ASUS G74SX-DH73-3D 17.3-Inch 3D Gaming Laptop - Replublic of Gamers (Black)

by Asus

• Intel Core i7 Processor 2.2GHz
• 12GB DIMM RAM
• 1.5TB 7200RPM Hard Drive
• 17.3-Inch Screen, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

Product Description

Amazon.com

The Choice of Champions
No One Comes Close

The world of portable gaming has a new reigning king. The Republic of Gamers G74SX-DH73-3D is a performance notebook that imposes its will with the combined power of a second generation Intel^® Core^™ i7-2670QM CPU and NVIDIA^® GTX 560M GPU with 3GB of GDDR5 VRAM. A score of P2008 in 3DMark11 and P9180 in 3DMark Vantage takes over the reins as the fastest notebook in the land. Support for DirectX^®11 ensures that you'll not only have the fastest rig in town, but also the ability to play games in full stereoscopic glory as they were meant to be.

The ROG G74SX-DH73-3D is great for gaming, but its hardware is serious business. It offers the best 3D ecosystem for PCs, offering 3D content creation and editing. It's powered with NVIDIA^® 3D Vision^™, so games, photos and movies are all able to be enjoyed like never before. Plus, its 17.3-inch LED-backlit Full HD display delivers the latest in high-definition entertainment with brilliant 1080p playback. The ROG G74SX-DH73-3D breaks from the heard of traditional gaming notebooks with built-in overclocking features through the ASUS Power4Gear Hybrid utility—instantly giving you extreme power with a push of a button.

The ROG G74SX-DH73-3D also boasts a massive 1.5TB 7200 RPM HDD, 12GB DDR3 system memory, Blu-ray writer drive, high-speed wireless N, SuperSpeed USB 3.0 connectivity, Bluetooth v3.0, HDMI connectivity, 2.0 megapixel camera, and stereo speakers with EAX Advanced HD 5.0 sound.

Key Features

• 17.3-inch LED-backlit Full HD display for immersive cinematic experience with resolution up to 1920 x 1080 (Learn more)
• 2nd generation Intel Core i7-2670QM processor with Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 Technology for the best visibly smart performance that adapts to your needs (Learn more)
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M graphics with 3GB GDDR5 VRAM for leading DirectX 11 gaming
• NVIDIA 3D Vision active shutter glasses for top-of-the-line optics with 2x the resolution per eye and ultra-wide viewing angles compared to passive glasses (Learn more)
• ASUS Power4Gear Hybrid that innovatively saves battery life and delivers extreme performance (Learn more)
• SuperSpeed USB 3.0 for quicker device charging and up to 10x faster transfers than USB 2.0¹
• 1.5TB 7200RPM hard drive and 12GB of DDR3 system memory for smooth computing and ample storage for all your games and media files (Learn more)
• Backlit gaming keyboard with ergonomic tilt-up design for comfortable control in any lighting environment
• EAX Advanced HD 5.0 Audio for premium gaming sound

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Hail to the King baby!

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The ROG G74SX-DH73-3D is great for gaming, but its hardware is serious business. Powered by the 2nd generation Intel Core i7-2670QM processor with 8-way processing capability, the ROG G74SX-DH73-3D outperforms other notebooks with massive memory bandwidth for ultra-smooth multitasking performance. Featuring Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 Technology, processor speed is automatically adjusted to your needs by accelerating performance for your task at hand. With a host of power profiles, this gaming powerhouse has a built-in overclocking mode via ASUS Power4Gear Hybrid that activates with a simple push of a button located above the keyboard that turns up system performance above its default level.

