Pros: Good deal - I got the lap top for $400, but even at $500, I think this lap top is a good deal for the hardware that comes with it. Decent quad core processor and 6GB RAM is enough to run what I need (for things like 3D rendering, I use my desktop). Asus - In my opinion, it's a reliable company to buy from, and they actually give a few useful and interesting programs without a ton of excessive and useless programs you might get on like an HP Touch Pad - The touch pad is very responsive and sensitive to the touch (which I guess can be a bad thing at times). The bottom half of the touch pad can click like a mouse, with both right and left clicks. There are several touch pad short cuts which help.

Cons: Average Build Quality - The lap top is made from different plastics, and it is not the best quality build that I have seen. The keyboard flexes a little, which hasn't posed a problem yet, but it makes me much more cautious. It is very easy to see finger prints, on both the screen, and the rest of the lap top. Weight - While it isn't very heavy, with Macbooks and Ultrabooks going around, it is relatively heavy for its size. If you were making a one hand pass to a friend, he could easily drop it, not expecting the weight (already happened).

Overall Review: Perfect laptop for me, as I am starting my fall semester at Carnegie Mellon University. It doesn't need to be super fancy, because I have a good desktop. I just need the portability and accessibility really. Most people are saying Windows 8 is the biggest con about the laptop. In most cases, they are correct. I'm probably going to get rid of it for Ubuntu. Don't let the Windows 8 scare you away from the lap top. It is still a good deal, and there are many redeeming qualities about the operating system. It is indeed cleaner, and easy to use after you get familiar with it. Don't be a cyber conservative and complain about the OS and not bother to learn how to use it.