This powerful laptop features high-speed wireless connectivity for blazing-fast gaming. Check out the brilliant 15.6" LCD screen with Asus Splendid Video Enhancement technology and enjoy lush colors and detailed images. Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit with SP1 preloadedWhich Windows Vista edition is right for you? Compare. Learn more about the Intel Brains processor technology rating. Information provided by Intel. Learn more about LightScribe technology.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
I have owned 4 laptops over the past few years, and this is by far the best I have ever owned. My previous laptops were a Compaq (before the HP buyout), a Dell, and a Gateway. This Asus packs is the best value of any laptop I've purchased hands down, and the laptop is very high quality, no flimsy feeling parts or lackluster assembly here. Asus builds quality products, and their service and support is top notch. Their support website includes all the latest driver and software updates, along with downloadable manuals in case you lose the one that came with the laptop. The screen is bright and sharp, I've had no issues with the native screen resolution of 1366x768, and many of my games support the resolution so I've had no issues with distorted or fuzzy low resolution graphics. The Intel Core 2 Duo processor handles everything I throw at it with no slowdown or stuttering, and even when running demanding games (Team Fortress 2, Oblivion, Sins of a Solar Empire) the computer stays pretty cool. The 4Gb of RAM definitely help it to keep up with everything I'm running, and since it comes with 64bit Vista I can eventually upgrade to 8Gb! The 200Gb hard drive is fast at 7200rpm, but about average for storage capacity compared to most laptops. But wait! Asus was kind enough to include a second hard drive bay, so when you start getting low on space, you can throw in a second hard drive and greatly increase your capacity! The NVIDIA 9700M GT has its own 512Mb of dedicated DDR3 RAM, and is Directx 10 compatible so any game you run on this laptop will look awesome! Don't worry about the native resolution "ruining" the graphics, the resolution is only low if you compare it to a high end desktop. The resolution is fine and will actually allow you to max out more graphics settings (AA, Anisotropic filtering, textures, shadows, etc) while still maintaining a higher framerate. On top of all these great capabilities, the laptop is also incredibly light for its size, includes a full keyboard with numberpad, has an extra LCD screen for status indicators and messages, and looks really sweet with it's black piano finish and orange accent colors. If you're looking for a new gaming laptop to take on trips, or even a desktop replacement that you can easily move around, pick this thing up!
What's great about it: Processor Speed, 4Gb RAM, NVIDIA 9700GT, 64bit Vista, ease of upgrade
Synopsis The pressure of holding another soul's life in your hands is unimaginable to some, but for Dr. Derek Stiles and his fellow surgeons, it's just another day at the office. Years of medical school, residency and clinical duty (not to mention hundreds of thousands of dollars in educational debt) have brought him to this critical point in his career. Get an eye-opening dose of what it's like to work in the fast-paced OR in this simulated medical drama for your Nintendo Wii. Trauma Center has everything the doctor ordered: risky laser surgeries, jarring forceps, defibrillation and more. Who's on call? You are. Make daily rounds in several difficulty modes, implement new surgical procedures and wait for a heartbeat. Maintain a steady hand as you swap between different medical instruments to activate life-saving procedures via your Wii Remote and Nunchuk controller. This is not just a game; it's a matter of life and death.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Trauma Center for Wii does an excellent job of taking the motion controls and allowing you to perform complex surgeries. You are given a number of standard tools, plus specialized tools for certain surgeries, and instructed on how to use them through a clever tutorial tied into the beginning of the story. Once you've been taught the basics, you'll move on to more complex surgeries that require you to perform certain procedures repeatadly in the correct order, while managing the patient's vitals, your resources for the operation, and a number of unknowns that can pop up during surgery.
Graphically Trauma Center does a good job of providing semi-realistic visuals that are easy on the eyes without making your stomach queezy. The controls are very responsive and give you a real feeling of control over the tools you use during each level. The storyline is over the top and filled with drama as many animes are, but this is not a negative as the story manages to keep things interesting. The ability to replay surgeries to obtain higher "surgeon rankings" gives the game some replay value even after the story is over.
