Ultrabook: Macbook Air 12 vs Zenbook UX305 vs ...?

[boxleitnerb]

Hi guys,

I need a notebook to "replace" my mighty gaming rig since I don't game anymore. Points that are important to me:

• silent
• light
• have a 12"-13" display
• good battery life
• good ergonomics outside (matte display?)
• reasonably fast for light office (10%), web browsing (70%) and photo editing tasks (20%, Adobe Lightroom)
• connectivity for USB thumb drive, USB camera and/or SD(XC) card and possibly my Logitech wireless mouse (unifying USB transceiver) which is perfect for my hand form and size

I have looked at several devices and I'm still undecided. I list only the pro's and con's that are important to me.

Macbook Air 12 (early 2015):
Pro: OSX (?), backlit keyboard
Cons: Price (even with resale value?), connectivity

Zenbook UX305:
Pro: Price, connectivity, 24 months pick up&return warranty
Cons: Awkward positioning with display opened, no backlit keyboard

I have also the Surface 3 and Surface 4 Pro under consideration. If the 4 Pro will be fanless, then even more so. I also consider the Skylake version of the Zenbook, but I don't know if it will be available in my favored configuration (8 GB, 256 GB SSD, 1080p display). Currently it seems the 8 GB and 256 GB SSD go together with the QHD display which I really don't want or need.

Your thoughts or recommendations, please?

 

[b-mac]

Have you looked at the ASUS UX305LA? It is the i5-5200u version instead of the Core M.

http://www.amazon.com/Zenbook-UX305LA-13-3-Inch-Titanium-Windows/dp/B013KKANTE

i5 5200u, 1080p, 256 ssd an 8gb RAM for $750. I have the haswell version essentially and really love it.

Use mine for mostly web browsing and schoolwork. Get between 7 and 11 hours of battery depending on website loading and display brightness. Had a friend edit form photos on it so she could see how quick it would be and she made it seem like it was pretty quick.

 

[boxleitnerb]

It has the same problems as the other UX305's and also a fan which I don't want since I'm very picky about noise.

What about stability once the display is opened? It doesn't stand on the two rearmost rubber feet as several reviews showed. And is working without a lit keyboard not too much of a hassle?

 

[Essence_of_War]

It has the same problems as the other UX305's and also a fan which I don't want since I'm very picky about noise.

Hmmm...the macbook airs also have a fan. Did you mean the 12'' macbook (non-air non-pro)? That one is also fanless.

 

[boxleitnerb]

Hmmm...the macbook airs also have a fan. Did you mean the 12'' macbook (non-air non-pro)? That one is also fanless.

Yes, non-air, non-pro. No fans

 

[Commodus]

I'd definitely look at the MacBook -- if you get a USB-C adapter or a native USB-C hub (with legacy ports). It hits all those marks very well, but out of the box it won't be very peripheral-friendly. Resale values for Macs are much better than on most Windows PCs, so I wouldn't worry too much about the up-front pricing.

If you're interested in the next wave of systems, you might want to hold out until October. Microsoft's expected Surface Pro 4 event is on the 6th, and Apple *might* upgrade the MacBook to Skylake that month as well.

 

[Essence_of_War]

Ah. It's tough to make a recommendation between those two if your budget supports either.

The ux305's big selling point is price/perf. You get A LOT for 600 USD (frequently on-sale from microsoft store w/ 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, and 1920x1080 panel). Frankly there is no laptop I would consider in the same price bracket. It is a slam dunk.

The macbook is a different product. It's a high-end ultra-portable for someone who prizes battery life, weight, and OS X, over total cost. I mean, it starts at over 2x the cost of the UX305.

If you have to buy today, and your budget supports the macbook, there is a strong case for it, but you'll have to shell out even more money for a USB type-C hub if you need to use multiple peripherals at once.

If you don't have to buy today, I'd recommend that you wait until we see Skylake Core-M, which should be deployed very soon.

 

[b-mac]

AH sorry I glazed over the no fan requirement. My UX303 fan is barely audible if that matters. The ASUS 305FA with the core M still seems like it is a good value. Reguarly $600 at the microsoft for those specs are pretty darn good. Not sure how good the core M is at editing photos though.