ASUS N Series: at long last, a laptop with a built in 'Air Ionizer'

Yesterday we finally got our hands on the N10 non-netbook, and today we'll be taking a look at the rest of the N Series lineup. There's a little something for everybody here, from the mobility-minded N10 to the higher-end N50. The models include Express Gate, and we're looking forward to finding out if the Super Hybrid Engine power management is all it's cracked up to be. All N Series models also include the SmartLogon facial recognition system (for those of you who are too busy to type a password), but so far the N50 is the only ASUS offering with a built in "Air Ionizer." Check out each machine in detail after the break.

[Thanks, Kunal]

• N10: 10.2-inch WXGA display, Intel Atom Processor N270 CPU, 945GSE Express Chipset, up to 2GB of RAM, 160GB / 250GB / 320GB hard drive options
• N20: 12.1-inch WXGA display, Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T9400 / T5850 / P8600 / P7350, GM45 Express Chipset, Intel WiFi Link 5100, up to 4GB of RAM, 250 GB / 320 GB hard drive options
• N80: 14.1-inch WXGA Glare Type (LED backlit) / 14.1" WXGA+ Glare Type display, Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T9400 / P8600 / P8400 / P7350 / T5800, PM45 Express Chipset, Intel WiFi Link 5100, up to 4GB of RAM, 160GB / 200GB / 250GB / 320GB hard drive options
• N50: 15.4-inch WXGA VESA-like LED panel display, Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T9400 / P8600 / P8400 / P7350 / T5800, PM45 Express Chipset, Intel WiFi Link 5100, up to 4GB of RAM, 250GB / 320GB / 500GB hard drive options

[Jorbon @ Sep 18th 2008 3:40PM]

Are they talking about an ionizer instead of a fan? I saw this on Ars:

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070816-ion-wind-cooling-could-revolutionize-cpu-cooling.html

[Wolfticket @ Sep 18th 2008 3:48PM]

"Another unique feature of the N50 is its built-in Air Ionizer that not only helps clean the air around the user of allergens and germs, but also promotes air-flow and circulation."

Maybe as well as a fan. Anything that reduces the need to switch on the little wurry fan that resides in most laptops, by even a tiny bit, is fine by me.

[Matt A @ Sep 18th 2008 9:06PM]

Stupid idea. That releases a ton of ozone, and thats bad for respitory health. Consumer reports has been giving terrible ratings against the ionic breeze for years.
http://www.housekeepingchannel.com/a_337-Consumer_Reports_Testing_of_Sharper_Image_Ionic_Breeze_Professional_with_OzoneGuard_Now_Available_Online
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7391185/

For this small thing its probably not *that* much but serious whats wrong with a fan or something?

[Brian @ Sep 18th 2008 3:40PM]

What a joke...

Sharper Image (dot com) must have a hand in this...

[EricR @ Sep 18th 2008 4:09PM]

Maybe ASUS bought Sharper Image...

I am holding out for the Combo laptop/foot massager

[Josh @ Sep 18th 2008 4:57PM]

Just get a large hard drive installed and stress test it on random seek. Put your laptop on the floor and enjoy.

[Eli Gundry @ Sep 18th 2008 3:41PM]

Will it ship with stolen software?

[Hamodeh @ Sep 18th 2008 4:52PM]

Will u shut up ?

[thedesolate1 @ Sep 18th 2008 4:00PM]

Will it ship with pr0n? that air ionizer must surely be meant to get the smell of hot sex out of the air.

[Lowest Ranked @ Sep 18th 2008 4:08PM]

I think you've confused hot masturbation for hot sex.

[thedesolate1 @ Sep 18th 2008 4:34PM]

Hey whatever floats your boat...

[Alex @ Sep 18th 2008 4:26PM]

Wow, out of all the gimmicks devices have these days, this one has got to take the cake. Congratulations Microsoft!

[Ytril @ Sep 18th 2008 4:37PM]

What does this have to do with Microsoft?

[GaryZ @ Sep 18th 2008 4:31PM]

But does it play cr...

oops, I meant does it come with cracker software?

[Alex Keen @ Sep 18th 2008 4:35PM]

Perhaps now my basement will smell fresh when I use this laptop! And give me cancer...

[BigD145 @ Sep 18th 2008 6:05PM]

More cancer than you'd normally get from having a lump of plastic in your lap.

[Twitchy @ Sep 18th 2008 9:18PM]

Just up your dose of colloidial silver and you'll be fine...

[StalematE @ Sep 18th 2008 4:40PM]

it sees your face? i can just see one of those CSI visualizations for finger prints where it connects the dots in the print patern... it'll show this thing aligning your zits for recognition. beep beep beep *steven hawking voice* wash your face.

[Rick @ Sep 18th 2008 4:45PM]

Don't worry. Would they sell it if it wasn't safe?

[Ricardo @ Sep 18th 2008 4:46PM]

I will wait for the model with an air conditioner.

[Murdock @ Sep 18th 2008 4:47PM]

Now only if those hadn't been shown to make indoor air quality worse!

[nicholaelaw @ Sep 18th 2008 5:30PM]

So this ASUS will vaporize the Macbook Air? Cool!

[AdvWar @ Sep 18th 2008 5:44PM]

Ionize, not vaporize

[ToniCipriani @ Sep 18th 2008 5:47PM]

I'm surprised Nokia hasn't sued yet...

[Jonathant @ Sep 18th 2008 8:12PM]

We can only hope that this technology will put an end to widespread "crop dusting" in corporate American cubicles everywhere!

[joelja @ Sep 19th 2008 2:50AM]

AIr ionizer? all laptop power supplies ionize air... they also produce ozone and NOx which are not particulary good for you to respire.

[yrag @ Sep 20th 2008 1:37AM]

"Air Ionizer." Chr*st— Cut me a f-in' break!

"Sharper Image (dot com) must have a hand in this..." —good one.

[Spokesdude @ Sep 20th 2008 8:14AM]

Wiki yourselves a bit...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_ioniser#Ions_versus_ozone