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3D Enabled Glory

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Want more from games and movies? Take your entertainment to the 3rd dimension and get ready for pop out visuals that turns conventional notebooks on its head. The ROG G74SX-DH73-3D notebook is embedded with the NVIDIA 3D emitter so whether you're at home or on the go, you can easily enjoy full stereoscopic 3D without cable clutter. Using best-in-class NVIDIA 3D Vision technology, the ROG G74SX-DH73-3D leads in delivering 3D entertainment. And whether you're watching 2D and 3D content, its brilliant 17.3-inch LED-backlit Full HD display with 120Hz refresh rate delivers unbeatable clarity and vivid colors. The bundled wireless NVIDIA 3D active shutter glasses bring the magic of 3D to life with ultra-wide viewing angles. Plus, they are designed to comfortably fit over regular glasses so that anyone can experience 3D. With bundled 3D Vision software suite from NVIDIA, the ROG G74SX-DH73-3D automatically converts over 400 games to stereoscopic 3D without hassle—no extra patches, add-ons, or upgrading needed. This 3D technology was closely developed with Blu-ray programs to ensure full compatibility, and you can now enjoy your favorite movies as if you were watching it in the theatres with the built-in Blu-ray writer drive.

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Definitive Multitasking

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The ROG G74SX-DH73-3D gives you all the power you need to create digital video, 3D animation, or effortlessly play adrenaline-filled games. The ROG G74SX-DH73-3D also features a massive 1.5TB 7200RPM hard drive to store your movies, games, and pictures. Plus, the ROG G74SX-DH73-3D offers 12GB of DDR3 system memory for incredible multitasking capability. With HDMI connectivity, turn this gaming powerhouse into your personal media center by connecting to an external monitor or HDTV and enjoy flawless 1080p HD playback. Pair that up with THX + EAX 5.0 3D gaming audio technology, and together they make the ROG G74SX-DH73-3D not only a great gaming notebook, but also a hub for multimedia entertainment.

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	Get Comfy
View larger	Gaming is something to be enjoyed, so why not be more comfortable for extended gaming sessions? Fatigue will be a thing of the past, thanks to the ROG G74SX-DH73-3D's 5° incline keyboard designed to provide a better ergonomic angle, as well as super comfortable rubber-like palm rests that's easy on the palm and wrist. There's also more space between the keyboard and number pad, so it resembles a desktop keyboard. The harder you work, the more heat you generate. A computer is no different, and with the amount of power in the ROG G74SX-DH73-3D, some serious cooling is needed. A unique venting design pulls air from underneath the notebook, cooling the system down, and then vents it through the rear, keeping hot air away from the user and reducing ambient noise for prolonged gaming.

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	Stealth and Strength
View larger	Like its predecessor, the ROG G74SX-DH73-3D design was inspired by sharp polygonal shapes, but this time inspiration came from the US Navy's Sea Shadow stealth ship and modern day aircraft carriers. Like the stealth ship, opponents will never know what hit 'em, and like an aircraft carrier, the ROG G74SX-DH73-3D has the firepower to shock and awe the competition.

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Relax, ASUS Has You Covered

Ranked as the #1 most reliable PC brand by 3 independent sources,² readers and editors alike choose ASUS as their trusted notebook and netbook. ASUS tirelessly strives to exceed expectations of quality to ensure you an unmatched peace of mind every time you start your PC.

This notebook is also backed by the industry's most comprehensive warranty.

2 Year ASUS Global Warranty³

Offers a level of coverage that would add hundreds of dollars to the price of competing laptops:

• 2 year global warranty
• 30 day Flawless Display Guarantee
• 2-way free standard shipping
• 24/7 tech support

1 Year Accidental Damage Protection (ADP)³

Accidents happen. But when they happen to your ASUS notebook purchased in the US or Canada, you have extra protection. Whether your notebook is damaged by accidental spills, drops, electrical surges, or fire, ASUS will fix it or replace it during the first year after purchase.³

• Target 3 business day turnaround time for repair / replacement; not including receiving and shipping time
• 1-way shipping (from ASUS to the user) at no additional cost
• 24/7 toll-free phone support

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What's in the Box

• ROG G74SX-DH73-3D
• NVIDIA 3D Vision active shutter glasses
• AC Adapter
• 8 cell Battery Pack
• Warranty Information Card
• Republic of Gamers Backpack and Mouse

