DEWALT 152250-27 ,DEWALT 397745-01
Use: While turning a piece with both eye and head protection I must admit I felt very secure wearing the respirator. Breathing the fresh air was an added bonus. There was a little distortion of my peripheral vision caused by the bubble face shield but looking straight on was fine. DEWALT DC727VA battery I had just begun turning some spindles for a cradle and things were progressing well. I had 35 of these to turn. About an hour and a half into the session my neck was getting stiff...the weight of the respirator the culprit. Standing relatively still with my head in about the same position spindle after spindle was taking it's toll. I removed the respirator and replaced it with my face shield and I immediately felt better. DEWALT DC727KA-B2 battery
Working around the rest of the shop was much better. I was able to perform all sorts of other tasks without a problem. Again the annoying thing was the hose pushing the hat down on my face. I did find that it could get warm under the shroud if I was exerting myself. DEWALT DC740K-2 battery The air blowing in front of my face stayed cool but I would start to perspire around my neck and shoulders under the shroud. Over the course of the next few turning sessions I again tried to to wear the respirator and each time after a couple of hours I had to take it off. Maybe it's just these old bones. I also ran into a low battery situation when I left it for a week after using it for about 4 hours. Upon testing the airflow prior to using the respirator, the sitting around had caused the battery to drain and the flow was under the required lever. I had to forego using the respirator until the next day. DEWALT DC740KA battery
Accessories: Right after I completed this review I found a company, Airware America, that sells replacement parts for the Triton. In addition to the replacements they offer stick on overlays which can be used with the Triton as well as other facemasks. Since they are not made specifically for the Triton they don't fit perfectly, but they do fit well enough for use and should greatly extend the usable life of the faceshield. DEWALT DC740KZ battery
Conclusion:
Safety isn't free and the Triton Powered Respirator like most safety devices causes the user some inconveniences. Compared to a face shield it costs more, weighs more, is hotter to wear, and causes more fatigue. What you get in return is clean lungs, your sight, your hearing, and few less bumps on the noggin. That's a fair trade if you ask me. DEWALT DC742KA battery
I've been in contact with Triton USA and they assure me that a new more flexible hose with quick connect fittings is on the way. The current hose is the biggest problem with the respirator. If they can solve that issue and come up with a quicker/smarter way to charge the batteries or even package the batteries without the motor to reduce cost, then they will have a real winner here. DEWALT DC742VA battery
he more I get into woodworking the more safety conscience I become. While surfing the woodworking message boards it's hard to miss the constant chatter about safety devices. As a novice woodturner who's first hour on a lathe was interrupted by a flying spindle between the eyes (I was wearing a face shield), I was very interested to see how Triton Woodworking Systems has addressed a number of our safety concerns, dust, eye, ear and head protection, with their new powered respirator. Thanks to Triton Woodworking Systems for providing the respirator for review. DEWALT DC743KA battery
As with all my reviews main intent is to try to provide the reader with all the information they need to make an informed purchase. There will be plenty of photo's, some very close up, which I hope will give you a feel for the tool and which should preclude you from being surprised when you open the box. DEWALT DC743KB battery
DEWALT 152250-27 ,DEWALT 397745-01 ,DEWALT DC9071 ,DEWALT DE9037 ,DEWALT DE9071 ,DEWALT DE9074,DEWALT DE9075 ,DEWALT DE9501 ,DEWALT DW9071 ,DEWALT DW9072
What's in the box?
As you can see the Triton Powered Respirator comes in the familiar Triton orange just as the rest of their products. PANASONIC EY6220B battery The head piece includes an AS/NZS 1801 approved hard hat with integrated AS/NZS 1270 approved ear protectors and an AS/NZS 1337 approved face shield. The head piece also includes an integrated shroud to keep the dust out and the ducting for the filtered air. The waist belt mounted filter unit contains two AS/NZS 1716 approved dust filters and NiCad batteries. The other accessories are the instruction manual, air hose, air flow meter, and DC power transformer used for charging the batteries. All of this comes securely packaged in a foot and a half square box. PANASONIC EY6220D battery
The filter unit actually contains 3 filters. PANASONIC EY6225 battery Two internal filters which are rated to the Australian standard as P2 (Equivalent to the American N95 class) particulate filters which allow 1% of the particles below 1 micron to pass and will remove 95% particulates down to 0.3 micron. Triton also sells an additional filter called CIGWELD. This filter is used during welding operations. There is also a pre filter (photo at right) which snaps onto the bottom of the assembly and should catch all the big stuff and keep it out of the motor assembly. In that same photo also notice the dust booted power switch and the LED indicating that the unit is being charged. PANASONIC EY6220DR battery
In the three pictures above you can see the assembly with all the filters removed. The photo at left is looking straight down into the assembly. The two yellow things are D sized NiCad batteries which are soldered in place. The middle picture is with the pre-filter removed and looking at the bottom of the assembly. You can see the impeller just above the nameplate and the power switch on the left. The photo at right is again looking through the top but this time at an angle to expose the impeller motor. The air movement through a clean filter assembly is 120 liters/min. PANASONIC EY6225C battery
The last thing I want to show you before we move on to the headgear is the flow meter. This is simply a clear plastic tube with a captive ball and a target (this brings back some memories of tuning the carburetors on my MG). The way it works is that you attach the meter to the output of the filter and if the ball is in the target circle then all is well. If it's below the target then either the batteries are in need of a charge or the filters need changing. We'll spend a little more time on this later in the review. PANASONIC EY6225CQ battery
The entire headgear is very well put together and is of high quality with the same excellent fit and finish I've come to expect from Triton products. PANASONIC EY3653 battery The facemask arrived, and still is scratch free and a replacement can be purchased for $20. The ear protectors are rated for 23dBA to the Australian standard. The ear protectors swing out of the way (as pictured) but are not recommended for removal because they will leave a hole in the shroud. They adjust up and down so that you can get a comfortable fit. I could not adjust them up enough so that they were not sitting on my ear lobes and I could not see a way to modify either the muffs or the headgear harness to allow for a comfortable fit. PANASONIC EY3653CQ battery
The webbing in the hat was similar to every hard hat I've seen. There is a ratcheting adjustment in the rear which adjusts for head size. Depending on how big your head is, the knob can interfere with the air inlet on the back of the hat (photo right is after the adjustment below). Luckily there is an undocumented adjustment which can gain your some head room (pun intended) PANASONIC EY3654 battery
Looking at the plastic headband I noticed an extra set of holes just behind the sweat band (photo left). This adjustment will move the part of the headband which goes behind your head, and houses the ratchet adjustment towards the front. So I popped out the band and moved it forward and indeed it did provide the clearance needed. The picture at right shows the new position of the band. PANASONIC EY3654CQ battery
The face shield locks in three positions and during all of my testing I never experienced the shield not staying where I put it. Below are the 3 different positions of the face shield. PANASONIC EY3502FQMKW battery
The respirator operates by sucking air through the pre-filter at the bottom of the filter assembly and blowing that air at through the cartridge filters and up into the hard hat at 130 liters per minute. The air enters the back of the hat and is ducted over your head where it is exhausted just at the edge of the headband. The air is directed over the inside of the face shield. PANASONIC EY3503FQWKW battery
Batteries: When you receive and unpack your respirator the first thing you need to do is to plug in your battery pack to charge it up. One of the negatives about the Triton is that while the pack lasts up to 8 hours (in my three battery life tests it lasted between 7 and 8 hours) it takes at least over night to charge. PANASONIC EY3550DQG battery
The first time you charge it they instruct you to let it charge for 15 hours. Another battery related issue is that you can't just buy another set of NiCad's for it, you must buy the battery pack for around $80 which includes not only the batteries but also the whole motor assembly. A recommendation I will make to Triton is to have replaceable batteries so that we can purchase an extra "D" sized NiCad's and have them in an inexpensive charger, ready to go. PANASONIC EY3790 battery
In the current configuration, another needed feature is a smarter charger. The current charging system is simply a user timed event. Additionally if you leave the charger on longer than 72 hours you will damage the batteries. PANASONIC EY3790B battery What is needed is a smart charger which charges the batteries and then reverts to a trickle charge so that the pack can be plugged in and left alone where it will be ready to go whenever you need it. With the long charging times and the instructions to not use the battery pack if the air flow has dropped, I found myself on at least two occasions needing the respirator, but unable to use it because it failed the flow test. When that happened, a fully charged pack was at least 15 hours away. PANASONIC EY3794B battery
All that being said, with a fully charged pack I could get the stated life out of the filter and it worked well. Also, if one was using the pack every day charging would be less of an issue because you could simply plug it in when you were done for the day and it would be ready for you in the morning. PANASONIC EY6100FQKW battery
The photo at left shows the filter pack being flow tested. Since NiCads put out a constant voltage right up until they are just about discharged, the flow will stay within the target throughout the charge until all of a sudden when it dramatically reduces. You will feel this change in the mask. At that point it's time to plug in the filter pack.. PANASONIC EY6101FQKW battery
PANASONIC EY9005B ,PANASONIC EY9006B ,PANASONIC EY9106 ,PANASONIC EY9106B ,PANASONIC EY9200,PANASONIC EY9200B ,PANASONIC EY9201 ,PANASONIC EY9201B
DEWALT 152250-27 ,DEWALT 397745-01
Use: While turning a piece with both eye and head protection I must admit I felt very secure wearing the respirator. Breathing the fresh air was an added bonus. There was a little distortion of my peripheral vision caused by the bubble face shield but looking straight on was fine. DEWALT DC727VA battery I had just begun turning some spindles for a cradle and things were progressing well. I had 35 of these to turn. About an hour and a half into the session my neck was getting stiff...the weight of the respirator the culprit. Standing relatively still with my head in about the same position spindle after spindle was taking it's toll. I removed the respirator and replaced it with my face shield and I immediately felt better. DEWALT DC727KA-B2 battery
Working around the rest of the shop was much better. I was able to perform all sorts of other tasks without a problem. Again the annoying thing was the hose pushing the hat down on my face. I did find that it could get warm under the shroud if I was exerting myself. DEWALT DC740K-2 battery The air blowing in front of my face stayed cool but I would start to perspire around my neck and shoulders under the shroud. Over the course of the next few turning sessions I again tried to to wear the respirator and each time after a couple of hours I had to take it off. Maybe it's just these old bones. I also ran into a low battery situation when I left it for a week after using it for about 4 hours. Upon testing the airflow prior to using the respirator, the sitting around had caused the battery to drain and the flow was under the required lever. I had to forego using the respirator until the next day. DEWALT DC740KA battery
Accessories: Right after I completed this review I found a company, Airware America, that sells replacement parts for the Triton. In addition to the replacements they offer stick on overlays which can be used with the Triton as well as other facemasks. Since they are not made specifically for the Triton they don't fit perfectly, but they do fit well enough for use and should greatly extend the usable life of the faceshield. DEWALT DC740KZ battery
Conclusion:
Safety isn't free and the Triton Powered Respirator like most safety devices causes the user some inconveniences. Compared to a face shield it costs more, weighs more, is hotter to wear, and causes more fatigue. What you get in return is clean lungs, your sight, your hearing, and few less bumps on the noggin. That's a fair trade if you ask me. DEWALT DC742KA battery
I've been in contact with Triton USA and they assure me that a new more flexible hose with quick connect fittings is on the way. The current hose is the biggest problem with the respirator. If they can solve that issue and come up with a quicker/smarter way to charge the batteries or even package the batteries without the motor to reduce cost, then they will have a real winner here. DEWALT DC742VA battery
he more I get into woodworking the more safety conscience I become. While surfing the woodworking message boards it's hard to miss the constant chatter about safety devices. As a novice woodturner who's first hour on a lathe was interrupted by a flying spindle between the eyes (I was wearing a face shield), I was very interested to see how Triton Woodworking Systems has addressed a number of our safety concerns, dust, eye, ear and head protection, with their new powered respirator. Thanks to Triton Woodworking Systems for providing the respirator for review. DEWALT DC743KA battery
As with all my reviews main intent is to try to provide the reader with all the information they need to make an informed purchase. There will be plenty of photo's, some very close up, which I hope will give you a feel for the tool and which should preclude you from being surprised when you open the box. DEWALT DC743KB battery
DEWALT 152250-27 ,DEWALT 397745-01 ,DEWALT DC9071 ,DEWALT DE9037 ,DEWALT DE9071 ,DEWALT DE9074,DEWALT DE9075 ,DEWALT DE9501 ,DEWALT DW9071 ,DEWALT DW9072
What's in the box?
