Laptop may do many things but it is no music player – not a descent one at least. When it comes to sounds, audiophiles frown upon laptop speakers; those tiny notebook speakers just don’t pack enough punch or thump to be even considered a beat. This maybe the universal notion until ASUS decides to take a crack at the audio challenge and release their N-series notebooks with SonicMaster. In partnership with audio experts Bang & Olufsen, ASUS developed SonicMaster, a professional audio certification program which promises high-quality sound that bests the audio experience on any other laptop. SonicMaster branding means that laptops must first feature large speaker chambers, powerful amplifiers and extensive software-processing to create an exceptional audio experience.
The N-series will come in two models – the 15.6-inch N53 and 17.3-inch N73. Both are outfitted with a dual-core 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 520M, 1GB GeForce GT325 GPU, 4GB DDR3 and a Blu-ray drive. ASUS also integrated NVIDIA’s Optimus graphics-switching technology, which should aid in extending the battery life when the GPU is not being used. The smaller model can also be installed with a 2.4GHz Core i3 370M and a 1GB GeForce 415M. The N53 features a 1,366×768 pixel resolution screen with a glossy finish, while N73 gets whooping 1,600×900 resolution. Both SonicMaster certified N-series laptops should be available anytime now from major consumer electronics retailers. The N53 is tagged between £649.99 and £999, while the larger N73 will cost around £1,099.