Specifications

• Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
• Display: 17.3-inch Full HD display (1920 x 1080, 3D 120Hz)
• Processor: 2nd generation Intel Core i7-2670QM quad-core processor (2.2 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.1 GHz)
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M 3GB GDDR5 VRAM
• WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz), Bluetooth v3.0
• LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
• Memory: 12GB DDR3 SDRAM, 4 x SODIMM Sockets (up to 16GB)
• Storage:1.5TB 7200RPM HDD
• Optical Drive: Blu-ray writer enabled DVD±RW/CD-RW
• Camera: 2.0 megapixel
• Speakers: Stereo speakers with EAX 5.0 sound
• Microphone: Digital Array Microphone
• Card Reader: 8-in-1 card reader (MMC/SD/Mini-SD/XD/Memory stick/MS Pro/MS-Duo/MS-Pro Duo)
• Input / Output: 1 x Mic-in, 1 x Headphone-out, 1 x VGA port/Mini D-Sub 15-pin for external monitor, 3 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x USB 3.0 port, 1 x Gigabit LAN, 1 x HDMI
• Battery: 8 cell
• Dimensions: 16.5 x 12.8 x2.4–inches (W x D x H)
• Weight: 9.4lbs (with 8 cell battery)
• Color: Black

© 2011 ASUS Computer International. All Rights Reserved. ASUS is a registered trademark of ASUSTeK Computer. All specifications are subject to change without notice and features are only in select models. Products may not be available in all markets. Brand and product names mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies. All specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers on selected models. Product may not be exactly as shown in photos.

¹All figures theoretical values compared to USB 2.0 benchmarks for reference purposes. Actual speed depends on device and system status.
²Rated number 1 Windows-based PC maker in PCMag.com's Service & Reliability Report 2010. Rated number 1 PC brand according to SquareTrade, the leading direct-to-consumer warranty company (for more information visit http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109/ ). Rated number 1 reliable PC maker in Q2 2010's RESCUECOM report http://www.rescuecom.com/2010-2nd-Quarter-Computer-Reliability-Report.html
³ASUS reserves the right to exclude certain SKUs; check with your retailer to confirm coverage of specific models. Valid for notebooks purchased in the US and Canada only. Certain retailers do not participate in ADP coverage. For complete details, please visit: usa.asus.com/event/ASUS360 and adw.asus.com/.

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ASUS VE278Q LED-backlit Monitor Play games on a big screen with the 27-inch Full HD LED-backlit ASUS monitor. Its LED-backlit display gives you bright visuals that turns gaming to an ultra-realistic experience.

ASUS RT-N56U Wireless N Router Simultaneous dual-band and Gigabit Ethernet capabilities means that this router is ready for prime-time gaming action with high-speed throughput and strong signals. Its EZ QoS also lets you easily prioritize your Internet traffic to keep ping down for online games.

ASUS PA246Q IPS Monitor Want an external monitor that can give you the truest colors for photo-editing and graphics design? Check out the 24-inch PA246Q with IPS panel display showing 1.073 billion colors (10-bit) with 1920x1200 resolution.

