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Bogdan Petrovan / Android Authority
I can precisely be described as a desk monkey. I spend most of my workday sitting behind a monitor (or two), and I do know this isn’t information to anybody, however it may get outdated. As such, I’m at all times searching for methods to, um, boost my desk life. Up to now, that meant shopping for an even bigger, wider monitor (verdict: blended) or attempting out a standing desk converter (verdict: advisable).
Over the past weeks, I attempted one thing new: a remodeling, foldable laptop computer. The decision? The Asus Zenbook 17 Fold has many flaws, but it surely’s nonetheless one of many coolest methods to interrupt from the tyranny of the desk. And also you don’t have to surrender a lot productiveness. Let me clarify.
Wait, how does this factor work once more?
Like a Galaxy Z Flip 4 cellphone, the Zenbook 17 Fold’s display screen folds down the center. The tech has been round for years, however that doesn’t make it any much less spectacular, particularly when it’s utilized to a big-ass show (to make use of the technical time period). The display screen is coupled with a skinny Bluetooth keyboard that attaches magnetically. Collectively, they make up the “laptop computer” — you could possibly simply as simply name it a “pill” or “All-In-One PC,” although.
The Zenbook 17 Fold is a correct transformer. Asus lists six configurations you need to use it in, however the primary ones are as a 12.5-inch laptop computer (display screen folded midway, keyboard overlaying the underside half) and as a 17-inch All-In-One (display screen unfolded, kickstand out, keyboard positioned in entrance of it). The opposite modes are attention-grabbing however much less sensible — you need to use it as a large pill or fold it midway and let web sites and apps stream down the bent display screen like some maniac.
This can be a legitimately thrilling machine, the likes of which we haven’t seen within the PC house in years.
Okay, so what’s so cool about it?
First, I don’t assume I’m stretching the definition of “cool” right here. This can be a legitimately thrilling machine, the likes of which we haven’t seen within the PC house in years. The Zenbook 17 Fold is simply the second foldable laptop computer in the marketplace after the Lenovo X1 Fold. Asus adopted the identical idea as Lenovo however made it larger. As such, the Zenbook 17 Fold is the primary 17-inch foldable laptop computer you should buy. The expansive show is without doubt one of the greatest issues about it, because it gives loads of display screen house no matter how you employ it. That’s not one thing you could possibly say about Lenovo’s claustrophobic first-gen X1 Fold, although the follow-up model elevated display screen dimension to 16.3 inches.
Bogdan Petrovan / Android Authority
The perfect factor in regards to the Zenbook 17 Fold is how simply and seamlessly it transforms.
In laptop computer mode, you get just about precisely what you’d count on from a machine of this display screen dimension. It’s chunky, but it surely in any other case seems and works similar to, say, the little Chromebook I’ve been utilizing as my day by day driver. This mode is ideal on the go or everytime you lack a gradual floor to prop the display screen on.
Whenever you unfold the display screen and prop it on the hidden kickstand, magic occurs.
Whenever you unfold the display screen and prop it on the hidden kickstand, magic occurs. From a compact 12.5 inches, your world of pixels expands to 17 inches of wonderful Full HD OLED display screen. That’s sufficient display screen house to provide some older standalone screens a run for his or her cash. And since the display screen is 4:3, you may match extra content material than on typical 17-inch laptop computer screens, most of that are 16:9. Shopping the online requires fewer scrolls, working with advanced spreadsheets is much less daunting, and general it’s simply simpler to see the large image.
Bogdan Petrovan / Android Authority
Between the roomy 4:3 format, the attractive OLED colours, and the touchscreen, utilizing the Zenbook 17 Fold at your desk is a pleasure. However you don’t need to be tied to your desk — you may arrange the identical productivity-enhancing huge display screen in your kitchen desk or at your favourite cafe. And that’s the important thing worth proposition of the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold. It’s each moveable and compact and expansive once you want it to be.
I wouldn’t go so far as to name the Zenbook 17 Fold a alternative for a devoted monitor, particularly in the event you personal an enormous ultrawide or 4K monitor. And Asus’s implementation of the foldable display screen thought shouldn’t be with out issues. You possibly can inform Asus was extra involved with delivery an progressive product slightly than sharpening it to perfection. The bezels are anachronistically thick, the perimeters are too blunt and plasticky, and the kickstand presents restricted adjustment choices. Plus, it takes some time to determine how one can simply pop it open, particularly when the keyboard attachment is tucked in.
Bogdan Petrovan / Android Authority
One factor that’s not an issue is the display screen crease, made notorious by foldable telephones. The Zenbook 17 Fold doesn’t have one. As an alternative, there’s a slight indentation operating down the center of the show, which causes a small shift in colours and luminosity when considered at sure angles. I used to be initially skeptical, however after utilizing it for a couple of hours, I noticed this wasn’t a difficulty. I merely stopped seeing it after some time.
I’m bought! How do I get one?
Asus Zenbook 17 Fold
Okay, right here’s the issue. As a lot as I feel you’d take pleasure in it, I can’t suggest that you simply purchase the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold. Sure, it’s progressive and versatile but additionally unpolished and very costly. It’s the textbook definition of a first-generation product that solely devoted early adopters ought to even take into account, not to mention purchase.
The Zenbook 17 Fold is the textbook definition of a first-generation product. Solely devoted early adopters ought to even take into account it, not to mention purchase.
Even when cash means nothing to you, it’s best to find out about another points with the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold. It suffers from mundane issues like unstable Bluetooth connectivity, middling efficiency (that is no gaming machine), and bloatware (McAfee pop-ups really feel downright insulting on a $3,500 PC).
Bogdan Petrovan / Android Authority
Asus additionally struggled to unravel all of the distinctive issues created by the foldable design. Bafflingly, as a result of the webcam is on the aspect, the picture is sideways in Zoom calls. That oversight shouldn’t have made it to a delivery product. Sometimes, the laptop computer forgets what mode it’s in, inflicting the interface to spill over the whole display screen even when the keyboard is on prime of it. Talking of the keyboard, it’s fairly good for probably the most half, with first rate key journey and ergonomics, regardless of its slimness. It’s not backlit and never one thing I’d love to make use of each day, but it surely’s ok once you’re on the go.
A strong, if not unbelievable, PC, that’s utterly overshadowed by its predominant promoting level — that stunning folding display screen.
On the flip aspect, the battery is strong at ~7h of use, regardless of the acres of display screen it has to energy. The sound is surprisingly loud and nice, the construct high quality is passable, and Home windows 11 gracefully adapts to the transition between display screen modes (apart from the bugs I discussed).
Briefly, the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold is a strong, if not unbelievable, PC, that’s utterly overshadowed by its predominant promoting level — that stunning folding display screen.
Bogdan Petrovan / Android Authority
So what’s the purpose, then?
The purpose of the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold is to show that folding screens on laptops will not be solely technically possible but additionally useful, sensible, and enjoyable to make use of. If that was the mission Asus got down to accomplish, it’s already successful, even when the value guidelines out the opportunity of it changing into a industrial hit.
There are nonetheless many issues to unravel to make foldable laptops a viable product class, however I don’t see any deal-breakers. I’m prepared to wager different producers will soar on the bandwagon quickly, and maybe repair the early issues encountered by the Asus Zenbook 17 Fold and Lenovo X1 Fold.
Within the meantime, this desk monkey will remorse having to ship the evaluation unit again to Asus.
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