ASUS isn't exactly lacking in ultra-thin notebooks, but its latest - the UL30Vt pictured below - looks like a solid all-round contender for your next super-slim purchase.
The system expands on the existing UL30 by adding discrete graphics into the mix, offering hardware you tend not to expect in a system as thin as 14.8mm.
Inside the UL30Vt's brushed aluminium frame, users have a choice of ultra-low-voltage Intel processors - namely the 1.2GHz Intel Celeron SU2300 or the 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 - up to 4GB of DDR3 memory and a duo of GPU solutions in the form of an integrated Intel GMA X4500MHD chip and a discrete NVIDIA GeForce G210M graphics card.
What's useful is that users can switch between graphics solutions, so as to use the more power-hungry GeForce GPU only when necessary. Stick to the integrated Intel solution, and ASUS reckons the system will provide up to 12 hours of battery life.
The system's screen measures 13.3in and provides a 1,366x768 resolution, and there's up to 500GB of storage via a 2.5in hard disk drive. Wireless N, Bluetooth and Ethernet connectivity come as standard, and there are a few useful extras too - including HDMI out, a four-in-one card reader, a built-in webcam, and three USB ports.
Rounding off the spec, ASUS throws in its exclusive "Turbo33 Technology" - a one-click overclocking tool that promises to bump up performance by up to 33 per cent.
No word on pricing or availability yet, but as far as 13.3in ultra-thin notebooks are concerned, the ASUS UL30Vt might just hit the sweet spot.
