The N55SF launched during Computex 2011 in Taiwan is another newbie in the multimedia series by ASUS. It packs a lot of punch in its performance and is armed to the teeth to fulfill all your multimedia desires. Everything about this machine is big and powerful. It boasts of a sleek yet elegant design by David Lewis who designed the ravishing NX90 as well. The stand-out feature of this powerhouse is the high-end audio system with Sonic Master technology designed by Bang & Olufsen ICE Power. Add to this, extreme multimedia capabilities and you get a laptop that is here to stay.
Features
This multimedia laptop uses Sonic Master technology which is based on Intel Sandy Bridge platform for superior acoustics. The ASUS Video Magic provides a rich visual experience by making the most of NVIDIA CUDA GPU technology. This enables the N55SF to handle the most graphics-intense tasks with remarkable ease. True Theatre software upgrades the regular DVD-quality videos to full HD giving a rich visual experience.
The lack of image processing units in PCs is compensated in ASUS by the presence of Splendid Video Enhancement Technology. It makes the whole video-watching experience comparable to the top-of-the-line HDTVs. ASUS laptops are among the first to feature USB 3.0 as standard which has a band-width of approx. 5Gbps. This makes data transfer 10 times faster than the more common USB 2.0.
ASUS Super Hybrid Engine provides the users with a wide range of options to adjust the computerâs clock speed and bus speed. This enables the user to derive more power or longevity from the battery just like nitrous in a racing car.
Specs
The ASUS N55SF comes with a 15.6 inch LED-backlit display with a perfect resolution of 1600×900 for a screen of this size. The screen also comes with options in resolution like 1366×768 and 1900×1200.
The laptop is powered by the 2nd Generation Intel Core i7-2630QM with a clock speed of 2.0 GHz. The laptop has an impressive memory of 4GB DDR3 RAM at 1333MHz, storage capability of 750GB @ 7200rpm and is equipped with a 2GB NVIDIA Ge Force GT 555M DDR3 graphics card. In addition, it is, also, equipped with a Blu-Ray R/W optical drive.
The ASUS N55SF comes with two USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, one HDMA port and a VGA port for enhanced interface. It also sports an integrated 802.11 WLAN, 10/100/1000 LAN and Built-in Bluetooth for seamless connectivity. Other features include 3-in-one card reader, HD Web Camera, 6cell 5200 mAh battery, built-in speakers very smartly integrated with the external sub-woofers.
The dimensions of the laptop are 37.93cm (length) x 26.05cm (depth) x 3.55cm (height) and it weighs 2.7lbs along with the battery.
High Points
1. The design of the N55SF is pristine (as expected from David Lewis) and build quality is excellent as it is made of a blend of materials such as hard plastic, aluminium and intelligent use of rubber.
2. The full-sized keyboard and big palm-rests coupled with comfortable and springy keys make for great ergonomics.
3. The external sub-woofer adds charm to the superior audio system developed by Bang and Olufsen ICE Power.
4. This machine is a good value for money for anyone who wants a high-performance laptop purely for multimedia applications without shelling out a lot of bucks.
Low Points
1. Glossy lid coupled with the fact that it is susceptible to dust and fingerprints takes the sheen away somewhat from the aesthetics of the ASUS N55SF.
2. The machine is definitely over-weight for a laptop of this size but who complains when all you expect from it is raw power.
Price
The 15.6 inch ASUS N55SF comes with a price tag of around 1100 Euros or 1500 USD.
