Asus U35JC/U45JC

The extra discrete GPU is nice to have when you need it. Even streaming video does much better on my U30Jc with the discrete card (the IGP will work mostly fine, but there can be some slow-downs).

 

yeah, i can see the benefit of having it... just trying to decide if its worth the extra money and wait time. If only amazon had the u35jc out already..

 

You and 10,000 others!

 

I believe you 2 are making it a bigger deal than necessary by trivializing this initial discrepancy in details.

If you 2 don't work for ASUS' PR department, you both come across as if you do.

 

If you decide you don't need the dedicated GPU, consider the Toshiba 700 or 705 has another suitable candidate.

The Toshiba laptops are thinner, lighter than the ASUS U35jc and they also have an internal optical DVD drive (which the ASUS does not have).

The Toshiba laptops also do not come with a dedicated GPU.

While the u35jc is a nice laptop, it's good to keep your options open.

 

I think you are blowing it out of proportion. Ok, Asus made a mistake and they fixed it. You keep going on and on about it. We understand you are unhappy with how Asus handled it, but you don't need to make numerous points reiterating where you stand on the matter. Whats done is done. No sense in continuing to complain.

 

The U35JC isn't even on the US Asus page yet (probably because it isn't even released yet), so its too early to be blaming ASUS (at least in north america) for using a deceptive PR campaign.
*U35JC only on the global page*

I think the original listing for the U35JC was just there as a placeholder and they guessed the weight of the laptop as the UL30VT because they used similar chassis and materials. If it was changed it was probably after they had finished a prototype to weigh. Keep in mind that at the beginning of the year, ASUS never planned for a U35JC. It was not included in their Janurary e-magazine and there were no prototypes at cebit 2010 like the UL30J. Instead plans for a U35JC suddenly appeared in their (May?) e-magazine.

The U35JC was probably conjured up mid quarter because ASUS believe there was a market for full core ultraportables (likely in response to Acer's move from using ULV to full cores in their new timelinex series) and also because there was an ULV shortage at the time.

I really doubt ASUS intentionally wants to trick us, why bother? Its such an insignificant weight difference and especially when any reviewer can complain to ASUS for false advertising when they receive the laptop and weigh it themselves. If they corrected any misinformation before the laptop is even released, i see no harm and no foul done.

 

As is the case now, I only respond or bring it up when others attempt to gloss over or trivialize the matter.

We understand how you feel that the difference in weight doesn't make much of a difference to you. But for others it might.

Please feel free to ignore my posts as they are probably more useful for others. Thanks.

 

You've raised some interesting points. However, consider that other companies don't use "placeholder information" for all the obvious reasons.

If you've worked in a corporate environment like myself that is fraught with litigation, you'd realize that smart corporations minimize their legal exposure at all times, no matter how trivial you may think the discrepancy is. Have you ever had to argue in court the definition of "minimal", "slight", "negligible", and "difference" from a marketing perspective? I thought not.

ASUS should hire me. I'd make sure this never happened again AND that they don't mention new products, only to have their release be delayed indefinitely (think N82 here). It only leads to frustration on the consumers' part and lost revenue / profits.

 

I understand that, but they may have foregone legal consequences to get market exposure especially with the competition from the Acer TimelineX series which were available much earlier than the UX5 series. ASUS was late to the back to school season sale, and by releasing some info (albeit inaccurate) early before they had a prototype, they insure they dont lose their entire customer base to competitors. I mean its worked for me. If they did not make the U35JC available for preorder when they did, I would have surely gone with a TimelineX since I have to go back to school on the 23rd, but because I know the U35JC is on its way im willing to wait.

But since the U35JC is still in the preorder stage Im personally willing to forgive them for detail correction. If its not in the customer hands yet, consumers can't cry foul for receiving something they did not ask for. I mean we knew that the UL30JT could have had the i7, but look at where we are now, ASUS gives US only the i3 when overseas there are i5 options. These were changes to pre-release details and because ASUS never made the formal announcement that the US was even going to get the i7, can we really say that ASUS committed a huge PR injustice?

