IOL tech writer Michael Sherman experienced the thrill of drop-testing the rugged and spill-proof Asus ExpertBook Ultra 7, and he liked it. Picture: Michael Sherman/IOL
Image: Michael Sherman/IOL
As a self-confessed tech-obsessed writer, there’s an area of computing I normally never venture into, and that’s trying to damage laptops. On Wednesday, that changed as I got to drop the new laptop from Asus, and I have to admit - I liked it.
Perhaps not so much the laptop itself, but the fact that I got to ‘crash test’ the ExpertBook Ultra 7 was a completely new kind of thrill I’m not accustomed to when trying out new tech.
After the laptop itself was launched to the media with a ton of time dedicated to explaining how rugged and spill-proof this new product is, the exciting bit started.
First, we got to handle the new device, which is actually lighter than Apple’s MacBook Air and the new MacBook Neo.
This was mostly for getting a feel for the laptop, but then it was on to the main attraction - first, the Asus representative dropped it for us. Then he encouraged us to drop it ourselves.
Bizarrely, I was the only one who seemed eager to drop a laptop - even though it went against every instinct in my body. After all, it wasn’t my laptop - so why not? Of course, I stepped up and duly dropped the laptop from just above knee height onto the padded mat on the floor.
As I picked it up, there were no visible markings or any kind of damage. Of course, this could just be a gimmick in the launch from Asus, and it’s still probably not recommended to ever drop a laptop you own.
Ultimately, though, it was a good bit of fun and a rather different way to try out some new tech.
Oh, and if you’re in the market for a high-end Intel-powered Asus ExpertBook Ultra 7 with 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and a 3k Tandem OLED display, they’re available locally now for R59,999.