Asus UX31 Ultrabook

Can anyone tell me where I can find one of these units in stock? I am trying to find the 128GB unit, I have setup an auto-notify on newegg but its been out of stock since 10/19.

Best Buy says ships from warehouse in one business day, anyone know is this is true? I also seem to be able to ship one to a local store by middle of the upcoming week. My exp with BB hasn't been great so I am wondering if anyone on here has had any luck getting one of these?

Thank you!

Jonathan

 

dammit... I wanna know that so bad, and never saw such simple question being discussed like this in a notebook. The NBreview points the existence of a USB->VGA adaptor. If it is true, and it is by the pics, why the heck asus will include this USB adaptor if there is already a miniVGA port?

 

Uhhhhh.... What?

 

This has been discussed recently in this very same thread. The review is in error: there is no USB->VGA adapter. It's a mini-VGA->VGA adapter.

 

ok so, it was corrected on the review... it is not a DP unfortunately.... but anyway, this connector is a bit awkward, should it be a new project by asus? if so, it will suck to find other adaptors in the case i lost this thing

 

My first UX31 was order on Oct 19th (7:00pm pst) and I received the notebook on the 21th. My second one (replacement) was request on the 26th and i picked it at my local BB on Sat 29th. So its pretty fast.

 

why did you replaced it? how it is now?

 

Does anyone here use autocad on this laptop? I would like to see how well this laptop performs on cad/graphics programs.

Cheers

 

Okay, so some say it IS possible to change SSD other don't.

What about the keyboard? Is that possible to change?

 

Yes, in fact the whole system is replaceable by walking into a store and buying a different one...

seriously, nobody has replaced the ssd, so nobody is sure... that's the answer for now until someone can either confirm from Asus, or someone else actually tries to replace it.

The keyboard? Seriously dude? If the kb doesn't work, then look for another machine.

 

Thanks! The weird thing is, when I select to ship to store, the date is far out like the 17th/18th of November. Must be based on when the stores get their shipments. Looks like I will probably be better to ship to my residence instead, should arrive faster then going to the store...hopefully.

 

The first UX31 charger was faulty the light indicator wasnt turning green when it was fully charged. Also, there are 3-4 dead pixels. 2nd UX31's charger (light indicator works correctly) and no dead pixels at all.

There is a issue tho with the 2nd UX31...I was moving some files from my Thermaltake BlacX ST0005U (hard drive docking station) to the UX31. I noticed this slight electric shock whenever I touch the the UX31 case. Its this "tinging feelng" I then unplug the docking station from the notebook and the electric shock was gone. The electric shock happens on both the 2.0 and 3.0 usb input port. No issue when I plug my Ipod touch in both usb port. I'm planning on borrowing a friend's WD element to do more further testing

 

Okay. I'll be waiting then.

I'm sure the keyboard works, but just a wrong layout if I buy it abroad. That's all!

 

I'd be interested in the answer to this as well, as to plan to use it for photoshop and flash. will it handle well, i5 or i7.

 

Well, I'm not an owner but I run these programs with no problems at all with a Core2Duo 1.8GHz and 3Gb Ram. I think should be completely bizarre if a Core i5 sandy bridge with 4Gb Ram and SSD couldnt handle it, cmon, check the benchmarks, there is a lot elsewhere...

 

I am just not sure if having no dedicated graphics card on the UX31 will undermine the 3D drawing program's performance by a lot?

 

I wonder if Asus is trying to fix the keyboard and touchpad = why most vendors are still backordered

 

I just tried it with my mini displayport connector and it won't fit. The Asus' mini-VGA port is smaller.

The latest firmware plus the latest trackpad driver much improves trackpad performance, on another note.

 

i know this doesn't have to do much with UX31, but I just felt like saying I like your mobile phone/tech reviews on youtube.

 

In the long run it would increase battery wear by only a few percentage.
But this machine isn't for leaving on your desk to look pretty, it's supposed to be taken around.

