Forever Resorts South Africa welcome Eugene van Jaarsveldt as Managing Director

Published: 28 May 2021

Gauteng, South Africa – Forever Resorts South Africa is delighted to announce the appointment of Eugene van Jaarsveldt succeeding Kobus Tait who is retiring from his position as the Company's Managing Director. van Jaarsveldt will assume the position on Tuesday, 1 June 2021 and will be based at the Company's Head Office in Gauteng.

van Jaarsveldt brings over two decades of experience in the Hospitality and Tourism sector to the position with a deep understanding of the industry, business skills and an innovative mind-set. He aims to maintain a strong strategic direction, grow and develop the Company, strengthen various partnerships and build onto the success of the group. van Jaarsveldt's journey with Forever Resorts started in 1999 where he joined the team at Warmbaths, A Forever Resort. Since then he has worked at various Forever properties including, Forever Blyde Canyon and Forever Badplaas where he held the position of General Manager for several years. More recently, he held the position of Group Business Development and Marketing Executive.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly presented challenging times for us as an industry over the last fourteen months, and navigating the market dynamics towards our full recovery is the current priority. The Forever Resorts group will continue to deliver safe and innovative experiences combined with exceptional hospitality to guests visiting our properties across South Africa. I am excited about the future, and look forward to enjoying this new chapter in our Company’s history with our passionate team, our loyal guests and our valued partners, van Jaarsveldt said.

"For the past 43 years, Kobus has been an integral part of our Forever Family and has shaped the organisation during its various transitions. His passion for the Tourism industry and vibrant approach to business will be missed. We would like to thank Kobus for his invaluable contribution and leadership he provided during his time with the group, and wish him a retirement filled with many more adventures", van Jaarsveldt concluded.

Tait's journey with Forever Resorts started in February 1978 where he was a Senior Financial Clerk at Forever Blyde Canyon, Mpumalanga. Since then Tait held multiple positions within the group across South Africa before taking up various Managerial roles and ultimately the role of Managing Director in 2003. Tait will be joining his wife in retirement and will be taking up his role as a full-time grandfather to his two beautiful grandchildren.

More about Forever Resorts South Africa

Forever Resorts offers the discerning traveller a superb variety three, four and five star accommodation options strategically situated in key areas throughout South Africa, namely Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Free State and the Western Cape. The group offers something for every traveller – luxury Lodges, adventure holidays, self-catering holidays, Caravanning and Camping, Conferences, Weddings, Functions, Hydro’s, beauty Spas, Hiking trails, Boating, Fishing, eco-adventures, waterparks and so much more! Visit www.foreversa.co.za for more information about the group and their offerings.

New Client Announcement: Condriac partners with Innovation Factory

Published: 11 August 2017

NEW CLIENT ANNOUNCEMENTJOHANNESBURG 27 July 2017, Condriac Digital Marketing takes great pleasure in announcing that Innovation Factory has chosen them as their communications agency.

Innovation Factory is the expert in retail and brandspace construction for brand and project managers who want a partner who is as dedicated to bringing their brand to life as they are.

The company operates out of Randburg at a 2500 sqm fully fledged workshop facility with a staff compliment of experienced exhibition stand designers and carpenters.

“It is a great honour to be able to contribute to growing brands and as Condriac we look forward to working with the Innovation Factory team in positioning the brand as an accomplished industry leader” says Keshia Patchiappen, CEO of Condriac Digital Communications. “We are committed to creating a positive image and reputation for our clients”. The agency will be responsible for the PR and communications and overall brand strategy.

“Innovation Factory is in an extremely competitive industry and it is critical to maintain a excellent level of quality work. The young, dynamic and energetic group at Condriac gave me the assurance that they would be able to relate to the hectic pace of our work and communicate what we do in the best way possible”, says Adam Dembovsky, MD of Innovation Factory.

Further to the PR services, Condriac will manage the Digital and Social Media content. 

About Condriac

Condriac Digital Communications is a full-service communications agency that specialises in programmatic lead generation, public relations and web development. “ We’re in the business of bridging the gaps between consumers and brands “. At Condriac Digital Communications the team will help you ensure that your brand remains engaging and relevant at an ever-evolving digital landscape, shaping your online footprint to meet the needs of demanding and digital-savvy clientele.Condriac follows the data, creating calculated (data informed) content, strategically placed online (social and SEO) supported by targeted digital media to drive new and existing audiences in order to generate predictable and repeatable results.

ASUS South Africa partners with Mass Mart retailer

Published: 02 November 2016

ASUS South Africa partners with Mass Mart retailer, DionWired to carry full range of Gaming Notebooks. 

Johannesburg, South Africa – A few weeks ago hardware manufacturer, ASUS announced their partnership with Mass Mart retailer, DionWired at the rAge Expo. DionWired will officially carry the entire ROG (Republic of Gamers) range of notebooks.

ASUS is a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor whose focus is to bring innovative technology to the consumer. “One of the main aspects which sets ASUS apart from other hardware manufacturers is the advanced design. Consumers of notebooks require a stable battery life (which lasts and offers outstanding performance) that doesn’t sacrifice modern design. ASUS aims to provide all consumers with state-of-the-art technology while still providing great value for money. Therefor ASUS remains the first choice for many who are looking for the perfect balance between features and style”, says Yolandi Venter, Marketing Manager for SYS at ASUS South Africa.

DionWired carries the ZenBook range and now stocks the ROG Range of Notebooks just in time for Christmas season. The ROG Notebooks available at DionWired include monstrous 17inch G752 range in variants armed with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 and 1070M graphics with GTX1080Ms on the way. They also include the modestly priced yet beastly 15inch G552 range. 

Managing Director of DionWired, Nazim Cassim says that the retailer is looking to increase its gaming audience, and is offering a three-year on-site warranty on all new notebook and laptops sold across the ROG range. According to ASUS, gaming laptops now make up 2% of all laptop sales in South Africa, which may not sound like much but does account for a couple of thousand unit sold per quarter; this is double of what is was during 2015.  

ABOUT ASUS

ASUS is a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor and maker of the world’s best-selling, most award-winning motherboards. A leading enterprise in the new digital era, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home and office, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktop and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia devices, wireless solutions, networking devices, tablets and smartphones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 4,368 awards in 2015 and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with its Eee PC™. ASUS has more than 17,000 employees around the globe with a world-class R&D team of over 5,500 engineers. Company revenue for 2015 was approximately US$14 billion.  

ABOUT DIONWIRED

Their purpose is to simplify life by obsessively sharing the joy of technology. DionWired is the only retailer of electronics and appliances that really understands customers. By putting their needs and experience first, they use their obsession with technology to create an inspiring, multi-sensory environment and offer the consumer products and services to help simplify their lives.  DionWired is a subsidiary of the JSE listed, Massmart Holdings. Massmart is Africa’s third largest distributor of consumer goods, the leading retailer of general merchandise, liquor and home improvement equipment and supplies, and the leading wholesaler of basic foods. To visit Massmart Holdings Group website, click here – www.massmart.co.za 

NOTES TO EDITORS

ASUS South Africa

DionWired

World’s first Oculus Ready gaming laptops feature NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10-Series graphics for immersive next-generation VR-gaming experiences with Oculus Rift.

Published: 24 October 2016

ASUS Republic of Gamers Announces Oculus Ready ROG G752VS/VM

KEY POINTS

  • Oculus has certified ROG G752VS and ROG G752VM as Oculus Ready .
  • High-performance gaming laptops feature NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10-Series graphics, the latest Intel Core processors, and up to 64GB DDR4 memory.
  • Both models join the ASUS G11CD and ROG G20CB gaming desktops in the ASUS collection of Oculus Ready PCs.