Keep in mind some products are made available to preorder way before they are released. Case in point is Guild Wars 2 which has been available for preorder OVER A YEAR before its set to be released. And it is not unusual for ANET and Guild Wars to change any aspect of their product before its released, even until the day before.

-edit-

Besides, if the U35JC ultimately becomes something you were not looking for because ASUS changed its pre-release details, theres no commitment to buy from ASUS. There are other fine notebooks out there to purchase We are the consumers and we make the final decision afterall, its just up to the manufacturers to appeal to us and if they mess that up, we move on.

 

If the U35jc does turn out to weigh 4.2 lbs or more, has anyone considered the Acer Aspire TimelineX 4820TG as an alternative?

The Acer weighs "just a little more" at 4.56 lbs, is 14", has Bluetooth, and internal DVD drive, and switchable graphics (Intel GMA HD / ATI 5650 GPU) but no Optimus (which goes with Nvidia).

The GPU is better than the Nvidia G310M in the U35jc (and can get a 3DMark06 score of 9000+ when OC).

Temps are normal. Battery life under normal use is 5 hours.

 

Like I said, I understand your points completely.

Our difference in opinion comes from our respective experience and different vantage points.

Your comments are from the perspective of the prospective consumer.

My comments are from the perspective of a corporation that wishes to not find itself embroiled in frivilous lawsuits and having to settle out of court for irresponsible behavior, negligence, or outright deceptive practices. Think lady who burned herself with McDonalds coffee.

Suffice it to say that we've both made good points on behalf of our different viewpoints and perspectives.

 

There you go, if what you said, and I highlighted, about ASUS is truth. Then that is fraudulent claim. I can argue with you in any court of laws and I'll win. I understand/imagine your passion for ASUS and its notebooks run high. But that does not mean that Asus is right.

 

Definitely a worthy one to consider in this search, but i have seen quite a few poor reviews of its battery performance.

 

I do agree with bankergolfer despite my last post. I do believe Asus was in the wrong for releasing incorrect information. I don' think they are completely innocent just because they fixed their mistake prior to its release. I just don't see the point in continuously badmouthing Asus in that regard. They fixed it and what's done is done.

 

Oh By no means am I defending asus. I am not a fanboy, this is my first ASUS purchase. Im just expressing my opinions as a consumer as bankergolfer said.

Bankergolfer you also raise valid points and you are right that I am only looking at this from the perspective of a consumer. ASUS getting into a legal struggle is not something I am concerned with, as long as it doesnt affect me directly of course (such as an exploding battery or something)

Since you are arguing over the legal issues, I have nothing more to say as I am not fully educated on those matters. I am a med student not a law student

-edit-

Also note that what i said in previous posts are all my own speculation/assumptions/theories and by no means the sure truth. Just putting that out there.

 

Thank you for replying. As I was typing those specs out on the Acer laptop, I was thinking it just seemed too good to be true (regarding the battery life). Other laptops that have similar specs seem to average 3 hrs with normal use.

I should have specified that I was simply writing what other had posted in the Acer laptop thread, as opposed to implying I had first hand knowledge of its performance (which I don't).

I definitely welcome your opinions (and anyone else's) on any topic of discussion. You've replied in a mature, civilized manner (like many others) and I enjoy replying to your posts.

If a medical topic were to arise, you can be sure that I would opine on it, despite my lack of formal medical schooling or failure to take the MCATs!

All of our discussions only result in us becoming more educated, better informed consumers. If a company should ever try to pull a fast one on us, they'd better watch out!

Now, when exactly is that N82 finally coming out....? Just kidding!

 

Here is an example of how ASUS actions could affect you as a consumer.

Let's say that you're considering purchasing either an ASUS or HP laptop.

