Ul30vt

I completely agree.

I too was eyeing the Envy 13, but the battery life and the price killed it for me. The slice is cool and all, but I'd prefer if it were an accessory rather than something you needed to stay connected at all times to make the system usable when away from a socket. Also, the price was WAY too high, even for the quality materials. If the price was around $1200, and the stock battery life was better, I'd have purchased it, but at 3hrs and $1800, it's a electrical joke.

Thanks for the news regarding the size difference of the UL30Vt screen and the Viao/envy 13 screens! I can't expect that the quality will be much worse than this inspiron screen I'm looking at now, and this is fine for portable use, so I should be happy. Still, I'll keep an eye out for a superior replacement.

Actually, the Inspiron is an almost new 1545 (it was given to me). I doubt the backlight is LED, though. The white is too 'yellow'. Also the 'Truelife' display doesn't mention LED back lighting which is a feature that would almost certainly be listed if it existed. All in all, everything being equal, I expect the UL30Vt to be a step up from this pile of crap.

Yeah, it would be nice to have quality panels in laptops. It's a price game, and with each generation comes new priorities. Many slates offer high quality screens, due to the way that they're used: at odd angles.

}:^)~

 

Thanks again Capt'n. That's really good performance for such a thin and light model! As for gaming and battery life, in the laptops I've had with dedicated graphics, they tend to underclock (severely) while running on battery, so it's not much use even trying. Although that might be different depending on the GPU?

 

Yeah, the UL30Vt is a pretty compelling product overall! You'd be hard pressed to find this balance of features anywhere else, though depending on your needs, there are other laptops that are stronger in certain areas.

For me, and I suspect a lot of people, this laptop is close to perfect. I forsee this model being ASUS's big seller. It's thin, light, powerful, and has fantastic battery life. It's hard to find a negative word about this machine in blogs or forums, as most people that know of it are anticipating its release.

I forsee ASUS building on this lappie, and extending it to other models including a more luxurious line. This is speculation, of course. Asus has stated that they want to move into the #3 position for laptop manufacturers, and with this product, they're well on their way!

}:^)~

 

It already is The UL30 series one of the top sellers in the Asian market. In Taiwan, almost every Asus advertisement from magazines to building-sized billboards to TV commercials features the UL30 notebook.

I'm glad that you guys enjoy yours, and if it isn't because of limited funds, I would have purchased one already.

 

Well, kind of disappointing that it's going to have the 4400 mah battery and 1 year warranty. It's either this or go for the 80vt for $75 less...

 

They should advertise elsewhere more... I don't understand why they don't since they clearly destroy any competition.

 

Pretty sure there won't be much of a difference, as PCSX2 is cpu dependent. And all the truely good games have trouble running on my i7, so I wouldn't be expecting much from this.

 

In the US/Canada, they do advertise in technology magazines, but their marketing strategy is no where near as aggressive as in Asia. From what I (over)heard, Asus, like any other laptop manufacturing company in todays economy is trying to cut costs; and rather than cutting costs from other departments such as R&D, they'd rather cut their advertising costs instead. Their main advertising strategy in the North American market is primarily based on word-of-mouth.

 

I don't really see why people compare the ul80vt and this while specs is similar the usage of them are different.

In my opinion is you think the ul80vt fits your needs why wouldn't you get a laptop with a bigger screen and dvd drive?

If you need a laptop to be the most portable as possible while being well rounded get the ul30vt.

Weight alone throws the ul80vt out of my choices.

 

this is compelling..... I just bought a HP Dm3t with Nvidia 105 and Intel 160 SSD....

price is the only thing here.... the notebook is $800 and then the Intel 160gb SSD is $600 ATM on newegg..... that takes my price up to $1400 pretax, eek!

the Dm3t i got for $1000 pretax.


am i right when looking at the DM3T and ul30vt that the difference are the GPU and then the actualy build of the notebook. didnt see much else. both are around 10hrs battery, multitouch touchpad, same res LED screen...

these looks like great notebooks and having competition is great....

it would be nice to have a thin-and-light w. ULV CPUs review....

Dm3t v ul30vt v all others

 

The dm3t is not around 10 hours battery.