As you can see the Triton Powered Respirator comes in the familiar Triton orange just as the rest of their products. PANASONIC EY6220B battery The head piece includes an AS/NZS 1801 approved hard hat with integrated AS/NZS 1270 approved ear protectors and an AS/NZS 1337 approved face shield. The head piece also includes an integrated shroud to keep the dust out and the ducting for the filtered air. The waist belt mounted filter unit contains two AS/NZS 1716 approved dust filters and NiCad batteries. The other accessories are the instruction manual, air hose, air flow meter, and DC power transformer used for charging the batteries. All of this comes securely packaged in a foot and a half square box. PANASONIC EY6220D battery
The filter unit actually contains 3 filters. PANASONIC EY6225 battery Two internal filters which are rated to the Australian standard as P2 (Equivalent to the American N95 class) particulate filters which allow 1% of the particles below 1 micron to pass and will remove 95% particulates down to 0.3 micron. Triton also sells an additional filter called CIGWELD. This filter is used during welding operations. There is also a pre filter (photo at right) which snaps onto the bottom of the assembly and should catch all the big stuff and keep it out of the motor assembly. In that same photo also notice the dust booted power switch and the LED indicating that the unit is being charged. PANASONIC EY6220DR battery
In the three pictures above you can see the assembly with all the filters removed. The photo at left is looking straight down into the assembly. The two yellow things are D sized NiCad batteries which are soldered in place. The middle picture is with the pre-filter removed and looking at the bottom of the assembly. You can see the impeller just above the nameplate and the power switch on the left. The photo at right is again looking through the top but this time at an angle to expose the impeller motor. The air movement through a clean filter assembly is 120 liters/min. PANASONIC EY6225C battery
The last thing I want to show you before we move on to the headgear is the flow meter. This is simply a clear plastic tube with a captive ball and a target (this brings back some memories of tuning the carburetors on my MG). The way it works is that you attach the meter to the output of the filter and if the ball is in the target circle then all is well. If it's below the target then either the batteries are in need of a charge or the filters need changing. We'll spend a little more time on this later in the review. PANASONIC EY6225CQ battery
The entire headgear is very well put together and is of high quality with the same excellent fit and finish I've come to expect from Triton products. PANASONIC EY3653 battery The facemask arrived, and still is scratch free and a replacement can be purchased for $20. The ear protectors are rated for 23dBA to the Australian standard. The ear protectors swing out of the way (as pictured) but are not recommended for removal because they will leave a hole in the shroud. They adjust up and down so that you can get a comfortable fit. I could not adjust them up enough so that they were not sitting on my ear lobes and I could not see a way to modify either the muffs or the headgear harness to allow for a comfortable fit. PANASONIC EY3653CQ battery
The webbing in the hat was similar to every hard hat I've seen. There is a ratcheting adjustment in the rear which adjusts for head size. Depending on how big your head is, the knob can interfere with the air inlet on the back of the hat (photo right is after the adjustment below). Luckily there is an undocumented adjustment which can gain your some head room (pun intended) PANASONIC EY3654 battery
Looking at the plastic headband I noticed an extra set of holes just behind the sweat band (photo left). This adjustment will move the part of the headband which goes behind your head, and houses the ratchet adjustment towards the front. So I popped out the band and moved it forward and indeed it did provide the clearance needed. The picture at right shows the new position of the band. PANASONIC EY3654CQ battery
The face shield locks in three positions and during all of my testing I never experienced the shield not staying where I put it. Below are the 3 different positions of the face shield. PANASONIC EY3502FQMKW battery
The respirator operates by sucking air through the pre-filter at the bottom of the filter assembly and blowing that air at through the cartridge filters and up into the hard hat at 130 liters per minute. The air enters the back of the hat and is ducted over your head where it is exhausted just at the edge of the headband. The air is directed over the inside of the face shield. PANASONIC EY3503FQWKW battery
Batteries: When you receive and unpack your respirator the first thing you need to do is to plug in your battery pack to charge it up. One of the negatives about the Triton is that while the pack lasts up to 8 hours (in my three battery life tests it lasted between 7 and 8 hours) it takes at least over night to charge. PANASONIC EY3550DQG battery
The first time you charge it they instruct you to let it charge for 15 hours. Another battery related issue is that you can't just buy another set of NiCad's for it, you must buy the battery pack for around $80 which includes not only the batteries but also the whole motor assembly. A recommendation I will make to Triton is to have replaceable batteries so that we can purchase an extra "D" sized NiCad's and have them in an inexpensive charger, ready to go. PANASONIC EY3790 battery
In the current configuration, another needed feature is a smarter charger. The current charging system is simply a user timed event. Additionally if you leave the charger on longer than 72 hours you will damage the batteries. PANASONIC EY3790B battery What is needed is a smart charger which charges the batteries and then reverts to a trickle charge so that the pack can be plugged in and left alone where it will be ready to go whenever you need it. With the long charging times and the instructions to not use the battery pack if the air flow has dropped, I found myself on at least two occasions needing the respirator, but unable to use it because it failed the flow test. When that happened, a fully charged pack was at least 15 hours away. PANASONIC EY3794B battery
All that being said, with a fully charged pack I could get the stated life out of the filter and it worked well. Also, if one was using the pack every day charging would be less of an issue because you could simply plug it in when you were done for the day and it would be ready for you in the morning. PANASONIC EY6100FQKW battery
The photo at left shows the filter pack being flow tested. Since NiCads put out a constant voltage right up until they are just about discharged, the flow will stay within the target throughout the charge until all of a sudden when it dramatically reduces. You will feel this change in the mask. At that point it's time to plug in the filter pack.. PANASONIC EY6101FQKW battery
PANASONIC EY9005B ,PANASONIC EY9006B ,PANASONIC EY9106 ,PANASONIC EY9106B ,PANASONIC EY9200,PANASONIC EY9200B ,PANASONIC EY9201 ,PANASONIC EY9201B
BOSCH CRS180 battery
Karlsruhe/Munich/Schweinfurt – The Automotive Aftermarket division of Robert Bosch GmbH, Knorr-Bremse Systeme für Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH, and ZF Friedrichshafen AG's ZF Service business unit plan to establish a joint venture. This new company will operate as a system center providing a full-service portfolio for multi-brand commercial-vehicle workshops. The joint venture is to be based in the greater Munich area and will initially employ some ten associates. The formation of the joint venture is subject to the approval of the relevant antitrust authorities. bosch Tool Battery
The joint venture's full-service portfolio is to include a hotline, technical training programs and information, diagnostics, workshop equipment, and quality management. Starting from the middle of next year, it is initially planned to offer the workshop franchise as an independent brand to multi-brand commercial-vehicle workshops in Germany. Following this, it will gradually be rolled out in other European countries. BOSCH CCS180B battery
The three joint-venture partners are among the leading international suppliers to passenger-car and commercial-vehicle manufacturers. Their product range helps the transport sector save fuel and makes it more eco-friendly. Their product ranges are complemented by extensive service expertise gained over many years in their individual workshop franchises. BOSCH CCS180K battery
"In the shape of Bosch Car Service and AutoCrew, Bosch already offers two internationally successful full-service concepts in the passenger-car workshop market. Based on this experience of workshop franchises and our expertise in the commercial-vehicle industry, for example with regard to engines and electrics, we intend to work together with Knorr-Bremse and ZF, whose strengths complement our own, so that workshops that service and repair commercial vehicles can also benefit from these services," says Robert Hanser, president of the Bosch Automotive Aftermarket division. BOSCH CFL180 battery
"The growing technical complexity of commercial-vehicle systems makes it increasingly important that we improve workshop expertise in this area, and in this way lastingly boost these workshops' competitiveness. As a specialist for safety systems in the commercial-vehicle sector, we are excited about this cooperation with Bosch and ZF, since it allows us to offer workshops advice in this area and to help them satisfy growing demands," says Klaus Deller, member of the executive board of Knorr-Bremse AG. BOSCH CFL180B battery
"With its comprehensive ZF Services ProTech franchise, ZF Services already offers workshops tailored support in drive and chassis technology. Together with our partners, we are now able to offer an even wider range of services," says Alois Ludwig, chairman of the board of directors of ZF Services. He goes on to summarize the objective of the planned workshop franchise for commercial vehicles: "Commercial-vehicle customers place particular importance on high quality and flexible service. BOSCH CRS180 battery
Our combination of a new franchise concept and tried and tested products in OE quality will allow us to help workshops take up this challenge and position themselves in the market."Stuttgart – Robert Bosch GmbH and its Reutlingen location have received the 2012 Environment Award for Businesses from the government of the state of Baden-Württemberg. Bosch received the judges' award in the "energy excellence" category. BOSCH CRS180B battery
The citation described Bosch as a company whose scope of activities for generating renewable power, saving energy, and developing solutions for increasing the company's energy efficiency is exemplary". Baden-Württemberg's environment minister Franz Untersteller presented the award yesterday evening at a ceremony in the Neues Schloss palace in Stuttgart. BOSCH CRS180K battery
"Environmental protection and sustainable business management are a central objective of our corporate strategy. Nearly half of Bosch's research and development budget already goes toward eco-friendly products," said Dr. Werner Struth, the Robert Bosch GmbH board of management member responsible for environmental protection. "Bosch sales of renewable energy technology have grown strongly since 2004, from 125 million to around 1.5 billion euros in 2011." BOSCH DDS180-01 DDS180-03 battery
The Reutlingen location has a sophisticated energy concept. All the waste heat from production processes is exploited, water is recovered, and the cooling-water and heating systems are interlinked. This reduces consumption of fossil fuels and saves on electricity for re-cooling. Other aspects of the energy concept include a combined heat and power (CHP) plant, heat pumps, flue-gas heat exchangers, a solar heating system, and a photovoltaic array. Together with efficient production processes and modern plant engineering, the concept helps Bosch save around 10,000 metric tons of CO2 a year at the Reutlingen location. Rather than by burning fossil fuels, 90 percent of the modern wafer fab's heat requirement is met by way of waste-heat utilization, a renewable form of energy. BOSCH DGSH-181 battery
In addition, the site management makes use of several electric vehicles. Soon, all associates will be able to recharge their electric cars or ebikes at the charge spots installed on site.
