Conclusions
According to our price search engine, the UL80Vt-A1 is currently selling for around $825 online. Amazon is also running a deal that'll get you the system and a $100 gift card for $824, with free shipping to boot. Even with that pseudo discount, the UL80Vt isn't among the cheapest 14" systems you can buy. It is, however, one of the most versatile.

Unlike most CULV-powered notebooks, the UL80Vt's switchable GeForce graphics can actually handle recent games. This is still far from a serious gaming rig, but there are a great many quality titles that will run quite smoothly on the system at its native resolution, even with detail levels turned up. The turbo mode's a nice addition, as well, especially since it's paired with a clock-throttling battery-saving mode. Asus has effectively covered both ends of the spectrum, allowing users to ramp up performance dramatically when they need it, but also fall into a low-power mode to conserve battery life.

Ah yes, sweet, sweet battery life. The UL80Vt-A1 delivered more than a working day's worth of run time in our real-world Wi-Fi web surfing test, which is more than can be said for even most netbooks. There's enough battery life to watch several full-length movies, as well. Never before have I seen a notebook this powerful and this affordable run for so long.

Of course, the UL80Vt also has its share of problems. The dimpled touchpad surface doesn't track as smoothly as I'd like, and something is definitely up with the left side of the keyboard. Other online reviews have noted the clicky, flexy left side, so this appears to be a design flaw rather than a problem with one individual unit. The lack of Bluetooth support is also disappointing in a system in this price range. Heck, even sub-$400 netbooks come with Bluetooth as standard equipment.

Despite these flaws, the UL80Vt's appeal really starts to sink in when you look at the big picture. Many folks are trading their desktops for notebooks these days, and the UL80Vt has the performance and features to serve effectively as a desktop replacement for a great many users. Plus, thanks to its incredible battery life and relatively thin and light chassis, the UL80Vt also makes a pretty good notebook.

Compromise usually rules out perfection at the budget end of the market, and the UL80Vt doesn't defy that trend. But it demands a lot fewer compromises than one might expect from a 14" notebook, and that makes it TR Recommended.