Asus Zenbook UX51VZ still can’t match the MacBook’s superior build quality, but consumers should still be impressed with it. Material and finish selections are top notch and it managed to look rigid despite the slim housing. The IPS display is a high quality component, but again it can’t quite compete with Retina-capable MacBook models. The quad core i7-3612QM processor, GeForce GT 650M graphics card, FullHD IPS display and SSD in RAID configuration deliver mouthwatering performance level.
Even demanding tasks such as multitasking various hardware-intensive apps won’t easily push the machine to its limit. The cooling system is reliable enough to handle the red-hot components; but the fan assembly may need a rework in future models to reduce idle noise.
The slim design may lead some stability issues, but Asus manages to put our concerns to rest with the torsionally rigid design. The keyboard only flexes when a high amount of pressure is applied. Like many MacBook models, the Zenbook UX51VZ has a single hinge, which feels quite stiff and doesn’t wobble when the laptop is moved.
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Let’s stop promoting the MacBook Pro and give a more objective point of view:
– Yes, the MBP has a Retina display, but firstly it is not anti-glare capable (which can be an enormous disadvantage depending on where you’re using it) and secondly it’s a lot more expensive (the price for a rMBP can go up to $3000 if ordered with an SSD).
– The UX51VZ (apparently more commonly called U500VZ actually) has a RAID configuration which makes its storage solution twice as fast as almost any other laptop, including the MBP (Retina or not), and therefor quicker in launching programs or doing anything related to file managing.
– Finally another not so negligible feature: the UX51VZ has a numeric pad, consider this if you plan on working a lot with numbers.
… So no, please, the MacBookPro isn’t better than the UX51VZ, both are good and have there own strength, it all depends on what you’ll use it for and how much you can afford to spend.