Johannesburg, South Africa — ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) has announced that the ROG G752VS and ROG G752VM gaming laptops are now certified Oculus Ready PCs. The announcement was made at the Oculus Connect 3 Developer Conference in San Jose, California.  

Both models are the world’s first gaming laptops to meet the recommended specifications required to power Oculus Rift, and feature NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 10-Series graphics, the latest Intel® Core™ processors, and up to 64GB of DDR4 memory. The VR-Ready NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10-series graphics cards provide exceptional performance and energy efficiency to give gamers incredible virtual-reality (VR) gaming experiences. These graphics cards also feature NVIDIA G-SYNC™ technology to reduce lag and stutter, and eliminate visual tearing to ensure the smoothest and fastest gaming visuals.

“Enabling the ultimate gaming experience for gamers is at the heart of ASUS,” said Joe Hsieh, Corporate Vice President. “We are bringing an immersive VR experience to gamers by expanding our collection of Oculus Ready PCs with the ROG G752VS/VM gaming laptops.”

The partnership between ASUS and Oculus™ is aimed at offering gamers a truly immersive gaming experience. With ROG G752VS and ROG G752VM joining the ASUS G11CD and ROG G20CB gaming desktops, ASUS expands its collection of Oculus Ready PCs.

The Oculus Ready badge is earned by only a select few PCs. All Oculus Ready PCs undergo stringent testing to ensure that ports, firmware, operating systems and other features are up to Oculus standards.  System hardware is put through 17 rigorous performance and reliability tests to ensure the system is fully Oculus Ready. This includes a 72-hour stress test, along with the repeated swapping of hardware ports to ensure connectivity and reliability. After a battery of over 100 tests, each Oculus Ready PC is graded out of 10 possible points to ensure full compatibility with the Oculus Rift headset.

Oculus Ready PCs: ROG G752VS and ROG G752VM

ROG G752VS features the latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card, an unlocked 6th-generation Intel Core i7 (‘Skylake’) processor and up to 64GB of DDR4 memory. The unlocked processor has an overclocking toolkit, allowing users to overclock the system to speeds of up to 4.0GHz. ROG G752VS has a display with a super-fast 120Hz refresh rate, and wide 178° viewing angles for superb image quality and contrast even when viewed from extreme angles.

The ROG G752VM variant features the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card, designed around the new NVIDIA Pascal™ architecture and delivers considerable performance gains over previous-generation graphics cards. ROG G752VM is also powered by a 6th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and up to 64GB DDR4 RAM, and has a backlit anti-ghosting keyboard with 30-key rollover for precise control and input during intense gaming sessions.

These laptops join the ASUS G11CD and ROG G20CB gaming desktops in the ASUS collection of Oculus Ready PCs, and fully meet the recommended specification for Oculus Rift. ASUS G11CD and ROG G20CB are powered by 6th-generation Intel Core processors and latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 or 1080 graphics for the very best gaming experiences imaginable.

AVAILABILITY & PRICING
ASUS ROG G752VS and ROG G752VM will be available from October 2016 in South Africa from DionWired, Incredible Connection and Evetech online stores. Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information.

ABOUT ASUS
ASUS is a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor and maker of the world’s best-selling, most award-winning motherboards. A leading enterprise in the new digital era, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home and office, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktop and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia devices, wireless solutions, networking devices, tablets and smartphones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 4,368 awards in 2015 and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with its Eee PC™. ASUS has more than 17,000 employees around the globe with a world-class R&D team of over 5,500 engineers. Company revenue for 2015 was approximately US$14 billion.

NOTES TO EDITORS

ASUS Announced the ZenBook3

Published: 18 October 2016

The world’s most prestigious laptop delivers an unrivalled blend of extreme beauty and unprecedented performance.

KEY POINTS 

  • Prestigious: Ultra-light 910g laptop with ultra-thin 11.9mm-thin profile, premium all-aluminium unibody construction and sophisticated golden-edged design
  • Unprecedented performance: High-performance 7th-generation up to Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 1TB PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD and revolutionary cooling system
  • Immersive multimedia: 12.5in Full HD display with edge-to-edge Corning Gorilla Glass 4 cover, plus powerful quad-speaker Harman Kardon audio system

Johannesburg, South Africa — ASUS has announced the ZenBook 3 (UX390UA), the world’s most prestigious laptop with unprecedented performance. 

Featuring the latest 7th-generation Intel® Core™ i7-7500U and i5-7200U processors, the ultra-thin and ultra-light ZenBook 3 is a masterpiece of design and craftsmanship that weighs just 910g. Its razor-thin 11.9mm profile makes ZenBook 3 the slimmest and most stylish ZenBook in the brand’s illustrious five-year history, while also being one of the most powerful. Designed to give discerning on-the-go users everything they need in a compact and luxurious device, the exquisite appearance and class-leading specification of ZenBook 3 mean that users are no longer burdened with the need to choose between style and performance. 

The world’s most prestigious laptop: ZenBook reimagined

Totally redesigned to accommodate its powerful hardware, ASUS ZenBook 3 has a unibody design crafted entirely from aerospace-grade 6013 aluminium alloy. This premium material is 50 percent stronger than the standard alloy used in laptops, allowing ZenBook 3 to be thinner and lighter than ever with no reduction in rigidity. Weighing only 910g and measuring just 11.9mm thin, and with a footprint smaller than a sheet of A4 paper, ZenBook 3 is undoubtedly one of the world’s most desirable ultraportable laptops. 

Continuing the proud ZenBook heritage, ZenBook 3 incorporates the iconic design DNA that makes ZenBook instantly recognizable from any angle. The signature tapered edges and spun-metal finish on the lid — with its Zen-inspired pattern of concentric circles now milled even finer — are enhanced by unique new elements such as the golden ASUS lid badge and edge highlights, created with complex diamond-cutting and two-phase anodizing techniques. These tasteful additions are complemented by a soft golden backlight on the full-width keyboard. 

ZenBook 3 is available in three out-of-the-ordinary colours: sophisticated Rose Gold, nature-inspired Quartz Grey and luxurious Royal Blue. 

Unprecedented performance: 7th-gen Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD and USB-C

ASUS ZenBook 3 is designed to deliver unprecedented performance, and is one of the thinnest and lightest laptops to use the latest 7th-generation Intel Core i7-7500U processor. The powerful specification also includes 16GB of high-speed 2133MHz LPDDR3 RAM, and        a 1TB PCIe® 3.0 x4 solid-state disk (SSD) — one of the largest capacity SSDs available, and which is three times (3X) faster than SATA-based SSDs. There is also a reversible USB Type-C (USB-C) port for any-way-up connections, with support for display output and power delivery as well as high-speed data transfers. 

Considerable engineering challenges had to be overcome to fit these high-performance components into the ultra-thin chassis, including the development of a revolutionary cooling system that is a mere 3mm thin. This cooling system incorporates a fan with liquid-crystal-polymer blades that are only 0.3mm thick and heat pipes with walls a mere 0.1mm thick. Warm air is expelled through discreet hidden vents in the hinge for efficient, quiet cooling even under full load. 

No-compromise multimedia: Edge-to-edge glass display and quad-speaker Harman Kardon audio

ASUS ZenBook 3 has a crisp and detailed 12.5-inch Full HD (1920 by 1080) display, with an edge-to-edge covering of tough Corning® Gorilla® Glass 4. It is framed by an ultra-slim bezel that is just 7.6mm wide, giving ZenBook 3 a class-leading 82 percent screen-to-body ratio for a distraction-free viewing experience. The display features wide 178° viewing angles, 1000:1 contrast ratio for deep blacks, superb colour reproduction with a wide 72 percent NTSC colour gamut. Video is also greatly enhanced by ASUS Tru2Life Video technology, which optimizes sharpness and contrast for every pixel in every video frame to produce smooth, natural-looking videos. 