My household has 2 ASUS laptops
ASUS Laptop 1: N43JF-a1
Generally I keep this plugged in, frequently use it with gaming as well (I know its not a gaming laptop but it's sufficient for me)
Battery wear: 10% [1 year old]

ASUS Laptop 2: U31JC
Generally this one is taken around and almost never plugged in, this was purchased around a month later than the N43JF
Battery wear: 2% [11 months old]

Then again, because ASUS laptop 1 is used for gaming (heat might cause battery wear to increase)

If you need a new battery, when battery wear is noticeable enough just get a torx screwdriver + new battery online

 

Is that plugged in with the battery? I have a UL80vt, and every time i have it plugged in, the battery is taken out. The battery is only used when i am not home, and the wear is probably around 10% also after almost a yr of heavy use.

 

I never take the battery out due to pure laziness.
Interestingly I use a 2nd battery that I bought off ebay for 50 bucks delivered to Aus, not sure if it's a genuine ASUS battery but it does sure look like one, it also has 4800mAh as compared to the one that came with the laptop at 4400mAh. Anyway, the initial "battery wear" level [2nd battery] for some reason was at around 10%, and the capacity (shown by batterybarpro) then was shown to be almost the same as what the original battery capacity was at (without battery wear).
Ever since then, the batter wear has gone down and the capacity has gone up very slowly (battery wear is now at 3.3% of the reported 51260mWh by BBP, full capacity reported as 49,577mWh).
The original battery is at 42,075mWh (Battery wear 11.0% of 47,300mWh)

 

The shortages are probably due to Asus' lack of committment to the model. Acer, Asustek initial ultrabook sales not up to expectations, say sources

 

I second, third and fourth the motion! Lisa, you do by far the best video reviews in the biz, no competition even near. You are incredibly thorough, fair and balanced and, I have to add, you have such a cheerful demeanor, it's really a pleasure to watch your reviews. Written work of course is even more in-depth. There is no better way to know what a product looks like, feels like and works like, short of having your own to use.

 

Methinks it's early to conclude that. The Acer has received universally weak reviews as compared to the Asus Zenbooks, and the latter have only very recently been released in the US, with generally very good reviews - except the trackpad, but only before a firmware update appears to have remedied initial problems. If the UX-31 had a backlit keyboard, it would be an almost no-brainer choice over the MBA 13 - unless you wanted OSX. It is one gorgeous piece of work and scores over 10,000 PCMark Vantage points.

 

bovri1a: Then using it on the coach/bed/lap shouldn't be an issue, thanks for your input.

How about the wireless issues people have reported, I see there is a new driver on the Asus site (22/10-11). Anyone with issues tried that?

 

Couldn't agree more about the unit. The demand in the US will probably prompt Asus to up its production committment. Hopefully, it will also cause them to change its pricing policy outside the US.

But, the shortage of the ux31 looks to be due to an Asus decision to hold-back on full scale production prior to the device's release.

Oh, btw, the S3 is pure crap.

 

Not that anonymous unattributed sources are ever wrong......

 

These machines have barely reaches stores yet in the US and my local Best Buys say they won't have them in stock until Nov. 15th. There's no way anyone can make a judgement on successful sales when the units aren't even in all the sales channels yet. Digitimes is making things up to get some traffic.

 

Except you know, when people actually want to buy the things, and they can't due to a shortage from pretty much every retailer. It's safe to say the people on this forum are above average computer consumers. If those of us who are excited and enthusiastic about new tech can't get our hands on something like this, it's likely something the general public won't even notice. If the shortage lasts 2 months after something is announced as "available in stores" the next day, there will be the new hotness out with "better numbers and stats" that will wow the general public. Thus, less sales.

 

Amazon haven't updated on shipping either! FAIL

 

The i7/256g UX31 actually sells for around NT$46,600, which comes out to around $1560. Basically the same price as in the US if you include sales tax.

 

"Out For Delivery" is both the best, and yet simultaneously the worst, shipping status in existence.