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Product Description

With power and performance, substance and style, the ASUS G series will revolutionize your gaming experience.  Empower your gaming potential with the full throttle power and portable performance of the G Series from ASUS, part of the prestigious Republic of Gamers that is committed to delivering innovative and best performing PC solutions for gamers.   Operating System Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, SP1 Processor Intel Core i7-2670QM Processor 2.2 GHz (3.1 GHz with Turbo Boost Technology), 6MB L3 Cache Mobile Intel HM65 Express Chipse Memory NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560M with NVIDIA Technology featuring 3GB GDDR5 Of Discrete Graphics Memory  Memory Configured with 12GB DDR3 1333MHz (max 16GB) 4 Main memory slots. Storage Drive 1.5TB Hard disk drive (7200 RPM) (2x 750GB) Serial ATA hard disk drives (7200 RPM) Fixed Optical Disk Drive Blu-Ray Disc and DVD/CD Combo SuperMulti Read/Writer Display 17.3'' TFT LCD display at 1920 x 1080 native resolution (FHD) 120Hz Native support for 1080p content 120Hz 16:9 aspect ratio LED backlit Sound  EAX Advanced HD 5.0 Built-in Stereo Speakers (For Premium Gaming Sound) Input Devices LED backlit Keyboard with 10-Keypad Touch pad pointing device with multi-touch control Communications Built-in 2.0 Megapixel Video Camera Ethernet 10/100/1000 (On board) Wi-Fi Wireless networking (802.11b/g/n) Bluetooth version v3.0 Expandability Memory Card Reader Secure Digital, Secure Digital High Capacity, SDXC, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, Multi Media Card, xD Picture Card Ports Video HDMI VGA Port (for external monitor Audio Microphone input port Headphone output port Data 4 USB ports (1 USB 3.0 And 3 USB 2.0) RJ-45 LAN port Security Slot for Security Lock Physical Description Black Dimensions (W x D x H ): 16.5'' x 12.8'' x 2.4'' Weight: Starting at 9.4 lbs., depending upon configuration Power 150W (19V x 6.3A) Auto-sensing ,100-240V/50-60Hz AC Adapt...

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Laptop! October 24, 2011

By Bvssey

Amazon Verified Purchase

This Asus 74SX-DH73-3D laptop has gone way beyond my expectations!

I have trouble even finding words to describe this laptop. Beautiful, sleek, powerful and truely plays games incredibly well! Looks like a stealth jet and built like a tank! I bought this laptop to play Battlefield 3 and Skyrim (when it comes out), never seeing a laptop play graphically intense games as well as a gaming desktop, I was doubtful. But after loading BF3 and firing it up, those doubts disappeared instantly! The auto graphic settings in the game set everything to ultra and high and plays at those levels without a glitch. Come on Skyrim!

I did plenty of research and comparisons between this and other Asus g74,g73 and g53 models and the DH73-3D model won out, even despite its price. All the issues that other models have had have been fixed in this model. I keep trying to find a con or issue with this laptop but haven't yet other then the 3D mode switch next to the power switch only switched between different power modes until I did the 203 BIOs update(which was easy as pie, lol). This fixed the button to act only as a switch to turn on or off the 3D and switching between different power modes is now controlled by the function btn and space bar. Have I mentioned this laptop is freaking Sweet!!! 120hz Screen is WOW!!!! Worth the price difference from the models without it.

The 3D is amazing and works so effortlessly. I bought a 3D Blu-ray to test out the 3D movie aspect, beautiful. Just pop it in and put on your glasses and enjoy. Gaming in 3D also is really amazing, cool and has brought life to some of my older games like CounterStrike Source.... The first time I started CSS on this laptop (and haven't adjusted any settings yet), the game started and it was playing in 3D, talk about taking an old game and turning it into a new one. I didn't even know CSS could be played in 3D. Can't wait to test it with other games. Amazing!

I really like the included gaming mouse, in fact I have been using it instead of my Logitech G700, it reminds me a lot of the older Logitech MX gaming mice. Didn't find much of any bloat-ware. If you are planning to reload OS, at least start it up and do the online registration and don't forget to mail in your warranty card asap also. Sound is loud and clear. When I plug in my headphones, it only gets better.

The cooling truely is amazing, after playing BF3 for a few hours and then stopping, the air coming out of the back cools off in minutes showing how well it dissapates heat and runs cool.

I've always (over 15yrs) used Asus when building gaming desktops and pc's and have never been disappointed, and this laptop just confirmed that Asus is still the best.

This thing is big and heavy but to me, both of those terms mean badass. This thing blows away my gtx/quad-core desktop. Go sit next to a Mac user with this laptop and you will see them start changing there mind about pc's.

In short, this Laptop is worth every penny and once I add my new SSD, I don't think I could be any happier with a laptop. If you want the best, this is it! Do it, join us, the Republic (of Gamers) wants you!

(Update 11-11-11)
Skyrim runs flawlessly on this computer, auto-detect sets the graphics to ultra settings and playing it in 3D is even more awesome.