 

I'm planning to get an external 1920x1080 Monitor (22-24"/HDMI) to hook up with this laptop, so I'll have a bigger screen/resolution when I'm at home. Do you guys think I'll see a huge fps drop in games (Left 4 Dead/Team Fortress 2, etc.) going from 1366x768 to 1920x1080?

 

I was also considering the dm3 over the ul30, but the VT config with the 210m should easily make the ul30 a winner in terms of (gpu) performance. As for build quality I have no idea where the dm3 stands vs. the ul30 (?)

 

Ah! I was afraid of this! Still I'll give it a chance just to see, but I won't get my hopes up! Thanks for the update..

After looking at the new iMac and thinking it was a HUGE rippoff, given the screen size, res, and monitor type, it's actually not a bad deal at all. But it got me searching around for IPS external monitors, which led me to PLASMA TVs. Plasmas have excellent colour reproduction and amazing viewing angles. The downside is that they're heavy, consume more power, and are generally limited to 1080p but neither isn't a large concern for me. I'm considering getting a 42-46" plasma as an external screen!

Consider that a good, 27" (though very high res) LCD IPS will easily cost $1500 - $2500, and a 42" plasma can be had for $500-$750 ( http://www.google.com/products?q=plasma+42&aq=f). Thoughts?

}:^)~

 

Just wondering something before i preorder UL30VT, in case i get an SSD, will an ASUS USB 2.0 8x DVD Writer External Optical Drive let me install all stuff or i would have to do a USB iso of the windows/recovery disk?

 

Also, from what I've read, the UL30Vt should also be a good deal thinner than the dm3 as well with the battery in. As I understand it, the dm3 battery increases the systems thickness to 1.23". In addition, the dm3 is also heavier at 4.2 pounds, and has poorer battery life, especially under load. And lets not forget reliability (Asus #1, HP last)!

http://computershopper.com/shoptalk/laptops/new-review-hp-pavilion-dm3
http://gizmodo.com/5387914/win-7-laptop-battlemodo-thin-and-lights-for-under-800
http://gizmodo.com/5406415/laptop-reliability-study-asus-and-toshiba-come-out-on-top

IMO: the UL30Vt is the functional winner, though the dm3 is a prettier laptop.

}:^)~

 

Keep in mind that most plasmas under $750 are 720p, not 1080p.

Also, part of the reason why plasmas are so AWESOME for watching movies is also what makes them not-so-great as a computer monitor. Plasmas offer a smoother in-motion experience due to the natural blurring effects of the technology. The way the phosphors power on and off is better suited to the movement of film than the harsher on/off state of LCDs. This is why LCDs often appear to "judder" and also why LCDs manufacturers have boosted the refresh rates to 120/240Hz to try and mask that judder.

I'm not saying that a plasma can't look great as a monitor (I have done it myself), but LCDs are better-suited to static images like spreadsheets, still images, desktops, and text or Internet. You may also find the RI (residual image) of plasma (not to be confused with burn-in) distracting. LCDs do not exhibit this effect.

That being said, if you want something BIG for a computer monitor, get a 42" 1080p LCD. I bought a "crappy" Dynex 42" 1080p LCD for $499 last year. After I calibrated it, I found it to be an incredible value. Just remember that if you go with something that large, you will want to sit further away which may mean buying a wireless mouse/keyboard as well.

I currently have my computer connected to that 42" as well as a 23" Acer 1080p LCD ($169 at Best Buy a few months ago). From my experience, the 23" 1080p LCD is PERFECT for an external monitor... and cheap. I only use the larger display for games and video playback.

 

Any information on the silver lid? Hmm... :| I favor that colour so much :>

 

Back on topic, I am very excited to play with this UL30VT now that it's official, but I wish it was black like the UL50... The UL50 is the sexiest laptop I've ever seen, but it's just too large (15.6") for me to carry around.

Now it's between the ASUS UL30VT and the HP DM3. I was able to play with the DM3 at Best Buy with the battery in. I didn't have a tape-measure, but the rear of the unit is obviously over an inch, but the weight is still manageable.

So if the UL30VT is at least $700, is the extra GPU power and slimmer/lighter frame worth the extra $150+? Hmm, I must think on these things some more.