At its Reutlingen location, Bosch develops and manufactures sensors, semiconductors, and electronic control units for use in cars, smartphones, and ebikes. The site workforce comprises some 6,800 associates and 230 apprentices. BOSCH FHN180 battery
A new survey of British motorists shows that the majority of car buyers are positive about the concept of the autonomous car.
The research, commissioned by Bosch, shows that in addition to the current range of active and passive safety systems fitted to modern cars, many motorists would actively consider buying an autonomous car in the future. BOSCH GBH 18 V-LI battery
Bosch invests heavily in vehicle safety and driver assistance technologies, making driving safer, less stressful and more economical. BOSCH 2 607 336 169 ,BOSCH 2 607 336 170 ,BOSCH BAT609 ,BOSCH BAT609G ,BOSCH BAT618G ,
Measuring people's attitudes to both driving and travelling in autonomous vehicles, the survey also revealed that over one third of motorists think autonomous cars would reduce road accidents. Men are more at ease with the idea of autonomous vehicles – 44% think they would reduce road accidents compared to 21% of women.
Road to the future
Although considered science fiction by some, the autonomous car is a reality. Since the 1980s, car manufacturers have been actively developing autonomous vehicle technology. Companies such as Google have recently trialled autonomous technologies, which has brought the subject into the public's consciousness. BOSCH GDR 18 V-LI battery
Despite the fact that the mainstream production of autonomous vehicles may be many years away, the basics of the technology are already in place on many modern cars. Bosch supplies many of the technologies that form the foundation of an autonomous car, including Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Departure Warning.
In its simplest incarnation, Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) is able to assist the driver, by helping prevent skidding and thus keeping the vehicle safely on track.
Newer technology, such as the Predictive Emergency Braking System, provides faster reaction times to avoid critical situations with the vehicle in front and intervene with driver warnings and additional braking support – up to and including automatic partial and full braking. The survey also discovered that motorists are happy with these underlying safety and comfort technologies. BOSCH GDR 18 V-LIS battery
Peter Fouquet, president of Bosch UK said: "Bosch is developing safety and assistance systems for both high end and low-priced vehicle, to create tangible customer benefits making driving even more safe, comfortable and cost effective."
"Our research clearly shows consumers have confidence in driver assistance technologies such as Driver Drowsiness Detection. With each innovation, we move a step closer to the goal of accident-free and fully automated driving." BOSCH GDR 18V-LIMF battery
Driving safety remains a priority for Bosch. ESP® has been found to prevent up to 80 percent of all skidding accidents and must be fitted to all new cars by law from 2014. ESP®, and the other advanced technologies can play a significant role in reducing the number of road accidents. Be it parents, company car drivers, fleet managers or even legislators, no one should underestimate the positive impact that systems like ESP® and emergency braking systems can have.
You can learn more about Bosch's driver assistance technologies through its YouTube videos:
Adaptive Cruise Control: www.youtube.com/watch?v=own_VaRZ9M8
Predictive Emergency Braking: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHR8AeZrlVc BOSCH GDS 18 V-LI battery
Land Departure Warning: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSzEi8dlFIc
Automotive Technology is the largest Bosch Group business sector. Its sales came to 30.4 billion euros, or 59 percent of total group sales, in fiscal 2011. This makes the Bosch Group one of the leading automotive suppliers. Worldwide, more than 175,000 Automotive Technology associates work in seven areas of business: injection technology for internal-combustion engines, powertrain peripherals, alternative drive concepts, active and passive safety systems, assistance and comfort functions, in-car information and communication, as well as services and technology for the automotive aftermarket. Bosch has been responsible for important automotive innovations, such as electronic engine management, the ESP® anti-skid system, and common-rail diesel technology. BOSCH GKS 18 V-LI battery
The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. More than 300,000 associates generated sales of 51.4 billion euros in the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology in fiscal 2011. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its more than 350 subsidiaries and regional companies in some 60 countries. If its sales and service partners are included, then Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. Bosch spent more than 4 billion euros for research and development in 2011, and applied for over 4,100 patents worldwide. With all its products and services, Bosch enhances the quality of life by providing solutions which are both innovative and beneficial.Bosch Motorsport provides technical support for Race2Recovery. Bosch supplying a range of motorsport and accessibility components BOSCH GSA 18 V-LI battery
Bosch Motorsport has announced its technical support for Race2Recoverys' attempt to be the first team of predominantly injured servicemen to complete the formidable Dakar Rally staged in South America in January 2013. BOSCH GSB 18 V-LI battery
As an official partner for Race2Recovery, Bosch is providing motorsport components and systems for on-rally technical support, as well as equipment through its Power Tools division.
Peter Fouquet, president of Bosch UK said: "We are delighted to be supporting the Race2Recovery team in its aim of overcoming adversity in one of the world's toughest motorsport events using our technologies, expertise and components." BOSCH GSB 18 VE-2-LI battery
Race2Recovery driver and co-founder Captain Tony Harris said: "We are really pleased to have Bosch supporting Race2Recovery with its technical expertise and components. Bosch's support will be invaluable to us in taking on the Dakar Rally in January 2013." BOSCH GSB 18-2-LI battery
Automotive Technology is the largest Bosch Group business sector. Its sales came to 30.4 billion euros, or 59 percent of total group sales, in fiscal 2011. This makes the Bosch Group one of the leading automotive suppliers. Worldwide, more than 175,000 Automotive Technology associates work in seven areas of business: injection technology for internal-combustion engines, powertrain peripherals, alternative drive concepts, active and passive safety systems, assistance and comfort functions, in-car information and communication, as well as services and technology for the automotive aftermarket. Bosch has been responsible for important automotive innovations, such as electronic engine management, the ESP® anti-skid system, and common-rail diesel technology BOSCH GSB 18V-LIN battery
The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. In the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology, more than 300,000 associates generated sales of 51.5 billion euros in fiscal 2011. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 350 subsidiaries and regional companies in some 60 countries. If its sales and service partners are included, then Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. Bosch spent some 4.2 billion euros for research and development in 2011, and applied for over 4,100 patents worldwide. With all its products and services, Bosch enhances the quality of life by providing solutions which are both innovative and beneficial. BOSCH GSR 18 V-LI battery
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Asus 90-NWF1B2000Y
Jeder Notebookkauf ist in gewisser Weise die Suche nach dem perfekten Kompromiss: Gewicht und Abmessungen, Mobilität, Displaygröße, Leistung - all diese Eigenschaften stehen oftmals konträr zueinander und lassen sich nicht ohne Weiteres in einem Gerät vereinen. akku ASUS B23
Wenn es einen Hersteller gibt, der dies trotz aller Schwierigkeiten immer wieder gemeistert hat, dann ist es Apple. Mit dem zweifellos äußerst kostspieligen, technisch aber ebenso beeindruckenden MacBook Pro 15 Retina hat der Hersteller die Messlatte für die Konkurrenz erneut weit nach oben geschraubt. akku ASUS B23E
Umso gespannter sind wir darum auf einen neuen Kandidaten von Asus, der darauf zielt, die Dominanz aus Cupertino zu durchbrechen. Das Zenbook UX51VZ versteht sich als Kombination aus mobilem Ultrabook und leistungsstarkem Multimedia-Boliden, der die Vorteile beider Geräteklassen miteinander vereinen soll. Bereits ein Blick auf das Datenblatt macht den High-End-Anspruch des auch Zenbook U500VZ genannten Notebooks deutlich: Quad-Core-CPU i7-3612QM. GeForce GT 650M Grafikkarte. FullHD-Display mit IPS-Panel. SSD-Raid-Verbund. Wem läuft da nicht das Wasser im Munde zusammen? Asus 15G10N373800
Einen kleinen Dämpfer verpasst jedoch der Preis: Zwischen 1700 (256-GByte-Version) und 2000 Euro (512-GByte-Version) verlangt Asus für seinen Modellathleten – und ist damit zumindest in dieser Disziplin schon fast auf Apple-Niveau angelangt. Die konzeptionell ähnlichen Konkurrenten Dell XPS 15 und Sony Vaio SV-S1511 kosten, vergleichbar ausgestattet, allerdings ebenfalls kaum weniger. Asus90-NED1B2100Y
