack, 1x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 3x USB 3.0 ports, 1x E-SATA
Battery: 6 cell
Dimensions: 15.6 x 10.6 x 1.2 ~ 1.6 (W x D x H)
Weight: 6.4 lbs (with 6 cell)
Color: Silver
© 2010 ASUS Computer International. All Rights Reserved. ASUS is a registered trademark of ASUSTeK Computer. All specifications are subject to change without notice and features are only in select models. Products may not be available in all markets. Brand and product names mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies. © 2010, Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel, the Intel logo, Intel Inside, Intel Core, and Core Inside are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Intel® Turbo Boost Technology information: http://www.intel.com/technology/turboboost 1All figures theoretical values compared to USB 2.0 benchmarks for reference purposes. Actual speed depends on device and system status. 2Rated number 1 Windows-based PC maker in PCMag.com\'s Service & Reliability Report 2009. Rate number 1 PC brand according to SquareTrade, the leading direct-to-consumer warranty company (for more information visit http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109/ ). Rated number 1 reliable PC maker in Spring 2009\'s RESCUECOM report http://www.rescuecom.com/RESCUECOM269.html 3For notebooks purchased on or after Sept. 10, 2007. The ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty covers "ASUS" brand notebooks only, and does NOT extend to: "Built on ASUS", "ASMobile", "Powered by ASUS", the Eee PC, or some other models. These retailers are currently among the companies that do NOT participate in the ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty: Best Buy, MicroCenter, and The Source by Circuit City in Canada. Limit of one claim per notebook for Accidental Damage Warranty. ASUS reserves the right to discontinue this program and to modify the terms and conditions thereof at any time. ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty Program starts from the date of your ASUS notebook purchase, when all the requirements are met. Check your retailer for specific warranty information. One incident covered per notebook.
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