Asus UL30JT

The bigger curiosity to me is the hardness & feel of the bamboo/wood lid cover & palm-rest/trackpad. It must be quite thin with metal casing under it for the trackpad to work. I've no idea. Looks very classy though. And the specs look awesome. The battery life won't be equal to ASUS' ULV line (10-12 hrs), but 8+ hrs is respectable and enough for me (that's what my U30JC gets ... on a good day and all power saving options on and the processor scaled down to 930MHz.).

I guess it depends on what programs you're going to run on it. 2.4GHz 2 core/ 4 thread (like 4 virtual cores) is pretty fast. It's not a desktop, but for mobile computing, my 2.26 i3-350M is wonderful. One of the i5 M's is the same speed as my i3-350M, but allows for a speed boost, via Intel Turbo boost, when needed.

 

Also the difference between U33JC & U43JC is the 33 has a i3 & the 43 has a i5 in it is that a big difference in performance?

I don't need a optical drive but if the better quality laptop comes with one, oh well.

A couple hundred more is no biggie for me as long as it's a quality piece,because I keep my laptops for awhile and keep them in pristine shape so they last long.

My wish list again is light weight,runs cool,high end graphics card that can run quality HD video & backlit keyboard which I can't have.

I really wanted the Sony Vaio Z Series Z112 the Microsoft Store had on sale for $1,140, it had everything I wanted but I missed out.

 

just preordered the u35jc from gentech

w00t.

 

Best Buy has had the U43F and U43JC for "backorder" or what most would call preorder for a week or so now. You might want to look in to that as well.

 

Wait, isn't the Z like a $2k laptop? They had it for under $1200?

 

Yeah it's a 2k laptop, and it sold out in less then a hour.

 

ok, so U35JC with i3 has no DVD drive and is pretty much the same weight same price as UL30JT,

The major difference between them is UL30JT has ULV processor which is slower but can run longer because the cpu eats less battery ?

 

Probably not that big of a difference. The i3-370M is 2.4GHz. The i5-450 is the same, but has the Intel Turbo Boost that increases to 2.66 when the demand is there. Nice to have, but probably not a deal breaker.

The U33 doesn't have an ODD but the 14" U43 does.

So longer battery life isn't on your list? Then why consider the ASUS?

Of course, the NV 310M GPU isn't a high-end graphics card. It's low on the list, but does well for what it is. The Acer 3820TG (and others) has TWICE the power GPU.

ASUS, generally, doesn't seem to be putting in backlit keyboards.

You and the rest of us! $1,140 is an amazing price for the Z.

 

I'm curious that your screen name is the Acer 3820TG yet you just ordered the U35JC.

What happened? Got tired of waiting? The 3820TG is much more powerful in the graphics department. Not sure about its battery life or heat.

 

What are the specs of the UL30JT being sold in Europe? Anyone know?

Off-hand, I think you're right, that is the big difference between them: 1.2GHz that can be oc'd to 1.6GHz with 10hrs (to get that, the processor would be stepped down to below 900MHz) or 2.4GHz constant with 8 hrs (again, like my i3-350M, to get that, my CPU steps down to 930GHz).

I'm unclear about what material the keyboard & palm-rest have on the U35JC. It appears to have a printed pattern on it (yuck). The U33JC is $150, but it looks to have much better components & construction ... at least what I can see from the photos. No real reviews yet (a few YouTube video reviews of a demo pre-release floor model.)

 

Hmm. It seems that the Microsoft and BestBuy U43 spec sheets show that they do NOT come with USB 3.0 and a 2 MP webcam (even though they are bamboo).

 

Am I reading correctly that the U33JC is NOT a thin and light notebook like the U30JT? It shows a height of 1.2 Inches as opposed to .97 for the JT.

 

What puzzles me is how the UL30JT and the U35JC are the same price! The UL30JT only has the optical drive going for it, since the i3 370m of the U35JC will blow its CULV i3 out of the water. And with the new Asus Super Hybrid Engine thingamawhat, the battery life should be comparable according to Asus' claims.

 

The Asus UL series are the thin and light version that are under 1" in thickness. The U series are still very small and portable, but are over 1" in thickness.