Um diese Frage gleich zu Beginn zu beantworten: Nein, ein Ultrabook darf sich das UX51VZ zumindest offiziell eigentlich nicht nennen. Am Gehäuse liegt das jedoch nicht: Intels Spezifikation von maximal 21 Millimetern Dicke unterbietet das Zenbook mit lediglich 6 bis 20 Millimetern locker. Subjektiv wirkt es durch seine Keilform (die übrigens stark dem UX31A ähnelt) sogar noch etwas zierlicher als das aktuelle MacBook Pro 15, auch wenn dieses, zumindest in der Retina-Version, noch ein klein wenig dünner daherkommt. Auch beim Gewicht schenken sich die beiden Kontrahenten nur wenig: Etwas über 2 Kilogramm bei Apple, genau 2,2 Kilogramm bei Asus - das ist zwar mess-, aber nur schwerlich spürbar. Asus 90-NWF1B2000Y
Wie in dieser Preisklasse üblich setzt das UX51 auf ein edles Leichtmetall-Chassis, welches in diesem Fall aus zwei miteinander verschraubten Einzelteilen besteht. Die matt-glänzenden, gebürsteten Aluminiumoberflächen unterstreichen dabei eindrucksvoll den hochwertigen Gesamteindruck. Obwohl das Design insgesamt sehr dezent daherkommt, hat Asus nicht auf den ein oder anderen Akzent verzichtet: Das etwas dunkler gehaltene Display steht im Kontrast zur silbernen Basiseinheit, deren Optik von einem LED-beleuchteten Power-Button aufgelockert wird. Asus A32-M50
Besonders schlanke Notebooks lassen immer befürchten, dass nicht nur am Volumen, sondern auch der Stabilität gespart wurde. Das Zenbook widerlegt diese Sorge umgehend und erweist sich sowohl gegenüber Verwindungsversuchen als auch punktuellem Druck als äußerst resistent. Einzig oberhalb der Tastatur ist bei besonders hohem Kraftaufwand ein minimales Durchbiegen erkennbar. In puncto Verarbeitungsqualität gibt es dagegen absolut nichts zu beanstanden: Alle Kanten wurden sauber abgerundet und Materialübergänge exakt aneinander angepasst. Asus A32-N61
Ähnlich wie bei Apple ist das Display mittels eines zentralen Scharniers mit der Basiseinheit verbunden. Das straffe Gelenk verhindert, dass die Anzeige bei Erschütterungen übermäßig nachschwingt. Dennoch lässt sich der massive Deckel mit nur einer Hand öffnen, ohne dass das Notebook den Bodenkontakt verliert. Insgesamt können wir damit beschließen: Die nahezu perfekte Qualität eines MacBooks oder des XPS 15 von Dell verfehlt das UX51VZ nur um Haaresbreite. Asus A32-X64
Glücklicherweise hat sich Asus nicht an so manchem, oftmals nur spärlich ausgestatteten Ultrabook orientiert, sondern dem Zenbook eine ansprechende Schnittstellenvielfalt spendiert. Dies beginnt mit gleich drei USB-Ports, welche allesamt den schnellen Super-Speed-Standard 3.0 beherrschen. Einer der Anschlüsse besitzt zudem die "Sleep-and-charge"-Funktionalität, welche das Laden von USB-Geräten bei ausgeschaltetem Notebook erlaubt. Asus A33-M50
Mit HDMI und Mini-VGA (Adapter auf VGA liegt bei) stehen dem Nutzer zwei Möglichkeiten zum Anschluss eines externen Monitors zur Verfügung. Leider fehlt eine DisplayPort- oder Thunderbolt-Schnittstelle, welche oftmals für besonders hochauflösender Displays benötigt wird. Zwar würde auch HDMI theoretisch Auflösungen weit über FullHD erlauben, doch wird dies in der Praxis meist durch Treiberprobleme verhindert. Asus L062066
Darüber hinaus bietet das Notebook alle üblichen Anschlüsse wie GBit-LAN, einen Kartenleser (SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC) oder eine Headset-Buchse. Diese verteilen sich auf die linke und rechte Gehäuseseite und wurden dort mit ausreichendem Abstand zueinander platziert. Häufig genutzte Ports wie USB hat Asus dabei etwas weiter nach vorn verlagert, weniger wichtige Schnittstellen befinden sich nahe der Rückseite. Asus L072051
Die Netzwerkkomponenten des Notebooks wurden vom kleineren Schwestermodell UX31A übernommen. Asus L0790C6 Das von Intel stammende Mini-PCIe-Modul Centrino Advanced-N 6235 unterstützt sowohl Bluetooth 4.0 als auch die WLAN-Standards 802.11a/b/g/n. Als Dual-Band-Adapter kann dieses Modell sowohl im 2,4-GHz- als auch 5-GHz-Band funken und erreicht eine maximale Bruttodatenrate von 300 MBit/s (2x2 Multi-Stream). Besonders interessant ist zudem das Wireless-Display-Feature, welches die drahtlose Übertragung des Bildinhaltes an ein externes Ausgabegerät erlaubt. Einzig eine integrierte WWAN-Lösung (UMTS/LTE) vermissen wir. akku ASUS UX31
Wie auch in anderen Modellen der Zenbook-Serie hat Asus eine 1,0-Megapixel-Webcam samt Mikrofon verbaut, welche zum Beispiel für Videochats genutzt werden kann. Mehr als eine höchst durchschnittliche Bild- und Tonqualität sollte man allerdings nicht erwarten, für Schnappschüsse greift man darum besser zu seinem Smartphone. akku ASUS ZenBook UX31
Zubehör
Während man bei einem MacBook selbst grundlegendes Zubehör zu teils schwindelerregenden Preisen nachträglich erwerben muss, legt Asus bereits ab Werk viele sinnvolle Extras bei. Dazu zählt nicht nur der zuvor erwähnte Adapter für den VGA-Ausgang, sondern auch ein externer DVD-Brenner sowie ein kleiner Subwoofer - letzteren kennen wir schon vom Asus N56VZ. Ein erstaunlich kompaktes 90-Watt-Netzteil, verschiedene Broschüren und weitere kleine Beigaben (Treiber-CD, Staubtuch, Kabelbinder) komplettieren den Lieferumfang. akku ASUS ZenBook UX31A
Wartung
Prinzipiell ist es durchaus möglich, das Notebook mit ein wenig handwerklichem Geschick selbst zu öffnen; Laien würden wir davon jedoch abraten. Als erste Stolperfalle hat Asus die Bodenplatte mit Torx-Schrauben befestigt, deren Lösen nur mit einem speziellen T5-Schraubendreher möglich ist. Achtung: Zwei der insgesamt 12 Schrauben verstecken sich unter den hinteren Standfüßen, welche zunächst vorsichtig herausgehebelt werden müssen. Ist dies geschafft, erschwert nur noch ein Klebestreifen an der Rückseite das Entfernen der Abdeckung. akku ASUS ZenBook UX31E
Im Inneren des Notebooks präsentiert sich ein aufgeräumtes Bild, welches nur wenige Aufrüstoptionen offenbart. Nur eines der Speichermodule kann vom Nutzer gewechselt werden, weitere 4 GByte RAM sind fest auf dem Board verlötet. Die beiden SSDs besitzen gar einen proprietären Anschluss und keine Möglichkeit, sie mit einem üblichen 2,5-Zoll- oder mSATA-Laufwerk zu ersetzen. Immerhin lassen sich die beiden Lüfter reinigen sowie das WLAN-Modul ersetzen. akku ASUS UX31 Ultrabook
Garantie
Asus gewährt dem Käufer eine 24-monatige Garantie, welche einen Pickup & Return Service im Schadensfall umfasst. Wie üblich werden darüber hinaus zusätzliche Erweiterungen angeboten: Eine Verlängerung auf insgesamt 3 Jahre ist je nach Anbieter bereits ab etwa 75 Euro möglich, was in Anbetracht des Kaufpreises von rund 2000 Euro eine überaus empfehlenswerte Investition darstellt. akku ASUS UX31A Ultrabook
Anders als Apple oder Dell hat Asus die gesamte Breite des 15-Zoll-Chassis dazu genutzt, eine vollwertige Tastatur samt Ziffernblock zu verbauen. Die im Chiclet-Design gestalteten Tasten weisen dennoch eine angenehme Größe von 15 x 15 Millimetern auf, was insbesondere Menschen mit etwas breiteren Fingern zugutekommt. Sowohl die Verarbeitung als auch die haptische Qualität des eingesetzten Kunststoffes kann auf ganzer Linie überzeugen und hält mit den besten Geräten am Markt mit. Auf unnötige Layout-Experimente hat der Hersteller zum Glück verzichtet, sodass sich auch Desktop-Nutzer in kürzester Zeit zurechtfinden. akku ASUS UX31E Ultrabook
So viel zur Theorie. Der positive Ersteindruck bestätigt sich schnell auch in der Praxis, wobei uns besonders der mittel-feste und angenehm knackige Anschlag gefallen hat. Ähnlich wie bei Apples MacBook lassen die Tasten eine spürbare Strukturierung oder Wölbung vermissen, ohne das dies jedoch die Trefferquote merklich reduziert. Auch bei hohen Schreibgeschwindigkeiten ist kein störendes Klappern oder übermäßiges Durchbiegen der Tastatur erkennbar, womit sich das UX51 auch für Vielschreiber eignet. Bei abnehmender Umgebungshelligkeit kann eine dreistufig regelbare Hintergrundbeleuchtung zugeschaltet werden. Asus C22-UX31
Touchpad
Das 10,5 x 7 Zentimeter große Touchpad wurde von anderen Modellen der Zenbook-Serie übernommen und beweist auch im UX51 seine bewährten Qualitäten. Dazu zählt zum einen die samtig-glatte Oberfläche mit hervorragenden Gleiteigenschaften, zum anderen aber auch die ausgezeichnete Präzision der Steuerung. Bekannte Multi-Touch-Gesten wie das Zoomen oder Scrollen mit zwei Fingern beherrscht mittlerweile zwar jedes Einstiegsmodell, hervorzuheben ist jedoch das besonders feinfühlige Ansprechverhalten auf derartige Befehle. akku ASUS Eee PC 1225
Entsprechend der Clickpad-Bauweise wurden die Maustasten direkt in den unteren Teil der Eingabefläche integriert. Prinzipbedingt ist dies nicht jedermanns Geschmack, denn leicht bewegt man während eines Klicks ungewollt den Zeiger und verfehlt so sein Ziel. Qualitativ hat Asus dagegen erneut exzellente Arbeit abgeliefert: Nach einem sehr kurzen Hubweg folgt der klar definierte Druckpunkt, welcher von einem sanften Klick-Geräusch begleitet wird. akku ASUS Eee PC 1225B
Trotz der von 13,3 auf 15,6 Zoll angewachsenen Bilddiagonale setzt das UX51VZ auf die gleiche Auflösung wie das Schwestermodell UX31A – 1.920 x 1.080 Pixel, auch FullHD genannt. Die resultierende Pixeldichte sinkt damit auf 141 dpi, was aber noch immer eine überaus feine Darstellung ermöglicht. An das MacBook Pro 15 mit Retina-Display (2.880 x 1.800 Pixel, 221 dpi) kommt das Zenbook so zwar nicht heran, doch fällt dieser Nachteil nur bei einem unrealistisch kleinen Betrachtungsabstand ins Gewicht. Effektiv ist die Arbeitsfläche des Apple-Rechners sogar etwas kleiner, da das Bild dort standardmäßig auf 1.440 x 900 Bildpunkte skaliert wird. akku ASUS Eee PC 1225C