Adding immersive entertainment capabilities to ZenBook 3 is the stunning ASUS SonicMaster Premium quad-speaker surround-sound audio system, which was designed in cooperation with the renowned audiophile specialists Harman Kardon. The four powerful speakers are driven by a four-channel smart amplifier that intelligently maximizes volume levels without the risk of distortion or voice-coil damage, and the bass drivers use a special five-magnet design for low-distortion bass response. The result is sound that’s unlike anything ever heard from a laptop, with deep, rich bass and crystal-clear vocals, even at high volume levels.

No-compromise productivity: Edge-to-edge keyboard, large glass-covered precision touchpad

On-the-go productivity demands the very best ergonomic design. ASUS ZenBook 3 has a full-width keyboard with just a 2.1mm bezel at each side, and the full-size keys have a pitch of 19.8mm, the same as most desktop keyboards. The impressive 0.8mm key travel is twice as much as rival devices, making typing much more comfortable.

The oversized touchpad has Windows Precision Touchpad support and is cleverly engineered for maximum comfort and accuracy, with a glass covering for smooth control. It also incorporates palm-rejection technology, handwriting input and support for four-point multi-touch Windows 10 gestures. The touchpad also features an optional fingerprint scanner located conveniently at the top right corner. This allows users to securely and rapidly unlock ZenBook 3 with a single touch using Windows Hello, and it also supports secure authentication in compatible apps and programs. 

Stylish and practical accessories: ASUS Mini Dock and ASUS Universal Dock

For enhanced on-the-go connectivity, two optional matching USB-C accessories are available for ASUS ZenBook 3. 

ASUS Mini Dock is a tiny, lightweight and handy expansion dock with USB-C, USB Type-A and HDMI ports. The stylish ASUS Universal Dock can connect to a wired network and multiple displays, and also provides HDMI, three extra USB ports — including one USB-C port — a combo audio jack and an SD Card reader. It also provides a USB power pass-through that can simultaneously power and charge an external device. 

AVAILABILITY & PRICING

ASUS ZenBook 3 UX390UA will be available in South Africa during 2017. Pricing will range from R24 999 to R34 999 (depending on the Rand Doller exchange rate) and will be available from Incredible Connection, DionWired and Online Clients. Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information.

About ASUS

ASUS is a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor and maker of the world’s best-selling, most award-winning motherboards. A leading enterprise in the new digital era, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home and office, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktop and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia devices, wireless solutions, networking devices, tablets and smartphones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 4,368 awards in 2015 and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with its Eee PC™. ASUS has more than 17,000 employees around the globe with a world-class R&D team of over 5,500 engineers. Company revenue for 2015 was approximately US$14 billion. 

NOTES TO EDITORS

ASUS Global Press Room: http://press.asus.com
ASUS South Africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASUSza
ASUS South Africa Twitter: https://twitter.com/ASUS_za

SPECIFICATIONS [1]       

ASUS ZenBook 3 (UX390UA)    

  • CPU Intel® 7th-generation Core™ i7-7500U Intel® 7th-generation Core™ i5-7200U  
  • Display 12.5in (16:9) LED backlit Full HD (1920x1080) anti-glare with 72% NTSC gamut ultra-thin 7.6mm bezel / 82% screen-to-body ratio  
  • Operating system Microsoft Windows 10 Pro / Windows 10 Home  
  • Graphics Intel HD Graphics 620  
  • Main memory 16GB LPDDR3 2133MHz  
  • Storage 1TB PCIe® x4 Gen 3 SSD  
  • Connectivity 802.11ac Wi-Fi  
  • Camera VGA Webcam  
  • I/O ports 1 x combo audio jack 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C (Supports display output and power delivery)  
  • Audio 4 x high-quality speakers (2 x full-range, 2 x 5-magnet bass drivers) with ASUS SonicMaster Premium technology and Harman Kardon tuning  
  • Security Optional touchpad-mounted fingerprint scanner  
  • Battery 40W lithium-polymer, 6-cell battery  
  • AC adapter Output: 20V DC, 2.25A, 45W Input: 100 -240V AC, 50/60Hz universal  
  • Dimensions 296 x 191.2 x 11.9mm  
  • Weight 910g with battery   

[1] Specifications, content and product availability are all subject to change without notice and may differ from country to country. Actual performance may vary depending on applications, usage, environment and other factors. Full specifications are available at http://www.asus.com

ASUS Announces the Transformer 3 Pro T303

Published: 11 October 2016

Powerful, convenient and expandable 2-in-1 is the world’s most versatile PC, with premium all-metal design, exquisite style and the ultimate take-anywhere performance  

KEY POINTS

  • Versatile: Exquisite all-metal 2-in-1 with new Cover Keyboard & exclusive ASUS Audio Pod, ASUS Universal Dock, ROG XG Station 2 & ASUS Pen accessories
  • Powerful: Unbelievable performance with 7th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, 1TB PCIe x4 SSD, 3K display and superb Harmon Kardon audio system
  • Convenient: 8.35mm ultra-thin and ultra-light device weighs only 790g, supports new Windows 10 features including Cortana with Voice and Windows Hello
  • Expandable: USB-C with Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.0 & full-size HDMI ports enable unrivalled expansion possibilities with the exclusive accessory range 

Johannesburg, South Africa — ASUS has announced the Transformer 3 Pro T303, the world’s most versatile PC. The Transformer 3 Pro is a premium 12.6-inch Windows 2-in-1 with unbelievable performance, amazing convenience and unrivalled expandability. It features four exclusive and powerful accessories that allow users to add functionality and performance: the ROG XG Station 2 external graphics dock for 4K UHD gaming and virtual-reality (VR) applications; immersive 5.1-channel virtual surround-sound with the ASUS Audio Pod; enhanced connectivity with the ASUS Universal Dock; and intuitive creativity using the ASUS Pen with its 1024 pressure levels. 

Exquisitely styled in solid magnesium-aluminium alloy, with an incredibly thin 8.35mm tablet that weighs only 790g, Transformer 3 Pro is the perfect choice for discerning creators and professionals — or anyone who needs the ultimate take-anywhere versatility and power. 

Transformer 3 Pro is an incredibly powerful 2-in-1, featuring an up to a 7th-generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor and 16GB of high-speed RAM, and an ultra-fast up to 1TB PCI Express® (PCIe®) x4 solid-state disk (SSD). Quiet and efficient cooling of the powerful processor is ensured by the revolutionary ThermoMaster Pro cooling system — a liquid-filled vapour-chamber cooling module that is just 0.5mm thin, plus a 3mm-thin cooling fan with ceramic bearings. 

For on-the-go expansion and connectivity Transformer 3 Pro has not only a USB 3.0 Type-A port, full-size HDMI connector and a micro SD Card reader, but also the very latest USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C (USB-C) port with Thunderbolt™ 3 for 4K UHD display output, power delivery and up to 10Gbps data transfers via USB 3.1 or 40Gbps via Thunderbolt 3. 

Transformer 3 Pro is the first model in the Transformer Series to feature the ultra-slim, magnetically-attached ASUS Transformer Cover Keyboard, which has a large Windows Precision Touchpad with support for Windows gestures. Transformer 3 Pro also has a stepless any-position kickstand that securely props the display at any angle up to an almost-horizontal 170°. 

