ASUS VivoBook S500 / S550 Windows 8 laptops now on sale for $699 and up
With Books, Pads, Tabs, Fones and the intriguing Transformer AiO, we can only wonder what else ASUS has in the stockroom. Recently liberated from the warehouse are the VivoBook S500 and S550 -- they're the biggest of the new VivoBook range, with 15.6-inch, 1,366 x 768 displays supporting multitouch for prodding at Windows 8. The S500 comes in one configuration: 1.7GHz Core i5, 6GB RAM, Intel GMA HD GPU and a 500GB HDD with 24GB SSD for fast-booting Redmond's latest OS. Almost identical is the S550, which has Core i3 / i5 / i7 options, as well as an optical drive for "physical media," whatever that is. You can call an S500 your own for $699 and ASUS has kindly put a slim list of retailers stocking the notebooks on its product page, though we can only find the i5-laden S550 for circa $750. Amazon seems to have had both on sale since March 4th, but ASUS thought it'd leave it a week before issuing a minimalist PR, which you'll find below.
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ASUS releases the Touch-Powered ASUS VivoBook S500
2013/03/10
The VivoBook S500 offers a uniquely intuitive Windows 8 touch experience along with
enhanced computing and multimedia capabilities at a very affordable price of $699*
Fremont, CA (March 11, 2013) - ASUS is excited to announce immediate availability of the VivoBook S500 in North America. ASUS VivoBook S500 showcases an attractive, durable, and portable 15.6" design that includes a 3rd generation Intel® Core™ processor for excellent multitasking performance, touch enabled high-definition display, ASUS SonicMaster audio, and hybrid SSD/HD drive options.
ASUS VivoBook S500 is designed with stylish aesthetics, true-to-life sound, and instinctive touch capabilities via the highly responsive multi-point HD touch panel or the oversized touchpad incorporating ASUS Smart Gesture technology. It is ideal for the increasingly cloud-based nature of computing with seamless connectivity options and a slim form factor for easy mobility. True 2-second instant on resume from sleep mode provides near-instantaneous access to Windows 8 and its energy-conserving design allows standby for up to two weeks*.
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Availability & Pricing – North America
Suggested MSRP pricing of the ASUS VivoBook S500 starts at $699 or higher depending on model configuration. Availability is immediate at leading resellers in North America.
*Specifications may vary without prior notice. Options, pricing, performance and availability dependent upon region. For more details about the ASUS VivoBook S500, please visit http://incredibletogether.asus.com/vivobook.html.
