Laptops 2012 Comparison: ASUS Zenbook Prime vs Apple MacBook Pro

By Xah Lee. Date:

This laptop has been making the rounds on social networks.

ASUS Zenbook Prime UX31A DB51 laptop 2
“ASUS Zenbook Prime laptop” ASUS Zenbook

This laptop costs USD$1k. It's got 4GB memory, 128GB solid-state storage, 5 hour battery life. 13.3 inch screen (1920×1080). 1.3 kg.

The screen pixel dimension is the same as Blu-ray, actually more pixels than normal desktop displays. [see Screen Size Comparison: DVD, iPhone, iPad, MacBook, Blu-ray] However, it's less than Apple's “retina display”. Retina Display got 2880×1800 in 15.4 inch screen (220 pixels per inch.) [see iPad, iPhone, Kindle, Xoom: Pixel Dimension, Resolution, Density]

Humm… show me the keyboard.

Asus zenbook keyboard-3d39610f
ASUS Zenbook laptop. ASUS Zenbook

Not bad. It's got the right menu key, right-on for emacs's M-x or vi's Escape [see Xah Emacs Tutorial] [see vim Basics]

But too big and expensive. Too big for on the go, and not as powerful for home PC.

Though, the price/performance ratio beats Apple's by far, as usual. For the same weight, compare to Apple's MacBook Air. MacBook Air For the same screen size, compare Apple's MacBook Pro. MacBook Pro In both cases, the Asus Zembook Prime wins. [see Why I'm Switching from Mac/Unix To PC/Windows]

For you coders out there, get this, slap on linux, and you are good. Oh, there's just one more thing! When you whip out your laptop in a coffee shop, the word “elite” won't suddenly appear on your forehead. That's what Apple's for, like BMW, Mercedes, Gucci, Fendi, Prada, BCBG, Burberry, Dolce and Gabbana!