Asus K53E-B1 and the Toshiba Satellite L655-S5161 Reviews

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In this laptop review, we will look at the Asus K53E-B1 and the Toshiba Satellite L655-S5161 computers.

The Asus K53E-B1 is a 15.6-inch laptop that is an attractive option for shoppers in the mainstream laptop category.  Priced at around $700 to $800, the K53E-B1 also comes with a lengthy two-year warranty.



The Asus K53E-B1 comes with a 2.3GHz Intel Core i5-2410M processor, which is part of Intel's most current generation of processors.  This dual-core processor supplies the laptop with more than enough performance for all of your daily computing tasks.  Whether it be internet surfing, viewing multimedia, or even some gaming, all can be handled by the Asus K53E-B1 with relative ease.  A healthy 6GB of DDR3 SDRAM is also onboard to offer more of a multitasking boost.

You get integrated graphics on the Asus K53E-B1 via an Intel HD 3000 card.  It won't give you what is needed to play games at their highest level, but it will suffice with most tasks.  Storage is handled by a 640GB hard drive, which should be ample space for most users.  As mentioned earlier, Intel's newest generation of i5 processors are included in the Asus K53E-B1, and that also helps give the laptop satisfying battery life.  The included six-cell battery should give you over five hours of usage when fully charged, which is good when you take into account the size of the Asus K53E-B1.  As with most laptops on the market, the Asus K53E-B1 comes pre-installed with Windows Home Premium Edition 64-bit as its operating system.

The Asus K53E-B1 doesn't necessarily come with any real surprises like a Blu-ray drive, but it does have a complete set of features that you would expect to find in a mainstream laptop of its kind.  There's a standard DVD drive for watching movies and listening to CDs.  Internet connectivity is offered via 802.11n Wi-Fi.  If you want to transfer data from digital devices, there is an integrated 5-in-1 media reader that supports various card formats.  You also get the luxury of video chat thanks to an integrated webcam and microphone.



If you are looking for a laptop that shies away from the bland all-black color scheme, Asus has you covered here.  The K53E-B1 does incorporate black, but it also uses a unique brown color around its keyboard.  It also offers up a textured pattern on the lid for a bit of an aesthetic boost.  The laptop is not the most portable around, but it is still easy to carry.  Its official measurements are listed as 14.9 inches wide by 10 inches deep by 1.4 inches thick.  

The K53E-B1's 15.6-inch display has a HD resolution of 1,366 x 768, which is common for most laptops in its class.  Graphics look decent, and the integrated speakers add enough volume to make the laptop suitable as an entertainment device.  The keyboard is spacious, as it should be, but the chiclet-style keys are not too responsive.  As such, you may take a while to get used to typing on the K53E-B1.  You do get a separate number pad, but that is it in terms of keyboard perks.  There is no backlighting.  The touch pad is large and responsive.  Its support of multi-touch gestures is a plus.  Connectivity options are pretty standard.  You get three USB 2.0 ports, a HDMI port, a VGA port, an Ethernet port, and microphone and headphone jacks.

While the Asus K53E-B1 may not stand out amongst the crowd, it is a laptop with a well-rounded feature set and solid performance.  At its price point, it's hard to complain about the K53E-B1's lack of “special features.”  As is, the laptop is a good choice for anyone seeking a machine for everyday use.

Next: Toshiba Satellite L655-S5161 >>
 

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