Gadgets & Gizmos

As with Asus’ 17.3-inch G73Jw gaming laptop, the G53Jw’s chassis has been inspired by the F-117 ‘Nighthawk’ stealth bomber. Its aggressively sharp lines and resilient matt finish create a stunning, high-end design that easily matches the unique style of the Alienware M17X.
Continuing the stealth-inspired look, huge exhausts on the rear of the chassis keep the laptop cool to the touch. However, the chunky case makes this one of the heaviest laptops in this group test. Weighing 3.8kg, this is not a laptop that you’ll want to carry far and this is further illustrated by the poor 75-minute battery life. This drops even further to just 70 minutes when watching a DVD. Excellent keyboard The large isolation-style keyboard is a pleasure to work with. The board slopes slightly towards you, making it comfortable to rest your hands and type. The board is also backlit and easy to use in low light conditions. Our only minor complaint is the keys feel a little spongy.
Unlike previous 3D machines from Asus that used an external USB3D receiver, the G53Jw’s receiver is embedded in the chassis. Built around nVidia’s 3D Vision technology, it uses active shutter glasses to trick your brain into seeing a three dimensional image that does not exist. The result is very effective, with images leaping from the screen with an impressive illusion of depth. Unfortunately, as with the Alienware and Sony laptops in this group test, the active shutter glasses also greatly reduce the brightness and impact of the screen when viewing 3D content. The ls.6-inch screen is also flawed. While it’s bright and vivid, it has very poor viewing angles. None of its rivals in this group test have this flaw and it mars enjoyment of the machine. It’s also the smallest screen in the group and does not feature a Full HD resolution.
Thankfully, the balance is redressed somewhat by the excellent performance. The cutting-edge, quad-core Intel Core i7 processor and DirectX i i-compatible nVidia graphics card make this a high powered and reliable home, gaming and multimedia machine, although not quite as capable as the Alienware or Sony.
With its impressive performance and striking design, the GS3Jwhas enough strengths to make it a viable rival in the 3D laptop market. However, the flawed screen prevents it from excelling and its rivals here prove to be far better 3D multimedia and gaming machines.