The ASUS laptop has yet to ship but they've published their specs on the unit. The HP laptop is already out in the marketplace.

In addition, HP is offering one of their $400 coupons but only for 24 hrs.

You decide to go with the ASUS laptop, based on its published specs, and let the HP coupon offer expire unused.

Immediately afterwards, you discover that ASUS had made an error in their specs. If they hadn't made this error and correctly reported the information, you would have definitely chosen the HP laptop and used the $400 coupon.

So thanks to ASUS' error of inaccuracy/ommission, you've just incurred the cost of lost opportunity. ASUS's business decision has impacted you directly as a consumer by persuading you to undergo a specific action in their favor while misrepresenting the information you used to make your decision.

Now, some may point out that in our most recent example concerning the U35jc's weight, the difference between the initial weight and corrected weight is "minimal", "trivial", or "negligible". That may be the case for them alone but not for others (as they've stated). So it may not impact them as consumers as far as we're concerned.

But what if the difference was in the dedicated graphics card (GPU) used? Or in the CPU? Or anything else that would finally make a difference to them, as well as others. Where do we draw the line? Who decides if a difference is worth calling a company out on or not.

And therein lies my point (Relentless). Misrepresentation, whether intentional (fraudulent, deceptive practices) or unintentional (negligence), can have consequences (material and otherwise) for all involved, regardless of the perceived immateriality of the error. As such, a claim can always be made in a court of law.

I believe that companies that are not called out to acknowledge the consequences of their errors are prone to repeat them again. Why should they change? No one has provided any concrete incentive for them to do so. Consumers who seek to ignore or marginalize a company's errors may or may not realize that they only strengthen a company's position in these cases, while weakening theirs.

 

I don't think you are getting what I am trying to say. I DO agree with you. The typical consumer is likely not going to follow up on laptop information after they have pre-ordered. This could potentially be a huge issue if they received the laptop at 4.2lbs (luckily it is <4lbs now) and the main selling point of the laptop for them was the 3.73lbs. That would be a huge inconvenience.

Luckily, we are not the everyday typical consumer. I'm not making it a big deal because I now know for sure what the weight will be. I wasn't going to get the laptop that day and be disappointed at not knowing it was the aforementioned 3.73lb weight.

I was along with you when we first got the news and I was very disappointed by the assumed 4.2lbs compared to the original 3.73. Luckily, it looks like the weight is still going to be under 4lbs (3.96lbs). I would have liked the 3.73, but as long as it is under 4lbs I am happy.

 

You're right. We're much better informed and educated than the average consumer. Fortune favors the bold AND the educated.

As someone who has worked for large corporations in senior management, I'm privy to the decision-making processes that take place within. Suffice it to say that the consumer's best interests rarely factor into the choices that are made by corporations.

I'm just trying to look out for our fellow consumers who aren't as dedicated as us when it comes to matters like this.

Yes, I do have a conscience!

 

I respect you 100% for that. I learned a great deal of knowledge on these forums about Asus laptops. I remember when I first started looking to get a laptop that I was leaning towards a Dell or an HP. After much research I found that HP/Dell didn't have what I was looking for (Mainly lightweight and excellent battery life) I am glad that I didn't go down that road. I thoroughly enjoy reading the posts on this subject every day because I feel like I always learn something new. I am glad forums like this exist to educate others on the subject matter.

 

Thanks, Relentless. With your predilection towards learning, you will go far and be successful. I'm sure of it.

I'm right there with you, my young friend. I remember first coming to these boards also trying to decide between a Dell or HP (had decent experiences with both in the past). My last laptop at the time was a Dell Inspiron 710m that I had purchased 5 years previously!

Through this website and the generosity and knowledgeable replies of its members, I quickly brought myself up to speed.

Special mention goes to Ken Lee of GenTechPC.com, who answered all of my questions (there were a lot) quickly and in great detail.