 

Well I'm defecting to the 80vt. It's got the same build quality, and mostly the same internal parts. For $75 less, I think I can live with .6 or .7 pounds heavier, slightly bigger size, no bluetooth, extra year warranty, and extra 2 hour battery life. (dvd drive too, although not really a + to me)

 

Nick, the 30vt is black, but they do come in a 14" size, the 80vt which is $725 after gift cert.

The vt's are all getting 9-12 hours battery (8 cells) which the dm3's cannot touch, but the dm3's have the magnesium alloy bottom, and seem to be better built (though hp ranks last in reliability, asus #1). Your call.

 

Can you link me to a black 30vt? ASUS's website only shows the brushed aluminum:

http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=57XDSj2LxRg41F0d

Battery life doesn't matter to me much. I want the ASUS more, but depending on the price, I may not be able to justify it.

 

Yes, most, but not all. If you check the link, there are more than a few that are 1080p for that price.

I agree re pixel sharpness/ghosting. However my major concern is colour reproduction and viewing angle rather than size alone. For the type of work that I do, colour is important. With calibration, I believe a quality plasma will provide value on this front, which may be a little tougher for an LCD of the same cost (the high quality panels cost big $$$). Of course, I'll have to read reviews of many products and carefully compare the pros and cons before a purchase.

EDIT: After a bit of research it seems that modern plasmas generally do not suffer the 'burn in' problem and issues like ghosting have been largely eliminated. Quality has come a very long way. The Panasonic Viera is looking interesting. Of course there are good LCDs as well which should be looked into.


}:^)~

 

Check out amazon.com, the first listing (and only afaik) of the UL30Vt with the smaller battery. It's black.
http://www.amazon.com/UL30Vt-X1-13-3-Inch-Laptop-Windows-Premium/dp/B002XZLURC

I'm waiting for the UL30Vt-A1 which will be endowed with a larger battery and likely cost exactly $100 more.

{:^)~

 

If the A1 will cost $100 more, then is it really worth waiting? I'm going on a trip in Dec. and I'd really like a new laptop before then. I was disappointed when I heard this would come with the smaller battery. Could I order the 5600mAh battery that was mentioned earlier and come out at the same price as the A1 and have a second battery?

 

I'm considering getting a Sony Z instead of the UL30tz. It looks like $1000-1100 deals pop up here and there for the base Z (p8600/9300M/1366/768/DVD RW.)

The ASUS has better battery life (maybe 3-4 hrs more) and a better IGP and better execution of their hybrid graphics.

The Sony is lighter (3.3 lbs), much faster processor and has a DVD and supposedly a much better screen (full color gamut?)

 

I agree although based on the price differences between other models I would guess the difference would be more like $70-80. Even still unless you are horribly opposed to it being black you can always double the warranty via your credit card and buy the 5600mah battery separately.

 

The battery should be this one:

Name of accessory: UL30 / UL50 / UL80 8-cell 5600MAH battery
Part number: 90-NWT3B3000Y
UPC Code: 884840017554
Warranty: 1 Year
Price MSRP: $129 USD

 

Yep, buying the battery separate in the future is definitely an option. Getting it for $100 may be wishful thinking. I'm guessing that the 8-cell battery will cost $100 to $150 (a ripoff, I know, especially when they contain $50 of parts). Of course, there's always 3rd party batteries, which should be considerably cheaper when they find their way to market, but your millage will vary. If you're planning to go this route DO YOUR HOMEWORK, and find out which ones are worth buying!

But a secondary battery isn't a bad plan, and if you need the laptop by a certain time, the X1 should be fine. Only people that are battery s (ie. myself) that crave battery life that they'll probably never need, will insist on the A1 (or whatever they'll call the 8-cell variant).

I'll probably be getting a secondary battery with my UL30Vt, even though I won't need it 98% of the time. Still, it makes it possible to run the laptop lightly for ~4 hours/day for a business week (5 days) without a socket (droooool).

Ok, back to reality! The X1 should be fine. Why not get feedback from a UL30a-X1 owner? There must be a thread around here that has plenty of conversation on the subject. You can find out what they think.

