Asus U56E-RBL8

Asus U56E-RBL8

As confident in its looks as it is in its performance, the Asus U56E-RBL8 ($779.99 list at Staples) has almost everything going for it, inside and out. Only a couple of demerits dull the impact of its robust selection of hardware, not the least of which is another Asus budget laptop that offers an almost identical configuration at a lower price. Even if the U56E-RBL8 isn't the absolute best value to be found out there, it's nonetheless a good one. DesignThere's distinct "mod business" flair to the U56E-RBL8, thanks to its eye-catching two-tone design scheme. The laptop's brushed-metal lid is a shiny blue-gray "slate" color, with the silvery Asus logo positioned just above center. You'll find this color inside the laptop as well: on the keyboard deck, where it's solidly visible between all the chiclet-style keys. Those keys are a dark gray, with white printing, and include a half-size number pad on the right, though there are no dedicated media keys: The arrow keys double as play controls, and F10, F11, and F12 double as volume controls. Another design fillip that might annoy some users: There's no right Window key.