ASUS VivoBook Laptop 15.6" - Any good for home office?

[Canada EH]

ASUS VivoBook

Model A541UA-BS52-CB

i5-7200U - 14nm, 2C4T, 2.5Ghz boost to 3.1Ghz

15.6", 1TB, 8GB, W10

 

Any good for home office?

MS Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint presentations), Internet, Email, Wifi, Printing, Youtube, External Monitor.

Upgrade ram to 16GB is it possible?

Upgrade to a second drive, SSD possible?

 

This is the VivoBook MAX so a bit different then the A541UA-BS52-CB but I'd assume its close enough. The A541UA is not sold anymore.

Quote

 

https://www.asus.com/ca-en/Laptops/ASUS-VivoBook-Max-X541UA/

https://www.asus.com/ca-en/Laptops/ASUS-VivoBook-Max-X541UA/specifications/

Memory up to 16 GB SDRAM(On selected models), 1 x SO-DIMM socket

 

15.6" Glare Panel 60Hz LED backlit FHD (16:9) (1920x1080) with 45% NTSC - With Touchsrceen(optional) - with 45% NTSC HD LED backlit 15.6" (16:9) (1366x768) 60Hz Panel Glare - LED backlit 60Hz (16:9) HD 15.6" Anti-Glare with 45% NTSC Panel (1366x768)

 

Integrated Intel HD Graphics 520

 

Solid State Drives: SATA3 256GB SSD - SATA HDD 2TB 5400RPM - SATA HDD 5400RPM 1TB - Solid State Drives: 128GB SSD SATA3 - Hard Drives: SATA HDD 5400RPM 500GB

 

Super-Multi DVD (Optional)

 

10/100 Base T - Wi-Fi Integrated 802.11b/g/n - Integrated 802.11 AC (WIDI Support) (On selected models) - Bluetooth Built-in Bluetooth V4.0 (Optional)

 

1 x Type A USB3.0 (USB3.1 GEN1)
1 x Type C USB3.0 (USB3.1 GEN1)
1 x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert
1 x USB 2.0 port(s)
1 x Microphone-in/Headphone-out jack
1 x VGA port/Mini D-sub 15-pin for external monitor
1 x HDMI

 

3 Cells 36 Whrs Battery

 

 

 

https://ark.intel.com/products/95443/Intel-Core-i5-7200U-Processor-3M-Cache-up-to-3-10-GHz-

 

 

Other ASUS Vivobook models are MAX, PRO,

 

 

ASUS VivoBook  - Mainstream on a budget

Model A541UA-BS52-CB

second digit 5 means 15"

UA means Intel HD520 iGPU others are UN MX150, UR 940MX, UQ 940MX.  From https://www.asus.com/Laptops/VivoBook-Series-Products/

 

 

https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/which-asus-for-you

Quote

Want a solid laptop without dropping a ton of money? Asus' VivoBook brand encompasses a series of general-purpose laptops for mainstream consumers. These machines might not be as fancy as notebooks from the ZenBook line, but you'll get all of the features you need for everyday use in any size you like. Here's our favorite VivoBook: Asus VivoBook E403SA (Buy How much can $399 get you? A ton. The E403SA offers a lightweight design, charging over USB Type-C and a 1080p display. Oh, and it has a whopping 9-hour battery life. Talk about a great deal. It can run a little warm on the bottom, but that's the only flaw we could find with it.

 

Quote

Asus' laptop lineup is wide-ranging, with excellent budget picks, premium 2-in-1s and some of the most respected gaming notebooks on the market. Which Asus is best for you? The business-minded AsusPro? The classy and elegant ZenBook? An affordable but shiny VivoBook? Or maybe an aggressive, powerful notebook aimed at the Republic of Gamers? Here, you'll learn the differences in Asus' wide variety of laptops and some of the best notebooks from each line.

Alphabet Soup and Number Stew

Most of Asus' model names include a combination of letters and numbers. It's confusing, but there is some logic to it. For example, Asus' Q series laptops are all 2-in-1s, while the UX series are ZenBooks C series are Chromebooks and the GX, GL and G series are all part of the Republic of Gamers line. The rest — the K, X, E, Q, B, V and F series — tend to be low-cost notebooks and are often (but not always) folded into the VivoBook line. When they aren't, they're sold without any sub-brand.

 

As for the numbers, they appear to be mostly related to screen size. The first digit represents screen size (a 3 for a 13-incher or the occasional 12.5-incher, a 4 for a 14-inch display, 5 for a 15-inch display, 7 for 17-inch display, etc.). The other numbers vary from model to model as unique identifiers.

 

[r2724r16]

I was going to buy an ASUS VivoBook however there were several problems with it, so I decided not to buy it. It's loud (and has coil whine), it doesn't have good build quality, has short battery life, and the keyboard is really meh (I've tried it in person).

 

The only thing that was good was the value (performance/price).

 

How much are you getting it for ($)?

[Canada EH]

13 minutes ago, r2724r16 said:

I was going to buy an ASUS VivoBook however there were several problems with it, so I decided not to buy it. It's loud (and has coil whine), it doesn't have good build quality, has short battery life, and the keyboard is really meh (I've tried it in person).

 

The only thing that was good was the value (performance/price). 

