ASUS V6-V Notebook and Pakuma Akara K1 Mini-Review

[Steve]

In short, a fine piece of kit, bar the screen. At over £1500 as tested from a bunch of retailers, it represents average value for money for a thin and light, so it'll pay to consider other options along with the V6-V at the very least, just to satisfy yourself that it's a good value proposition.

As for the Pakuma bag, I love it. Not much more to say, really, other than go forth and purchase. And that, as they say, is that; My train is pulling in to Newcastle station and I have a bunch of BSG episodes to watch on my change from Newcastle to Sheffield. Ta ta!

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=3874

[Steve]

That settles it then, I'm gonna get an Akara, but perhaps the K2 instead.

[DavidM]

They look quite smart indeed - and not like an obvious laptop bag.

(Why do people make things like that so obvious? Like with Ipods always having obvious white headphones...)

[loki]

I've got an Akara K2 and i'm not too fond of it. It's a very big bag, too big for my liking although there are some nice features such as the cd holder and some nice useful compartments. It's just too bg to be carrying around all the time though.

[csl]

Yeah I never understood this craze lately with reflective screens, as though there isn't a reason why laptops have always had matte screens. It's a step in the wrong direction! Seems like a nice enough laptop. The ASUS Z63A looks wicked as long as you're not bothered by a lack of 3D gfx, but doesn't seem to be on the UK website. I think that might have a reflective screen too though. Idiots!

[Rys]

Yeah, the K2 is a bit bigger than the K1 or K3, since it supports 17" notebooks (themselves entirely evil ). I'm a big bloke, so I'd be alright with the K2, but the K1 isn't leaving my grasp any time soon.

And yes, the screen on that notebook, like on the PSP, is dreadful.

[davidstone28]

Interesting comments about the screen. Haven't seent this particularly model, but I have tried the Sony X-Black screens. Reflections, yes, but the colour vibrancy and brightness is phenomenal compared to dull looking non X-Black screens. For DVDs / movies they are superb. Probably not suitable for bright lights in an office environment, but I for one welcome the move towards specialised laptops for different market sectors rather than 'one size fits all' of previous years.

[pickers]

I've got an ASUS W3V (which is basically the same as the reviewed sample but has a 14" widescreen). Got to say I'm really happy with it, it is a good size, has great performance and the battery life is good at about 3 and a half hours. Plus it is one of the best looking windows laptops on the market and it all draws admiring remarks or glances. I actually like the reflective screen as it just seems sharper and brighter than the matt screens and the contrast for movies seems better. And I also have a Pakuma bag, though I've got the choroka K2 messenger bag type one. Got to say I'm really pleased with it, it is very roomy, has lots of useful compartments and the padding in the laptop section is top notch. I use it on my daily cycle to lug my laptop to the office and it is just as comfortable and stable as messenger bags that I've used in the past. So I too would give the ASUS and Pakuma combo (albeit a slighlty different combo!) a big thumbs up.

[DR]

I have a Pakuma Choroka K2 Computer Messenger Bag and it really kicks ass

[davidstone28]

Good read. Loved the idea of combing a review of 2 different but related products. More dual product review please! Would certainly make the review style more original.