Die Steuerung der Hintergrundbeleuchtung wird von einem Helligkeitssensor übernommen, welcher auf Wunsch aber auch deaktiviert werden kann. In der Maximaleinstellung erreicht die Leuchtdichte einen Durchschnittswert von 265,3 cd/m². Im absoluten Spitzenfeld kann das UX51 damit zwar nicht ganz mitspielen, liegt aber auf einem ähnlichen Niveau wie sein Apple-Kontrahent (273 cd/m²). Der von uns gemessene, leichte Helligkeitsabfall in den beiden unteren Ecken ist subjektiv kaum wahrnehmbar. Störender sind dagegen mehrere leichte Lichthöfe an den Bildrändern - ob dies nur ein Problem unseres Testmusters oder der gesamten Baureihe ist, können wir leider nicht genau sagen. Asus A31-1015
Asus hat sich für ein hochwertiges IPS-Panel von LG entschieden (LP156WF4), welches gegenüber TN-basierten Produkten eine Reihe entscheidender Vorteile besitzt. Dank eines guten, wenn auch nicht überragenden Schwarzwertes von 0,58 cd/m² ergibt sich ein ordentliches Kontrastverhältnis von 498:1. Noch etwas besser schlägt sich allerdings das MacBook mit 913:1, was in einer lebendigeren Darstellung von Bildern und Videos resultiert. Asus A31-1015Asus AL31-1015Asus A32-1015Asus PL32-1015
Samsung NP-P50 battery
Samsung wants to score some points with the especially good price-performance ratio of the Series 3 models. They are offered in 11.6" (305U1A), 13.3" (300V3A), 17.3" (300E7A), and 15.6-inch form factors, our test unit being the latter. In order to achieve the low price, Samsung relies mainly on 2011 Sandy Bridge processors. Samsung NP-P50 battery
Our test candidate, the 300E5C A06DE, is equipped with an Intel Core i3-2310M CPU and 4 GB of system memory. In terms of video performance, the notebook uses the integrated Graphics 3000 chip. Samsung also offers models with a discrete graphics card, such as the 350V5C S05 (forthcoming) with an AMD Radeon HD 7670M. In terms of storage device, our model is equipped with a conventional hard drive working at 5400 RPM. Samsung NP-P60 battery
The case reminds us very much (except for the lighter gray) of the already reviewed sister model 305E7A (17.3-inch, AMD CPU and GPU) and 355V5C-S05DE (15.6-inch, AMD): the housing is made of black and gray plastic. The only glossy surface is around the keyboard and it proves to be a dirt magnet. On the display lid we find the familiar grooved pattern. Samsung AA-PB2VC6W
The interfaces and their arrangement match that of the 300E5A-S01. The layout favors right-handed users. External monitors can be connected via the digital HDMI or via the analog VGA ports. Samsung could have upgraded at least one of the three USB 2.0 ports to a USB 3.0 standard. SAMSUNG N150 Battery
Fortunately, here we are offered Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit-LAN (10/100/1000 MBit), Atheros AR9485WB-EG Wireless Network Adapter (b/g/n) and Bluetooth V4.0 + HS that support the latest standards. SAMSUNG N150 Plus Battery
Accessories
Besides the basic necessities, such as the 48 Wh battery and the 65 W power supply, in the package we find a couple of information pamphlets, including a quick start guide. As is now usual, the user is responsible for the creation of the recovery DVD. This can be accomplished via the Samsung Recovery Solution software. Samsung AA-PB1VC6B
Maintenance
The hard drive and system memory can easily be reached through the maintenance cover on the bottom. Unfortunately there are no free slots or 2.5-inch bays - any upgrades require the removal of the installed components. Further disassembly, in order to reach and clean the fan and heat sink, is more complex and could void the warranty in case of damage. Samsung R505 Battery
The matte surface allows a precise cursor movement. The Elan Smart-Pad supports the modern multi-touch gestures. The two mouse buttons are centrally mounted and respond well. SAMSUNG N143-DP01VN
The installed 15.6-inch screen carries the name AUO21EC and comes from the Chinese manufacturer AU Optronics. The maximum resolution of 1366x768 pixels matches the price range of the notebook. The display is in the now common 16:9 format. Samsung AA-PL1VC6B
Fortunately, the screen has a matte surface and a good maximum brightness of 212 cd/m². In addition, the user should be satisfied with the relatively uniform illumination of 83%, a relatively low black level of 0.6 cd/m², and a good contrast ratio of 353:1. SAMSUNG NP-NC110 Battery
Subjectively, we liked the color reproduction and contrast. As with most notebooks in this price range, our test unit could not cover the sRGB and AdobeRGB color spaces. However, this is only important for the professional computer graphics users. The color reproduction suffices for office and Internet applications. Samsung AA-PB2NC6B
Outdoors, our Samsung test unit scores points with its matte surface. The brightness of 200 cd/m² suffices for use in the shade. There are no disturbing reflections caused by the viewing or light angle. Due to the weather conditions, only one photo in the shade was taken. But we assume that for use in direct sunlight, the brightness should be a bit higher, depending on the user's preferences. Samsung AA-PB9NS6B
The viewing angle stability is typical for a TN panel. Horizontally, the working area is generously wide. Vertically, especially when viewed from below, we quickly noticed color inversion and contrast loss. Samsung AA-PB9NC6B
Our test candidate is based on the Intel HM75 (Panther Point) chipset (-> manufacturer information), which supports both Ivy Bridge and Sandy Bridge processors. Our device is equipped with an Intel Core i3-2310M Sandy Bridge CPU, 4 GB of system memory, and a 5400 RPM hard drive. The integrated Graphics 3000 provides the graphics output. Thus our test unit is aimed more at office and Internet applications then at demanding 3D tasks. SAMSUNG P428 Battery
The Core i3-2310M by Intel is a dual-core processor of the Sandy Bridge generation. Thanks to Hyperthreading, up to four threads can be calculated simultaneously. Turbo Boost is lacking because of the graphics chip, which depending on the cooling capacity varies its clock frequency between 650 and 1100 MHz. You can read more about the CPU in our article. Our Benchmark list of mobile CPUs provides a performance ranking. SAMSUNG NC110 Battery
Fortunately the CPU performance in all CPU oriented benchmarks is on the expected level. In addition the CPU and GPU performance remains available on battery power. In comparison to the competition, only the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E530 with a Core i5 Sandy Bridge CPU is significantly faster. Samsung AA-PB4NC6B
The two PCMark tests, PCMark Vantage and PCMark 7, assess the performance of each individual component and summarize the overall score. Here, a fast storage device has a positive impact, while the graphics performance does not carry as much weight. Overall the system performance was on the expected level for this hardware configuration. Again, only the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E530 (Core i5-2450M, GeForce GT 630M) is significantly better than our test unit. Given the price range, all the devices are equipped with 5400 RPM hard drives. A faster storage device (SSD, hybrid solution or even 7200 RPM HDD) could provide a significant performance boost. Samsung AA-PB1VC6W
5.8Windows 7 Experience IndexProcessorCalculations per second6.4Memory (RAM)Memory operations per second7.3GraphicsDesktop performance for Windows Aero5.9Gaming graphics3D business and gaming graphics6.2Primary hard diskDisk data transfer rate5.8 Samsung R522 Battery
The installed Hitachi Travelstar 5K750 HTS547550A9E has a capacity of 500GB and works at 5400 RPM. The results of the HDTune and CrystalDiskMark are typical for a 5400 RPM model. Samsung R540 Battery
The Graphics 3000, integrated into the processor, has already been reviewed numerous times. Although the Core i3 processor has no Turbo Boost function for both its cores, the graphics chip can be overclocked from 650 MHz up to 1100 MHz. You can read more about the graphics chip in our article. Our Benchmark list of mobile Graphics cards and Games list provide performance ranking. The Samsung is mainly aimed at users with fairly moderate demands on 3D performance. Samsung R780 Battery
As the comparison chart below demonstrates, our test unit fares well against devices with the same graphics card in both 3DMark tests, 3DMark Vantage and 3DMark06, and in the OpenGL test by Cinebench R11.5. In contrast, the results of the Shading test in both versions of Cinebench R10 (32-bit and 64-bit) are surprisingly low. Lenovo's ThinkPad Edge E530 is the only compared notebook with a discrete AMD Radeon HD 7640G and significantly surpasses our 300E5C in this area. In view of the degree of popularity of the graphics card and the target use, office and Internet application, we did not run any gaming tests. In short, the 300E5C is enough for low settings and resolution in demanding 3D games. Samsung NC10-14GBK Battery
In idle state, the Samsung seems quite the quiet fellow. Sometimes the fan turns off completely, leaving only the faint noise of the rotating hard drive. Under load, we measured a noise level of 41.3 dB(A) with the standard settings. Those who find this too loud can use the Easy Settings tools to turn on the Silent Mode. Then the maximum volume under load falls to 35.3 dB(A) - at the expense of performance, since the clock frequencies are reduced. No fan control abnormalities were noticed. Samsung X22 Battery