 

How much are you getting it for ($)?

Just can't beat the value

$400 (CDN) in store only, discount table.

Can deal with the battery life no problem extending that.

One finger typists dont care about keyboards.

Coil whine is an interesting mention, I will have to search on that one.

 

Still trying to figure out what all the digits mean in the the model.

S means Ultra Thin

C means Chromebook

K is a fill gap from X to premium

F is new mid-high

X is Everyday

E is Low End

Those would be the first letter, haven't found out what the A stands for yet.

[r2724r16]

3 minutes ago, Canada EH said:

Just can't beat the value

$400 (CDN) in store only, discount table.

Can deal with the battery life no problem extending that.

One finger typists dont care about keyboards.

Coil whine is an interesting mention, I will have to search on that one.

 

Still trying to figure out what all the digits mean in the the model.

$400 CAD is too high. Where in Canada do you live? There are a ton of used ThinkPads on Kijiji with similar specs to the VivoBook above for like $250 CAD (and they have great keyboards).

[Canada EH]

40 minutes ago, r2724r16 said:

$400 CAD is too high. Where in Canada do you live? There are a ton of used ThinkPads on Kijiji with similar specs to the VivoBook above for like $250 CAD (and they have great keyboards).

Edmonton

Give me some links of comparibles.

Lenovo ThinkPads are good. Any particular model or generation of cpu the model has?

Just thought the 7200U cpu was new enough, but even the 4gen stuff is good for desktop, must be good for laptop too.

 

Newegg.ca

has smaller screen though too, 15+ for this present!

Refurbished: Refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad T440 14.0" Intel Core i5-4300U 1.9 GHz 4 GB DDR3 500 GB Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit

• $342^.99 

 

Refurbished: Lenovo thinkpad T540p: i5 4300M (2.60GHz), 4GB RAM, 500GB HD, 15.6in 1366x768 LCD, intel HD, DVD, Intel 802.11agn wireless, Bluetooth, Webcam, mini Display port, Win10 Pro

• $399^.00 
• $20.00 Shipping

 

 

I really can't find anything of a good deal.

Might save $100 but thats all I see, and not from stores, and older gen cpu, and more often then not 4GB not 8GB.

Usual places to look for me are

Staples.ca

Bestbuy.ca

Londondrugs.ca

Memoryexpress.com

Newegg.ca

Amazon.ca

 

 

 

 

Coil wind is a problem with these VivoBook laptops.

 

I believe this open box unit, was returned because of the coil whine.

[genexis_x]

Short answer: No, the reasons are as mentioned above by @r2724r16

There are better options

[Canada EH]

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Lenovo-Thinkpad-T510-laptop-i5-2-4GHz-4gb-to-8gb-ram-HDD-or-SSD-Win10-15-6-inch/173156488027?hash=item2850ee535b:m:mZKBqrx17BRZRyju03CGsBA

 

Quote

14 years experienced computer refurbisher

but does not list the cpu, strange!

Now hunt down 2.4Ghz on wiki, so the fact the poster doesnt list it, can assume its 1st gen or 2nd gen i5.

Core i5-750S

Core i5-7400T

Core i5-450M

Core i5-2430M

Core i5-4258U

 

There really isnt anything much in Alberta on kijiji, just that one ebay ad on kijiji.

 

Even on ebay itself, the first Thinkpad with 7200U cpu starts at $500USD which is like $650.

 

 

[r2724r16]

2 hours ago, Canada EH said:

Even on ebay itself, the first Thinkpad with 7200U cpu starts at $500USD which is like $650.

Take a look at this deal where I live: https://www.kijiji.ca/v-laptops/city-of-toronto/lenovo-thinkpad-t440p-1080p-i7-16gb-ram-dock/1401548209?utm_campaign=socialbuttons&utm_content=app_ios&utm_medium=social&utm_source=ios_social

 

You get an i7 quad core, 16GB of RAM, a 1080p screen, a great keyboard, and a dock for $500 CAD.

 

I might pick this up for myself lol

 

Here's another great deal in my area: https://www.kijiji.ca/v-laptops/mississauga-peel-region/lenovo-thinkpad-w530-15-6-core-i7-3740qm-16gb-ram-320gbhdd/1401158267?utm_campaign=socialbuttons&utm_content=app_ios&utm_medium=social&utm_source=ios_social

[Canada EH]

On 12/2/2018 at 5:31 PM, r2724r16 said:

.

 

19 hours ago, GeneXiS_X said:

.@r2724r16

 

 

What about these?

 

C$280 Dell Refurbished Latitude E5430 14" Laptop, 2.6 GHz Intel Core i5-3230M, 320 GB HDD, 4 GB DDR3, Windows 10 Home

C$320 HP Refurbished PROBOOK 640 G1 14-inch Notebook, 2.6 GHz Intel Core i5 4210M, 120 GB SSD, 8 GB DDR3, Windows 10 Home

C$435 Dell Latitude E6540 i5-4300M 2.6GHz 8GB RAM 500GB HDD Windows 10 PRO

C$375 DELL Refurbished LATITUDE E6420 14-inch Notebook, 2.4 GHz Intel Core i7 2760QM, 500 GB HDD, 8 GB DDR3, Windows 10 Professional

 

The QM cpu is 4C8T so.