Asus unleashes Core 2 Duo F2, V1 and R1F portables

The fine folks at Asus are dropping three new portable series to serve professionals with Core 2 Duo speeds and snazzy design. For starters we have the V1 widescreen laptop, with a 15.4-inch display and the full range of Core 2 Duo processors, from the 1.67GHz T5500 to the 2.33GHz T7600. Graphics are provided by ATI's Mobility Radeon X1600, with 256 or 512MB of RAM. Hard drives range from 80 to 120GB, with a dual HDD option, and the V1 features gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g WiFi and Bluetooth 2.0 for connectivity. There's also an ExpressCard slot, fingerprint reader, S/PDIF audio and a card reader to round out the 0.98-inch thick, 6 pound laptop. The F2 series is only slightly more modest, with processors from Core Solo all the way to the Core 2 Duo T7400, and a 15-inch XGA or SXGA+ display. There's no digital audio, but the F2 does have TV-out and an optional 1.3 megapixel webcam. Graphics are a Radeon X1400 card running 128MB or 512MB of memory, and specs are otherwise similar to the V1. The R1F Tablet PC keeps the trend going, keeping pace with its siblings on specs for the most part, but featuring a 13.3-inch WXGA LCD and most likely integrated Intel graphics. There's no word on price or availability for any of these models, but we're liking where Asus is headed with 'em so far.

[Via Laptoping]

[herman @ Aug 19th 2006 6:55PM]

Anyone else think that the newer ASUS laptops have lost some originality to their design? Also, does anyone know the Z/barebone series equivalents?

[Mikey @ Aug 19th 2006 7:49PM]

Come on Apple, Hurry up and stuff those processors in your babies please

[xsivone @ Aug 19th 2006 8:13PM]

C'mon Mikey.

The only thing Apples are good for is a pie.

[marcin @ Aug 19th 2006 8:15PM]

Apple sucks.

[Sean D. @ Aug 19th 2006 8:23PM]

Actually, it's probably Asus that's going to be "stuffing these processors" into Apple's notebook computers...

... at least the non-"Pro" MacBooks.

[Ari @ Aug 19th 2006 11:45PM]

Stop the flaming. I'm a huge Mac "Whore" and these computers honestly look great. The icing on the cake is the dual HDDs. I've wanted Apple to include this for YEARS now, so that I can do some NEAR-latency free audio editing. This is a very enticing option.

[pableu @ Aug 20th 2006 5:04AM]

Wake me when there's a Core 2 Duo notebook with a 12" widescreen display (prefferably non-glossy) that weighs less than 1.5kg :)

[Jeff Lewis @ Aug 20th 2006 4:34PM]

I agree with Ari and take it farther: let's stop the baiting, the overreaction, the PC bashing and the Mac bashing.

It's really getting tiresome.

This article had nothing to do with Apple or Macs - and it wasn't critical of them in any way. It just gave a bunch of spec for three new Asus machines.

Mikey's post, while a little out of place, wasn't bashing the Asus machines. It certainly didn't justify all the anti-Apple posts.

Let's grow up a bit, ok?

[Jason @ Aug 20th 2006 11:51PM]

+1 Digg J.L.

Anyway, set aside your "team" and just think about how great this is. Not even a full month after the release (Core 2 Duo) and we have the Merom processors integrated into the production line. As a prospective buyer, one that was and IS looking at ASUS, this is huge news for me.

Until there are some real tests published, everything is just speculation, but CNET has a nice video of a demonstartion of the Merom chip. Something to the tune of 5 hours of REAL battery use (Gaming, MS Office, Movies, etc...).

For those thinking of purchasing a laptop, it would behoove you to wait until your "team" adopts the Core 2 Duo as the benefits are tremendous, as ASUS would certainly agree.

[Stephen @ Aug 22nd 2006 12:45PM]

I hate announcements like this! While I am excited that the Merom is coming out, I hate being given a tease like this without pricing or expected dates. Geez, give me something solid!

All well, until they do, these look sweet.

[Celemourn @ Aug 24th 2006 3:04PM]

Eh, according to Asus's global site, those are all equiped with Core Duo, NOT Core 2 Duo, though in a separate press release Asus announced that their entire laptop line IS Core 2 Duo READY. Meaning that they can put em in whenever they get em and want to.

[intentsly @ Nov 22nd 2006 12:37AM]

What we really need is a Tablet PC that can at least be upgradeable to a T7600 Core 2 :)
Apple has there place in the market with the rest and they have switched over to Intel. They shocked me when they did that! Though, they should have made that move MANY years ago, they did it. Amazingly swallowed their pride and decided to give the market what they wanted - Core 2's! More people can identify with Intel chips and are a bit less cryptically figured out. I'll never use an Apple OS, but I'm impressed by their ability to move with the market!