Asus U36J

Asus U36J review

Asus' attempt at an ultraportable laptop might not have made the same splash in the technology world as Apple, Sony or Dell, but the U36J has a couple of good features that make it a likeable alternative, and the perfect accompaniment to the daily commute or a weekend away. Outwardly, the U36J is an unassuming, black rectangle. In fact, the chassis is similar to that of the Sony VAIO C Series. We don't mind the matt-black executive look, but it will put off anyone who likes a bit more colour sitting on their desk. The 13.3-inch screen is bright and crisp, although the thick black bezel and ugly protruding hinges are slightly distracting. Fortunately, Asus has become quite adept at giving their laptops great usability and the U36J is no exception. The isolation-style keyboard is superb, with plenty of space between keys, meaning we rarely hit the wrong keys when touch-typing. Because this is such a slim laptop, the keys are tucked in close to the chassis and there's little travel when typing. The touchpad has the same smooth plastic surface as the palmrests and works well. Asus has included a fingerprint scanner between the mouse buttons.Staying power Performance-wise, the U36J gave us some impressive results that make its low price tag even more appealing.