Under low load, for which our 300E5C was designed, the temperatures of the surfaces remained within limits. This was not the case with the unrealistic stress test, several hours of 100% CPU and GPU load, where the 50 oC (122 oF) mark was exceeded with the standard settings. In practice, one should expect a problem free lap use. SAMSUNG NP-N150 Battery
During the stress test, the temperatures of the two CPU cores and the graphics chip remained in the green. The clock frequency of both cores remained stable. Only the GPU fluctuated at about 950 MHz. No throttling was observed, because the 3DMark06 we ran immediately afterwards ended with insignificant differences compared to a cold run. SAMSUNG NP-P480 Battery
The speakers are located above the keyboard. The sound remains undistorted even at maximum volume, but lacks bass as is usual for devices without a subwoofer. In order to enjoy music, we recommend the use of external speakers or quality headphones. The test of the 3.5mm jack showed no problems. SAMSUNG P480 Battery
The energy consumption of the hardware showed a maximum of 11.2 W in idle, 45.1 W under moderate 3D load with 3DMark06, and 56 W under full load. The Silent Mode not only lower the noise level, but also the clock frequency of the Core i3-2310M processor. Thus the power consumption falls to 23.6 W during the 3DMark06 run and 28 W during the stress test. Samsung AA-PB2NC3B
Our test candidate is equipped with a lithium-ion battery with a 48 Wh capacity. Thus with minimum brightness, energy-saving profile, and Wi-Fi modules turned off, it reached a battery run time of almost 7 hours in the Battery Eater Reader's test. Under load, simulated by the Classic test of the Battery Eater tool, with maximum brightness, high performance profile, and wireless modules turned on, the battery was empty after about 1.5 hours. This value is the minimum battery run time. Samsung AA-PB2NC3W ,Samsung AA-PB2NC6 ,Samsung AA-PB2NC6B ,Samsung AA-PB2NC6W ,Samsung AA-PB2NX6B ,Samsung AA-PB2NX6W ,Samsung AA-PB4NC6B ,Samsung AA-PB4NC6W,Samsung AA-PB6NC6B ,Samsung AA-PB9NC6B ,Samsung AA-PB9NC6W ,Samsung AA-PB9NS6B ,Samsung AA-PB9NS6W ,Samsung AA-PL2NC9B ,Samsung AA-PL2NC9W ,Samsung AA-PL4NC6B ,Samsung AA-PL4NC6W,Samsung AA-PL9NC6B ,Samsung AA-PL9NC6W , Samsung NP-X22 Battery
ThinkPad X230i battery,charger
This intentional limitation is clearly noticed in most benchmarks. Compared with other laptops using the same processor, such as Lenovo's IdeaPad Z580-M81EAGE, Lenovo's G780 shows a poorer performance of averagely 10 to 20%. LENOVO ThinkPad Edge E430 battery,charger
We use PCMark 7 and PCMark Vantage to assess the overall system performance of Lenovo's IdeaPad G780. Low 1933 and 6715 points speak for themselves since the system remains below the expected level. Contenders like HP's Pavilion DV7-7000sg (2450M, GT 630M) with 2059 and 7161 points or MSI's GE70-i547W7H (3210M, GT 650M) with 2023 and 7038 points show the possibilities. LENOVO ThinkPad Edge E430c battery,charger
5.9Windows 7 Experience IndexProcessorCalculations per second6.9Memory (RAM)Memory operations per second7.4GraphicsDesktop performance for Windows Aero6.4Gaming graphics3D business and gaming graphics6.4Primary hard diskDisk data transfer rate5.9 Lenovo ThinkPad X230 battery,charger
Lenovo offers 320 GB HDDs with up to 1 TB in the G780 range. Seagate's Momentus ST750LM022 HN-M750MB is installed in the test device. It has a large memory capacity for multimedia data with 750 GB and spins agreeably fast with 5400 rpm. The HDTune benchmark tool recorded a transfer rate of 79.4 MB/s and an access time of 18.2 ms, which are average rates for a conventional hard drive. The burst rate of 178.9 MB/s is within a good range. The hard drive was always very audible and palpable during the benchmark tests, which is a drawback of conventional spinning drives. ThinkPad X230i battery,charger
An array comprised of Intel's HD Graphics 4000 CPU-integrated GPU and Nvidia's dedicated GeForce GT 630M graphics card featuring Nvidia's energy-saving Optimus technology take care of graphical tasks. LENOVO ThinkPad X230T battery,charger
Nvidia's GeForce GT 630M is a lower midrange graphics card that has 2 GB of DDR3 VRAM. The dedicated graphics card consistently achieved its core clock of 475 MHz and memory clock of 900 MHz and did not throttle even during full load in the synthetic benchmarks. LENOVO ThinkPad X230 Hybrid battery,charger
Lenovo's G780 is not a downright gaming machine in view of the installed components. Nevertheless, Nvidia's GeForce GT 630M is suitable for the odd, occasional game. We played our FIFA 13 and Anno 2070 benchmarks, representative of gaming. FIFA 13 ran smoothly and achieved at least 70 fps even in ultra-settings. The somewhat more hardware-hungry Anno 2070 first displayed smooth 32 fps in medium settings. Thus, up-to-date games are playable when the settings are modified accordingly. LENOVO ThinkPad X230T battery,charger
The laptop was only noticed to some extent with an average of 32 dB(A) in idle, although the fan ran permanently. The measured noise climbed to 35.6 dB(A) when playing a Blu-Ray disc and the laptop was clearly audible in quiet movie scenes.The noise level increased to a maximum of 38.1 dB(A) when we loaded the G780. However, the fan was never noticed adversely because of its low-pitched characteristic. LENOVO ThinkPad X230Tablet battery,charger
The surface temperatures of Lenovo's G780 stayed within limits subjectively. The vital areas, such as the wrist rest and touchpad, did not heat up excessively even during full load; the temperatures ranged between 28 and 37 °C. A maximum of 45 °C was reached in the area above the air outlet. LENOVO ThinkPad X230 Tablet battery,charger
The casing clearly remained below this maximum rate in routine use so that use on the lap should always be possible. The top reached a maximum of 33.8 °C and the bottom's peak was 34.7 °C in idle. We ascertained an average of approximately 30 °C on the surfaces.The PSU's temperature of 32.3 °C stayed within an uncritical range in idle. However, it reached 52.6 °C during load so that air circulation should be ensured. LENOVO S200 battery,charger
The CPU's core temperature reached a maximum of 91 °C and the GPU heated up to reasonable 84 °C in the stress test. Overall, these are not unusual temperatures that would explain why Lenovo omits the CPU's Turbo Boost. LENOVO G470 battery,charger
Both 1.5 W speakers in Lenovo's G780 are on the laptop's bottom and are certified as "Dolby Advanced Audio v2". Nevertheless, the little transducers produce a treble-heavy sound. Mids fade into the background and there is barely any bass. The very high-pitched sounding speakers tend to overdrive quickly in higher volumes. The performance is still acceptable for quiet, background music, but external solutions should be used for playing multimedia content, music or games. LENOVO G470A battery,charger
Lenovo's IdeaPad G780 consumed an average of 0.5 watts in standby. It is only 0.1 watts when the laptop is turned off. The laptop required between 8.8 and 13.6 watts in idle. The PSU drained a maximum of 62.9 watts from the outlet during full load. LENOVO G470AH battery,charger
The 6-cell, 48 Wh lithium ion battery,charger has a capacity of 4400 mAh and weighs just below 300 grams. Lenovo specifies a maximum runtime of 5 hours. battery,chargerEater's synthetic Reader's test excelled this. The laptop was first drained after 5 hours and 49 minutes using maximum energy-saving settings, disabled Wi-Fi modules and minimum brightness. Lenovo's G780 still lasted for 94 minutes in battery,chargerEater's Classic test with enabled Wi-Fi and maximum brightness. LENOVO G470G battery,charger
Our practical internet runtime test, which simulates browsing through different websites in medium brightness and with enabled Wi-Fi, forced the laptop back to an external power source after nearly 3.5 hours. Lenovo's G780 allowed 150 minutes of movie entertainment from a Blu-Ray disc in balanced energy-saving settings and the Wi-Fi module off. LENOVO IdeaPad G470 battery,charger
Lenovo bundles an appealing total package with the installed components comprising of Intel's Core i5 3210M and its integrated HD Graphics 4000, Nvidia's GeForce GT 630M, 8 GB of working memory and a generous 750 GB hard disk. Routine Office tasks, internet browsing, multimedia enjoyment and the occasional game are no problem for the hardware. However, the artificial clock rate limitation of the otherwise very strong CPU is a drawback. LENOVO IdeaPad G470A battery,charger
Good battery,charger runtimes are possible owing to Nvidia's energy-efficient Optimus technology. The G780 exhibits a discreet remodeling as the prior model's case has been adopted; there are no great modifications. The input devices are reliable and precise so that typing longer texts and navigating via the touchpad are easy. LENOVO IdeaPad G470AH battery,charger
The glare-type 17.3-inch screen is not as compelling. It offers a mediocre brightness and can score with subjectively crisp colors from a central viewing position. The glossy surface quickly produces annoying reflections that strongly limit use in direct light. Lenovo regrettably does not offer a Full HD resolution even for its top model. Thus, the 3 kg multimedia laptop will preferably be used as a desktop replacement. LENOVO IdeaPad G470G battery,charger
The laptop is currently available in seven configurations in a price range between 579 Euros and 999 Euros (~$739 and $1275). There is only one device featuring an i7-3612QM quad-core processor over our i5-3210M G780 (M843MGE) test device in the G780 portfolio. Additionally, an Ivy Bridge i3 CPU is also available. Finally, alternatives using Sandy Bridge i3 CPUs comprise the least expensive option for the G780. LENOVO B570 battery,charger