My path on the search for a laptop was as follows:

Dell XPS 13
Sony Vaio CW
ASUS N61
ASUS G51
ASUS K42
ASUS G73
Lenovo Y460
ASUS N82 (which I have nicknamed "The Ghost" since it hasn't really appeared)
HP Envy 15 (which I bought, but returned, due to some flaws)
MSI GX640.

I ultimately picked the GX640 since it was literally the best bang-for-the-buck, portable, desktop-replacement laptop out there at the time. Tons of ports (including IEEE and ExpressCard!), reasonably light (5.9 lbs), great physical dimensions (only 1.15" thick), 15.6" screen with 1680x1050 Full HD resolution, an ATI HD 5850 graphics card (very powerful GPU and great for playing hi-res intensive games like BFBC2), cool to the touch when running, and relatively quiet blowing fan. I managed to snag a great deal for it and paid under $1000. It's only minor drawback was some flex in the keyboard, which won't bother those who aren't key pounders.

I'm now in the market for another laptop. I want a thin & light laptop (under 4 lbs) to take on short, overnight trips or to work.

It's between the ASUS U35jc or the Toshiba 700/705. Both have their pros and cons.

It stands to reason by the time I finally make up my mind, another contender will join the mix.

Decisions, decisions.....

 

Oh if you already have a gaming-capable notebook, I personally would vouch for the Toshiba for its magnesium alloy casing and super light weight unless you have particular need for discrete graphics while working. I hear the GMA HD on the i-core processors are better than the 4500MHD and should be sufficient for full HD videos and even some light gaming. I would imagine you would do any intense gaming sessions at home with your GX640 and not the workplace

note - I am only under the assumption you game because of the gaming notebook you own correct me if I'm wrong with my assumptions.

Don't wait too long before you make your choice. You'll never end up with a notebook that way. I made that error. I was originally dead set on the UL30VT. I even went ahead and ordered it. But then my eyes caught attention of the UL30JT. I canceled my preorder. I then got wind of the Alienware M11xR2 and even ordered that before canceling and considering the 3820TG. And after 2-3 months I've finally come to settle on the U35JC and pray I don't change my mind again!

 

P0int,
Thanks for the advice!

I am a big gamer. Primarily FPS (COD4, BFBC2) and real time strategy (Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance, Emprie Total War series, Total Annihilation). I've found that gaming and golf provide exquisite stress relief from the pressures of work. helps too!

I also have a custom gaming desktop which I built by myself, so I probably go a little overkill when it comes to buying PCs / laptops. Someone gave me some advice when I first came to the board. He said that rather than try to find 1 perfect laptop, get 2. One can be used as a portable desktop replacement (gaming) where power is needed; the other can be used for short travel trips where portability is needed.

Your logic is infallible and makes perfect sense. I don't know why I'm nitpicking the Toshiba and question not getting a laptop with a GPU, when I already have a gaming laptop (as you correctly pointed out).

I just did some research on the Intel GMA HD. While it is better than its predecssors, the improvement is primarily in playing HD videos and the like. Gaming still leaves much to be desired.

It sounds like you've had the opportunity to hold the Toshiba 700/705. How did you like the keys? Were they small, cramped, and have less depth to their key presses? Do you believe that the keys would result in your making more typos when compared to the ASUS's keyboard? Also did you get a chance to observe the fan blowing loud or the laptop heating up to uncomfortable levels?

Thanks.

 

Ah Unfortunately I have not seen the R705 in person. What I know is only from reviews. When I get a chance I can stop by my local best buy and see if they have it in stock since it seems to be a bestbuy exclusive at the moment.

Engadget did a review about the heat of the notebook. They said:

So it doesn't look like it deals with heat that well given its tiny frame but doesnt seem like it gets hot, just midly warm.

There were also reports of a pitched noise or whine on the R705 either from the fan or harddrive.