The exterior finish of the notebook will be another difference between the U35JC-A1 and the UL30JT-A1. Both models will have the option for an external optical drive, but as you mentioned the biggest difference will be the CPU and the battery life.

 

So is that to day that the U35JC will have battery life similar to that of the U30JC and the UL30JT will be more along the lines of the UL30VT? Also, a few questions on the finish, since I can't resist: the U35JC comes with that spiffy aluminum casing with the etched design on the interior, correct? And the UL30JT with the brushed aluminum palm rests?

 

You are correct,

UL30VT-A1 is being replaced by the UL30JT-A1
U30JC-A1 is being replaced by the U35JC-A1 (But with no optical drive)

The finish on the U35JC-A1 will be the same as the U30JC-A1. It will have a brushed aluminum look to it, which looks great IMO, but has a plastic design.

The finish on the UL30JT-A1 will be black, past that it's hard to say if it will have aluminum palm rests. Once the models released, I'll have some hands on experience with it and will know more at that time. Until then, we just have the Asus spec sheet to go off of.

 

are you sure that ul30jt will have the i3? seems like everywhere else it ships with i5...

btw, for those curious about the ul30jt palmrest, i still can't tell if it's metal or plastic, but if it looks like this, i am not complaining:
http://cnattach.5i01.com/attach/201004/mobile01-0b713d03af6b0ad0eddc3ee3b726e0a6.jpg
http://cnattach.5i01.com/attach/201004/mobile01-0f97b1611ea086f1a248e5ffe2b7f969.jpg
http://cnattach.5i01.com/attach/201004/mobile01-33155c4ca2da032ac2fa0d74c856d04e.jpg

 

According to the spec sheet we received from Asus, it says it will have the i3 CPU. If it did have the i5, It will more than likely be in a higher price bracket. Take for example the 14" ASUS UL80JT-A1 and the ASUS U43JC-A1.

Also, the links you posted all say "403 Forbidden"

 

Now I am seriously considering ul30vt. I am not spending $200 more for the optimus.
Asus! Go to _ell.

 

If i remember correct, the UL30VT-A1 started out at $819 when it was originally released as well, but has since decreased in price beings the new UL30JT-A1 was right around the corner.

 

Best Buy typically sell their own specs on a given unit and different warranties as well. Don't go by that. Use the specs given at GenTechPC.com. If in doubt or you have a question, call GenTechPC and talk to someone. Don't just go by a BB or MS site.

GenTechPC.com lists the U33JC as 0.98" at its thickest point and 3.7lbs (like the UL30JT). XoticPC lists the U33JC as the same thickness and weight as my U30JC... even though the U30JC has an internal ODD and the U33JC does not. I still think Xotic is wrong as the same weight & thickness on BOTH is really illogical. Both the U33JC and the UL30JT have no ODD, so that makes sense that they would be about the same thickness and weight. Again, if there's a question, call GenTech on the phone. Much better than trying to figure out conflicting specs on XoticPC and GenTechPC.

 

I had heard (& read) that the UL30JT had no ODD. Have you found that it does? Where did you see that?

And I believe that the rated ASUS specs state 10hr for the UL30JT and 8hrs for the U35JC. Not the same battery life. How could it be if one is ULV and the other isn't?

 

I think I'm confusing myself when it comes to the optical drives. But I do remember reading that the U35JC was claiming 11 hours of battery life thanks to the Super Hybrid Engine that Asus is shipping them with. The Xotic PC page says otherwise, though.

 

ASUS' English page doesn't list the U35JC yet, but they do list the U33JC where they claim 10.5hr (close enough) based on the P4G power saving and "i5 technology". But it's an M processor like my U30JC i3-350M and mine was listed for 9.5 hrs and gets over 8hr (around 7 w/ wifi but no streaming video.)

We'll see.

 

Case1, BTW, here are some further photos & description on your U33JC over at the ASUS product page itself (the wood finish looks more brown here than reddish-brown. Very nice. Unique.):
ASUS' U33Jc

 

Okay, GenTechPC just weighed in w/ a PM to me on the U33JC.