Equally priced competitors, such as HP's Pavilion DV7-7000sg or HP's Pavilion G7-2007sg, basically do not offer better equipment. Customers who are willing to invest approximately 130 Euros (~$165) more should look at alternatives like Medion's Akoya P7815-MD98063 or MSI's GE70-i547W7H. Both multimedia laptops offer strong equipment and can even serve with matte Full HD screens. LENOVO B570A battery,charger
The case fan is definitely audible, but not disturbing. When using two external monitors it is most noticeable. If you disconnect the monitors, it calms down and is only slightly noticed: we measured between 33.1 and 35.7 dB(A). When playing a DVD the noise reaches 35.6 dB(A), but that is hardly disturbing. Only in the case of artificially created full load, which can hardly be reached in everyday use, did we measure an unpleasant maximum of 46.2 dB(A). When gaming, the noise remains at a significantly lower level and escapes our attention in the heat of the battle anyway. LENOVO B570G battery,charger
In idle mode, the IdeaPad Z585 remains properly cool, thanks to the constantly running fan. The maximum temperature in the central region of the keyboard was at 33 °C (91.4 °F). We measured 27 °C (80.6 °F) on the palm rest – a really good value, which only increases to 36 °C (96.8 °F) under load. This is very good. The stress test, however, shows the weaknesses: on the left is the only outlet for the hot air. On this spot we measured 51 °C (123.8 °F) - not dangerous, but still very high. If we use the notebook on the lap while browsing the web, the temperatures remain in the green. But as soon as we start a demanding application, the notebook becomes uncomfortably warm. LENOVO IdeaPad B570 battery,charger
Even under 100% load on the processor and graphics card via Prime95 and FurMark, we did not observe any throttling - lowering of the frequency of components. The CPU reached a maximum of 90 °C (194 °F) after two hours, running constantly at 2700 MHz. LENOVO IdeaPad B570A battery,charger
The sound system, consisting of two speakers with 2 W total power, is the same as the one in the already reviewed Lenovo IdeaPad Z580. It is as it should be for a multimedia notebook, though it has somewhat shallow bass. In contrast, the mids and highs are clear and without distortions. The pre-installed Dolby Home Theater 4 has various sound enhancement options in the equalizer and also allows the creation of six additional sound profiles. LENOVO IdeaPad B570G battery,charger
Lower energy consumption is not insignificant for a mobile device, allowing its prolonged use without AC power. In idle, our test unit consumes between 9.3 and 13.1 W. These values are in the range of similar multimedia notebooks that have the difficult task of balancing high performance with low power consumption. In terms of the maximum consumption, the Z585 comes at the front of the middle class. It uses up to 75 W under full load, which can hardly occur in practice. This is 5 W less than the similarly equipped Acer Aspire V3-551G-10468G50Makk. In the 3D benchmarks, our test unit consumed 53.4 W - a relatively good value. LENOVO V370 battery,charger
We determined the maximum run times with the tool battery,charger Eater. With minimum brightness, deactivated WLAN and Bluetooth, and energy-saving profile active, we measured the maximum battery,charger life of 5 hours and 46 minutes. Our WLAN test offers more realistic results. With the display brightness set at about 150 cd/m² and activated energy-saving mode, our standard script reloads the web pages every 40 seconds. In this scenario, the battery,charger ran out of steam after 3 hours and 41 minutes. In order to play a DVD without hiccups, we set the energy profile to "Balanced" and turned the wireless modules off. The notebook managed 2 hours and 42 minutes. LENOVO ThinkPad T430si battery,charger
The battery,charger performance is on average at the middle of the list - the Intel counterpart, Lenovo's IdeaPad Z580 with Nvidia GeForce GT 630M, has better results. Unfortunately the manufacturer does not offer an upgrade to a larger battery,charger. LENOVO ThinkPad T430s battery,charger
With the IdeaPad Z585, Lenovo offers a decent multimedia notebook at about 730 Euros (~$935). It is clear that you should not expect any wonders for this price. The stable plastic case, the features offered, and the accessories are usual for this price range. Lenovo tries to offer more flexibility to their clients with the separate number pad, but unfortunately that goes down the drain. It takes too much space out of the rest of the keyboard, limiting the size and usability of the two Shift buttons. LENOVO ThinkPad T530 battery,charger On the other hand, we liked the touchpad with its various settings. The glossy display is convincing for office work, but not for dark movie scenes and outdoor use. The crisp image via both the VGA and HDMI ports impressed us, while the somewhat short battery,charger life is disappointing. As a compensation, the dual graphics solution manages to run modern games at medium settings, while still being cooled efficiently. Those needing less graphics and more CPU power should take a look at the similarly priced Lenovo IdeaPad Z580. In any case, the 15-inch notebook has managed to find its place. LENOVO ThinkPad T430 battery,charger
akku ASUS G73SW-TZ221V
Asus und Ultrabooks – da denkt man spontan zunächst einmal an die Zenbook-Reihe und Modelle, wie das UX31A oder das UX32VD.
Nun möchte Asus mit dem neuen auf der IFA 2012 vorgestellten S56CM, welches übrigens auch unter der Bezeichnung K56CM gefüh rt wird, allerdings neben dem Premium- auch den Mainstream-Markt ansprechen und schickt ein 15,6 Zoll großes und 21mm flaches Ultrabook für 700€ ins Rennen. ASUS 90-NY81B1000Y
Die Chancen stehen dabei gar nicht mal schlecht, wirft man einen Blick auf das Datenblatt und die technische Ausstattung des Notebooks: Ein sparsamer, aber dennoch potenter Intel Core i5 3317U Prozessor, eine leistungsstarke Nvidia Geforce GT 635M Grafikkarte und ein austauschbarer Akku in einem flachen Aluminium-Chassis mit optischem Laufwerk dürfte für den ein oder anderen durchaus eine Überlegung wert sein. ASUS G73-52
Ob und vor allem wie das große Ultrabook jedoch auch in unserem umfangreichen Notebookcheck-Testparcour bestehen kann, wird in diesem Testbericht erläutert.
Gehäuse
"Aluminium Tough" - mit diesem Marketingbegriff bezeichnet Asus die Aluminium Applikationen auf dem Gehäuse des S56CM. Im Gegensatz zu den Zenbooks kommt hier nämlich kein Vollaluminiumgehäuse oder gar eine Unibody-Bauweise (UX31A) zum Einsatz, sondern eher einzelne Gehäuseteile sind in dem edlen Metall gehalten.
Dazu gehört der schwarze Displaydeckel, der mit seiner angenehmen und kühlen Haptik beim ersten Anfassen eine hohe Robustheit und Qualität suggeriert. Auch die Baseunit zeigt sich in elegantes, gebürstetes Alu gekleidet, hier allerdings in einem schicken Silber. Auf diese Weise bildet sich schnell ein positiver und überraschend hochwertiger erster Qualitätseindruck. ASUS 70-NY81B1000Z
Diesen Ersteindruck kann das Gehäuse des Asus S56CM beim zweiten Blick leider nicht mehr vollends bestätigen. Wenngleich die Verarbeitungsqualität für ein Consumer-Gerät dieser Preisklasse vollkommen in Ordnung geht, so fühlt sich z.B. schon beim Aufklappen des Ultrabooks dieser Vorgang etwas zu leichtgängig an, was sich v.a. darin äußert, dass der Deckel nicht fest genug mit der Basiseinheit abschließt und sich so schon beim hochkanten Aufstellen des Gerätes einen halben Zentimeter abhebt. Daher sollte man insbesondere beim Transport des Computers achtgeben, da der empfindliche Screen nicht durch einen festeren Verschluss geschützt ist. ASUS 07G016DH1875
Die Displayscharniere halten darüber hinaus den Deckel zwar ausreichend straff in Position, ein deutliches Nachwippen bei leichten Erschütterungen ist dennoch wahrzunehmen. Hier würden wir uns deutlich straffere und fester zupackende Gelenke wünschen.
In Punkto Verwindungssteifigkeit neigen weder der Displaydeckel noch die Basiseinheit zu stärkeren Verwindungen, auch nicht unter punktuellem Druck. Einzig an der rechten Gehäuseseite, direkt über dem eingebauten DVD-Brenner sowie auf der Tastatur lässt sich bei stärkerem Druck mit dem Finger das Gehäuse ein wenig eindrücken. Das "Flexing" bei der Tastatur, welches als Problem v.a. vom Asus UX32VD bekannt ist, ist hingegen nur gering vorhanden und bei normaler Benutzung der Tastaur in keinster Weise einschränkend. Asus 90-NY81B1000Y
Das erwähnte DVD-Laufwerk stellt bei einem flachen Ultrabook zwar ein positives Alleinstellungsmerkmal dar, missfällt aber durch seine sehr fragile und wackelige Ausführung. Hier sollte der Nutzer sehr vorsichtig hantieren, um eine Beschädigung zu vermeiden. Im im Gehäuse versenkten Zustand hat das Laufwerk zudem zu viel Spiel und verursacht daher unschöne Kratzer an der Oberkante des Laufwerks. Asus 70-NY81B1000Z
Alles in allem ist dem Asus S56CM eine mehr als ausreichende Gehäusequalität zu bescheinigen, wenngleich sich der Interessent darüber im Klaren sein sollte, dass das Ultrabook trotz Aluminium Applikationen hier keinesfalls über die Standard-Qualität eines preiswerten Consumer-Gerätes hinausgeht. Asus 07G016DH1875
Bei der Schnittstellen-Ausstattung braucht sich das Consumer-Ultrabook von Asus vor der Konkurrenz nicht zu verstecken und absolviert diese Kategorie sehr souverän.