Transformer 3 Pro’s wide-viewing-angle, wide-colour-gamut display has a 3K (2880 by 1920) resolution, enhanced with ASUS TruVivid direct-bonding technology to reduce reflections and ASUS Tru2Life Video technology for clearer, sharper videos. For immersive entertainment, Transformer 3 Pro has a powerful Harmon Kardon stereo audio system, incorporating smart-amplifier technology for minimum distortion and maximum volume. 

With full support for new Windows 10 features including Cortana with Voice and Windows Hello face-recognition login, Transformer 3 Pro sets a new standard for 2-in-1s. 

The world’s most versatile PC

ASUS Transformer 3 Pro, the latest addition to the innovative ASUS Transformer Series, is a high-performance detachable 12.6-inch 2-in-1 crafted from solid magnesium-aluminium alloy. This premium-grade metal allows an incredibly thin and light design, without sacrificing strength or rigidity. It is also a remarkably tough material that resists everyday scuffs and scratches, and its beauty is enhanced by a finely sandblasted finish with brilliant diamond-cut accents on the lid. 

To allow users to match their style, Transformer 3 Pro introduces a completely new approach to colour, with eight unique colour combinations to choose from. There are two gorgeous device colours — sophisticated Icicle Gold and high-tech Titanium Grey — plus a choice of Stone, Taupe, Amber and Charcoal keyboard colours, allowing users to mix and match to get the perfect theme for their lifestyle. 

The two tablet colour options paired with the four keyboard colour options: from left to right: Icicle Gold with Stone keyboard, Amber keyboard, Titanium Grey with Taupe keyboard and Charcoal keyboard. 

Four exclusive optional accessories allow users to take Transformer 3 Pro to the next level of mobile computing. 

ASUS Audio Pod is a Bluetooth® wireless or wired speaker system with four powerful speakers that deliver 5.1-channel virtual surround-sound, making it the perfect companion for watching movies or listening to music on the go. 

ASUS Universal Dock is a small and convenient port-expansion device that attaches to Transformer 3 Pro via its USB-C port. Extra ports include a USB-C, USB 3.0 Type-A, full-size HDMI, VGA, RJ45 LAN, and a 3-in-1 SD Card reader. 

ASUS Pen is a high-precision active stylus with 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity to detect every nuance of movement. It allows users to point, write or draw accurately and offers a natural handwriting experience. ASUS Pen is compatible with wide range of software, from Microsoft OneNote® for serious note-taking, to professional-grade tools like SketchBook® for digital artists, illustrators and designers. 

ROG XG Station 2 is an external graphics dock that connects via Thunderbolt 3 and can accept up to an NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1080 desktop graphics card. With four USB 3.0 ports and two USB-C ports, ROG XG Station 2 gives Transformer 3 Pro the graphics power to run the most graphically-demanding 4K UHD games or immersive virtual-reality (VR) applications. Transformer 3 Pro is the perfect 2-in-1 for discerning, style-conscious creative and professional users who demand no-compromise performance, on-the-go convenience and unrivalled expandability.

Powerful: The ultimate take-anywhere performance

Even though ASUS Transformer 3 Pro is incredibly thin, it is packed with powerful components that help maximize productivity and enable effortless creativity. The 7th-generation up to Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of fast 2133MHz LPDDR3 RAM make light work of the toughest tasks, and the up to 1TB PCIe x4 SSD delivers lightning-quick app loads and near-instant boot times. 

Achieving this level of performance in such a thin device posed many engineering challenges, including that of cooling the powerful processor. Transformer 3 Pro introduces the revolutionary ThermoMaster Pro cooling system, incorporating the world’s thinnest (0.5mm) vapour chamber. This sealed, liquid-filled component provides 3D heat-dissipation and is engineered using nano-etching technology to create the internal porous-metal structures. A 3mm-thin fan with durable, low-noise ceramic bearings expels the warm air, ensuring that Transformer 3 Pro remains quiet and cool — up to 10°C cooler than rival devices — even under the heaviest computing loads. 

Despite its powerful specification, the power-efficient design of Transformer 3 Pro delivers all-day freedom. And when a recharge is needed, fast-charge technology allows the lithium-polymer battery to be topped up to 60% capacity in just 50 minutes. 

The gorgeous 12.6-inch touchscreen has a crystal-clear 3K (2880 by 1920) resolution, and a pixel density of 275ppi for super-fine detail. The display has a wide colour gamut of 121% sRGB for accurate, natural-looking colours, and the wide 178° viewing angle minimizes colour and contrast degradation for off-centre viewing. Several exclusive technologies are included that enhance the visual experience. ASUS TruVivid direct-bonding technology reduces the number of glass layers, increasing brightness and reducing reflections for better outdoor viewing. ASUS Tru2Life Video enhances each pixel in every video frame to give sharper, clearer and more realistic-looking videos, and ASUS Splendid ensures vivid, accurate colours for any kind of visual content, as well as offering an Eye Care mode to reduce potentially harmful blue-light emissions. 

For superb on-the-go entertainment, Transformer 3 Pro is fitted with an ASUS SonicMaster Premium audio system, developed in conjunction with audio experts Harman Kardon, with powerful front-facing stereo speakers driven by smart amplifiers. These amplifiers use intelligent software algorithms to boost volume levels by 350% — compared to speakers of similar size and power driven by standard amplifiers — while minimizing distortion. 

Convenient: Ultra-thin, ultra-light and perfect for entertainment

Designed for convenient and effortless portability, the ultra-thin and ultra-light ASUS Transformer 3 Pro has a tablet that is just 8.35mm thin, and weighs only 790g. 

The ultra-slim ASUS Transformer Cover Keyboard attaches magnetically to allow instant mode-changing between laptop and tablet, and is gently backlit for perfect visibility in any environment. The generous 1.4mm key travel is longer than many slim mobile keyboards, giving a more comfortable laptop-like feel. The large glass-covered touchpad is extremely smooth to use and supports Windows Precision Touchpad features including multi-touch gestures for easy navigation and control. 

At the rear of Transformer 3 Pro is an integrated full-width metal kickstand, with a stepless any-position 155° hinge that securely props up the display at any angle up to an almost-horizontal 170°. The kickstand hinge has 155° of movement, allowing the tablet to be tilted up to an almost-horizontal 170° 

Expandable: Next-gen connectivity with USB-C and Thunderbolt 3

ASUS Transformer 3 Pro features a full range of high-performance I/O expansion ports on the tablet, including USB 3.0 Type-A, a full-size HDMI port for connecting an external display and a micro SD Card reader. There is also a USB Type-C (USB-C) port with Thunderbolt 3 support, which not only allows USB 3.1 Gen 2 data transfers of up to 10Gbps — twice as fast as USB 3.0 — but also enables data speeds of up 40Gbps via Thunderbolt 3. In addition, the USB-C port supports 4K UHD display output and power delivery. These next-generation interfaces ensure compatibility with both existing and future peripherals. 

A great Windows 10 experience: Windows Hello and Cortana with VoiceTransformer 3 Pro has a 13MP rear camera, in addition to a front camera with infrared capability that supports Windows Hello biometric login. The front camera can recognize the user’s face in seconds and for instant and secure login. Cortana with Voice is the personal digital assistant that accepts voice commands. With Transformer 3 Pro’s array microphone, background noise is reduced so that voices are captured clearly from any direction, giving accurate voice recognition and recording. 

AVAILABILITY & PRICINGASUS Transformer 3 Pro T303 will be available from February 2017 in South Africa from leading online stores. Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information. 