 

Suprisingly to even me, I have had about five minutes with the R705. No flex, the keyboard was great, and the trackpad was awesome. Only problem was the machine was locked at bestbuy, so I wasn't able to get some Win7 time with it. I can confirm what Engadget says - the R705 is the best laptop you can buy under $800 portability's important to you. The only reason I'm going for the Asus U-series is because of their superior battery life. I don't think the U35's battery life will differ much from that of the U33, so I'm thinking I can get at least 6.5 hours of Web surfing over WiFi (AnandTech got around 7.5, Engadget got around 6.8). On that same test the R705 got around 6.2, which I think can translate to an average of around 5.5.

 

P0int and NKash,
Your answers were perfect. Thank you.

 

Why not get something even smaller? I use a desktop at work, UL80VT when I'm traveling and HTC Desire when I'm on the go.

 

Alright so there's a lot of talk in this thread and not much action! I've just placed my order for the uk i3 u35jc. Should hopefully get it on monday or tuesday so will chuck up some pics. Plan on doing a clean install, throwing in a momentus xt and seeing if a backlit keyboard will fit ala ul30 thread. Oh I got the black model

 

Here, here! All this talk of litigation is detracting from the excitement of getting my hot little trotters on a shiny new laptop!

I'm very excited for you and your latest purchase Boriskov and even more excited to hear your first impressions of it. Some nice unboxing photos would be great too

I also live in the UK, where did you purchase your U35JC from? asuslaptop.co.uk or some other retailer? I'm thinking of buying a U33JC from asuslaptop.co.uk when they finally get them in. I actually phoned them yesterday and the guy I spoke to said he was expecting them to arrive this Monday (9th of Aug). Gigity!

 

I think Canada aren't getting any stocks until at least mid August. Cendirect has them on the 20th. I still call some local stores and Canada computers often to check though... hope they will have it soon

 

All you folks in the UK that have ordered this laptop, let us know how you like your U35JCs! I'm looking forward to Boriskov's posts this coming week

The Portege is a slick piece of equipment. I played around with a 705 in my local Best Buy and it was unbelievable light, almost to the point of feeling "cheap." But I'm sure that bad boy would make a great roadie if you didn't need any dedicated graphics at all.

@ BankerGolfer: if you knew me, you'd know I'd make a terrible PR rep. I'm pretty honest with my customers at work!

 

How do you still know it under 4 lbs? Asus website says 4.188 after correcting all the placeholder numbers. Are you saying they are going to correct it again?

 

The Taiwan recent review states (along with a clear photo of it on a digital gram scale) that his U35Jc is 1.8 kg (3.96 lbs). Another poster here owns a U35Jc and he said he also weighed his on his accurate digital scales and it came to 1.8 kg.

So the weight has been confirmed twice just in the last few days as less than 4 lbs.

 

damnit. I was hoping it would be 4.2 so i could feel better about getting the 705. For u guys who have the U35JC already, do you notice any noise at all or is the machine completely silent?

 

I don't think the U35jc or the 705R will be truly quiet. From what I've researched and read, the only difference is that the 705R's fan is on all the time. That might actually be better, as a constant, low drone of the fan easily becomes white noise and even less perceptible than that of a fan turning on and off intermittently.

Also, listen to RunSilent23's YouTube video of his 705 where he challenges you to hear the fan. I turned up the volume on my PC speakers and the fan was not loud at all.

 

Lol i listened, and i heard the fan, the sound from a youtube of a fan doesnt translate to how one would truly hear a fan if they had the laptop...

 

Well, to be fair, IMO, they are two different notebooks for two different audiences.

From what I seem to understand about them both:
U35Jc: longer battery life and dual GPUs that can play most modern games.
R705: much lighter & slimmer, but only Intel HD on-chip graphics (still good for streaming video.)

So it would depend on what your purposes & uses for your notebook.

