Asus Notebooks Now Available at Best Buy

Asus makes a move to Best Buy locations around the country
Asus is starting to spread its wings a bit in the notebook arena.

Asus has a solid reputation for building stylish notebooks ranging from ultra-mobile units on up to desktop replacements, but for the most part have been the staple of online retailers instead of brick and mortar (B&M) stores. That is all about to change, however, and Asus notebooks will soon be sharing the same floor space with Toshiba, Gateway, Samsung and Sony models.

Word of the appearance of Asus notebooks at Best Buy locations started over the weekend at NotebookReview. Readers noted that the Asus G1 was available at Best Buy's online store as well as in some B&M locations.



Today, Asus has officially announced that its notebooks will be available for purchase in over 150 of Best Buy's 1,000+ locations across the country. As reported on NotebookReview, the G1 is the first model (and so far the only model) to be offered by Best Buy at this time.

"A customer’s enjoyment of a notebook depends on its moment to moment touch and feel. The company therefore uses the finest quality materials and engineers them into notebooks with outstanding fit and finish -- products that feel like quality. That’s why the G1 is made with a glossy finish, in-mold decorating, metal accents, high contrast color, and the alluring Republic of Gamers emblem," said Raymond Chen, VP of Marketing for Asus' North American operations.

Reaction on the popular Asus Forum at NotebookReview has been mixed. Many have expressed excitement that they will now have a chance to actually have a hands-on experience with Asus notebooks before purchasing them from local stores. Some users also noted that the move would mean that Asus would have to bulk up its customer service operations in the U.S. to handle more customers which in turn should be beneficial to all.

Some other users, however, were quick to point out that not all will be rosy with notebooks purchased from Best Buy. In the case of the G1, units purchased at Best Buy won't come with a case, LightScribe or matching mouse and will feature a one-year warranty instead of a two-year warranty.

NewEgg lists the G1 with all of the missing goodies (including 2-year warranty) for $1898, while Best Buy's model comes in at $1799. After paying taxes at Best Buy, buying it from an online retailer doesn't seem like such a bad idea.