They said that they don't have any in stock yet to measure, weigh or confirm, but the specs from ASUS that they have state that the laptop is indeed 1.2" thick (?), has no ODD and weighs 3.96 lbs with the 8-cell 5600mAh battery. Might it be the Bamboo fascia cover that is adding that extra 3/16" to the thickness (compared to the UL30JT)? The weight is a tad more than the UL30JT as well.

UPDATE: Okay, I measured and examined two stock photos of the U30JC and the U33JC,. and I can see what's made the later thicker than the UL30JT. The U33 has aluminum trim (I think) around the bamboo of the lid and the keyboard/palm-rest area. That and the bamboo trim are making the lid thicker (& stronger ?) than the U30JC and making the chassis thicker than the UL30JT, even though both don't have an ODD.

 

Asus's global site shows:
UL30Jt -- 1.90 kg (with 8 cell battery)
U33Jc -- 1.8 kg (with 8 cell battery)

 

I made a preorder of UL30JT from xoticpc, sigh. Any idea how long it usually take from preorder to in stock ?

 

XoticPC should be able to tell you when they are slated for stock to be in. GenTech told me their ETA (on the U33JC) is the end of July. You can call and ask about the UL30JT.

 

YeaH so i'll wait until someone actually orders the U33JC and let them measure it.

 

GenTech says their ETA is the end of July for the U33JC ... and that their initial specs are incorrect. ASUS' specs to them say that the U33JC's thickness (due to bamboo & aluminum trim finish?) is indeed 1.22" and the weight is 3.97 lbs. They've corrected their info page (and they removed the paragraph about the optical drive as well.)

 

Damn do you think .2 inches would make a lot of difference?

 

ah ! found it on the site saying "ETA 1st to 2nd week of July" while

u35 & u33 are "ETA Middle to Late July".

 

Well, it didn't make a big difference to me when I chose the U30JC over the (long-awaited) UL30JT or VT. My U30JC is chunkier, but it's all relative to me. 3/16" thicker than the UL30VT isn't that big of a deal, IMO.

I carry this notebook everywhere and it fits easily in my hand ... and it's 1.2" thick.

 

I'm a bit disappointed that the UL30JT is only coming with the intel i3 330um processor but maybe if Asus added an i5 or i7 um processor the price of the laptop would be well over $1000.

Anyone think that the UL30JT with the i3 330um for $819 is worth it on xoticpc?

 

Oddly enough, ASUS' product page still lists the UL30JT as only coming with the i5-520UM (1.06GHz, but DOES have turbo boost & ASUS Turbo33).

 

Just wanted to note that there are new PhysX drivers that fix the following:

Download PhysX 64bit 9.10.0224 Here

 

I was reading that Asus makes quality pieces, their light, people say they run cool & are priced right. Just from reading this thread people seem to love them but ask for the newer models to add things that their current models are missing.

I don't know to much about the Acer 3820TG but every time I mention Acer to some type of computer expert they say there garbage. Does this model weigh 4.34lbs & does it run cool?

What do you suggest I buy if not a Asus, I'm not a gamer either?

I have never owned a Apple but I was looking at last years 13" 2.53ghz Macbook Pro & this year 13" 2.4ghz Macbook Pro. I looked at them at the store and they do have the old processors & for a 13" it seemed heavy.

I was also looking at the HP Envy 14 but they don't seem to come pre built and both my laptops have been HP's & they aren't all that great.

 

Could you list again what your priorities and uses are for your laptop?

What features? You've mentioned light, but what is "light" to you? Do you want an internal DVD drive or not? What size screen? Housing material?

 

1:I'm thinking mid 4lbs and down in weight, but again when I go to a store and pick up a laptop, their tethered and seem to be heavy just lifting them up off the display. In real life I don't know exactly whats light but my old 15" and 17" are heavy which is probably obvious from their size.

2:Both my HP computers get so hot that I can't even have them on my lap so running cool is important.

3:14" 13" or even if there is a quality and light 15" with what I want that would run cool, but I'm guessing a 15" is no longer ultra light or really portable.

4:I don't want a internal DVD.

5:Multiple video cards seem to be a cool thing, plus I want to play plenty of high quality HD Video 1080p, with a HDMI out, HD Camcorder stuff.