 

What if you are an inbetween audience? Want longer battery life, good movie experience and a lightweight notebook? lol

 

I have a question for you gamers out there. Why do you need a portable machine and willing to sacrifice gaming power for that? If you are a gamer, dont you usually just game at home and use it as a desktop essentially?

 

That's easy: the Sony Vaio Z ... but then we weren't putting money into the original equation.

 

For those on the fence like me, here's my analysis so far.


THE FACTS:

Toshiba R705:
Pros:
thin, light (3.2 lbs)
internal DVD drive (may not be as important)
Intel WiDI (you must also purchase separately a $99 adapter for your HDTV)

Cons:
runs hot during certain activities
atypical keyboard
---------------------------

ASUS U35jc:
Pros:
laptop runs cool
normal keyboard

Cons:
no internal DVD drive (may not be as important)

----------------

ANALYSIS:
The first thing people may have noticed is that I didn't list as a pro or con, for either laptop, anything about the battery life or the graphics cards (GPU). This is why.

The 705 comes standard with a 6 cell, 66 Wh battery. The U35jc comes standard with an 8 cell, 86 Wh battery. Some have espoused the longer battery life of the ASUS has a technological advantage which the company and its laptops enjoy, but I'm not convinced. I think it's simply the size and capacity of the batteries used in each laptop.

Simply put, the U35jc has a longer battery life only because it has a larger capacity battery. Now, you could always purchase a 9 cell, 93 Wh battery for the 705, which would give it a slightly longer battery life than the U35jc and its 8 cell, 86 Wh battery. But doing so would cost you $125 and negate the cost parity which the 2 laptops currently enjoy, not to mention increase the 705's weight to 3.7 lbs (which is comparable, but still less, than the U35jc's 3.9 to 4.2 lbs, depending on who you were to believe).

As for graphics cards, the U35jc has 2 GPUs (integrated+dedicated) with Optimus autoswitching between the 2 as needed. The 705 only has the Intel GMA HD GPU (integrated).

Let's be entirely realistic here. I question if it really makes a difference.

In Endgaget's review of the 705, it listed both the 705 and U35jc's 3dMark06 score has roughly 1800 for their integrated GPUs (as to be expected since they both use the same integrated GPU). The u35jc's dedicated GPU (Nvidia G310m) was listed has having roughly a 3400 score, which is not a lot to brag about where gamers are concerned.

Yes, the dedicated GPU has almost twice the score as the integrated GPU. But it's still in the low 3,000s. Most would agree that a 3DMark06 score in the 10,000+ range allows you to play graphically-intensive games with high details enabled. A score in the 5,000 to 7,000 range gets you medium details enabled, and 1,000 to 3,000 range gets you low details enabled.

So when people say that the U35jc's dedicated GPU is an advantage that allows you to play games, I wonder if it's really an advantage worth espousing. A lot of games, when set at the lowest details, aren't all that great to look at and the frames per second (FPS) rates are fair to marginable.

Now, I should reiterate that we're talking about modern game releases that are graphically intensive. Older games (e.g. Medieval 2 total war) will look great on either an integrated or dedicated GPU (with the dedicated GPU enjoying higher FPS rates as you'd expect with its higher 3DMark06 score).

As for playing HD videos and YouTube/Hulu videos, both laptops do so with ease. Their Intel integrated GPUs handles it.


CONCLUSION:

Get the U35jc if you want longer battery life. You'd have to pay $125 to get a comparable battery for the 705 to match that battery life, and the 705 would weigh 3.7 lbs instead of 3.2 lbs.

Get the 705 if you want a thin, really light laptop. You'll also have an internal DVD drive, shorter battery life, an atypical keyboard, and a hotter running laptop that doesn't dissipate heat as quickly as the thicker, heavier U35jc.

Your daily life patterns and needs will dictate your choice.

