Molded from the same material used on racing vehicles, the metallic black exterior is formed from carbon fibre which is stronger than magnesium alloy, yet significantly lighter. Coming in at a hefty 2.85kg, the weight savings from the case material is probably the only factor stopping it from being classified as a desktop replacement. Executives or students who are required to carry their notebooks for long periods may want to consider a lighter machine.

From the dark grey interior to the brush steel accents, the design of the A6J notebook eludes a certain macho aura. The choice of colour theme gives a sense of sleekness, even though at 354 x 284 x 35.2mm, it is rather thick. A relatively uncommon feature is the integration of a 1.3-megapixel Webcam on the top of the 15.4-inch display. Useful for video conferencing and quick picture shots, we appreciated the convenience, especially with the increasing popularity of instant messaging software incorporating video chats.

Two rows of function buttons, one found at the front of the unit and the other above the keyboard, provide easy access to applications. Next to the dedicated buttons are LEDs that display system status and use a single panel design that causes different colours to "bleed" into each other. The full-size keyboard sits above the two-button touchpad. Though we like the steely aesthetics of the latter, the buttons are the stiffest we have encountered and uncomfortable for extended periods. The layout of the keyboard is not friendly to first-person shooter games, as users who like to map actions to the bottom left Ctrl key may find themselves accidentally hitting the Fn button instead. This is a problem for those who frequently use shortcut keys as well.

The placement of ports requires some rethinking. Though as a business machine the placement of the ethernet and modem ports on the right side of the unit permit quick network hookup, we wonder why all the USB ports are consolidated at the back. Most users, especially in the corporate world, rely on high-capacity USB flash disks to quickly and cheaply transfer data. So the omission of an easy-access USB port brings ill tidings to this laptop.

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