SPECIFICATIONS

ASUS Transformer 3 Pro T303

  • CPU 7th-generation Intel® Core™ i7 7500U 7th-generation Intel® Core™ i5 7200U
  • Display 12.6in (3:2) LED backlit 3K (2880x1920) anti-glare touchscreen with 121% sRGB color gamut and wide 178° viewing angles
  • Operating system Microsoft Windows 10 Pro / Windows 10 Home
  • Graphics Integrated Intel® HD Graphics 520
  • Main memory 16GB LPDDR3 2133MHz
  • Storage 1TB PCIe® Gen 3 x4 SSD
  • Connectivity 802.11ac Wi-Fi Bluetooth 4.1
  • Camera Front: 8MP with IR Rear: 13MP
  • Interface 1 x Combo audio jack 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C (USB-C) port with Thunderbolt™ 3 support 1 x Full-size HDMI port 1 x USB Type-A port
  • Audio 2W stereo speakers
  • Battery 39Wh Lithium-polymer
  • AC adapter Output: 20 V DC, 2.25 A, 45 W Input: 100 -240 V AC, 50/60 Hz universal
  • Dimensions 298.8 x 210.1 x 8.35 mm
  • Weight 790 grams (tablet only) 

About ASUS

ASUS is a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor and maker of the world’s best-selling, most award-winning motherboards. A leading enterprise in the new digital era, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home and office, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktop and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia devices, wireless solutions, networking devices, tablets and smartphones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 4,368 awards in 2015 and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with its Eee PC™. ASUS has more than 17,000 employees around the globe with a world-class R&D team of over 5,500 engineers. Company revenue for 2015 was approximately US$14 billion. 

NOTES TO EDITORS

ASUS Global Press Room: http://press.asus.com

ASUS South Africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASUSza

ASUS South Africa Twitter: https://twitter.com/ASUS_za

Specifications, content and product availability are all subject to change without notice and may differ from country to country. Actual performance may vary depending on applications, usage, environment and other factors. Full specifications are available at http://www.asus.com

Thinnest-ever 13.3-inch model in the award-winning ZenBook ultraportable laptop family delivers non-stop elegance with 12-hour battery life.

Published: 05 October 2016

ASUS Announces ZenBook UX330UA 

KEY POINTS  

  • Thinnest-ever 13.3-inch ZenBook is only 13.5mm thin and weighs just 1.2kg
  • Has one of the highest resolution 13.3-inch screens available, with over 40% more pixels than Apple’s 13-inch Retina display
  • Offers an incredible 12-hour battery life for all-day, on-the-go productivity 

Johannesburg, South Africa — ASUS has announced the elegant and powerful ZenBook UX330UA, the thinnest-ever 13.3-inch ZenBook model. Precision-crafted from solid aluminium and powered by a high-performance up to Intel Core i7 processor, the 13.5mm-thin ZenBook UX330UA is 15 percent thinner than its predecessor — the highly-acclaimed ZenBook UX305 — and is also one of the world’s slimmest 13.3-inch laptops to feature this processor. 

With a crisp and vibrant up to QHD+ (3200 by 1800) display — the highest resolution available at this size — and a weight of just 1.2kg, the sophisticated ZenBook UX330UA is the ultimate ultraportable for discerning users. 

ZenBook UX330UA has an incredible battery life of up to 12 hours, for non-stop productivity throughout the working day and beyond. 

Continuing the ZenBook tradition

With a chassis measuring only 13.5mm thin and weighing just 1.2kg, ASUS ZenBook UX330UA is one of the world’s slimmest and lightest 13.3-inch laptops. It is precision-crafted from a solid block of aluminium, giving it incredible strength without the compromise of added weight or bulk. Proudly carrying the ZenBook DNA, ZenBook UX330UA features all the iconic design elements of the series including the distinctive wedge-shaped profile, and the signature spun-metal finish on the lid with its Zen-inspired pattern of concentric circles. ZenBook UX330UA is available in two subtly elegant colours: Rose Gold and Quartz Grey. 

Stunningly-detailed QHD+ display

ASUS ZenBook UX330UA features a stunningly-detailed 13.3-inch up to QHD+ (3200 by 1800) wide-viewing-angle display that has one of the highest resolutions available for a display of this size, with 40% more pixels than the 13-inch Retina® display used by Apple® [1]. This ultra-high resolution makes ZenBook UX330UA equally suited to work or play. 

Exclusive ASUS technologies enhance UX330UA’s display even further. ASUS Tru2Life Video enhances each pixel in every video frame to give sharper, clearer and more realistic-looking videos, and ASUS Splendid ensures vivid, accurate colours for any kind of visual content. 

Incredible touch, incredible sound

For comfortable typing in any situation, ASUS ZenBook UX330UA features a supremely comfortable keyboard with widely separated keys that have a generous 1.5mm key travel. The keyboard is also backlit for easy typing in dim environments. Reliability is assured by a rigorous 10-million-stroke testing procedure. The glass-coated touchpad is larger than average, and is extremely smooth to the touch for more accurate control. It supports Windows 10’s multi-touch and multi-gesture input with up to 3-finger gestures, making it easy to switch applications or screens. 

Incredible sound has always been a feature of the ZenBook family, and UX330UA is no exception. ASUS SonicMaster audio, developed in cooperation with audio experts Harman Kardon, produces sound with deep, rich bass and crystal-clear vocals. The easy-to-use AudioWizard software has five presets optimized for different sound sources, so users can always enjoy the ultimate listening experience. 

AVAILABILITY & PRICING

ASUS ZenBook UX330UA will be available from January 2017 in South Africa from DionWired and other leading retailers. Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information.

SPECIFICATIONS [2]  

ASUS ZenBook UX330UA    

  • OS Windows 10 Pro/Home
  • CPU 6th-gen Intel® Core™ i7/i5
  • Graphics Intel® HD Graphics
  • Memory LPDDR3 1866MHz up to 8GB
  • Display 13.3in 16:9 wide-viewing-angle QHD+ (3200x1800) 13.3in 16:9 wide-viewing-angle FHD (1920 x 1080)
  • Storage SSD: 256GB / 512GB
  • Connectivity 802.11ac Wi-Fi / Bluetooth® 4.1
  • Camera HD 720p CMOS module
  • Keyboard Frameless Chiclet keyboard with backlight
  • I/O ports 1 x Micro HDMI 1 x USB 3.0 Gen 1 Type-C 2 x USB 3.0 1 x SD/SDXC Card reader 1 x audio jack combo
  • Audio ASUS SonicMaster/Harmon Kardon audio system with Integrated microphone
  • Battery 57Wh Li-polymer, up to 12 hours’ battery life (Core i5 version)
  • AC adapter: Output 19V 45W / Input: 100~240V AC, 50/60Hz universal
  • Weight 1.2kg
  • Dimensions 221.5 x 323 x 13.5mm 

__________________________________________

[1] Compared to 13-inch 2560x1600 Retina® display 

[2] Specifications, content and product availability are all subject to change without notice and may differ from country to country. Actual performance may vary depending on applications, usage, environment and other factors. 

Full specifications are available at www.asus.com 

ABOUT ASUS

ASUS is a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor and maker of the world’s best-selling, most award-winning motherboards. A leading enterprise in the new digital era, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home and office, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktop and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia devices, wireless solutions, networking devices, tablets and smartphones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 4,368 awards in 2015 and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with its Eee PC™. ASUS has more than 17,000 employees around the globe with a world-class R&D team of over 5,500 engineers. Company revenue for 2015 was approximately US$14 billion. 

