ASUS ExpertCenter D701 Desktop, Intel Core i7, 32GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD, Windows 11 Pro, Bundled Wired Keyboard and Mouse, D701SER-XS706

Excellent choice
If you want a desktop type computer instead of a laptop this is a great choice. This is my second ASUS. My first one came with Windows 7 and just had a failure recently so that indicates how long it lasted. It was terribly outdated by now and this new ASUS Expert Center has pretty good, up to date specs. The i5 processor it has is just one generation behind the current top i7 and is really pretty similar performance wise but less costly. It is fast – from the time you press the power button until its ready to go is less than a minute. If you use sleep mode its ready to go almost instantly – maybe 20 seconds tops. It has numerous connection types which was a selling point for me as I still have some legacy devices I love that require the old PS2 connections. You can even get a serial port on it if you need one but mine did not have that option. Too many computers today seem to have just mainly USB ports. It also has an actual 8X DVD drive which is getting harder to find but this was a major reason I chose this model. My only complaint is the description said it had “Windows 11 Pro” but mine came with Windows 11 Home. Not really an issue since I had little use for the additional Windows features, but I don’t like being misled. To sum it up, I’m very happy. Impressive speed and well equipped with a large amount of storage. Decent amount of RAM with expansion slots available. Fast, powerful processor and a good number and types of connection ports. The built in Wi-Fi is very good but I had an ethernet line from my router at my computer desk, so I connected that way.

Very disappointed
Very disappointed with this purchase. I had previously owned an Asus desktop that was the best computer I had ever owned. The new one had a glitch that caused the monitor to go blank after about 3 minutes, every time I fired it up. I couldn’t even get past the new computer registration process because of this issue. I spent much time on both Asus tech chat and phone help trying to get it fixed, with no success. The tech finally told me since I had bought it from a reseller on Amazon, to just return it to them for a refund. I am very dissatisfied and not sure if I will ever buy an Asus product again.

Great budget computer
I got this as part of the Amazon Prime Deals Days in October. It pretty much is as advertised – a budget desktop with very solid specs. Who makes a computer with 1TB internal hard drive AND a DVD drive anymore? Well done, Asus.Setup was super fast and easy, and I got all my software reinstalled quickly enough. No problems there. It runs very well for multitasking – I’m typing this review and surfing the web while streaming live TV at the same time. I saw some reviews claiming that the motherboard or CPU die after a few months. I’ve only had it for a day or three so I can’t speak to that, and if they do die, I’ll update the review. For now, though, it runs like a champ even under a fairly heavy load.One or two people were complaining about the poor wi-fi / internet connections. This is true, if you’re not smart enough to connect the external wi-fi antenna that comes packaged with the computer (see the fourth photograph – and forgive the dust all over my printer; I rarely use that one except for disc printing when I’m authoring DVDs and blu rays). My guess is to keep costs down Asus went with an external wi-fi antenna. That’s not an issue for me at all, especially since it’s a small device that sticks to the case with a magnet.I did not stand mine up; I have it on its side under the monitor (as seen in the photo) which provides better access for the DVD drive, though even if you stand it upright, the drive holds the disc secure enough that having it vertical shouldn’t be an issue.Now, the down-side. There’s only a single HDMI port on the back of the system, and no USB-C ports at all. This means running dual monitors (my preference) will be a challenge. There is an old-fashioned monitor serial port on the back, which may work if you have a monitor that will still allow that form of interface. Still, the lack of multiple HDMI ports and especially the lack of USB-C ports in a modern system, cheap or not, is a bit of a disappointment and the first reason why I did not give this five stars.Secondly, this IS, in fact, Windows 11 HOME, not Pro. Upgrading to Pro is possible through the Microsoft Store, but carries a charge of $99 (your product key is NOT a pro product key). Now, for most users, this is not a problem because there’s literally nothing Pro offers that your average home user needs. Still, since it’s advertised as a spec and it doesn’t come that way, again, downgrade from five stars.The packaged peripherals – the keyboard and mouse – are basic and functional. I have an old HP keyboard with more functionality that I swapped out, but again, for most folks, these are plenty serviceable. The keyboard is a bit sloppy to type on, but again, you can use any old keyboard and mouse here, and to me, getting a basic keyboard and mouse is a bonus.So far as I can tell, save for the Windows Home vs. Pro issue, this machine is 100% as advertised. Asus is a pretty good manufacturer, so I have high hopes it’ll last me awhile.