Long time ASUS owner need a help UX31 vs U36SD vs M11x vs MBA

[Complete Edit 11-16-11]
My criterion are:
-Portable
-Long lasting battery life
-Primarily for photoshop, websurfing, e-mail, MS Office products, etc.

I ended up narrowing my search to following computers:

Asus UX31
Lenovo U300S
Sony S series (VPCSA390X CTO)

Primary difference is the HDD space (I don't care for) and resolution difference (I care for). Only part of me that tells me "no" on Asus UX31 is the wireless card issue...

Are there any other good alternatives around ~$1000 range? Thanks!!

 

What type of games do you want to be able to play?

 

Only potential game that I "may" play is Diablo III but that's a long shot. I actually have a dedicated gaming laptop (G50VT, I know it's old and outdated) but when I actually decide to play, I may just purchase a dedicated gaming laptop.

I am quite big into computer graphics (mostly, adobe photoshop).

I should also include that the major difference between UX31 and U36 are resolution difference.

 

The UX has intel HD 3000 graphics, and it can handle some stuff, but it's not going to do new games. The U36SD might, but only at low settings. If you want a 13" semi-gaming system you should consider the Acer 3830TG (some throttling issues when pushed due to cooling design) or the LG P330.

Otherwise I would say the U36SD is a good deal, if you aren't so concerned about gaming. It will do photoshop and some light gaming at a very good price.

 

So if I completely rule out the gaming part, am I better off with UX31? The photoshop shouldn't really be depended on the graphics since you aren't doing any rendering but just a thought.

Also, I don't want to have any cooling issues so Acer may not be a good option for me. Thank you for your replies

 

Photoshop can use the graphics card for acceleration, so it will help. But it may not be a major concern for you.

The UX31 vs U36SD question, if you rule out gaming, is more of a personal preference.

The biggest complaints I have seen about the UX31 are about the keyboard and touchpad. You should read up on the threads here to get a sense for yourself.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/asu...us-ux31e-zenbook-ultrabook-owners-lounge.html

http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus/582672-asus-ux31-ultrabook.html

http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus-reviews-owners-lounges/554271-asus-u36jc-a1-review.html

http://forum.notebookreview.com/asu...ng-gentech-price-even-cheaper-than-u36jc.html

I added to your thread title to be more specific.

 

I own both the U36SD and UX31, so here's a quick comparison for you.

U36SD:
$200+ cheaper than UX31
Can switch to Nvidia 520M
Max 8GB RAM
More storage options, can support SSD if you want
Full size connectors for HDMI and ethernet

UX31:
Higher resolution/brighter screen
Extremely portable
High quality speakers/sound

The main reasons I'm using the UX31 instead of the U36SD is because I prefer the 1600x900 resolution, portability and I tend to use an external mouse instead of the touchpad. The touchpad on the UX31 is pretty horrible, even with the latest updates I often get random cursor jumps, causing me to lose window focus.

However, I don't have too many issues with the UX31 keyboard, even though I do type more accurately on the U36 and typically at a much faster rate.

 

Thank you. I read through those and several reviews (both on this site and off-sites). I think I am aware of most of issues that were mentioned. I am leaning towards UX31 but I am afraid that 1st gen may get me in a long run...

[edit] Thank you very much for the thread title.

I am in a similar boat. Unable to upgrade HDD to SSD and graphics maybe cons to me but the fact that I will be doing minor computer graphics (no rendering) can alleviate my concern.

Can you share your experience with heating? How hot it gets (you don't need to give me numbers but just general opinion) and if it overheats (I most certainly don't think but just asking anyways)? Thanks.

 

Both notebooks run cool enough to keep on your lap. The UX31 is actually a bit cold due to the all metal construction.

You can purchase a U36 with SSD, at least in some regions around the world, so storage considerations may not have to be part of your decision.

If you don't need a 1600x900 screen, then I'd actually recommend purchasing a U36, simply because it's a very well constructed notebook that's portable but does not sacrifice too much performance. UX31 will get you looks, but until Asus sorts out the touchpad issues, it's not something I can recommend unless you plan on using an external mouse.

 

All I can really give advice on is that you don't get the M11x or MBA.

The M11x is too bulky for your needs and the MBA gets way too hot.

 

I am guessing that U36 may be the way to go if I want to use this laptop as a "stand-alone" laptop. I have a dedicated laptop (I use external mouse, keyboard, monitor, etc.) so I can always hook it up to external components.

As far as the resolutions are concerned, do you see a noticeable difference as far as quality is concerned? Also, I am curious to find out what type of work you do on U36 (if you don't mind).

The only reason why I want to have SSD is the accessibility, which I am not sure of. I haven't stumbled upon the speed between 7200 rpm vs SSD.

Thank you.

Yeah, M11x was long gone when I found out that it's not worth the money. MBA was one of choices but I am sticking to Windows 7. Thanks though.

 

Text and images are much brighter and sharper on the UX31.

I have a 7200rpm drive in the U36, but the only time I really notice it being "slow" is when starting up and shutting down windows. For day to day use, both notebooks work fine.

Day to day use for me consists of emails, webex/netmeeting, and general browsing/im. I also use the UX31 for entertainment when on flights. I do have some server grade software installed for customer demos, but those services are typically turned off.

 

this has become rather difficult choice. thank you for sharing your experiences. i dont have anything intensive besides my hobby (photoshop) and of course, watching "tv," movies, etc. when i am on the move.

do you have any wireless issue (commonly known as it seems)? slow? disconnection, etc? not really sure how critical keyboard and touchpad issues are:

keyboard: doesn't "register" until fully stroked
touchpad: accuracy issue and "bouncing" issue from one point to another

if these 3 things are minor, i think i will go after UX31. U36 appears to have it's own problems and UX31 appears to have more to offer imo.

 

I have no issues with wireless or keyboard. The keyboard does take some getting used. Once "learned", you should be able to type on the UX31 keyboard without too many errors. You won't be getting the best wireless reception, but I haven't been in a situation where I cannot connect.

I do have a jumpy touchpad that will cause the cursor to suddenly jump to one of the edges. It happens just often enough to be annoying, but when I switch over to my Logitech and turn off the touchpad, the issue disappears. Multi-touch gestures do work, but are not very responsive. I bought the UX31 knowing there are touchpad issues, so it's a choice I'm willing to live with.

Keep in mind that I also have desktop systems at home/work, so I mainly use the UX31 for reading/writing documents and email. The 1600x900 resolution and portability are the main reasons for my purchase.

 

I am now looking into Lenovo U300S...I am really scared of wireless card issue more than anything else. err!

[edit] Have you seen this? Sony's S series: VPCSA390X CTO

Resolution is the same. It has dedicated graphics, etc. Spec on paper seems to be better than UX31...

 

If you're simply looking for an ultrabook, then there are quite a few choices now. I believe Acer just released the i7 model of the S3. Lenovo has the U300 and Toshiba has the z830. If you're not in a hurry, HP will also be releasing one.

I'm not a big fan of Sony. I've owned and replaced two z505 and both experienced critical hardware issues within one year. I'm sure Sony have improved over the years, but they're also quite a bit more expensive than other brands.