Zenbook UX32VD-R5504H Screen Quality

Well guys, I just found a good deal on a UX32VD, well I thought so. It's brand new and I found it for about $800.

The problem is its the low resolution model.

That being said, I currently have a T420 with a 720p display, and I don't mind it at all, I don't even notice it, and the Thinkpad's display is 14".

Does anybody have some experience with this model? How is the screen? Is it still a good deal if I don't mind the resolution?

Thanks!

 

I'm not familiar with a UX32VD model with anything below the 1080p panel. Are you sure you're not looking at a UX32A? That's closer to the price you listed and also has a 720p panel.

They're a fair contender to other ultrabooks.

 

I'm sure it's a UX32VD, I think BestBuy was selling them for a while, here's a picture of the label on the box.

 

Anybody have any ideas about this model?

 

For starters, it appears to be a TN panel rather than an IPS on the other UX32VD models, so you'll lose out on the viewing angle the IPS panels provide (as well as the resolution). In my experience, the Asus screens in general look good, but what one person perceives as good may look under saturated or poorly calibrated to another.

Hopefully you can get feedback from owners on it.

 

I saw comment that it was just average. The comment was making the point that the 1080 IPS is beautiful the 720 not. But as said above "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".

I hope someone with real experience comments. But to be fair, if you don't compare to a much better screen you might not notice your suffering. For that price it might be worth consideration.

 

EDIT: in giving this more thought I'm inclined to think this is very good buy if the screen is the only difference from the FHD IPS version of the model. It's got a great backlit keyboard, a fine trackpad once you install the right drivers, nice access to RAM and HD bay to upgrade and otherwise a good Ivy bridge Core i5 (confirm that) and respectable (non-gaming) HD400 IGP (match 2gb ram to that which is soldered to mono and get dual Channel performance, material effect on some games), an Intel 6235 2-band wifi w/4.0Bluetooth.... Yeah, in today's market that's pretty good for $800. I do leave my previous comments to stand on their own as well.

I'm trying to understand if you already purchased this (how else did you get picture of the label?) or not. Even if you have purchased it, it's still returnable at Best Buy. If for any reason you cannot return it, please take my comments below with a grain of salt; they reflect my opinion about competing models (including your own Thinkpad T420) but I have nothing negative to say about the UX32VD. I've just always thought of the "legendary" FHD IPS super bright screen on the "standard" UX32VD to be its "killer app," without which it becomes something of just an also-ran. But that's just for me, and you already said you don't care about the screen, and if this model really is the exact same computer as the UX32-VD but with the different screen, you are saving over $400 which, I assure you, that screen is not worth!

Without being specific at the moment, I would say there are better values at $800 and much, much better values at $999 or so (eg, Samsung Series 7 Ultra). At a minimum, you can probably find a UX31A on eBay either new in sealed box or factory refurbed (better than new because the mfg bugs have been fixed!) with the FHD screen for around $800. If you just want a 13-14" thin and light computer with an HDD and up to 10GB of RAM - ie, not an Ultrabook - there are again many good alternatives at or near the price point - all of this, of course, IMO.

 

True! Be careful about drawing comparisons between the two panels, since the IPS one is without a doubt going to be noticeably superior. The lower price point for this model is probably largely due to the panel as it is, but that's not to say it's not worth consideration nonetheless.

 

Well the only reason I am considering purchasing this is the fact that the UX32VD is upgradeable. I can swap out for a larger SSD and more ram. I have not found an ultrabook or laptop with a similar form factor that has user upgradeable hard drive and memory.

If I didn't care about upgradeability then yes, I would definitely buy a UX31A.

 

Does this model require opening the case to access said components, though? The warranty dies the moment you do that. Otherwise it's viable even during the coverage period.