Amazon.com: ASUS VivoBook 15 Thin and Light Laptop, 15.6” FHD, Intel Core i3-8145U CPU, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, Windows 10 in S Mode, F512FA-AB34, Slate Gray : Electronics

First Year Update:
So after a year of owning this laptop, I want to bring up a few issues. First off, the bluetooth adapter has failed. I have to use a USB bluetooth dongle now. Not certain if this is a prevalent problem, or something that’s an easy fix, but I am where I am. Secondly, the fan problem has gotten worse, as this laptop will immediately spike to 95-100C CPU temps under regular loads, and idles at about 35-50C. Cleaning the fans and vents did little to alleviate the issue, so I’m thinking it’s an issue with build quality. Lastly, and actually a bit of a compliment, the laptop still works just fine regardless. Considering the price and what you’re getting, it’s still totally worth it and has served me well. I needed a backup in a pinch when my main workhorse desktop needed repairs, and it handled the Adobe suite with no problem.

Original review:
Did not work right out of the box. This is not a problem with this laptop, however. It is a problem with Windows 10, and affects multiple users:

I got stuck on a blue screen during the initial Windows 10-S configuration. To get around this, do not establish an Internet connection while configuring Windows 10-S. Skip that step. Select “I do not have an Internet connection.” It will save you a massive headache. Set up your Internet connection after Windows has finished setting up.

If you’re stuck on that screen, and cannot go back to the Internet configuration step, power down your router and restart the laptop (hold the power button for 5 seconds, wait 10 seconds, power on the laptop). It will restart the Windows 10-S configuration from the beginning, and with the router off, you can select “I do not have an Internet connection” at that step.

Windows 10-S is also an awful proprietary mess. It does not let you download or install programs I require for some reason, rendering the whole OS absolutely worthless. It’s an obnoxious closed ecosystem on hardware sorely lacking engineering that makes such an ecosystem beneficial. Fortunately the laptop let me install a proper version of Windows for free through the Microsoft store, so only minor point deductions for just being a hassle, and not requiring an additional purchase.

The screen is about what you expect from a cheaper laptop. Nothing fancy. Certainly not something for optimum media or gaming experience. Picks up lots of glare, fades significantly when viewed at even slight angles, the usual issues. Bonus points, though, for outputting at native 1080p resolution, a major selling point for me getting this laptop.

The fan in it is LOUD. Whenever it’s writing data, installing a program, or on resource-intensive websites, that fan goes at full speed, and it goes for a few minutes after these tasks have completed. It’s pretty evident that this laptop struggles with cooling, as the CPU temperatures frequently spike to 90-100C while under load, and can take a few minutes to return to idling at the expected 35C. (Update: The temperature issues have gotten a little worse over the year I’ve owned this laptop, with temps idling around 45-50C, even after cleaning the fans and vents and doing a fresh install of Windows.)

Overall, as far as medium-range laptops go, it’s decent. Gets the job done. It runs Photoshop 2019 just fine, and Photoshop 2021 about as well as Adobe’s functionally broken mess can. It handles older games pre-2015 no sweat. Just might be a headache to configure and optimize right out of the box. But if you know what you’re doing, and intend to use this laptop for mostly work-related activity or web browsing on the go, it’s perfectly fine. The extra hassle is worth the money saved.