NOTES TO EDITORS

ASUS Global Press Room: http://press.asus.com
ASUS South Africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASUSza
ASUS South Africa Twitter: https://twitter.com/ASUS_za

ASUS Announces ZenBook Flip UX360UA and ZenBook Flip UX560

Published: 27 September 2016

Innovative premium convertible laptop family enhanced with new models featuring powerful Intel Core i7 and i5 processors  

KEY POINTS  

  • Stylish and elegant 13.3in and 15.6in models with a versatile 360°-flippable display that is great for work in confined spaces, and ideal for business travelers
  • The first ZenBook Flip models to feature powerful Intel Core i7 and i5 processors for superb all-round performance
  • All models have the highest resolution screens available for their respective display sizes  

Johannesburg, South Africa — ASUS has announced the ZenBook Flip UX360UA and the ZenBook Flip UX560 Series, the latest convertible models in the premium ZenBook Flip Series. Both models feature a 360°-flippable display with an ultra-reliable stepless hinge that allows them to be used as a traditional touchscreen laptop, a convenient tablet, or any option in between. This gives users the flexibility to view content comfortably in any work or leisure scenario, and particularly in the confined areas often encountered during commuting or business travel.  

ZenBook Flip UX360UA and UX560 are also the first ZenBook Flip models to feature powerful Intel® Core™ i7 and i5 processors, bringing a new level of performance to the convertible form factor.  

The new ZenBook Flip models have touchscreen displays that offer the highest available resolution for their respective sizes. ZenBook Flip UX360UA has a 13.3-inch, QHD+ (3200 by 1800) display, while ZenBook Flip UX560 features a 15.6-inch, 4K UHD (3840 by 2160) display.  

The ZenBook Flip UX560 Series consists of three models (UX560UA, UX560UQ and UX560UX), differentiated solely by their graphics options. The flagship UX560UX model features a discrete NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 graphics processing unit (GPU) with 2GB of video RAM.  

360° of Freedom, 100% ZenBook

ASUS ZenBook Flip UX360UA and UX560 inherit all the DNA of the classic ZenBook design, adding a distinctive touch of individuality to the convertible form factor. They feature a unibody chassis crafted from a single block of solid aluminium, with the lid featuring the signature spun-metal ZenBook finish with its Zen-inspired pattern of concentric circles.  

A masterpiece of lightweight design, UX360UA measures just 13.9mm thick and weighs a mere 1.3kg. Its elegant looks are further enhanced by the two stylish colour options of Rose Gold and Mineral Grey.  

ZenBook Flip UX560 Series includes some of the thinnest and lightest 15.6-inch convertibles available, with UX560UA measuring just 19.8mm thin and weighing only 2.1kg. ZenBook UX560UA is finished in sophisticated Glacier Silver, while UX560UQ and UX560UX are available in a choice of Chocolate Brown or Matt Black.  

The robust, 360° any-position hinge on the new ZenBook Flip models has been reduced in size by 50 percent, and has an attractive jewellery-inspired design with a brilliant anodized finish that adds a touch of understated luxury.  

Stunning detail and lifelike colour, from any angle

ASUS ZenBook Flip UX360UA and UX560 are equipped with highest resolution touchscreen displays available for their respective sizes. ZenBook Flip UX360UA has a QHD+ (3200 by 1800) resolution 13.3-inch panel, while ZenBook Flip UX560 features a stunningly detailed 4K UHD (3840 by 2160) 15.6-inch display.  

Both displays employ wide-viewing-angle technology, which provides noticeably better colour reproduction and contrast when viewed off-centre compared to other LCD technologies. Combined with their versatile flip capability and 350cd/m2 brightness, users can experience the full detail of ultra-high-resolution movies or photos, as well as enjoying amazing clarity for everyday productivity tasks.  

The displays also feature a wide colour gamut — 100 percent sRGB and 72 percent NTSC — for vivid and accurate colour rendering. In addition, ASUS Tru2Life Video enhances each pixel in every video frame to give sharper, clearer and more realistic-looking videos, and ASUS Splendid ensures vivid, accurate colours for any kind of visual content.   

Performance to spare, and no-compromise connectivity

ZenBook Flip UX360UA and UX560 are the first members of the ZenBook Flip family to be powered by high-performance 6th-generation Intel Core i7 and i5 processors, which deliver seamless multitasking and more than enough computing power for the most demanding tasks.  

Other high performance components include 16GB of 1866MHz LPDDR3 RAM and a 512GB high speed SATA 3 SSD. The UX560 series is available with an optional PCIe® solid-state disk (SSD) that outperforms conventional SSDs.  

Despite their outstanding performance, the ZenBook Flip UX360UA and UX560 are still able to achieve an impressive up to 12-hour battery life for full-working-day convenience.  

ASUS ZenBook Flip UX360UA and UX560 offer a wider range of ports and connectors than many of their rivals. In addition to an SD Card reader and combination audio jack, ZenBook Flip UX360UA has two USB Type-A ports, a USB-C port for any-way-up connections, and a full-size HDMI display port. ZenBook Flip UX560 additionally features an extra USB 3.0 Type-A port.  

Immersive entertainment is provided by the ASUS SonicMaster audio system, designed in cooperation with audio experts Harman Kardon, with powerful finely-tuned speakers that deliver superbly rich, crystal-clear sound. A precision noise-reducing array microphone is fitted that not only makes sound recordings clearer, but also allows accurate voice interaction with Windows Cortana, for which it is certified.  

Unrivalled ergonomics

All ASUS ZenBook Flip UX360UA and UX560 models feature an ergonomic, gently backlit keyboard with full-size keys and long key travel for comfortable typing in any lighting conditions.  

The large glass-coated touchpad allows smooth and accurate navigation, and also supports intuitive multi-touch Windows gestures. Intelligent palm-rejection technology automatically recognises and rejects palm presses so that users can type freely even if their palms are resting on the touchpad.  

An optional feature on all the new models is the fingerprint scanner that can be used for biometric security. Located conveniently at the top right corner of the touchpad, it allows users to lock or unlock ZenBook Flip instantly with just a touch, and also supports authentication for third-party apps.      

AVAILABILITY & PRICING

The ASUS ZenBook Flip UX506UA series is currently available from Independent Retail Stores with a RSP of R16 999. The ASUS ZenBook Flip UX360UA’s availability and price is to be confirmed in 2017. Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information.  

ABOUT ASUS

ASUS is a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor and maker of the world’s best-selling, most award-winning motherboards. A leading enterprise in the new digital era, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home and office, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktop and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia devices, wireless solutions, networking devices, tablets and smartphones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 4,368 awards in 2015 and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with its Eee PC™. ASUS has more than 17,000 employees around the globe with a world-class R&D team of over 5,500 engineers. Company revenue for 2015 was approximately US$14 billion.  

