Best < $500 thin laptops?

[Syringer]

I've narrowed it down to these two, the Vizio CT14-A0 and the Asus Zenbook:

http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Zenbook-U.../dp/B00863L2MI

http://www.amazon.com/VIZIO-Light-CT...io+thin+laptop

I have a 15.6" screen now so the slightly bigger screen of the Vizio is appealing, but there seems to be complaints that the touchscreen is non-responsive and there's no SD card slot--which as a hobbyist photographer would be slightly annoying.

Any advice between the two or other ones?

 

[ViRGE]

For what it's worth, I have the UX31A (Zenbook Prime) and I'm generally happy with it. My only real complaint is that I'm less than satisfied with the trackpad. Asus tries to do a multi-touch trackpad like Apple, but it just doesn't work all that well. Especially if you're like me and don't do touch-to-tap.

I would point out right now that anything that old is going to be Ivy Bridge. Which means you won't get (at times immense) battery improvements offered by Haswell.

 

[vailr]

there seems to be complaints that the touchscreen is non-responsive and there's no SD card slot

Non-touchscreen laptops would tend to be less expensive. So: unless the touchscreen feature is a requirement, simply eliminate "touchscreen" from your feature list of potential laptops under consideration.
The Lenovo G510 base model at $479 includes an SD card slot and Windows 8.1:
http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops...g-series/g510/

 

[Gillbot]

I got my wife an Asus UX32A and we both like it. I was going to get her the UX31A but after hearing the complaints about the trackpad I opted to search for the UX32A instead. So far no complaints and for her, that's rare!

 

[ViRGE]

I got my wife an Asus UX32A and we both like it. I was going to get her the UX31A but after hearing the complaints about the trackpad I opted to search for the UX32A instead. So far no complaints and for her, that's rare!

Is the trackpad on the UX32A any different? It looks identical.

 

[Syringer]

Non-touchscreen laptops would tend to be less expensive. So: unless the touchscreen feature is a requirement, simply eliminate "touchscreen" from your feature list of potential laptops under consideration.
The Lenovo G510 base model at $479 includes an SD card slot and Windows 8.1:
http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops...g-series/g510/

Ah I meant touchpad, not touchscreen.

 

[Gillbot]

Is the trackpad on the UX32A any different? It looks identical.

If you read the reviews, MANY say it's much improved.

EDIT: I don't know if they are actually different or not. I stopped looking at the UX31A's and opted for the '32A ao we never actually messed with the 31a to know if there are differences.

 

[Bateluer]

I would point out right now that anything that old is going to be Ivy Bridge. Which means you won't get (at times immense) battery improvements offered by Haswell.

Or the significantly fast HD4000 IGP for that matter.

I'm not sure why its so difficult for so many manufacturers to get a track pad right on a laptop though. Seems like it should be simple. Regardless, you can spend ~20 bucks for a Logitech M317/185/325 wireless mouse with the nano receiver and not have to deal with the trackpad at all. Good thing too, otherwise my Acer V5 122P would be pretty much useless. Trackpad only works on the horizontal, not so much on the vertical.

Looking at the laptops in the OP's thread, I wouldn't suggest the 122P I have either. Its much closer to a netbook in performance level than an ultrabook. And its price seems to fluctuate a lot. I paid 399 for mine, two weeks ago it was 499 on Newegg; a few days ago, it was 422.

Touch screens on non-tablet devices are also a gimmick, completely. Even if you're using Windows 8 as an OS, the first thing you do anyway is disable the Charms Bar and Start Screen so you can stay in the usable UI.