6:I want a fast processor because I'm impatient lol and one of the new i3,i5 or i7.

7:Having longer battery life is not important but I guess it wouldn't hurt either because it might come in handy.

8:I would like a backlit keyboard but it's not a deal breaker & most company's only over them with really expensive laptops.

9: Material, the Bamboo sounds cool, aluminum like the Macbook Pro, just something well built that will last but I'm not to abusive with my laptops.

 

It could be that i5-UM is not available around US at this time and UL30JT was designed to use UM cpu. I'm sure if they have i5, it will be another $200, and I will opt to buy the i3 version anyway.

There's a chance that it will come with I5/I7 UM later.

 

Apparently, they are not computer experts because Acer was garbage 4 years ago, but Acer is decent now and have improved the quality of their products. Acer just had a bad reputation for selling a bad batch of laptops 4 years ago. Your so-called computer experts need to keep up-to-date with their information.

The Acer Aspire TimelineX 3820TG runs really cool because it has 2 vents blowing out hot air. It has a Core i5 and ATI HD 5650m switchable graphics. Black brushed aluminium lid, less than 1 inch thin, weighs 3.97 pounds, and has a battery life of 6-8 hours. It's just missing an optical drive, but that can be easily solved with an external one.

It's very similar to the Asus UL series models.

 

i remember reading a review on notebookcheck that there's a corner on the 3820TG that runs kinda hot. i think in terms of keeping it cool, the UL series might have a slight advantage. i'm sure that both series do a good enough job of it that you won't notice much difference though.

don't know if you guys saw this, but here are the pages selling ul30jt models in asia (taiwan):
http://sh2.obuy.tw/notebook/item.asp?item_id=1528335
http://tw.page.mall.yahoo.com/item/p05671592829
http://www.eprice.com.tw/nb/series/?prod_id=898

the point is not the palmrest, the pictures are not very accurate. the point is that they ship with i5 520um 1.06ghz processors. the i3 version was unheard of until the pre-order began in north america. but having a higher clock speed, maybe the i3 is faster?..... can someone clarify that?

 

Taiwan and the EU (more specifically, Denmark and Germany) are so lucky. They have the actual UL30JT (with the CES-stated specifications) now. We in the States, have been waiting and waiting until our hair is getting gray and white and the damn notebook is not even here yet.

 

hi,

the power4gear button of my asus is not working. I don´t know why but suddenly stop to work. Now I can´t switch the battery plan from the button.

¿any idea where is the problem? thanks

(I have reinstalled the power4gear utility but still not work)

 

this is the wrong thread to post...

you shouldn't reinstall the power4gear utility. if it's only the button that's not working, you should reinstall the hotkey utility/driver for your laptop. should be atk hotkey or something. just search under the ASUS support website under downloads

 

What laptop are you using? UL30JT?

 

Okay, here's my opinion, looking over your list:
1) You don't want one of the UL-series (ULV) notebooks since you want better processor speed & you're not overly concerned about longer battery life, though somewhat longer would be a bonus to you.
2) You don't want a DVD drive so any of the 13"-14" w/o an ODD will meet your weight requirements.
3) IMPORTANT: You don't want a laptop that overheats your legs. That narrows the field a lot. The coolest-running (I think) of the notebooks are the ASUS, and I think the U-series seem to run even cooler than the UL-series. My U30JC is extremely cool-running and quiet. I can game with it on my bare legs .... no heat. Near the left port is slightly warm while the vent air DOES get hot. But the chassis still stays cool. I've no idea how they manage it.

Here is a review of the Acer 3820TG. It's the middle range of this model (weaker GPU). The improved GPU of the next level up of this machine WILL get even hotter than this reviewed model (note the temps chart of the underside of the notebook half-way down). And here is a similar review of the U30JC. The same heat chart shows that it stays cool.
4) It should have switchable graphics, though extreme gaming (Crysis on high settings,) wasn't listed as a priority. So ASUS' NVIDIA 310M GPU should be sufficient for any gaming you want to do and the Intel HD IGP can easily also play your HD video content.
5) Most new units have HDMI now and use i3, i5 or i7-series processors (though avoid the UM processors as they're slower.)
6) Well-built. Implied with well-built is a quality warranty.