SPECIFICATIONS [1]   

ZenBook Flip UX360UA ZenBook Flip UX560 Series CPU 6th-generation Intel® Core™ i7 6500U / i5 6200U

Display 13.3in (16:9) LED-backlit QHD+ (3200 x 1800), 276ppi, 350cd/m2 brightness, 100% sRGB and 72% NTSC gamut 15.6in (16:9) LED-backlit 4K UHD (3840 x 2160), 282ppi, 350cd/m2 brightness, 100% sRGB and 72% NTSC gamut

Operating System Windows 10 Pro / Windows 10 Home

Integrated Graphics UX360UA and UX560UA: Integrated Intel® HD Graphics 520

Discrete Graphics N/A

UX560UQ: NVIDIA® GeForce® 940MX

UX560UX: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 950 with 2GB VRAM

Memory Up to 16GB LPDDR3 1866MHz

Storage 512GB SATA-3 SSD Connectivity 802.11ac Wi-Fi / Bluetooth® 4.1

Camera HD Webcam

Interface 1 x USB 3.0 Type-C 2 x USB 3.0 Type-A 1 x full-size HDMI 1 x Combo audio jack 1 x SD Card reader 1 x USB 3.0 Type-C 3 x USB 3.0 Type-A 1 x full-size HDMI 1 x Combo audio jack 1 x SD Card reader

Audio 2 x stereo speakers with ASUS SonicMaster / Harman Kardon audio system

Security Optional touchpad-mounted fingerprint reader

Battery 57Whrs Lithium-polymer 52W Lithium-polymer battery

AC adapter Output: 19V, 45W / Input: 100V-240V AC, 50Hz/60Hz (Universal)

Dimensions 321.6 x 229.1 x 13.9 mm UX560UA: 380 x 254 x 19.85mm UX560UQ/UX: 380 x 254 x 21.8mm

Weight 1.3kg UX560UA: 2.1kg UX560 UQ/UX: 2.3kg

[1] Specifications, content and product availability are all subject to change without notice and may differ from country to country. Actual performance may vary depending on applications, usage, environment and other factors. Full specifications are available at http://www.asus.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

ASUS Global Press Room: http://press.asus.com ASUS

South Africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASUSza

ASUS South Africa Twitter: https://twitter.com/ASUS_za

ASUS Announces VivoBook X541

Published: 19 September 2016

Mainstream 14in and 15in laptops powered by up to 6th-gen Intel Core processors, with exclusive ASUS SonicMaster technology for immersive audio and powerful bass.  

KEY POINTS

  • 3W transmission-line speakers with 24cc audio chambers deliver higher volumes and a wider frequency range for deeper bass and distinct vocals
  • Ergonomically-designed chiclet keyboard with 2.3mm key travel and a large touchpad with palm-rejection technology for a better input experience
  • Lightweight, portable design available in five expressive colours: Silver Gradient, Chocolate Brown, Red, White, and Aqua Blue

Johannesburg, South Africa (11 July 2016) — ASUS has announced the VivoBook Series, mainstream 14- and 15-inch laptops designed for immersive entertainment and daily productivity. VivoBook Series laptops are powered by up to 6th-generation Intel® Core™ processors, and feature up to discrete NVIDIA® GeForce® graphics and 16GB RAM. These laptops have ASUS SonicMaster-enhanced 3W transmission-line speakers with 24cc audio chambers for truly powerful audio delivery, an ergonomic keyboard with 2.3mm key travel, and a large touchpad with palm-rejection technology. These lightweight, portable laptops are available in Silver Gradient, Chocolate Brown, Red, White, and Aqua Blue.

Designed for an immersive multimedia experience

ASUS VivoBook Series laptops are mainstream models designed to give users a high-end multimedia experience. The ASUS SonicMaster-enhanced 3W transmission-line speakers with 24cc audio chambers deliver rich deep bass and immersive audio, while ASUS AudioWizard provides five pre-set audio modes for different kinds of content.

ASUS Tru2Life video technology optimizes the contrast and sharpness of every pixel in every video frame for incredibly realistic visuals with rich detail. ASUS Splendid features four modes (Normal, Eye Care, Vivid, and Manual) to cater to users’ requirements, and optimizes visuals for richer and deeper colours. Normal mode is ideal for daily computing tasks. Eye Care mode reduces blue light by up to 33% to protect users’ eyes. Vivid mode enhances image colour, contrast and sharpness for livelier visuals, and Manual mode lets users adjust and save their preferred colour temperature settings.

Accurate, intuitive input and navigation

ASUS VivoBook X Series laptops feature a seamless one-piece chiclet keyboard with 2.3mm of key travel — the same as higher-end or gaming-grade laptops — for no key float and a more responsive typing feel. Accurate and intuitive navigation is ensured by the large touchpad, which supports ASUS Precise Touch Pad (PTP) multi-touch gestures so users can pinch-zoom in and out, or scroll and swipe pages easily. The touchpad also has intelligent palm-rejection technology that automatically recognises and rejects accidental palm presses.

Everyday computing with a stylish, portable design

Designed for everyday productivity and entertainment, ASUS VivoBook Series laptops are powered by up to a 6th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, and feature up to discrete NVIDIA® GeForce® 920M graphics with 16GB DDR4 RAM and a 256GB solid-state drive (SSD). ASUS-exclusive SuperBatt technology gives VivoBook Series laptops three times (3X) the battery life cycle of conventional laptop batteries.

The 15-inch ASUS VivoBook X541 measures 321.4 by 251 by 27.6mm and weighs no more than 1.9kg. VivoBook Series laptops come in a variety of finishes and expressive colours — glossy White or Aqua Blue, or a brushed metallic finish in Silver Gradient, Chocolate Brown, or Red. 

AVAILABILITY & PRICING

ASUS X541 will be available from Quarter 4 in South Africa from all retailers (Makro and Incredible Connection will carry stock from 2017). Contact your local ASUS representative for further information. 

ABOUT ASUS

ASUS is a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor and maker of the world’s best-selling, most award-winning motherboards. A leading enterprise in the new digital era, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home and office, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktop and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia devices, wireless solutions, networking devices, tablets and smartphones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 4,368 awards in 2015 and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with its Eee PC™. ASUS has more than 17,000 employees around the globe with a world-class R&D team of over 5,500 engineers. Company revenue for 2015 was approximately US$14 billion.

SPECIFICATIONS [1]

ASUS VivoBook X541 Processor For X541UA/UV: Intel® Core™ ‘Skylake’ i3-6100U/ i5-6200U/ i7-6500U For X541SA/SC: Intel ‘Braswell’ N3710/N3160/N3060

Operating system Windows 10

Display For X541: 15.6-inch LED backlit FHD LCD (1920x1080 / 16:9) 15.6-inch LED backlit HD LCD (1366 x 768 / 16:9) 15.6-inch LED backlit HD touchscreen LCD (1366x 768 / 16:9)

Memory For X541UA/UV: DDR4 2133MHz, up to 16GB For X541SA/SC: DDR3L 1600MHz, up to 8GB

Graphics For X541UA/UV: NVIDIA® GeForce® 920MX / Intel® HD Graphics For X541SA: Intel® HD Graphics For X541SC: NVIDIA® GeForce® 810M

Storage For X541: 500GB / 1TB / 2TB HDD, 128GB/256GB SSD

Optical disc drive 8.9mm SATA optical disc drive / dummy optical drive

Card reader SD / SDHC / SDXC

Connectivity 802.11b/g/n 10/100Mbps Ethernet Bluetooth® 4.0

Camera VGA camera

Keyboard and touchpad Seamless one-piece chiclet keyboard Large touchpad with ASUS Smart Gesture technology

Interface 1 x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C 2 x USB 3.0 (for X441); 1 x USB 3.0 (for X541) 1 x HDMI port 1 x combo audio jack 1 x VGA port 1 x LAN RJ45 jack

Audio 3W high-quality speakers

Battery and AC adapter 36Wh cylinder battery Output: 19V, 45W Input: 100V-240V AC, 50Hz/60Hz

Colours Silver Gradient, Chocolate Brown, White, Red, and Aqua Blue

Size For X541: 321.4 x 251. 5 x 27.6mm

Weight For X541: 1.9kg Specifications, content and product availability are all subject to change without notice and may differ from country to country. Actual performance may vary depending on applications, usage, environment and other factors.