 

looks like i didn't get in on your batch. next back dec15th

 

Has anyone heard if the i7 model has been pulled from production?

Amazon has the i5 ux31-DH53 in stock according to their site and the DH72 is out of stock. Best Buy has pulled everything they had about the i7 but the i5 model is still out for ordering.

 

i noticed that also, best buy killed the page and everything. I had it in my cart and wishlist and it disappeared.

Anyone test photoshop, flash, and a 3d program(Maya, CAD) on the laptop? Would like to know how well it performs with those program.

 

Amazon also said the DH72 are out of stock!

 

Asus seems to be selling all the UX31s they can ship at this point; the UX21 is more available. I think that's partially because in the most available configurations the UX21 is about the same price as the UX31 (though it is often equipped with the i7 instead of the i5), and doesn't have the screen superiority of the 13".

My UX31 arrived earlier today. I think it's a very recent build. It hit the port in Tacoma, Washington on Friday and arrived on my Midwestern doorstep today.

I love it so far! I'll post a full report later. Asus did a beautiful job on the packaging. Really nice presentation, and the included sleeve also has a matching accessory bag. It is, absolutely, the coolest looking laptop available today. The trackpad movement is somewhat jumpy, but I haven't done the updates yet. Quite honestly I could live with it as is. Your fingers and brain quickly adapt, which is true of the keyboard as well.

The screen is gorgeous. Noticeably sharper than a 13" MacAir. I had thought that if I didn't like the UX31 I would return it and try the Lenovo U300S. I have no intention of doing that at this point.

 

Despite some of the complaints... I like ASUS products.

But Gen 1 seems a bit buggy... so I'll wait for next year's UXxx (hopefully they do a 14/15" 1080p res one) and get the Transformer Prime on Nov 9 instead. Same looks, half the price.

 

Not to be rude, but i don't think that will ever happen.
The name Zenbook was created for a reason! The form factor would be obsolete if they made a 14/15" version. And goodluck for dreaming about the price!

 

You must not know much about pricing.

 

I meant the Transformer Prime should be half the price of the current UX31.

And yes... I am dreaming... but just like phones are fighting for highest rez... maybe the ubooks will too (there is a rumor of a 15" MacBookAir in the works).

 

i don't see asus making ultrabook in 15 inches either, but what is your point about the price? transformer 2 for 500-600 USD sounds realistic to me.

 

and yes, there's rumors that iphone5 was going to release before steve jobs died

 

Actually, Intel has proposed 15" ultrabooks. Especially, since Apple is making a 15" version of MBA. http://www.fudzilla.com/notebooks/item/24646-apple-reportedly-working-on-ultrathin-15-incher Asus also said earler this year that they will be building larger ultrabooks. Lenovo already has a 14" model, the U400.

 

I was clarifying.

I think some posters thought I was saying that the next Zenbook would be half the price of the current one... but I was referring to the TF Prime coming out.

And I really wouldn't count out 15" "ultrabooks". They may not call them ultrabooks, but there is a market for bigger thinner notebooks.

 

Thanks Bronsky.

 

What is the purpose of having a not portable, big, ultra-thin notebook? Something light but too big to carry? Aesthetics only? Room decoration? There you got it, only Apple users buy that kind of stuff...

I really think that thin notebooks are the future for all notebooks, since there is absolutely no benefits on having thick and heavy paper weights. But paying more for that? And for restrictions on hardware? No, thanks, maybe in 10 years...

 

i thought TF Prime being half the price of UX31.

lol and they can be thinner and all that, what they need to stop doing is putting in glossy 1366x768 as standard for anything bigger than 13.3.

 

15" is portable... but because the screen is bigger, you want it to be lighter and thinner so it is *more* portable. It's the same reason why some of you would rather have a 13" ultrabook than a 10" netbook... more screen real estate, more battery life and more power.

Since no one other than Sony wants to do 1920x in 13" or smaller... let's go up to 14" or 15" but keep it thin.

We can talk about this more, but it's off topic.

Does NBR have a General Discussion area?