The ASUS U1f was a classy number which combined a stainless steel frame and leather on the palm rest to offer a luxurious design. The latest upgrade, the ASUS U2, goes a step further by boosting performance in two key areas.

Though the 11.1-inch notebook still does not include an integrated optical drive, the new Core 2 Duo ULV processor will likely give the U2 a much faster computing experience than the older U1f. Another factor to consider is the replacement of the standard harddisk with a 32GB SSD, which has no moving parts and offers a speedier read/write access than the former. Other features such as a fingerprint scanner, integrated Webcam and an LED-backlit display are passed down to the U2 as well. No news on the price and availability of this unit--though with its 32GB SSD, we expect the price to be significantly higher than the S$3,988 (US$2,623.68) one has to fork out for the U1f.