Buzz
Once again, Asus unveils a new lineup of laptops since the beginning of the year. When it comes to personal use, products like TUF, ROG, or ZenBook are typically equipped with the latest and most premium components on the market. However, for business needs, aside from improving performance compared to previous versions, a significant requirement is durability and long-term stability in usage.The ExpertBook B1, with the model B1402CBA, is no exception this year. The version at hand is upgraded from a Core 11th Gen CPU to a Core 12th Gen, specifically the Core i5 1235U, with 2 high-performance cores, 8 low-power cores, totaling 12 processing threads, and a maximum turbo frequency of 4.4 GHz for high-performance cores. But let's set aside the configuration issue to talk about what sets ExpertBook apart, things that mainstream office laptops lack.
There might be questions raised about why there are both VivoBook and ExpertBook within the price range of 13 to 20 million VND, and sometimes even a few ZenBook configurations at such prices. The answer is, unlike other choices, ExpertBook targets business needs. The potential customers of ExpertBook aren't always just office workers. Asus defines ExpertBook's focus on businesses, meaning entities and organizations purchasing devices to serve their personnel.What sets ExpertBook apart from other options?
Perhaps the most important aspect of ExpertBook is its durability meeting the US military standard, MIL-STD 810H. To achieve this standard updated in 2019, the device must undergo extremely rigorous tests to ensure its durability. From operating in the harshest weather conditions to drop resistance, this standard proves one thing: in the business environment, the maximum performance of a device isn't the only important factor.And among the aspects of the ExpertBook B1, perhaps the most useful for the vast majority of users is the keyboard's spill-resistant ability. No one wants mishaps, but if they occur, the ExpertBook is capable of withstanding spills on the keyboard, ensuring the machine continues to operate smoothly.
Another important factor is security. The design of this year's ExpertBook B1 isn't much different from previous releases. Fundamentally, features like a webcam with a sliding cover, supporting Windows Hello login, have been well-implemented since previous versions. And in some other versions of ExpertBook, users will have a fingerprint power button for login, meaning there is no shortage of security solutions, not just limited to PIN codes or passwords typed on the keyboard.Secondly useful for the majority are the two features ExpertWidget and NumberPad.
Meanwhile, ExpertWidget allows customizing shortcuts, assigning them to the Fn key with numbers 1 through 4. A clear example is users can assign commands to open the 4 most frequently used programs to this shortcut cluster, instead of fumbling through the start menu. Then, during a meeting or presentation, time is of the essence. Thanks to these shortcuts, users can quickly open and switch between applications to present information. This is just one of countless potential solutions that ExpertWidget can provide to users.
Returning to design and configuration, after discussing the aspects of durability and security that ExpertBook possesses, and also the 'selling points' for potential customers to choose.Sleek Design, Not Overly Bulky
Also related to device durability to meet MIL-STD 810H standards is chassis deformation and keyboard depression, both of which are exceptionally minimal. Normally, one would imagine a military-grade laptop to resemble Panasonic's Toughbook, a machine famous in cinema.Despite its compactness, the ExpertBook B1 (B1402CBA) still meets the needs of various industries. Speaking of weight, the machine weighs 1.49kg, making it easy to carry for those in professions requiring frequent mobility, where sitting still isn't always an option.
The typing experience, thanks to the numpad being relocated below the touchpad for convenience, has also been improved. Both the softness and key travel are at 1.4mm, just enough for high-speed document typing. Moreover, the size of each key is well-proportioned, fitting every hand comfortably.Because it's geared towards office use, the machine's screen isn't equipped with overly impressive technical specifications. The IPS panel lacks touch integration, with a 14-inch diagonal size, 1920x1080 pixel resolution, and a maximum brightness of 250 nits, sufficient to serve a variety of office needs. There's nothing noteworthy about an office laptop, though it's a bit regrettable not to have a 16:10 aspect ratio screen, which would be more suitable for many work tasks.
