Asus UX31 Ultrabook

jr.com had the DH72 in stock for about an hr. Sold out now. wow!

 

Ditto. Would like to know too, as there's no dedicated graphics card.

 

Really wish they would have included an option to upgrade the wireless ethernet to a 5Ghz one.

 

Looks like there is a new driver for the UX21e's touchpad. New version of power4gear as well. They are dated 10/26 but I think they were just uploaded today.

 

load it and let us know how it goes. thanks!

 

pre ordered two UX31-DH72's
might be a while seeing as how they wont release here for another 10 days and who knows if there will be stock on the release day.

 

This is what I got from Amazon Rep. LOL
UX31-DH72 on order!

 

Anyone thinking about buying the UX-21 should probably take a look at this too. http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus/621704-new-11-6-inch-sandy-bridge-asus-u24e.html#post8038390 Full powered I5-2430M in an 11.6" notebook for a few hundred less than the UX-21? Is Asus hedging its bets on Ultrabooks?

 

400g difference in weight. Big difference for someone like me who want to travel as light as possible.

 

If they manage to put a 15" screen in the same body of UX31, reducing the screen frame, it will be outstanding!!

I couldnt find any proper area for philosophical discussions about future of notebooks and stuff, probably the mod's could create one...

 

I'm using it with Photoshop CS5 and Flash. It performs very well. I've got a demo of PS in our video review on MTR.

 

Not sure if this has been posted yet, but TheVerge.com has review up (w/ video):

Asus Zenbook UX31 review | The Verge

Didn't mention the shocking problems.

 

pretty good review.. nice pictures. i'm bookmarking that site!

 

Here's another review Asus Zenbook UX21 Ultrabook, The New Thin - HotHardware

 

Just noticed the DH52 is currently instock at J&R.

 

Been in stock since last night. They also has the DH72 but it sold out in matter of 1 hr.

 

Received mine yesterday 13.3" I5 model,got it in 3 days to Atlantic Canada from B&h Photo (impressive).

Absolutely love it! other than the touch pad which does need the new updated driver out of the box this thing is everything I expected.

this is not just a new product but a whole new line of laptops. This is arguably the first real ultrabook, obviously your going to have issues with a small percentage on initial roll out. I think some of the bad reviews are a bit out there.

1600x900 screen, super light, nice carying case, amazing battery etc.etc.etc.

 

Hi,

I would like the feedback from people that bought a UX31 from J&R and got it shipped to Canada. Did you get charged duties, brokerage ? How much taxes ? Only 5% or provincial taxes too ?

Thanks !

 

I agree. Mine is fantastic. The screen is superb, the build really solid, and the battery life is very strong for a slim machine with a bright screen.

 

Just bought the Asus UX31E-DH52 from Amazon (seller: J&R). Gonna let you guys know my experience (especially with the keyboard & trackpad) once it arrives (according to Amazon, ETA is 11/7-11/10).

 

the page now looks like this on amazon for the DH72 model!
http://www.amazon.com/Zenbook-UX31E...C9LA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320203711&sr=8-1

Should I just stop waiting and get the ASUS ZENBOOK UX31E-DH53?

 

For Canada

I just bought mine from NCIX. Tigerdirect got some in stock too. MemoryExpress have a countdown.

 

anyone here own the ASUS ZENBOOK UX31E-DH53 model?
regrets not buying up to the DH72 model?

 

UX21 ?????

 

I 'just' got mine from J&R to Vancouver (UX31E-DH53). I must have got lucky and grabbed one of thier last few. I ordered on Oct 18, by the end of the day it said they were out. I received it on Oct 24. I had to pay around $80 of brokerage to UPS.

So far the unit has surpassed my expectations. Very good build quality. Keyboard will need some getting used to, like others have said i also seem to be missing some strokes.

 

I received my UX31 i7 / 256 last Thursday (ordered from frys.com).

I haven't had much time to play around with it yet however based on my initial impressions:
- The laptop is gorgeous,
- The trackpad is an absolute deal killer (and yes, I've updated BOTH the trackpad driver and the BIOS).

I raised this issue with Asus Service and their first response was to just send the PC back (i.e. "It's possible you're experiencing a hardware issue. Please fill-out the online form to request a RMA/Purchase order.").

Very frustrating - I'm going to tinker for a few more days before I make any final decisions however I can tell you that my trackpad experience would in fact be a deal killer unless it can be resolved.

 

Another good review of the smaller brother to the UX31 (the English translation should be online within the week):
Test Asus Zenbook UX21E Ultrabook - Notebookcheck.com Tests

One interesting fact, I didn't know so far: Apparently the UX21 uses a touchpad by Elantec and not by Sentelic as the UX31. This is insofar interesting as the review of the UX31 by The Verge said, that Asus is looking into switching the UX31 touchpad to Elantec, too. And looking over the previous reviews it seems that the UX21 touchpad with updates behaves much better than the UX31 touchpad with updates.

 

Ux31. Ncix had them in stock. I bouth the i5 256gb, at the moment of ordering, they had "only few left". Now they are on backorder.

 

A Swedish review, including a video review.

Asus Zenbook UX31 - Bärbara datorer - SweClockers.com

Contains the standard stuff, good machine overall but so-so screen, keyboard and trackpad...

 

Could you make a video showing the main issues?

 

going to order the DH53 on amazon since it's on sale and in stock.
If it test out faulty with too much keyboard or trackpad issue, should I run a system recovery to wipe the data before returning? also anyone know anything about the return policy at amazon?

