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Date added: 01/31/2012 IDG - Asus U46SV Review: Fast, Comfortable, Enduring, but Too Much Software

The Asus U46SV all-purpose laptop sets itself apart from the crowd through great performance and outstanding battery life--two attributes that rarely cohabitate. The primary reason for the long 6-hour, 41-minute run time is an unusually large 74-watt-hour battery. The large battery is also responsible for the U46SV's hefty 4.9-pound static and 6-pound travel (with AC adapter) weights, but clever design makes the unit feel lighter than those numbers might lead you to believe.

The battery protrudes about a half-inch beneath the back of the otherwise one-inch thick unit. That gives you a firm, yet comfortable grip when toting it about (part of the reason it doesn't feel as heavy as it is) and also adds a slight forward rake that puts your hand at a better typing angle. All told, the heavier, larger, longer-lasting battery should please more users than it discourages them.

The U46SV sports a stylish aluminum lid and keyboard deck, though the effect is cheapened slightly by chrome touchpad buttons and a rather bright power button. Still, while the touchpad buttons are distractingly reflective, they also have just the right amount of resistance. The U46SV's breathable Chiclet-style keyboard feels exactly like those found on Lenovo's U series (a good thing)--crisp, even though the keys travel only a short distance. The touchpad is nicely responsive as well.

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