74 TECH ADVISOR • NOVEMBER 2019GAMING SPECIALcomponents are in the way. Still, those figures are
better than a number of rivals such as the Alienware
15 R3, so this is a portable high-end system.
We are big fans of the Strix Scar II’s design. The
overall style is appealing and it looks as though it
means business. You get a two-tone finish on the lid
with the ROG logo – RGB lit, of course – sitting within
the lighter brushed metal area. Asus says it’s inspired
by “a bullet homing in on its target”.
You also get narrow bezels that are 23.3mm smaller
than its predecessor, so this is one key change. The
screen is surrounded by a rubber frame in order to
protect it, but also make the bezels look even smaller- we’re not sure about the latter.
It’s nice to see a design refresh rather than just
hardware, so the Strix Scar II looks sleek and modern.
Asus just didn’t get there first with this XPS-style, er,
styling. We particularly like the smudge-proof Kevlar
weave around the keyboard and trackpad.
Speaking of the keyboard, this is another area of
improvement albeit not a major one. Since the Scar is
aimed at FPS players, the WASD keys are highlighted
with transparent caps and semi-transparent sides (the
Hero is QWER). Naturally, it has Aura RGB lighting
and has improved travel of 1.8mm despite using the
same membrane switches as before. There’s also
‘Overstroke’ technology, which means you don’t need
to press as hard to register input and strokes are
registered early. It’s nice and responsive, and set up
nicely for gaming, of course.
There’s a pretty standard trackpad with dedicated
rather than integrate mouse buttons. More interesting,
74 TECH ADVISOR • NOVEMBER 2019
GAMING SPECIAL
components are in the way. Still, those figures are
betterthana numberofrivalssuchastheAlienware
15 R3, so this is a portable high-end system.
We are big fans of the Strix Scar II’s design. The
overall style is appealing and it looks as though it
means business. You get a two-tone finish on the lid
with the ROG logo – RGB lit, of course – sitting within
thelighterbrushedmetalarea.Asussaysit’sinspired
by“abullethomingin onitstarget”.
You also get narrow bezels that are 23.3mm smaller
than its predecessor, so this is one key change. The
screen is surrounded by a rubber frame in order to
protectit,butalsomakethebezelslookevensmaller- we’re not sure about the latter.
It’s nice to see a design refresh rather than just
hardware, so the Strix Scar II looks sleek and modern.
Asus just didn’t get there first with this XPS-style, er,
styling. We particularly like the smudge-proof Kevlar
weave around the keyboard and trackpad.
Speaking of the keyboard, this is another area of
improvement albeit not a major one. Since the Scar is
aimed at FPS players, the WASD keys are highlighted
with transparent caps and semi-transparent sides (the
Herois QWER).Naturally,it hasAuraRGBlighting
andhas improved travel of 1.8mm despite using the
same membrane switches as before. There’s also
‘Overstroke’ technology, which means you don’t need
to press as hard to register input and strokes are
registered early. It’s nice and responsive, and set up
nicely for gaming, of course.
There’s a pretty standard trackpad with dedicated
rather than integrate mouse buttons. More interesting,