7-degree Optimum Typing Position
IN THIS AGE OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION,
doing business within the confines of a fourwalled room is already antiquated. Let’s face it: Deals can happen at any time and in any place. That said, for the go-getter who’s on the go, being equipped and ready is always important. While today’s smartphones are powerful and featured enough to handle many things, it still has no match to the convenience of using a laptop when working. One laptop that is designed with the business in mind is the ASUSPRO B9440.
Clad in a metallic gray body with a subtle frosted finish, a quick look at the B9440 reminds you of an executive in a full gray suit. It is unassuming, yet it cannot be ignored. Unlike most laptops that have a sloping lip design, the height of the B9440 is seemingly consistent on all sides, resulting in a very streamlined look.
Like its potential owner, the B9440 is anticipated to go places. Knowing this, ASUS crafted the laptop’s chassis from the durable magnesium alloy. Compliant with US military standards (MIL-STD 810G), the B9440 is one tough cookie. Never mind letting it slip into your backpack or suitcase along with your other day-to-day work or travel stuff. In spite of its all-metal chassis, the B9440 weighs at around one kilogram, making it one of the lightest 14-inch business laptops out there.
Lifting the lid, the B9440 reveals its Full HD (1920 x 1080p) display, bordered by its 5.4mm-thin bezel. The use of an ultrathin bezel helps in making the screen appear large, which measures 14 inches, in spite of the fact that the
B9440 has an overall size smaller than a typical 13-inch laptop. Sporting a matte finish, looking at the screen of the B9440 is easy on the eyes as it keeps the harsh ambient glare at bay.
Employing a unique hinge structure, the lid lifts and tilts the keyboard at a 7-degree angle to achieve a comfortable typing position, reducing the stress on the wrists and neck brought about by prolonged hours of typing. The side of the lid close to the hinge has a pair of rubber feet that prevents the laptop from slipping.
ASUS specifies that the keyboard of the B9440 features a full-size 19.05mm key pitch, 1.5mm key travel, and 0.15mm dish key design which adapts accordingly to the contour and impact of the fingertip when it hits the key while typing. We didn’t mind too much ASUS’s measurement claims about the keyboard, but we remember that typing with it is bliss regardless of the lighting condition, thanks to its backlit feature. Plus, adding to the laptop’s durability, the B9440’s keyboard is designed to be spill-resistant.
In order to achieve an ultrathin profile, ASUS has limited the physical connectivity of the B9440 to a 3.5mm audio jack and two Type-C USB 3.0 ports, one of which supports power delivery and display output features. Users who require devices with a Type-A USB connector will need an adapter or the ASUS SlimPro Dock to connect them to the B9440. Apart from USB ports, the SlimPro Dock also comes with 3.5mm audio ports, VGA, HDMI, 3-in-1 card reader, Gigabit Ethernet, and DisplayPort.
Packed with a 48Wh lithium polymer battery, the B9440 can last up to ten hours of typical usage. Recharging is fast: it will get 50% of juice in just 30 minutes. ASUS’s choice of energy-efficient components such as an SSD and the latest Intel Core processor also contribute to the long battery life of the B9440, not to mention their impact on the laptop’s speedy bootup and snappy performance.
For users who are frequently out and working in the field, a laptop is undoubtedly a necessity. However, make it lighter, more compact, and packed with longer battery life compared to its average equivalent, along with other stress-reducing benefits, such a laptop is truly aluxury. The ASUSPRO B9440 falls under the latter category. If you are a professional who would never settle for less or average, it is a work buddy worth considering.