ASUS U & UX Series Super-Skinny Notebooks

It wasn't all netbooks and bizarre media keyboards in ASUS' CeBIT press conference; the company also announced two new ranges of ultraportable notebook, in the shape of the U and UX Series. 

The U Series has a 15.6-inch LED-backlit display and NVIDIA GeForce G105M 512MB GPU, together with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and up to 500GB storage.  Meanwhile specific hardware details on the UX Series machines are a little tricker to pin down, but we do know it has a slot-loading optical drive.

Both U and UX Series machines have a light-up chiclet keyboard and trackpad, which according to ASUS are "reminiscent of the streets of Paris with the evening fast approaching."  I've been to Paris and I don't remember it having an ambient light sensor, but perhaps I was too busy eating Brie. 

Press Release:

Light and Light – Introducing the New U and UX Series Notebooks

An Intricately Crafted Series of Notebooks that Provide Both Contemporary Style and Effortless Computing On-the-go

ASUS, a leader in innovative industrial design, today presented the new U and UX Series, a new range of notebooks that celebrate contemporary styling and effortless elegance. Each of them a masterpiece so immensely desirable, the U and UX Series takes modern day computing to the streets, bringing delight to the users' senses and allowing them to work or play in style.

Immaculate Design for the Discerning Individual

The ASUS U and UX Series are designed for the modern individual who accepts no compromise when it comes to exquisite taste in high fashion and possesses an eye for the latest trends as well as the intricacies in design. Reminiscent of the streets of Paris with the evening fast approaching, the ASUS U and UX Series' newly-adopted illuminated 'chiclet' keyboard lights up brilliantly, not only providing users with the ability to type in the dark, but its subtle yet assuring glow also reminds the user of the star studded skies above. AI Light sensor technology intelligently detects the surrounding environmental lighting conditions and then automatically adjusts the brightness or dimness of the LED backlit display to provide a comfortable computing experience even in adverse lighting conditions. These features can be found adorning a softly contoured chassis, shrouded in a sleek and sophisticated glossy LCD lid and supported by a frame inspired by the curvature of a butterfly's wings.

UX Series – Gracefully Slim for Added Lightness

The UX Series' strikingly slim profile adds to an impressively minimalistic approach to avant garde notebook design. A slot-in optical disc drive helps the UX Series to maintain its elegant profile, while a contrast of matte and gloss finishes provides a sense of both sophistication and boldness.

U Series – Delight in Style and Substance

To further complement the illuminated 'chiclet' keyboard, the U Series sports an equally illuminated and interactive touchpad which sends a trail of progressively fading lights to pinpoint the location of the users' fingertips while delighting the senses. Powered by an Intel® Core™2 Duo processor which provides the muscle for extensive multitasking and productivity, the U Series is equipped with a hard disk drive of up to 500GB, providing more than ample storage for documents and multimedia. An energy-efficient 15.6-inch LED backlit display powered by a dedicated NVIDIA® GeForce® G 105M with 512MB memory provides users with stunning visual performance for presentations and entertainment while utilizing very little power. Combined with Altec Lansing speakers-equipped with SRS true surround sound that provides high definition audio-the svelte U Series is truly an all-rounded performer for any occasion or a night out in town.