Asus UL80J-BBK5

Asus UL80J-BBK5

This review is part of our , covering specific fixed configurations of popular systems that can be found in retail stores. At first glance, there's a lot to like about the thin Asus UL80J-BBK5. A 14-inch screen, Core i3 processor, Nvidia Optimus graphics switching, and a DVD burner suggest a complete package in one of the thinner mainstream laptops we've seen, all for $799. There are, unfortunately, some big drawbacks. That Core i3 processor we mentioned is actually a Core i3 ULV, which operates at about half the speed as a normal Core i3. And the Nvidia Optimus graphics technology, which switches on the fly between a dedicated Nvidia GeForce 310M GPU and integrated Intel graphics, is supposed to greatly enhance battery life--and yet, the UL80J didn't do significantly better than other standard-voltage Core i3 laptops. For gamers, this could be a strong alternative to an Alienware M11x as a consideration for a compact laptop with some gaming muscle, but for anyone else it's likely to not offer enough beyond its gaming performance for the money.