An upgrade from the previous ExpertBook is the design of the cooling vents and ports around the machine's body. Office workers will surely want to use a mouse instead of the touchpad at times, as this solution, while less mobile, is convenient and improves productivity. The mouse is usually placed on the right, so Asus placed the cooling vent to blow hot air from the heatsink and components to the left side of the machine. It's a small yet friendly and smart change. In return, almost all other connection ports are placed on the right side of the machine.
On the right side, we have nearly all the connections that most users need: 2 USB-C Type C ports standard USB 3.2. One of them is USB 3.2 Gen 2 standard, capable of outputting signals to external monitors via Display Port standard. A USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A port, an HDMI 1.4 port, along with a 3.5mm audio output port and LAN network cable jack. On the left side, next to the cooling vent is a USB Type A 2.0 port, where users can plug in a mouse dongle or peripheral devices. Also on the left side is the Kensington lock slot.
I feel that despite focusing on durability and user experience, the ExpertBook can completely dispel the stereotype of office laptops looking bulky and rugged. The thickness still needs to meet the machine's durability requirements, but both the color and the lines of the ExpertBook somewhat exude a sleek and youthful appearance.
Now let's talk about the configuration, user experience, and battery life.Read more:
Alder Lake Packs Enough Power to Handle Every Office Need
With 12 processing threads on the Core i5-1235U, the machine delivers a much smoother working experience compared to the most recent ExpertBook I've used, the B5402CEA, equipped with the Core i5-1155G7 chip. Fortunately, both machines are priced similarly, around 19 million Dong, and also come with 8GB of DDR4 RAM, so almost any performance difference between the two machines can be attributed to the CPU power inside.
In the multicore score of 9378, measured by Cinebench R25, the Core i5-1235U is a superior solution compared to the Core i5-1155G7 (5668 multicore points). What does this number mean? It means you can comfortably work with Photoshop or Lightroom if the RAW image format isn't too heavy, affecting both processing speed, JPG file export speed, and the machine's battery life. For other familiar tasks like typing documents, processing emails, online meetings, Excel spreadsheets, web browsing, the Core i5-1235U clearly handles them all.
And if you feel that 8GB DDR4 3200GHz in this machine isn't enough, Asus also integrates an additional SO-DIMM slot for upgrades. This SO-DIMM slot supports up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM, meaning you'll have 40GB of RAM to work with. In some cases, configurations come with 16GB of RAM, and after upgrades, it can reach a maximum of 48GB of RAM.Similarly, there's an M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 slot for upgrading the hard drive because it's quite certain that for some industries, the 512GB SSD inside this machine isn't enough.
Of course, the 42Wh battery in the ExpertBook B1 (B1402CBA) can't be compared to the 63Wh battery in the machine I experienced last year. But a major advantage of the new generation machine is the Alder Lake architecture processor. Windows 11 intelligently shifts less resource-intensive tasks to the 8 low-power cores to optimize battery life and reserves processing power for the two high-performance cores. As a result, with this machine, continuous daily work for 5 to 6 hours before the battery runs out completely is feasible.
However, to achieve that, some things must be traded off, one of which is the screen brightness. In office conditions, this is not a problem. But for those who have to go into the field a lot, if the screen is dimmed due to direct sunlight, the content displayed on the screen becomes barely visible, then battery power is something worth considering.Interim Conclusion
Let's agree on one thing, that at the price of 19,390,000 VND, and considering the configuration of the laptop I experienced, personal users will never opt for the ExpertBook configuration with a 12th-gen Core i5 chip and 8GB of RAM. At the same price point, there are other configurations for office, graphics, or even gaming needs, some even from Asus itself, that serve personal user needs much better than what the ExpertBook B1 configuration offers.
However, perhaps it's also necessary to position the device correctly, meaning targeting businesses, corporations, companies, or administrative organizations. The needs of these potential customers go beyond just a powerful laptop, but also require devices tailored for staff to meet various other requirements, from security to durability, so that the device can serve operational, business, or educational processes for as long as possible.
And if assessed according to this perspective, balancing all four aspects—durability, security, configuration, and price—creates an ExpertBook laptop with great competitive potential. Especially considering the needs of organizations and businesses, rather than the common mindset of us, individual consumers.