So kann das S56CM vor allen Dingen durch seinen DVD-Brenner im Hinblick auf die meisten Ultrabooks, bei denen das optische Laufwerk in der überwiegenden Mehrzahl zunehmend wegrationalisiert wurde, Pluspunkte einfahren. Nur wenige Konkurrenten können da mithalten, wie z.B. das Acer Aspire TimelineUltra M5. akku ASUS G73SX
Auch die restliche Anschluss-Ausstattung versorgt den Nutzer mit den wichtigsten Ports, wie 3x USB (2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0), einem LAN (RJ 45), der obligatorischen Kopfhörer/Mikrofon Buchse, einem Cardreader sowie für den Multi-Monitor-Betrieb auch die Standards HDMI und VGA (Fullsize). akku ASUS G73SW-XT1
Die Anordnung der Anschlüsse ist dagegen etwas eng gedrängt. So tummeln sich v.a. an der linken Gehäuseseite im voreren Bereich die Schnittstellen, was für Kabelgewirr und durch den ebenfalls an der linken Seite angebrachten Lüfter für linkshändige Nutzer relativ unkomfortabel ausfallen kann. akku ASUS G73SW-XA1
Die Rückseite ist durch die Displayaufhängung und den zwischen den Displayscharnieren befindlichen Akku frei von Ports, die Vorderseite beheimatet lediglich den integrierten
Kommunikation
Neben der Anschlussausstattung absolviert das neue Asus S56CM auch den Kommunikationspart souverän. Dazu gehört selbstverständlich neben dem standardmäßigen Ehernetport (RJ-45) für den kabelgebundenen Netzwerkzugang auch natürlich ein WLAN-Adapter für die kabellose Verbindung. Eine integrierte Bluetooth Schnittstelle für kabellose Dateiübertragungen rundet die Kommunikationsausstattung des S56CM ab. akku ASUS G73SW-TZ221V
Zubehör
Der Umfang des Zubehörs des Asus S56CM liegt ebenfalls im branchenüblichen Bereich. So umfasst der Lieferumfang des Asus S56CM neben dem Ultrabook selbst mit dem brandneuen und vorinstallierten Windows 8 natürlich auch das 45 Watt starke Netzteil und eine Kurzbedienungsanleitung sowie einige weitere Informationsblätter des Herstellers. akku ASUS G73SW-TZ202V
Eine Recovery-DVD vermissen wir hingegen genauso wie eine ebensolche Partition auf der Festplatte für die einfache und schnelle Zurücksetzung des Betriebssystems auf den Werkszustand.
Garantie
Asus gibt auf sein neues Mainstream-Ultrabook ohne Aufpreis 24 Monate Garantie. Dies ist in dieser Preisklasse zwar durchaus Standard, wenngleich sich bei einigen Herstellern jedoch auch eine Garantiezeit von nur 1 Jahr durchgesetzt hat. akku ASUS G73SW-TZ200V
Zum Seitenanfang
Eingabegeräte
Tastatur
Die Chiclet-Tastatur des S56CM entspricht dem für ein Multimedia-Notebook dieser Preisklasse üblichen und breiten Durchschnitt. So gefällt das Eingabegerät auf der einen Seite durch einen weichen Anschlag, der auf diese Weise ein geräuscharmes Tippen ermöglicht und jegliches Klappern der Tastatur verhindert. Auf der anderen Seite verhindert ebendieser weiche Anschlag auch ein knackiges und klar definiertes Feedback der Tastatur, was so mancher Vielschreiber evtl. als etwas "schwammig" und durch den zusätzlich recht kurzen Tastenhub auch als etwas unkomfortabel im Tippverhalten empfinden könnte. akku ASUS G73SW-TZ146V
Ein weiterer Pluspunkt hingegen stellt sich im integrierten Nummernblock dar, der im Tastenfeld Platz gefunden hat, dieses jedoch keinesfalls gedrängt wirken lässt, sondern dem Nutzer eine aufgeräumte und vollständige Tastatur zur Verfügung stellt.
Weniger gut gefiel uns der Qualitätseindruck der Chiclet-Tastatur. Die leicht rauhe Oberfläche der Tasten sorgt zwar für eine angenehme Haptik und Griffigkeit, die Tastatur selbst wirkt hingegen relativ billig und die Tasten verhältnismäßig dünn, wenngleich die Qualität des Eingabegerätes für ein knapp 700€ günstiges Ultrabook absolut in Ordnung geht. akku ASUS G73SW-TZ121V
Zu guter Letzt vermissen wir noch ein wenig die fehlende Tastaturbeleuchtung vom UX32VD, die jedoch in dieser Preisklasse auch von der Konkurrenz nicht angeboten wird.
Touchpad
Das von den Zenbooks bereits bekannte Touchpad erinnert sowohl in Optik wie auch von der Haptik sehr an die Eingabegeräte der Apple Macbook Pro Modelle. Das Design ohne dedizierte Maustasten hat sich, von den US-Amerikanern eingeführt, inzwischen bei einer Vielzahl von Herstellern und Modellen durchgesetzt und kommt so auch beim Asus S56CM zum Einsatz. Die großzügigen Abmessungen von 7,5 x 10,5 cm erlauben eine komfortable Nutzung, nach der man nur ungern wieder auf kleinere Vertreter dieser Eingabegeräte zurück wechseln möchte. Die glatte Oberfläche sorgt des weiteren für eine angenehme Haptik und sehr gute Gleiteigenschaften. Einzig die Treiberabstimmung und Erkennung der verschiedenen Multitouch-Gesten funktionierte bei unserem frühen Testsample nicht immer einwandfrei, sodass bisweilen z.B. die 2-Finger-Geste für das Scrollen nicht durchgängig erkannt wird und damit die ansonsten sehr gute Handhabung etwas beeinträchtigt. akku ASUS G73SW-TZ120Z
Der positive Gesamteindruck wird zuletzt allerdings noch durch das ein wenig schief eingebaute Touchpad in unserem Testgerät getrübt, was in einigen Einzelfällen bereits vom Premium-Modell UX32VD bekannt ist. akku ASUS G73SW-TZ096V
Der erste Unterschied, der bei Betrachtung des 15.6'' Bildschirms und dem Vergleich zu den Zenbook-Modellen der Premiumreihe des Herstellers auffällt, ist die glänzende Displayoberfläche. Im Gegensatz zu den matten Panels der Zenbook-Reihe muss der Käufer beim Consumer-Ultrabook Asus S56CM hier leider Vorlieb nehmen mit der spiegelnden Glossy-Variante. akku ASUS G73SW-TZ094V
Wenngleich sich in dieser Preisklasse das als absoluter Standard etabliert hat und auch von der Konkurrenz nicht anders gehandhabt wird, stellt sich dennoch die spiegelnde Oberfläche insbesondere bei der Nutzung des Ultrabooks im Freien oder hellerer Umgebung als nachteilig gegenüber der matten Variante heraus.
Auch die übrigen Daten des verbauten Displays reichen hier leider nicht über den üblichen Standard preisgünstiger Multimedia-Notebooks hinaus: So ist im Asus S56CM erwartungsgemäß ein TN-Panel verbaut, welches mit den ebenso gebräuchlichen 1366x768 Bildpunkten auflöst, was gerade bei 15.6'' natürlich nur in einem bedingt hochaufgelösten Bild und einem relativ geringen virtuellen Platzangebot resultiert. akku ASUS G73SW-TZ083V
Gut dagegen schneidet das Panel unseres Testgeräts in Punkto Bildkontrast und Schwarzwert ab. So errechnet sich in Verbindung mit dem hohen, gemessenen Kontrast von 622:1 ein niedriger Schwarzwert von 0.35, der v.a. in einer guten und relativ satten Schwarz-Darstellung resultiert. Auf diese Weise ergibt sich eine ordentliche Bildqualität des Notebookbildschirms. akku ASUS G73SW-TZ060V
Bei unserer anschließenden Messung des Farbraums kann das Panel des S56CM, wie allerdings auch bei einem Durchschnitts-Panel zu erwarten ist, den großen sRGB-Farbraum natürlich nicht abdecken. Kein anderes Bild ergibt sich beim Blick auf das ebenso mäßige Durchschnitts-Display des Acer Aspire TimelineUltra M5, das dem Panel des Asus Ultrabooks sogar geringfügig unterlegen ist. Im direkten Vergleich mit dem erstklassigen Bildschirm des Premium-Bruders UX32VD hat das Asus S56CM erwartungsgemäß klar das Nachsehen. akku ASUS G73SW-TZ054V
Asus S56CM vs. sRGB-Farbraum
Wie schon beschrieben, macht dem Nutzer beim Außeneinsatz das spiegelnde Display des S56CM schon einen mittelstarken Strich durch die Rechnung. Störende Reflexionen erschweren hier die Ablesbarkeit der Anzeige stark, selbst mit voller Bildschirmhelligkeit. akku ASUS G73SW-TZ052V
Damit sind wir auch schon bei dem nächsten Punkt. Mitentscheidend für die Darstellung ist natürlich auch die Displayhelligkeit, die beim S56CM allerdings mit durchschnittlich 203.2 cd/m2 nicht nur zu gering ausfällt, um die starken Reflexionen unter freiem Himmel auszugleichen, sondern auch in heller Umgebung und lichtgefluteten Räumen ebenfalls schnell an die Grenzen stößt und auch dort der Nutzer bisweilen mit störenden Spiegelungen, insbesondere bei dunklen Bildschirminhalten, zu kämpfen hat. akku ASUS G73SW-TZ023V
Zum Schluss fehlen noch die Blickwinkel in unserer Display Testkategorie. Wie bei einem durchschnittlichen TN-Panel anzunehmen, gehört diese Disziplin definitiv nicht zu den Stärken des Mainstream-Ultrabooks Asus S56CM. akku ASUS G73SW-TZ016V
Gerade in vertikaler Blickrichtung treten hier die typischerweise auftretenden, starken Farbverfälschungen auf, sodass eine Änderung der Blickrichtung auf das Display insbesondere auf der vertikalen Achse schnell zu einem Wegbrechen der Farben führt. Dieses Phänomen lässt sich in abgeschwächter Form auch in horizontaler Blickrichtung feststellen, wo auch hier die Bildqualität deutlich merkbar leidet. Dies mag für den User in alleiniger Benutzung des Rechners noch vermeid- und damit verkraftbar sein, DVD-Abende dürften für die weiter außensitzenden Betrachter allerdings schnell unbefriedigend werden.
Unter dem Strich kristallisiert sich das Display nicht unbedingt als die Paradedisziplin des Asus S56CM heraus. Eine recht durchschnittliche, maximale Displayhelligkeit, die sehr mäßigen Blickwinkel und vor allen Dingen das spiegelnde Glossy-Display verhindern gute Noten für die Anzeige des Ultrabooks und lassen sich auch nicht gänzlich durch den guten Kontrast und Schwarzwert des Panels ausgleichen. akku ASUS G73SW-TY027V
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