ASUS PRO BU201 Review

Performance and Benchmarks

Powering the BU201 is an Intel Core i7-4650U clocked at 1.7GHz with an Intel HD Graphics 5000 as its GPU. There’s also a single-channel 4GB DDR3 RAM @ 798MHz handling the memory department while the hard drive is a combo of a 500GB HDD 5400RPM and an 8GB SSD to help speed up things.

The setup is sufficient for everyday computing and processing. Although, even with a Core i7 in the arsenal, it tends to choke when under pressure. Most of the time it happens when browsing with Chrome. Smooth scrolling is also having a hard time with web pages.

While writing this and listening to Spotify, the temperature is already around 52-degree Celcius but the fan is still quiet. There’s nothing to worry about it hampering your usage since the palm rest and the keyboard are kept cool unless you’re already running an intensive load.

We ran some benchmark test and here are the results:

PCMark 8:

Crystal Disk Mark 5:

Security-wise, the BU201 is equipped with a fingerprint scanner that works well on our end and has a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) for extensive security measure.

Connectivity

Built for business, the BU201 is well-equipped with the good old standards like the VGA port, Ethernet jack, and a smart card reader. There’s also three USB 3.0 ports and a MiniDisplay port.

Wirelessly, it’s got an Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 onboard ensuring great Wi-Fi reception plus support for Intel WiDi and also Bluetooth 4.0 for pairing accessories and file sharing.

Battery Life

Providing juice is the removable 50WHrs 4-cell Li-ion Polymer and comes with a 65W AC adapter for charging.

With my everyday use, I find myself using the BU201 for about 4 and a half hours with a full charge before plugging it in. My usage includes word processing and constant web browsing with 50% brightness. It’s not exactly an Ultrabook standard wherein most notebooks would last for 10 hours, more or less. Still, that number is still adequate for regular unplugged work time but make sure to keep the charger around when the need arises.

Conclusion

The ASUS PRO BU201 can get you through your usual business work day. It’s portable to be slipped into bags and carried around yet it’s also sturdy and built tough for everyday wear and tear plus occasional drops.

For an asking price of Php 76,995USD 1,312INR 111,227EUR 1,250CNY 9,555, it’s quite hard to sell it to average consumers who would easily shrug it off and opt for a better option. Good thing, the ASUS PRO is aimed for enterprise usage and some would love to have an extra piece of mind. It comes with a 3-year Global Warranty.

ASUS PRO BU201 specifications:
12.5-inch IPS LCD @ 1920×1080 pixels, 400nits
1.7GHz Intel Core i7-4650U dual-core processor (4M cache, up to 2.9GHz)
Intel HD Graphics 5000
4GB DDR3 RAM @ 798MHz
500GB 5400RPM HDD + 8GB Hybrid SSD cache
3x USB 3.0
RJ45 LAN jack
VGA port
Mini DisplayPort
Smart Card reader
SD card reader
32WHr 2-cell Li-Ion battery
310 x 215 x 20 mm
1.27 kg
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

What we liked about:

• Quality build
• Sturdy chassis
• Good keyboard
• Vivid IPS display
• Accurate fingerprint scanner

What we didn’t:

• Expensive
• Sluggish everyday performance