November 8, 2008 6:00 AM PST
Asus X83VB-X1
Editors' rating: 3.5
The good: Excellent performance for the price; HDMI and eSATA ports; solid construction; LED-backlit display delivers bright, vibrant image; quiet operation.
The bad: Glossy keys don't provide the best feel and are loud and clacky, and the gold lettering on the keys is hard to see in low light; stiff mouse buttons; no multimedia shortcut keys.
The bottom line: A poorly designed keyboard and stiff mouse buttons prevent a higher recommendation for the Asus X83VB-X1, which is an otherwise well-built 14-inch laptop that delivers chart-topping performance for a low price.
Read CNET's full review
Price: $849.99
Photo by CNET Networks