Full specifications are available at http://www.asus.com

[1] Specifications, content and product availability are all subject to change without notice and may differ from country to country. Actual performance may vary depending on applications, usage, environment and other factors. Full specifications are available at http://www.asus.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

ASUS Global Press Room: http://press.asus.com

ASUS South Africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASUSza

ASUS South Africa Twitter: https://twitter.com/ASUS_za

 

ASUS Announces Transformer Book T101

Published: 05 September 2016

Stylish and compact all-metal detachable 2-in-1 laptop features a reversible hinge for added versatility.  

KEY POINTS  

  • Durable and stylish: Features a durable aluminium construction in three vibrant colours, with honeycomb-inspired patterning on the keyboard surround
  • Versatile reversible hinge: New reversible magnetic hinge enables four convenient modes — laptop, tablet, tent and stand
  • Ultraportable and compact: Tablet weighs only 580g, or just 1.08kg with the keyboard attached
  • Bright, sharp and clear display: High-resolution anti-glare display with up to 400cd/m2 brightness and wide 178° viewing angles  

Johannesburg, South Africa - ASUS has announced Transformer Book T101, the latest addition to its successful series of 2-in-1 detachable laptops. The 10.1-inch Transformer Book T101 has a premium metallic design and is light and compact, weighing only 580g as a tablet or just 1.08kg with the keyboard attached. It features a reversible magnetic hinge that allows its display to be flipped over, giving the convenience of four versatile modes: a conventional lightweight laptop, a handy tablet, tent mode for easy screen-sharing, and stand mode as a personal movie theatre. With its incredibly long up to 11-hour battery life, dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, full-size USB port, and complete Windows 10 functionality, Transformer Book T101 is the ideal mobile companion.  

Durable and stylish

ASUS Transformer Book T101 is stylish and elegant, with a premium all-aluminium tablet and a keyboard surround that features a chic honeycomb-inspired textured pattern. The aluminium construction not only looks great, but it makes Transformer Book T101 more durable and resistant to everyday knocks and bumps than rival products with a cheaper plastic construction. Lightweight aluminium also allows Transformer Book T101’s tablet to be very slim and light at only 580g, making it ideal as a mobile lifestyle companion. The device is available in three vibrant colours: Rose Gold, Mint Green and Glacier Gray.  

Versatile reversible hinge

ASUS Transformer Book T101 features a reversible magnetic hinge connecting the tablet and keyboard. This solidly-engineered hinge allows the tablet to be detached, flipped over and reattached, giving two convenient extra modes in addition to the standard laptop and tablet configurations. Tent mode is great for sharing the screen contents with a group of people, while stand mode turns Transformer Book T101 into a compact personal movie theatre.  

Powerful, precisely positioned magnets ensure that the tablet can be attached quickly and accurately with minimal effort. To ensure long-term reliability, the reversible hinge has been rigorously tested with a 25,000-cycle mechanical hinge-swing test. The slim keyboard has ergonomic keys with a 1.5mm key travel— longer than that of most mobile keyboards, and the same as a full-size laptop. This long key travel provides more reassuring feedback for every key strike and replicates the comfortable typing experience of a full-size laptop. The keyboard also features a Precision Touchpad with support for Windows gestures. This touchpad has palm-rejection technology that intelligently recognizes and ignores accidental presses of the palm during typing, allowing users to rest their hands naturally and comfortably while typing.  

Clear, sharp and bright display

The anti-glare touchscreen display on ASUS Transformer Book T101 has a sharp 1280 by 800 resolution, and with up to 400cd/m2 brightness it is one of the brightest 10.1-inch displays. It has wide 178° viewing angles, and ASUS TruVivid direct-bonding technology ensures higher transparency and improved clarity, with fewer reflections in bright environments — even in bright sunlight. Exclusive ASUS Tru2Life video-enhancement technology — similar to that found in high-end TVs — uses intelligent software algorithms to optimise the sharpness and contrast of every video frame, so that videos look clearer, more detailed and more realistic.  

Powerful components

Inside its compact chassis ASUS Transformer Book T101 packs powerful components that include the latest quad-core Intel® Atom™ X5 Series (‘Cherry Trail’) processor, up to 4GB of RAM, up to 128GB eMMC storage, a micro SD Card reader that can support up to 512GB cards, and fast dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi. These components operate in complete silence thanks to Transformer Book T101’s fan-less design, allowing users to work or play without distracting noises. It also comes with a more comprehensive set of connectors than other similar-sized devices. These include a full-size (Type-A ) USB 2.0 port, a micro HDMI display port, and a micro USB port that can also be used for charging the device. The micro USB port also supports charging from external power banks, enabling users to extend the already impressive up to 11-hour battery life even further, for true all-day convenience.  

A one-year unlimited subscription to ASUS WebStorage is included with Transformer Book T101, allowing users to store and access their files from all their devices, anywhere and anytime.  

An amazing Windows experience

ASUS Transformer Book T101 supports Cortana, the innovative Windows personal assistant that allows natural interaction via its powerful voice-recognition technology. Transformer Book T101 also supports Windows 10 Continuum, which automatically detects if the keyboard is attached and reconfigures itself for the ideal user experience as a laptop or tablet. Transformer Book T101 also comes with Microsoft Office Mobile pre-installed, giving users immediate access to the powerful Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile and OneNote apps.   

AVAILABILITY & PRICING

ASUS Transformer Book T101 will be available from November in South Africa from Channel Distributors. Please contact your local ASUS representative for further information.  

SPECIFICATIONS

ASUS Transformer Book T101HA      

  • CPU Quad-core Intel® Atom™ X5-Z8350 (‘Cherry Trail’)  
  • Display  10.1in HD (1280x800) touchscreen, wide 178° viewing angles, 400cd/m2 brightness  
  • Operating system  Microsoft Windows 10 Home / Pro 64-bit  
  • Graphics  Integrated Intel® HD Graphics  
  • Main memory  Up to 4GB  
  • Storage  128GB eMMC  
  • Connectivity  Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi  Bluetooth® 4.1  
  • Camera  2MP front camera  
  • Interface  1 x USB 2.0 Type-A  1 x micro HDMI port  1 x micro USB 2.0 (for charging and data)  1 x microSD card reader (up to 512GB)  1 x Combo audio jack  
  • Audio  Dual side-firing stereo speakers with ASUS SonicMaster   technology  
  • Battery  32Wh Lithium-polymer  
  • AC adapter  Output: 5V DC, 10W  Input: 100 -240 V AC, 50/60 Hz universal  
  • Dimensions 261 x 175 x 9mm (tablet) 261 x 175 x 10mm (keyboard)  
  • Weight  580g (tablet)  1.08kg (tablet with keyboard)  
  • Colours  Rose Gold, Mint Green, Quartz Gray  

ABOUT ASUS

ASUS is a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor and maker of the world’s best-selling, most award-winning motherboards. A leading enterprise in the new digital era, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home and office, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktop and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia devices, wireless solutions, networking devices, tablets and smartphones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 4,368 awards in 2015 and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with its Eee PC™. ASUS has more than 17,000 employees around the globe with a world-class R&D team of over 5,500 engineers. Company revenue for 2015 was approximately US$14 billion.  

NOTES TO EDITORS

ASUS Global Press Room: http://press.asus.com

ASUS South Africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASUSza

ASUS South Africa Twitter: https://twitter.com/ASUS_za

[1] Specifications, content and product availability are all subject to change without notice and may differ from country to country. Actual performance may vary depending on applications, usage, environment and other factors. Full specifications are available at http://www.ASUS.com Specifications, content and product availability are all subject to change without notice and may differ from country to country. Actual performance may vary depending on applications, usage, environment and other factors. Full specifications are available at http://www.ASUS.com  

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