Open her up
The power inlet is part of the hinge, so moving the screen forwards or backwards also moves the power plug. It looks cool, sure, but is more for aesthetics than anything else, we believe.
A single USB port makes up the trio on the U20A, and an ExpressCard34 enables the use of various high-speed peripherals. Gigabit LAN is augmented by the Intel 802.11b/g/draft-n WiFi, and Bluetooth v2.1.
Note the chunky look of the notebook from this side; ASUS opts to leave out the tapered look that's become fashionable.
As the lightest member of the U-series range, with a maximum screen resolution of 1,280x800, ASUS doesn't offer the option of a Blu-ray drive with this particular model.
There's no WiFi switch on the chassis. Rather, shortcut keys are used to control various options, making for a busy-looking keyboard.
The supplied six-cell battery (47WHr) sits flush with the U20A. It weighs 302g on its own, and the mobile weight is a 1,822g. Lighter than regular notebooks, yes, but not as light as we'd hoped it to be, given the construction and price.
The model is outfitted with 3GB of DDR2 RAM. 2GB of RAM is underneath the keyboard with the user able to upgrade a single DIMM, 1GB, shown above. The laptop takes a regular 2.5in drive, outfitted with a 320GB mechanical model here. ASUS will make mention of the RAM limitations of a 32-bit OS, but we'd like to have seen the full complement of 4GB.
There's no additional connectivity in the form of pre-plumbed WWAN, though, and that's a feature the U20A could do with.
Where the U20A makes an impression is with respect to the keyboard and, to some extent, screen. The keys can be illuminated and controlled by an ambient sensor, which is handy for in-the-dark writing, and the 'MosiacGlow' chiclet keyboard - complete with gaps - is a pleasure to use.
Travel and general key-response is very good, making it one of the best laptop keyboards we've come across. The capacitance-based multi-touch pad, too, is simple and comfortable to use for extended periods. ASUS follows the illuminated them here, with the trackpad lighting up as you move a finger or thumb across it.
The screen has an ambient light sensor that auto-adjusts the brightness, should you so wish. Backlit by LEDs, the 1,280x800 display is slim, sharp, clear, and precise. It's unusually bright at 50 per cent, helped by the LED-backlit technology. Viewing angles, however, are just average.
Bundled in with the U20A is a charger that can push around 40W (19.1V, 2.1A), but knowing that the laptop can consume 28W when under load, it can take a while to charge if set to high performance. ASUS also adds a basic carry case and mini-sized optical mouse.
Further, the U20A is bundled in with ExpressGate software, which boots up a Linux shell for near-instantaneous surfing once the laptop is switched on. Microsoft Windows Vista Premium 32-bit is the OS of choice (why not 64-bit?) .
All backed by a global two-year collect-and-return warranty, which includes free two-way shipping and one-year accidental damage cover, the £799 ASUS U20A isn't quite as slick as it appears on paper. Thicker and heavier than such a price would intimate, perhaps the performance can pull up the score?
