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Anyone purchasing the UX32VD and expecting a powerhouse of a machine is going to be disappointed, but that doesn't mean that it isn't up to everyday tasks.
The inclusion of a discrete graphics card does help the graphics capabilities of the machine, but not as significantly as you might expect. The GeForce GT 620M doesn't have the grunt to make it a powerful enough machine for high definition gaming or detailed video editing, for example.
That said, if you want to perform either of those tasks, you really shouldn't be looking at any Ultrabook, but focusing on a proper gaming machine.
But all said and done, the Zenbook is powerful enough to run Windows 7 Home Premium, as well as do some basic photo and video editing, as well as your usual email and web browsing. Which is kind of exactly what it was designed for, really.
Battery life didn't disappoint, but it didn't excite either. Cranking the settings up to maximum and running an HD video on loop, the battery managed to last 170 minutes. Obviously that gets better with smarter settings switched on, but it's far from the best result we've seen on an ultrabook.
Of course, in real world usage you'll likely get a lot longer, but given the size and bulk of the Ultrabook, you almost naturally expect the Zenbook to last a bit longer.
Benchmarks:
Cinebench 10: 9227
3DMarks: 8400
Battery Eater: 170 mins
