Asus U35JC/U45JC

Hey guys,

For those of you lucky enough to live in the UK. The U35JC is now in stock and available for immediate purchase and delivery from asuslaptop.co.uk.

Check it out here: http://www.asuslaptop.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=U35JC-RX080V

I'm torn now between the U33JC and the U35JC. No USB 3.0, no WiDi, no 2MP camera, no bluetooth and no bamboo. Can I live without all that? Given the price difference here in the UK of £116, it's VERY tempting!!!

OR... to come completely from left field I could get a Sony Vaio S series (VPCS12V5E) for £898.99 with the following specs:

• Processor: Intel® CoreTM i7-620M, 2.66GHz
• Operating system: Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium
• Finishes: Black
• Hard drive: 500 GB Serial ATA (5400 rpm)
• Memory: 4 GB 1066MHz DDR3-SDRAM
• Optical Drive: DVD disc drive
• Display: 33.8 cm LCD, 1366x768 + webcam
• Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® 310M 512MB
• Keyboard: EN - Backlit Keyboard
• AC Adapter: 1 AC Adapter
• Wireless LAN: Wireless LAN + Bluetooth®
• HDMI(TM) output: HDMI(TM) output
• Security features: Finger print recognition
• Battery: Battery life up to 5 hours

Notice the backlit keyboard and the core i7. Are the keyboards and screens any better than that found on the U33JC and U35JC? The U33JC costs £786 so for £133 more I could get a much fast processor, a backlit keyboard, a DVD drive and a Nvidia 310M that hasn't been under clocked. Problem is, I know nothing about VAIOs because I've just spent the last 3 months hanging out for and researching the U33JC

So confused! What do you guys reckon?

 

I've just received my U45JC today.
I ordered it from Mobile Advance through Amazon.
If anybody has some basic questions they'd like to ask, I'd be glad to answer them. I'm still quite busy removing bloatware and setting it up though, so I apologize for any slow responses.

 

Yo!

Been following this thread for a couple weeks now, thanks for all the good info. I just wanted to let people know that I pre-ordered from Xotic PC and customized with a 7200RPM hard drive. I was contacted via email 2 days ago that my computer was: "Sent for Custom Building / Testing / Burn In & Final QA) 3-7 Business Days)." However, today the U35JC isn't even listed at Xotic. I was told by a rep that I should pre-order because they had a limited shipment coming in which would only cover pre-orders and that it would "be a while" after that before they got more in. I have to assume that the pre-orders have been sent to Xotic for customization, and that both the customized and stock versions will ship out next week.

Also, regarding the weight: I'm 175 pounds man, what's 0.5 more? I just want that 8 cell, 370M, and 1GB Nvidia. That's energy-efficient gaming for you.

 

Nice! If that's 3.9lbs then there is no reason the U35JC with i3-370 should be over 3.9lbs. Even possibly makes sense it could be 3.73lbs!

 

If style, the backlit keyboard, and power are what you need, then get the Sony, at the expense of battery life. If not than go with the U35Jc and get an external HD webcam (MS Lifecam-5000 is good and cheap) with a USB bluetooth dongle.

The R705 has no expresscard slot.

 

Yes i notice that now. I only thought there was because on the R700/705 spec sheet here: http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/product/pdf_files/detailed_specs/portege_R700-ST1300.pdf it lists an Expresscard 54 slot

 

With the Timeline X AS4820TG available now at Amazon for $799, is anyone considering it rather than the U35/U45? My understanding is that processors are roughly a wash, graphics are far better in the Acer, but build quality will likely be higher for the Asus (maybe heat is a point for Asus, as well?). Optimus isn't really a selling point for me, as I like the control of manually-switched graphics. Battery life seems roughly equivalent, too, since the TZ model (integrated graphics only) ran for about an hour longer than the U30jc in Engadget's video drain test.

I'd probably stick with the U35JC for the same price (from J&R) if I could get it now, but the ability to have the Acer in my hands tomorrow for an extra $3.99 is really tempting. Thoughts?

 

I am dead set on the U35JC. The Acer is a bit too heavy at 4.6lbs. The U35JC also has a slightly better processor. I also like the look/styling of the U35JC better.
I have done a LOT of research on the Asus laptops and I am sure I will be very happy with the U35JC.

 

IF im not a gamer, would you recommend the Toshiba R700 series over the U35JC?

 

I don't see what gaming has anything to do with? It's not like the U35JC is a gaming powerhouse. I don't game on the PC whatsoever (That's what my Wii/PS3/360 are for ) and can't wait to get my hands on the U35JC.

 

You also have take in mind the fact that the TZ version uses a Core 2 Duo ULV in comparison to the U30's full-power i3.
The TG is almost certainly going to have less battery life than the u35/u45.

 

I have a bad mis-typing habit. I meant the TimelineX 4820T:

Acer TimelineX 4820T review -- Engadget

vs.

