Asus A53TA-XN1

ASUS A53TA-XN1 Review

Other than netbooks, ASUS isn't known for producing budget-friendly laptops, so the $599 ASUS A53TA-XN1 comes a bit out of left field. But at least on paper, this 15-inch mainstream notebook is quite the catch. It offers a large, vibrant display and an AMD Quad-Core AMD A6-3400M APU. With enough performance for everyday computing and graphical power for playing the latest games, the A53T has the right combination of affordability and features. But is that enough to compete with other notebooks in this crowded category?Featuring a similar design as the ASUS K53SV-B1, The ASUS A53T's lid is a dark matte brown plastic with a subtle pinstripe pattern, making for a handsome, elegant machine. The textured lid minimized the number of fingerprints, but it still picked up some smudges. Adding to the A53T's understated style is the chrome ASUS logo in the lid's center.The laptop's interior reveals a black matte keyboard deck with a slightly textured finish. Unlike the K53, which has a brushed-metal deck, the plastic palm rest on the A53T has a pattern and color identical to the lid, and it surrounds a large, smooth touchpad.