The All Conquering Asus NX90

Asus G73J Gaming Laptop
Photo by John.Karakatsanis

The Asus NX90 computer is a visually stunning high-quality media computer that comes with a sound system and speakers developed by the renowned Bang & Olufsen. Unboxing this machine from its large, logo-covered packaging reveals a sleek wedge-shaped design, somewhat resembling Apple’s MacBook Air but much heavier and covered in a polished aluminum finish. The impressive 18.4-inch screen is surrounded by speakers, and not just one but two trackpads are located on either side of the keyboard.

Once the machine is in view, the feeling of excitement intensifies. The size of the computer, larger than many other laptops on the market, indicates that it is primarily intended to be placed on a desk rather than carried in a bag. Despite the sleekness and strength of the silver cover, it does present a slight challenge for cleaning.

The NX90 features an unusual but intriguing interface with the pair of trackpads, one on each side of the keyboard. The two trackpads allow each hand to have a short distance to move from its typing position, making usage comfortable and fast, and accommodating both left-handed and right-handed users. For presentations, the two trackpads are ideally placed as they can be accessed to manipulate the machine without obstructing the view of the display. The keyboard is spacious with well-cushioned keys that provide a good tactile response, although the trackpad placement means there is no numerical keypad.

With an 18.4-inch 1080p display running at a resolution of 1920 by 1080, the screen size surpasses that of many desktops and offers a great viewing experience for movies. It is somewhat disappointing that it uses TN technology instead of the more advanced PVA or IPS, which limits the color quality to a simulated 8 bits per pixel rather than true 8 bits. A more advanced screen would be better suited to the media-oriented nature of the machine.

The large screen size and substantial weight of the computer, approaching five kilograms, suggest that this computer is not intended to be highly portable. This notion is reinforced by the limited one and a half-hour battery life, which is too short even for watching a single movie in one sitting.

Where the Asus NX90 computer truly excels is in its sound quality, surpassing all its competition with its large, high-quality speakers and sound card customized by Bang & Olufsen. The sheer size of the speakers reveals that the design is centered around sound quality.

Most laptops feature low-quality speakers that deliver poor sound, unlike those of the NX90. The speakers on this machine are over five times the size of standard computer speakers and produce a much wider range of sound thanks to the integrated resonance chambers.

Bang & Olufsen, also employed by Aston Martin and Mercedes, provide the sound system on the ASUS NX90, and it seems that sound quality was a key consideration during the design stages. Asus is setting a new standard here for the industry, offering speakers that are noticeably different from the typical “shrill” sounding speakers found in many other laptops. The speakers on the ASUS NX90 provide unmatched clarity, thanks to their placement on either side of the screen in specially crafted resonance chambers.

Manuel Marino

Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME