Asus N43JF Review: An elegant notebook with strong build quality
Notebooks are perfect travel companions and meet basic computing needs, including e-mail, web surfing and document creation. Players like IBM and Dell, who had initially focused on high-end units, have today changed their strategy to include the lucrative entry-level segment. IBM, for instance, is carving out notebooks with multiple configuration options and is investing a major chunk of resources to spur the desired demand in global markets. Asus embraced the previous year with utmost delight and introduced notebooks that were tailored to suit the requirements of consumers. Now, the company focuses on providing users with attractive notebooks that are more stylish, thinner and slimmer than those coming from their competitors. The Asus N43JF notebook certainly offers a perfect blend of price, design, functions and performance. Its eye-catchy chassis and chic design inspired us enough to jot down a complete review.
On removing the N43JF notebook from the bag, we observed how this device has a typical notebook clamshell design with a combination of sturdy elements, metallic brushed finish wrist rest and a black lustrous screen frame. On opening the lid, the massive speaker grill located below the screen caught our attention. The notebook comes with a simple yet stylish aluminum lid and a sturdy chassis. The fingerprints on the lid aren’t very noticeable. The overall appearance is impressive and further enhanced with the brushed finished touchpad featuring a gunmetal glossy bar for the mouse buttons. The lid comes entrenched with the Asus logo at the center. The hinge of the notebook is really solid and we could conveniently open and close the device without any difficulty.
The Asus N43JF has a conventional keyboard with flat keys which is now getting quite popular in the computing world. The tactile feedback from keys was really impeccable. The keys got a little annoying when we typed at a stretch and caused fatigue during long typing hours. However, the typing experience appeared fairly good once we got used to the keys. The company lowers unnecessary clutter during data-entries or lengthy calculations as the keyboard comes with a dedicated number pad. Asus could have included a backlit keyboard which is generally a fad these days as you can easily continue working or type even in dim environments.
The touchpad has a classy matte finish and we could conveniently slide our fingertips without any glitches as the smooth surface provides excellent cursor control. The touchpad responsiveness was remarkable without any lag during cursor movements. The buttons positioned on the touchpad amplify the navigation experience, but we observed that there is no separation between the right and left buttons. The notebook adorns a 14-inch 16:9 HD LED backlit display screen. The display is pretty decent and the picture quality was remarkable. The LED brightness was good and we could easily use the notebook indoors as well as outdoors, and even under direct sunlight. The text is clear and easy to read with 1366 x 768 resolution. The speaker is accurately fitted as it puts forth sound with utmost clarity and we did not notice much distortion even when the volume was turned up to around 80-90 percent.
The unit comes pre-loaded with Windows 7 Ultimate and features various connectivity options such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The notebook has two USB 2.0 ports, USB 3.0 port, e-SATA/USB 2.0 combo port, VGA port/Mini D-sub 15-pin for external monitor, WLAN on/off switch, microphone-in jack, headphone-out jack, HDMI port and RJ45 LAN jack for LAN insert. The front edge comes with a SD card slot while the rear end comes with an AC power, VGA port and security lock slot. The left side comes along with a cooling exhaust vent, HDMI port, Ethernet port, eSATA/USB 2.0 combo port, audio jacks and USB 2.0 port whereas the right side comes fitted with a USB 2.0 port, a USB 3.0 port, DVD writer and WLAN on/off switch. The N43JF renders exceptional performance, thanks to the Intel Core i5 CPU 520M 2.40GHz processor.
The webcam has a physical shutter and we could seamlessly slide it horizontally to cover the lens. The image quality proffered by the camera was good and we could enjoy seamless video conversations. The incorporated Bang & Olufsen audio solution is great and the notebook functioned proficiently while watching movies or listening to music. The sound quality was good and watching a movie with a group of colleagues was real fun, although we found the audio effects a bit soft as compared to the background sound. The lid does not cover the notebook completely and we could clearly see the LED status lights. The device looks stunning in terms of incredible aesthetics. It weighs 2.4kgs with a 6-cell battery that precisely fits without any obstruction. It is an ideal device for business purposes and you can manage various essential applications and documents easily. Though this notebook is not a gaming unit, we are sure it will satisfy demands of casual gamers. The internet connectivity through Wi-Fi and a wired LAN connection seemed prompt. Surfing the web was a smooth experience with no particular drawbacks and we could switch to different websites effortlessly. The notebook fits in standard laptop bags without much effort and should not be a problem while on the go. The battery life was decent and we could use the unit for around four hours at a continuous stretch on a single charge.
To round it up, the Asus N43JF is a powerful notebook that delivers good value for money with interesting features in a sleek, stylish design. The search for the perfect notebook is undoubtedly a difficult task as consumers have different needs, budgets and expectations. The company could have improved the overall experience by offering a backlit keyboard and clear separation between the touchpad buttons. Nevertheless, we could browse multiple websites, watch movies and listen to music without any worries. The N43JF certainly fulfills the requirements of a frequent traveler and carries a price tag of Rs. 61,999. It has a strong build quality and the metallic design is unique. Finally, the Asus N43JF has earned a rating of 8 out of 10 from us for its overall performance.
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