Vivo La ASUS And Its Mobile Zen: New VivoBook and ZenBook Laptops with ScreenPad 2.0
ASUS Announces Five New Notebooks
ASUS have announced their new VivoBook and ZenBook models at Computex, spanning the VivoBook S14 and 15 along with three ZenBooks, the 13, 14 and 15 models. Taking a look at the VivoBooks first, the thing to notice is that the touchpad has been updated to a ScreenPad 2.0, which is a secondary touchscreen and offers far more options than a mere touchpad. The 5.65″ screen can display a variety of ASUS’ productivity software and can capture and transform handwriting, and developers can make use of the ASUS API to enable their software to make use of the cellphone like interface of the secondary touchpad.
The VivoBook is available in Moss Green, Punk Pink, Cobalt Blue, Transparent Silver or Gun Metal to offer a bit of individuality to your laptop. The camera is located at the top of the NanoEdge bezel, as opposed to the classic nose camera, and incorporates an IR sensor so you can log in with your face via Windows Hello. As for hardware, you can choose between an i5-8265U or i7-8565 and either use the integrated GPU or add in an NVIDIA MX250 as your requirements and budget determine.
They will also feature a new Intel WiFi card, 802.11ax or WiFi 6, which they claim offers three times the performance of 802.11ac as well as 4 times the network capacity and 75%lower latencies to improve streaming video.
Along with the VivoBooks, ASUS also showed off their updated ZenBook lineup. They also feature the ScreenPad 2.0 in place of a boring old touchpad as well as trimming down the NanoEdge bezel even more. The model numbers denote the size of the screen, you can choose between a 13.3″, 14″ or 15.6″ screen; if you choose the 15.6″ model you can even upgrade to a 4k display instead of the standard 1080p.
The smaller two models match the hardware of the VivoBooks, an i5-8265U or i7-8565U and an integrated GPU or the MX250 while that 15.6″ display comes with a GTX 1650 Max Q bearing either 2GB or 4GB of VRAM depending on your model. All of the above models have the same IR camera as the Vivo line, but you will have to cope with 802.11ac for wireless.
They also announced a ASUS ZenBook Edition 30, a limited-edition model which is a celebration of 30 years of ASUS innovation. Instead of a bare, though colourful, metal shell; these laptops are covered in luxurious Pearl White genuine Italian leather, with rose gold anodized diamond-cut edges and trim bar. The back also bears an 18-karat rose-gold-plated 30th anniversary log.
It will retail a bit more than the others, though at this time we have no pricing on any of the models.