ASUS U30Jc review -- Engadget

 

That was me, and i used a kitchen weight which is accurate. 1,814 kg if i remember correctly.

 

"I don't see what gaming has anything to do with? It's not like the U35JC is a gaming powerhouse. I don't game on the PC whatsoever (That's what my Wii/PS3/360 are for ) and can't wait to get my hands on the U35JC."

Well if you don't PC game, I guess you wouldn't know. The 1GB dedicated DDR3 graphics are a big deal. 1GB is about as much as you'll get on a laptop, and anything more powerful will be huge/battery sucking/loud as all hell. So it is a smart powerhouse, actually. Like a windmill.

 

Great news. So the i3-370M U35JC should definitely be <4lbs so I am happy.

Hurry up August 23rd!

 

This was almost same question I had.

My question is 3820TG vs U35JC.

3820TG has better VGA, but I need better CPU power and longer running time.

and...

Both of them are not available now in US.

but, U35JC is pre-order

Nobody knows when 3820TG is available.

 

I always heard a 512MB GPU to 1GB GPU was never a big deal. It might have just been geared towards a specific GPU that they were talking about and not in general. I guess I was wrong so I apologize! My mistake.

 

I'm still not sure if i want to return the PC though. Hopefully the fan problem can be fixed? I mean, if i run the PC at performance mode 2,466 mhz its no different than running in Quiet Office at 1000-1200 mhz. Surely the CPU must be able to turn down the fans if im going to just write in Office.

Also, didnt know black aluminuim could get so much fingerprints ;p.

 

What you heard is right. Unless i am also mistaken, graphic processing power is determined primarily by its core and not the ram.

 

For those comparing timeline to asus, ive had very good experiences with Asus, but i decided to bite on the timeine x 3820t recently. I am returning it now, and going to probably get the u35jc. My wifi module is defective, it gives terrible speeds in locations i can get 2-3x the speeds on other adapters. In my home network, where i can usually get about 9-10mbps internet from my other computers (as well as from a dongle ive plugged into the timelinex), i cant seem to get more than 1mbps.

A bad module wouldnt be a horrible problem, if they would support it well. However, i tried getting some support and it was a disaster. They kept trying to kick it off to their paid software support (saying 'if it can see and connect to networks, it is working perfectly fine'), and after the 4th person i talked to finally conceded to take it back, he said i'd have to pay for it and that their techs would likely see that it connected to networks and send it back to me right away.

 

I meant september 2010

 

You lucky Brits!

Also, can we please stop making such a fuss over half a pound? If those few ounces make or break the laptop for you, you probable have other problems more pressing than your weak back

 

Should there by an owner's lounge for the U45JC now? I know a few people have received theres and I've received mine today as well.

 

There's your chance to start one

 

I hereby nominate this post for the "Post of the Year" Award.

Concise, informative, and exactly what I was looking for.

 

Could be a driver problem. I'd try different versions for *hits and giggles.

 

yeah, i did. no luck. its a shame too, i like the laptop otherwise, but <1mbps internet is kind of a dealbreaker, and my experience with support there trying to kick me off to their paid support makes me think i'll get the same for any problems down the road.

 

And Ken feels that 1.8 kg (3.96 lbs) is with the i5 and it's socket while the soldered-in i3 will be a bit lighter.

 

Sprinkler, that's easy (and tiring). Go research the Sony S with that configuration HERE! Or at least that's what I would do. Specs on a sheet comparison tell you so little really about actual use (eg heat, build, feel, keyboard, problems, etc). I would read what owners had found out.

But do come back here and tell us what you found!

 

And the identical weight shown by the Taiwanese reviewer on his i5-based U35Jc.

 

Probably. It's lighter, thinner, more portable. Not having a dedicated graphics card will reduce your temptation to game with it, which would undoubtedly raise the heat output of the laptop.

The U35jc's dedicated graphics card allows it to run games that the 700/705 couldn't touch with its integrated graphics card.

If you don't game, you should probably consider the 700/705 as well (especially if you are a student). The light, thin, portable factor will be a godsend as you move throughout the campus.

 

Excellent. Thanks to you and Ken for sharing. He must be really busy for him not to come post this info himself.

If this turns out to be the case, then the U35jc with an i3 CPU is back in the lead.

With it's "middle-of-the-road" GPU, this laptop is not going to run the more graphically-intensive programs at a fast clip anyway. So I don't really have a need for an i5. The i3 and GPU should be enough to run the Total War series of games (including the upcoming Shogun 2: Total War).

Besides, I already have a MSI GX640 with an i5 CPU and ATI HD 5850 GPU to take on longer trips and play BFBC2 on.

The U35jc will be for shorter business trips, travel hops, and the like. The light weight will make a huge difference.

 

I'm sure he is busy at work like others and he does post here often enough. But he didn't post it because I PM'ed him the question and he answered me. I, in turn, cut-&-pasted his answer here. I'm sure he'd have posted it here had I asked him to answer everyone on the thread.

