My previous loyal partner Macbook has been looking dangerous for a while, and I’ve spent several months without a computer at home. Ultimately, I realized I can’t live in a world without a computer. Sorry, Apple partner, it’s time for us to move on.
Why Choose This One?
To be honest, I initially wanted to buy a desktop, but no matter how I configured it, someone always complained. Friends criticized, and posting on PTT sparked a comment war that made me feel guilty. Both sides of the argument were debating different aspects of my setup that could be criticized. No matter what I came up with, it ended with complaints. So, I ended up buying a laptop, which required fewer decisions. I’m the kind of person who gets scared off by aggressive people.
Purpose: Light Gaming, Light Office Work, Light Media, Light Multimedia, a Bit of Everything
As a professional who dabbles in a bit of everything, I wanted a computer that could handle a bit of everything, without needing much. For me, it just needs to be usable. My requirements at the time were as follows:
For professional work:
- Need to open a ton of browsers, write articles, read articles, open some SaaS, open a lot of SaaS, and make my own SaaS
- Practice various things like frontend (HTML+CSS+JS), Python, data analysis, and recently want to learn Native app development
- Edit photos, create banners, maybe get inspired to make some animations, edit videos, or create some music
- Under 14 inches, because I need to carry it around
For non-professional activities:
- Play LOL
- Monster Hunter Wilds, which was very popular at the time of purchase
- I’m actually satisfied just being able to open Steam
- Did you know Steam has Star Dream Idol available?
- Watch various streaming services (YouTube, Disney+, Netflix), which actually involves opening browsers like crazy
And this time, I wanted Windows. After my previous Macbook accompanied me for 10 years, I realized my heart still belongs to Windows. Despite spending a decade trying, I ultimately couldn’t become an Apple fan.
Appearance: White, I Want a White Laptop
I’ve always liked black, and I’m surrounded by an excess of black, so I needed a white laptop to add a touch of freshness to this black world. Especially since my previous laptop was also silver-white, I’ve already designed many related peripherals and desktop setups based on this color.
Price: Some Money in the Pocket but Not Much
To conclude, through various connections, I got it for just over 40,000.
I struggled for a long time because there were two configurations at the time. The differences are listed below:
| FA401WV | FA401WU | |
| Graphics Card | NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060 Laptop GPU (233 AI TOPs), 2225Mhz* at 100W (2175MHz Boost Clock+50MHz O.C.,75W+25W Dynamic Boost), 8GB GDDR6 | NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4050 Laptop GPU (194 AI TOPs), 2345Mhz* at 100W (2295MHz Boost Clock+50MHz O.C.,75W+25W Dynamic Boost), 6GB GDDR6 |
| Memory | 16GB*2 LPDDR5X 7500 on board, max capacity 32GB | 8GB*2 LPDDR5X 7500 on board, max capacity 16GB |
Yes, those are the differences: graphics card and memory, with a price difference of $11,000. After considering the price and my needs, I purchased the lower-spec FA401WU. After all, an extra ten thousand is a lot of money for me. Thinking carefully, I probably don’t need such high specs, so I ultimately chose this RTX4050 + 16GB memory version.
Of course, I got criticized after buying it, but after using it for six months, I have no regrets. Considering my needs, I really didn’t need to spend the extra money, and I’m glad I didn’t. (I used that money for other great things, hehe)
Enjoy the Real Machine Photos, Seeing is Believing
On the left are the power supply, manual, and the included mouse, and on the right is the TUF A14 itself, lovingly protected by a nice-feeling bag.
The included mouse (TUF M3 GEN II), I took it out and felt the texture briefly. It feels like the kind of mouse you get as a freebie when buying a computer. Since I already have a great and expensive mouse (Logitech G900) that I don’t plan to retire anytime soon, this freebie will be stored as a backup mouse.
From above, it looks like a notebook, truly living up to the name “Notebook.” The design with the logo facing sideways is quite unique. I don’t really get it since when I use it, it appears tilted, and it looks tilted to others too. Even my dog tilts its head when it sees me using the computer. But it’s unique, and unique wins.
On the right, there are three ports: USB Type A, USB Type C, and a micro SD slot.
On the left, there are ports for: special power, HDMI, DP with charging capability, USB Type A, and audio.
The bottom has many cooling vents, and the placement of the pads is quite stylish. The bottom case feels more metallic.
The back also has many cooling vents. During winter, you can play some intense AAA games and then cuddle with this laptop for warmth.
One reason I chose this model is its back cover. Although it’s a gaming laptop, I’m not a fan of the stereotypical gaming laptop style with RGB, fancy exterior designs, lots of flashy LEDs, and tattoo-like patterns that scream “gaming laptop.”
Compared to traditional gaming laptop designs, this one has a more elegant color scheme, giving it a lighter feel, creating an indescribable contrast with its specs.
Next are the keyboard keys. My impression here is that after designing the beautiful exterior, the budget for materials ran out.
The keyboard feels much more plastic compared to the exterior. When I tried it out at Syntrend, I almost switched to buying a Zenbook because of the keyboard. Ultimately, the salesperson, who was originally pushing Zenbook, stopped me, saying my needs required this model. Also, the font on the keyboard doesn’t match the exterior style at all. As soon as I open my OS, it screams, “Ah, this is a gaming laptop.”
The current Windows installation process even includes mini-games.
When I searched for Chrome using Windows’ default browser (Edge), I felt Edge’s strong survival instinct, reminding me not to switch browsers.
Edge’s survival attempts continued even on the Google Chrome download page. Sorry, Edge, I’m still more accustomed to Chrome, and your dev tool interface isn’t my cup of tea.
Thoughts After Almost Half a Year of Use
I’ve been using it almost as a desktop for the past six months. The salesperson recommended this model for that reason. They mentioned that Taiwan’s voltage is relatively unstable, which is more harmful to the battery, so if you plan to use it plugged in for long periods, you’ll need a stronger adapter. So, the pros and cons below are mostly based on using it as a desktop.
Pros
- Good-looking exterior, looks pleasing on a laptop stand
- For my usage needs, the specs are more than sufficient
- Small size, not too heavy (1.46KG), convenient to take to cafes or back home
- Matte screen doesn’t reflect light or glare
Cons
- I really don’t like the keyboard. It even has a meaningless copilot button that just calls up copilot, similar to when some phones had to add an FB button when Facebook first came out, which is just as pointless.
- The adapter is too big, making it really annoying to carry. I asked ASUS customer service for a compatible Type C charger, but they didn’t have one. They told me to buy elsewhere, which was so ridiculous I had to say it three times.
So, Would I Recommend It?
If your usage scenario is similar to mine, dabbling in a bit of everything and using it mostly as a desktop, then I think this model’s performance, appearance, and portability are all very balanced. I don’t regret buying it, and it’s been smooth without any issues or missions.
However, if you often need to carry it, like taking it to cafes or libraries daily, I think the adapter will really make you angry. Maybe once I find a 100W charger I like, this issue can be resolved.