A solid and fun game for anyone who wants to play doctor without the messy blood or the annoying buzz from that old "Operation" game.
SynopsisCute and cuddly are not words to describe the rabbits in Raving Rabbids, the zaniest Rayman installment to hit your console. In his latest quest, Rayman must dethrone demonic rabbit delinquents as they threaten to devastate his dream world. Magical creatures help Rayman regain control before the evil bunnies can abound.Run with Rayman as the battle between good and evil persists with these bad bunnies champing at the bit for world domination. Climb aboard, master and ride creatures from web-spinning spiders to blood-hungry sharks as Rayman uses their unique capabilities to declaw the devilish rabbits. With huge, free-roaming playing fields and epic landscapes that mix realistic graphics with cartoon craziness, you'll feel like a rabbit freed from his cage as the nonstop play gets under way.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Raving Rabbids is a hilarious collection of mini-games that will keep you and friends entertained for many hours. The games are wacky, and the Rabbids themselves really steal the show with their ridiculous stunts and antics. The motion controls for almost all of the games work very well, and while the graphics aren't photo-realistic they're still very well done thanks to the art direction and cartoony nature of the game. My one complaint is that almost none of the games allow 2 players to play simultaneously, instead you have to take turns and play hot seat style. This one omission keeps Raving Rabbids from being the party game it could have been, but it is still most fun with a friend or two next to you laughing at the crazy things that are garunteed to happen as you play.
If cooking is what you love and your obsession extends farther than the kitchen, Cooking Mama: Cook Off is the game for you. Designed exclusively for the Nintendo Wii, this game puts the revolutionary Wii Remote to use in ways you've never imagined. Slice, dice, mash, chop and stir your ingredients to make the perfect meal. With Nintendo helping you out, your creation will be picture-perfect every time.Reference more than 300 recipes and a wide variety of options to make culinary creations that are truly your own. Build your international repertoire by cooking foods from 10 different nations with realistic graphics and real-time cooking effects. When you think your skills are up to par, invite a friend or family member to join you in an unforgettable cook-off showdown. Cooking Wii-style all comes down to speed and precision.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
I borrowed this game from a friend and played it for an evening. While I found the cooking mini-games to be fun and engaging, I was burnt out after a couple of hours. The recipes all started to run together after a while as it started feeling like I was doing the same thing over and over again. This would be good for a weekend rental, but I would not recommend purchasing it.
SynopsisDarkness casts upon the land of Hyrule, where evil lurks around every corner. The peaceful borderlands are in danger and only the powers of one man/creature can defeat such gloom. Link, a young farm boy, is destined to save the kingdom from such tragedy. After being directed by the mayor to attend the Hyrule Summit, Link sets off for the Twilight Realm. Upon his arrival, he transforms into a wolf and is captured. With the magical help of Midna, a mysterious being, Link is set free and off to battle against foul creatures.Besides his trusty sword and shield, Link fights his opponents on horseback with a bow and arrow. Maze-like puzzles stand between Link and the peace of the land, so wits must be sharp to discover hidden weapons and items. As you ride into combat against challenging enemies, your bravery will be tested and a new legend will be born. Use the power and unique control of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controller for precise aiming, special sword attacks, shield shoves and even fishing.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Twilight Princess brings back so many great memories from Ocarina of Time by perfectly recapturing all the gameplay elements that made its predecessor a classic. The motion controls are used excellently and add to the gameplay and immersion thanks to their intuitive nature. Some may criticize Twilight Princess for being a graphical update for Ocarina of Time,and one with GameCube quality graphics at that. But while they share many key elements the differences in stories, characters, items, and dungeon designs are drastic enough that you never feel like you're just playing the same game in a negative way. Instead, the moments when you notice very direct similarities will add to rather than detract from the gameplay experience by giving you that familiarity you experience when running into a good old friend you haven't seen in a few years but can still talk to non-stop right off the bat.