But he is kindly available to answer questions from any of us. Just PM him.

 

Quatro you seem to be the expert to ask around these neck of the (nice) woods...

I have a friend who is looking to purchase the u35jc for college. It shows on Amazon that you are able to order. Is it true or is that just a preorder?
And this Asus comes with the typical 1 year accidental damage right?

Thanks!

 

All the U35jc's are preorder. Some have claimed the first orders in will be middle of the month.

 

Expert? It's fortunate that you included "seems to be". I am probably simply the more OCD poster here. Nothing more.

It is only preorder (though I've not paid attention if Amazon has ever received any units yet), and the US-models come with the typical 1-yr accidental damage warranty (ADW).

BTW, I noticed on the finer print that the ADW provides for ONE claim only during that one year.

 

Mine is the i3 , so i guess they are the same weight!

 

Oh, then I guess the i3 weight is 1.8 kg/3.96 lbs as well. 3.74 lb or 3.96 lbs ... that's merely 3.5 oz and I'd be amazed if any one on this forum could feel the difference between two laptops' weight at that small of a difference.

We'll see what it turns out to be in the US-version once it gets here.

 

The slight difference in weight still doesn't change the fact that it's carelessness on ASUS part at best or deceptive advertising at worst.

 

If you take a look at the official specifications of the U35JC listed by Asus, you'll notice that it shows 1.9kg/4.18lbs. So I would say Asus took into account that different models of the U35JC may weight differently and listed the heaviest weight. I'd think you would be happy to receive a notebook that actually weights less than the "official" specifications.

 

Your comment leads me to believe that you're unaware of the fact that ASUS recently corrected the information to what you see today.

 

Hey guys, i've been eyeing off the U35JC for a while now and think i'm just about ready to make a purchase. I'm currently living in the UK which presents me with two options; Buy from the UK, or source from somewhere in Europe. There are a couple of pros and cons for each -

*If I buy in the UK, the U35JC is currently in stock. I can get this now with a UK keyboard. Down side is that it comes with the i3 and a 320gb hard drive.

*If I buy from somewhere in Europe, the U35JC is not yet in stock but I figure coming soon. Plus side is they come with an i5-450 and a 500gb hard drive. Down side is that it will come with a strange keyboard, most likely AZERTY. I don't think this would be too big of a deal seeing as the keyboard from the UL30 should fit???

Second option is obviously a tad more expensive, but I think it could potentially be worth the effort? Opionions?

 

Split any hairs lately?

 

If I were you, I'd buy from the UK. You get the early and with you keyboard. As I said in an earlier post the i3-370M to the i5-450M will give you a 10% performance boost (based on Passmark CPUMark) which will not affect you that much in day to day tasks (Internet, Word, Excel). If you do things in Photoshop or you make giant spreadsheets on Excel then the i5 would seem like a more compelling option, but the performance boost would still be unnoticeable from a human's perspective. About the hard drive, 320GB to 500GB is not that big of a deal. Use the money you saved from the shipping costs of shipping it from another country and buy a 640GB HDD and replace it yourself.

 

Veeerrry funny. :tongue:

I suppose Ken at GenTech was trying to explain possible reasons for the varying weights reported on the U35Jc. To me, concerns over 7-8 oz or even less is just silly.

For myself, I don't care. My U30Jc is 4.8 lbs and not in the least bit heavy to me. My netbook is lots lighter when I want lighter, but this weight & size is great. And I carry mine around a campus all of the time.

Others seem to be implying some kind of conspiracy theory (purposely deceptive advertising) or irresponsibility on ASUS' part.

Again, for myself, I don't care.

At the most, I enjoy trying to sort out puzzles or confusion.

 

I'm on the very verge of buying the UK model with the i3... arrgggh decisions.

 

If it helps, the i5-450M is not that much different from the i3-370M. Both operate at stock 2.4ghz on both cores with the i5 being able to turbo boost to 2.93 on 1 core. Some people have surprisingly noticed reduced frame rates while using turbo boost in games. For the value the i3-370 is a good choice and the performance advantage of the i5-450M is negligible. Maybe if you were opting for an i5-540M instead, then something could be said of performance increase.

 

Are you done stomping your feet in protest? They made a mistake, and they corrected it when the mistake was brought to their attention. What more do you want from them?

 

Hear, hear! I second that comment!

And really, ... they corrected a 7 ounce mistake (3.74 - 4.18 lbs) ... or 3 1/2 ounces if you go by the last two owner's weight of 3.97 lbs? Is it really that big of a deal?

If anyone feels it is, and you feel ASUS is sloppy or deceptive and not worthy of your trust or business, then by all means, get a different notebook from a different maker and stop mulligrubbing (grumbling). There are lots of excellent notebooks out there to choose from.

 

Really trying to decide if i need that discrete graphics card or not, or if i should just pick up the u35f-x1 that amazon has for sale..