Added SSD drive, So now its even quicker and a little lighter, worth the upgrade. Read more ›

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid performance and build, great display, minor keyboard issues November 3, 2011

By Peter Phillips

Amazon Verified Purchase

=== The Good ===
This laptop performs well as a result of the pairing of a quick CPU, a quick GPU, and plenty of RAM for each. I purchased this laptop to use for game playing and game programming and I'm pleased with the performance of both. The keyboard and chassis stay cool even after being on all day, so cool that it's very difficult to tell if the laptop is on by feel.... it feels like room temperature to me. The screen hinge does a good job of keeping the screen in a steady position even as I type this review while sitting on a couch with the laptop on my lap. The matte screen is bright and crisp, with a much nicer surface coating texture than my desktop IPS LCDs. I haven't used the 3D glasses much yet, but even so I recommend this model over the other G74SX models that lack the 3D display since the matte screen and very high brightness capabilities of the 3D panel make it possible to work in what would otherwise have been poor lighting conditions for the dimmer, glossy-screened 2D models.

The memory configuration this laptop ships with is three 4GB DDR3-1333 SODIMMs, two DIMMs in one bank, and a single DIMM in the other bank. Mine shipped with the same Samsung 1.5v DIMMs mentioned on other reviews on the internet. Because I write a lot of code that can take advantage of more memory, and because having a non-uniform memory configuration can cause performance irregularities I decided to upgrade to 16GB. I was unable to locate a reliable source for a fourth, matching Samsung DIMM so I bought four 4GB DIMMs DDR-1333 DIMMs that Crucial recommends for this system. As a bonus the DIMMs from Crucial only require 1.35v, which should help further reduce the laptop's temperature compared to the original 1.5v DIMMs.... Eager to use the laptop, I ran just a single pass of Memtest86+, but so far, so good. I've not experienced a single bluescreen or any application instability, and my WEI Memory score went up by 0.1 point.

I wanted a faster boot and applications drive so I swapped out the primary 750GB WD Black drive for a Intel 320 Series 160 GB SATA 3.0 SSD. I'm very pleased with the boot, login, and overall responsiveness improvements. After installing the SSD I installed Windows 7 Ultimate x64.

- edit 28 Nov 2011
I have also since replaced the secondary hard drive with a Samsung 830 Series 128 GB SATA III SSD, also with great results.
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I also wanted a wireless card with better support in other operating systems and a better reputation for good performance than the wireless card this laptop shipped with an AzureWave AW-NB037H, so I purchased and installed an Intel 6230 WiFi + Bluetooth 3.0 adapter. Installation was painless, and fn+F2 (the enable/disable wireless button) works great still.

- edit 28 Nov 2011
I've now put about 60-70GB of data across the Intel WiFi card's network link.... no problems with drop outs or performance.
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I also picked up this Right Angle 90 Degree Converter for 5.5 x 2.5mm Connector - LC53 adapter for the power cable to ensure that the power cable didn't get in the way of my mouse. It works great, but may have been unnecessary based upon where I'm finding I keep my mouse.

After my modifications, my WEI scores are:
Processor: 7.5
Memory: 7.6
Graphics: 7.2
Gaming Graphics: 7.2
Primary hard disk: 7.7

After installing Win 7 Ultimate I found a good reference of where to get the latest drivers for this system on the Republic of Gamers Forum. I was pleased to discover that this laptop, even with the 3DVision support, can use the stock video drivers from the Nvidia website.

- edit 28 Nov 2011
At night sometimes the display was feeling a bit too bright, so I installed the Asus Splendid app/driver so I could quickly swap color profiles and found one of the color profiles it includes is a lot easier on the eyes.
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The laptop is sturdy, has a pleasant feel, and the keyboard spacing is very comfortable. A nice backpack and gaming mouse ship with the laptop.