 

Seems random.

Coz anandtech also got the UX21, and it was with sentelic.

 

I still have no problem with the Sentelic trackpad on my UX31 running firmware 206 and the drivers provided by Asus' update utility. Then again, with bios 204 and older drivers I didn't have anything like the problems The Verge did (accidentally erasing the bios on the UX21 due to cursor jumping all over the place). Before the update, the trackpad reminded me of older HP Envy models with their annoying trackpads.

Maybe there really are some defective units out there for both the UX21 and UX31.

 

not sure if anyone saw this review Asus Zenbook UX31E-DH53 Review - Watch CNET's Video Review

 

Do you. feel any electric shock when you have a usb hard drive (a/c power) plug into your UX31? It seems like I am the only one who has this issue. I thought it was a fauty ux31 but it happen on two UX31 I got from bestbuy.

AMAZON does charge a 15% restock fee on open notebook.

 

Just wondering, did you guys use the ASUS Update to update the BIOS? Or was it other methods/programs?

 

In my case I went to the ASUS site, downloaded it, unzipped it and then used the ASUS provided application (ASUS Utilities folder) to update the BIOS.

As with "PDAGAL" I never had the reported mouse random movements etc with the pre update setup HOWEVER the trackpad is most certainly better with the BIOS and updated drivers applied.

As for the comments about a "so-so" screen....I feel folks are again overblowing a non issue. These are 11.1 and 13.3 inch screens designed for use by A user and they are not a desktop replacement PC and monitor or 40" LCD TV.

Want to share the view, plug it into a bigger monitor via the VGA or TV via the HDMI port or use a bigger, heavier, battery munching 15.6" or larger laptop.

The screen is perfectly good for what it is designed for, too whit a small, light, well specc'd ultrabook capable of performing well all the tasks that 99+% of purchasers will use it for.

YMMV

 

@bovri1a
Did you unzipped the BIOS file on the internal SSD or on a USB flash drive? Just wondering cause it'll be my first time doing a BIOS update and I don't wanna brick the thing.

 

Yeah, I don't know why I want a screen with 45 degree lateral viewing--so the person next to me on the airplane can see what I'm doing better? It's a personal laptop; I selfishly want the screen best for me, the on center viewer.

I have no interest in watching a movie on a laptop with friend. Odds are good they have their own laptop or iPad anyway.

I've done these before, but they still make me slightly nervous, so I understand. I think the most important thing is to make sure your battery is pretty well charged and your AC adapter plugged in. You don't want to risk the computer going dead during the fairly quick process.

I downloaded the BIOS update to my default download folder on my SSD. Double click on the file or click on "unpack (unzip?) above the file to unzip it.

I used the WinFlash utility downloaded from the same Asus download page to do the update. Just start the program and it should get you there.

 

I guess a 15% restocking fee would be waived if I claim it as manufacture defect. I.E. (Bad keyboard, bad touchpad... defective headphone jack, static from being plugged in) etc.

Edited
Looks like amazon sold out of the 18 units (UX31E-DH53) that it had since last night. !

 

Local hard drive

 

Could somebody create a topic exclusively related to updates of bios and drivers for the zenbook? This thread is too long and same things are being repeated very often...

 

The issue isn't about sharing the view or viewing from the side at all, it's all about when just one person is using it and how much the picture changes if you lean back or forwards a bit. You have to readjust the angle of the screen to get a good image again.

And how bad this is depends on the notebook, and on the UX31 it's sadly as bad as most other U series Asus notebooks.

But yes, I am sure that most people who buy this will be very happy with it, but there will be some that thinks it just isn't up to the task yet and will wait for future generations of ultrabooks.

 

Sorry Luterin i can't agree with you at all. I have the UX31, I have used it on an office desk in hard flourescent light, outside in bright sun in Central Park, Home in the den and in bed as well as in a dark bar,

No problems with viewing angle , no juggling the screen angle, nada. Sorry it is simply not an issue.

 

Not a problem on the UX31 for me at all. I just sat here playing with the screen at different angles; unless the angles are extreme it's pretty much the same as any laptop.

My wife is sitting next to me with her Macbook. I showed her one of the dreamscene desktop backgrounds I just installed. Her response: "Wow!"

 

As I've said repeatedly, some people will be very happy with it, just not everyone, depending on what your "demands" is.

It's ofcourse great that it isn't an issue for you, but it is for me and alot of others.

And its also great that alot of people are happy with their UX31, but you have to accept that different people have different oppinions depending on their needs.

 

I have a UL30A where I keep getting zapped by the top aluminum plate when connected to the charger to A/C.
This just means that the A/C adapter on your HDD is not properly grounded.

 

couldn't agree more with you. I want my PERSONAL laptop to display perfect viewing until certain degree (to cater for your head position), more than that, it just like there's no privacy anymore. I don't want others to clearly see what I'm doing and to add more, it is for security purpose. sorry, but no IPS for me.

 

OK, now the poor viewing angles of the UX31 are being made out to be a "feature" of the laptop, kind of like the security screen that banks put over their computer monitors so you can't see their screen? Wow, way to bend it like Beckham!

 

I searched this thread on Google and saw that the Best Buy Model UX31-RSL8 is supposedly identical to the DH52 model everywhere else.

Any reason why I should order the DH52 online and wait for shipping rather than pick up the model at Best Buy?