 

the 310M is certainly not a gamer GPU but it does play modern games on low-med and older games on high and that is enough for my needs. It really depends on a persons needs and their standards

See Links:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/gaming-software-graphics-cards/491769-starcraft-2-geforce-310m.html
http://forum.notebookreview.com/gaming-software-graphics-cards/453904-nvidia-310m-performance.html
http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus/496991-overclocking-nvidia-310m-under-optimus.html (Quatro's overclocking guide on 310M to get 3DMARK06 score to 4300, but this may not work as well on the U35JC's smaller body)

A gamer-orientated consumer should not be looking for an ultraportable anyways, although there is the available option of the 4820TG with the HD5650 and the 3820TG if it ever gets released in the US sometime this century... I would jump ship for the 3820TG :/

 

It really depends on the game. Games like Starcraft 2 were specifically designed to be playable on a wide variety of PCs. As such, I wouldn't call those games graphically intensive (as defined in my Analysis post). Games like BFBC2 are what I consider a fair test of a PCs graphics-handling capabilities. Incidentally, games like Crysis are so "unfairly" GPU-demanding that they're used as GPU benchmarks.

You make an excellent, valid point regarding the gamer selecting an ultraportable laptop. While it certainly is a nice convenience to have, it shouldn't be the driving force in the decision-making process.

I never mentioned the Acer 3820TG since it's not available in the USA. Like you, that's the one I want (but not willing to pay extra to buy it overseas either, when there are several excellent alternatives available domestically).

 

and what about the u45jc? I read the 65 pages and only post about 35jc, some toshiba an sony's models to.

Someone can tell me anything about 45jc?

 

Its just like the U35JC, except bigger screen, heavier weight, slightly thicker profile and includes an ODD with all things else being constant. Therefore any performance issues about the U35JC should pertain to the U45JC since the internal components are pretty much the same, ODD excluded. The U45JC may also have a bit more flex as opposed to the U35JC although this fact is not confirmed, but estimated based on UL80VT vs UL30VT comparisons. A big difference between the U45JC and the U35JC is that the U45JC is available now while the U35JC isnt

Personally if you were looking for a 14in model, Id recommend you go with the TimelineX 4820TG, also available now. It has similar build quality, i3 processor, profile, battery life and a much more powerful graphics card (HD5650) for 799 on amazon. The more powerful 4820TG with the i5-450M is also available at microcenter for 899.

 

There's an owner's thread on the U45JC at:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus-reviews-owners-lounges/507079-asus-u45jc-owners-lounge.html

 

Hey bankergolfer,

Don't feel too bad about the 3820TG not being available in the US. It's widely available in the UK and I've had a play with one in store, because I was initially considering it, before the U33Jc caught my eye. The keyboard design on those Acers is utterly awful! It is so easy to miss-type on them it's rediculous! It looks like a chicklet keyboard in photos, but it's not. I don't know what it is about the design, but you can't help but catch other keys next to the one you want, which results in typo after typo. It also feels horribly mushy.

The laptop itself sort of looks stylish and when you first see it in store next to other laptops it does stand out, but once you lay your hands on it, it just really dissapoints. It feels cheep and the screen housing is so flexible it's scary! It didn't take me long to realise that if I bought that thing I would end up regretting it for a very long time!

By the way, I've been really enjoying your posts! They are the most well argued points I've come across on NBR. Must be the lawyer in you

 

Sprinkler,
Thank you for the kind words! I really appreciate it! I'm just trying to help out those who are trying to decide between a couple of great laptops, as well as give back a little to a great community that gave me a lot.

Also, thank you for the information on the Acer. Having had a Dell that had a keyboard that also made one prone to making lots of mistakes, I don't want to repeat that experience again.

In fact, it's probably the only thing right now that's stopping me from buying the Toshiba R705 immediately. There have been enough comments from people about its atypical keyboard to cause me to stop and pause.

 

I would never buy an Acer. I see many Acer laptops for sale at Walmart before and they are just cheap cheap cheap. Sure the 3820TG caught my eye but you can clearly see from photos how build quality and standards aren't up to par.