=== The Not-so-Good ===
There are lots of mentions of keyboard woes with the G74SX on the internet, I wasn't sure what to expect. I'm running the 2.0.3 BIOS and latest keyboard filter and ATK drivers. Here's what I found... quite a few keys needed to be broken in a bit to register properly, when encountering a missed keystroke, I carefully exercised the offending key about a dozen times, the key feel noticeably changes for the better and all is well. The only on-going issues I'm experiencing are:
- if I hit the left-most or right-most edge of the left arrow key I can basically press it all the way down without it registering. It was easy to learn not to do this... to write this review I had to hunt around to remember which key it was that had this issue.
- my right shift key will stick in the down position (and registering as being down) if I push it all the way down by pushing on the center of the bottom edge of the key. To get it un-stuck I have to gently lift the top center of the key using a finger nail. I've also found this very easy to avoid doing... all I have to do is only push down on keys when my finger tips aren't on the edge of a key.
- Sometimes the fn+something key combinations seem not to register... no idea what's going on here... I think it's usually when I've hit the same combination several times in a row before the on screen indicator pops up. For example if I'm changing the sound volume or screen brightness.

- edit 28 Nov 2011
- So F3 definitely requires more force than the rest of the keys to register a keystroke. This was a bit annoying in Minecraft though it didn't get long for me to get used to hitting the key a bit harder. For whatever reason I think I tend to type lighter on my laptop keys than my desktop keyboard. The amount of force needed to make F3 work on my laptop keyboard is less than my normal typing pressure on my desktop keyboard.
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All that said I've experienced none of these keyboard issues while programming, gaming, or writing this review. So, yes, keyboards really ought never have these issues, but I'm finding these issues are rarely triggered in my normal usage of the laptop, and thus don't spoil the experience.

Additionally the slippery surface of my trackpad appears to be a sticker, and it's installed ever so slightly out of alignment such that the lower left hand corner sticks up a very tiny amount. Looks curable with a sharp crafting knife, but I haven't had the time to try that remedy. This hasn't caused any issues, just something I noticed while inspecting my laptop.

While writing this review I just noticed that the trim in front of the trackpad buttons can make some popping noises under relatively heavy pressure. (I wasn't paying attention when trying to click a trackpad button and pushed down hard on the trim and it made stiff buttony sounds.)

=== Conclusion ===
I'm very happy with this purchase, and I'm glad I opted for the 3D model with the bright, matte screen. I'm enjoying gaming on this laptop more that on my faster, purpose-built desktop which is not at all what I expected when I bought this. Read more ›

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Quiet, Fast, Sturdy, Bright December 7, 2011

By esjabe

Amazon Verified Purchase

I have had this PC for about two weeks. I was agonizing between this machine and the Alienware X18. I finally decided on this unit due to comparable hardware at a much better price, and reliability ratings as high as anything on the market. I couldn't be happier with my first impressions of the ASUS.

My main concerns with a PC are the things I spend the most time with... the display and the keyboard. The screen is stunning and bright with the perfect anti-glare coating. I had read that the Alienware machine has a very high gloss screen and was like a mirror. If you hate those type of screens (as I do), then you are in for a treat on the ASUS. Did I say stunning?

Next the keyboard. I was hesitant due to other reviews about missed keystrokes and a dislike for the "chiclet" style keys , but I've found it quite comfortable and have had no issues with missed strokes. The larger engraved letters and back-lit keys are an awesome aid to my 56 year old eyes. The separate number pad with the wide space between it and the other keys is a nice touch. The touch pad, although I really don't use it much, is large and responsive.

I'm not a game player, but rather a web/media/CAD/application developer who needed a robust desktop replacement with the guts to burn through some of my processor and graphics intensive work. I have yet to bog this thing down (or even make it breathe hard), and it does it all in quiet and cool style. I really can't hear any noise or feel any heat even when working for hours with this brick on my lap. For me, it's been virtually silent.

I REALLY like the sturdy feel and rugged look. Big, yes. Heavy, yes. Sweet, yes. 3D is a bonus and the glasses work well (with the demo provided)....

If you are considering this unit, then I highly recommend it. If you are still hedging, ASUS is available at Best Buy so you might want to give one of their models a hands-on review before clicking the "Buy It" button. Read more ›