To me, you're describing something like my ASUS U30JC, but without the DVD drive. I'd suggest the U33JC or the U35JC. The U33JC is $969 and the U35JC is much cheaper at $819 (but may have a plastic upper-housing on the chassis.)

That's $150 more for the U33JC, BUT I can't tell if the U35JC has the aluminum palm rest like my U30JC has. It looks very different from the chassis of the U30JC, so I'm unsure how well it's made (by comparison). My U30JC, IMO, is very well-made. Sturdy.

The U33JC also has:
● BT (U35 doesn't)
● WiDi (U35 doesn't)
● USB 3.0 port (U35 doesn't)
● 2.0 MP webcam (U35 has the sub-par 0.3 MP webcam)
● entirely aluminum & dark-wood bamboo on the lid, upper chassis surface around the palm-rest & keyboard and on the trim of the chassis & lid. (Not sure what, if any, aluminum that the U35JC has beyond the lid)
● BUT that extra bamboo & aluminum surface & trim makes it thicker ... 1.2" to be exact, than the U35JC. (Thicker lid but thinner chassis than the U30JC. I'm glad a for a bit thicker lid than the aluminum-thin lids the U & UL models have been providing.)
● BOTH models have ASUS' 2-yr warranty & 1-yr accidental damage warranty unlike many other manufacturers.
● My U30JC has an extremely bright display, so I assume they did the same for the U33JC. That means you can more easily use it outside (better in the shade due to the reflective glossy screen.)

So I'd recommend the U33JC, if you have the $'s. It's extras are worth ... the extra!

Now just to confuse you, in the switchable-graphics, dual GPU machines ...

Others will suggest to you the HP Envy 14 (solid metal chassis construction WITH a slot-load DVD drive for about $1,000). The Envy had heating issues in the 13+15" models. The 14" is supposed to be better. It's a great-looking laptop, but still appears to run a bit hot. (See here)

Some are going for the Acer TimelineX 3820TG. Also a great-specs machine (that ATI HD5650 is a great GPU), but there are heat concerns.

And, of course, the envy of many, the Sony Vaio Z ... if you REALLY have the $'s.

Hope that helps a bit.

I'll leave it to you to do your own research. Most of these models are very new & don't have hands-on reviews yet (except the Sony Z).

For me, I like & am very happy with my U30JC.

 

There is a stickied thread on the Acer forum regarding a recall of no less than 7 Acer models built in 2009. Acer is also third-last in a three year survey of laptop durability, with Asus at #1.

Laptop reliability survey: ASUS and Toshiba win, HP fails -- Engadget

I'd say durability concerns regarding Acer's new models, given the powerful components and thin frames, are fully legitimate. I'm not just talking about whether the key comes off within 2 months, but also whether components overheat over a 2-3 year span and eventually give out, or whether hinges break off after 2-3 years, like it did on my Dell. If you're spending $700-$1000 on a laptop, it's not unreasonable to expect it to work without major, irreperable failures (motherboard, casing problems) for at least 3 years/

 

I've have seen that chart and survey everywhere on the internet. Many people believe it's not accurate enough to be used as a reliable source since there are many factors missing from it. You can believe the survey all you like, but can you honestly say that you 100% believe all surveys out there? Nope. We all use surveys as an estimate; not rely on it for facts or real accuracy. I can even draw up that chart in PowerPoint and post an article with half the facts from a popular source. Then everyone would eat it like candy. Do you understand what I mean now?

Also, every huge corporation has recalls or defects. Sony has recalls, many HP laptops overheat like crazy, and many companies have other problems. Yet, there are recalls and defects we never see or hear on the headline news. So, you should not stereotype and make your judgement just based on information given to you; for it could be unreliable for all we know. You should do more research based on people's first-hand experiences. Then maybe, you can make a better judgement.

P.S. Did you factor in on how large the market is for HP, Acer or Dell? They sell their laptops in the masses and cannot be compared to smaller companies. Most of the time it is user error that causes damages to the laptop. You have to think logically and be realistic at the same time.