Also, I think the black UL30Vt looks SEXY. It matches the sides and the bottom of the laptop which is a stylistic plus (IMHO OC). Even compared to the MBP, I think the black UL30Vt looks super sleek. More cheaply made, but sleek all the same.


}:^)~

 

Awesome find! coriolis, you are the wo/man.. Sorry, I'm not aware of your gender....

For that price, it makes a compelling reason to get the X1. For $29US more than the A1 (assuming it is in fact $100 more), you get a second battery. Hmmm...

}:^)~

 

Instead, can someone link to a silve UL30vt? =D

 

Is there any word on if they're taking into consideration the wireless complaints people have had with the UL30? I'm really interested in the UL30, even without the switchable graphics, but the poor wireless connectivity could be a deal-breaker for me.

 

It appears to be taken care of, but take a wait-and-see for early adopters to report on their [di]satisfaction with the UL30Vt.

}:^/~

 

I'm am so getting this, its the perfect combination of performance/size/price.

When do you guys think it will be released? Would be nice to have it for the start of next semester in january...

 

I have to confess, I'm strongly considering the UL30a series. I played around on my dad's Toshiba Satellite Ultralight, and it seems as though most of the games I'd like to play work fine on it. I take it if I got a UL30A-A2 or a UL30A-X5 it could/would still have the wireless issues?

 

Makes sure it's the 13.1" 1600x800 screen you are getting. That screen is different than the standard one. I can't live with the fact the graphics card is a 9300m. That is slower than the current ION chip and much slower than the g210m. Adobe has been adding graphics card acceleration to their products and that's a big deal for me.

Only time i saw it that cheap was their refurb ones though.

 

wow, i can't believe this laptop is being compared to the Z... i was set to buy the Z, about 6 months ago. So after reading, the conclusion is that the graphics card on this VT series is much faster then what's on the Z?

Also the X1 is the smaller battery? whereas the A1 is the bigger battery?
How much juice is the x1? how long does it last (in terms of life) compared to A1?

 

It's like a 2 hour (10 vs 12) difference in battery life, but if you did NEED the bigger battery... they have it for sale at Buy.com for like $108.

 

little difference actually. btw does anyone know how's the screen quality + resolution?

 

hold on....what's your reason to waiting for A1 again??
is A1 is coming out?? only concern with me is now that MBP 13
Not the current one but new coming one
i have strong feeling that they gonna upgrade the graphic card for new version.
it looks like that the new one gonna come out on Feb 2010. To be fair, i waited this long for ul30vt, i should give some time to MBP.
IDK as long as my half fixed DV4000 lasts...lol

 

what would be the idea battery life if it's advertised 10 hrs? would it be 10hrs - 20% to get real life battery life?

 

Macbook pro is a heavier laptop and lower resolution.

To me the macbook pro really isn't in the same class not even counting there is OSX and not Windows on it

 

My original reason for the A1 was the larger battery, but considering that a A1 battery can be had in addition to the X5 battery for a speculated $30-$60 more is a compelling reason to get the X1 when it comes to Canada.

As for the next-gen MBP13 (with an assumed better graphics card), I think it's a SOLID computer. My major gripe is lack of a swappable battery (without opening the computer), but if this isn't a concern, or the fact that it runs OSX, then IMO it's well worth the extra $300. Of course if you know that the new models are to be announced in Feb, and you're not in a rush, why not wait and see what Apple has to offer? You may get a system better suited to your lifestyle/usage-needs.

I'll stick with the UL30Vt. It does what I want (good performance, epic battery life, very thin and very light, etc), plus I'm not a big fan of apple's OS. But I do think that the MBP13 is a solid buy (the 15/17 are way too expensive, imo).

{:^)~

 

Link please! I'm looking for spare UL battery costs, and I can't find too many listings online.

}:^)~

 

http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-8-Cell-Laptop-Battery-UL30/dp/B002RCLW7Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1259162585&sr=8-1

Buy.com raised the price between last night and today from $108 to $117. Several other stores have it, including Amazon for $124.

 

Agree wfor the most part. But the lower res Z screen is supposed to be similar quality (just low res) so probably better than the UL30's screen.

I'm on the fence about which laptop will last me longer. The one with the better processor(Z) or the better IGP(UL.) I guess it depends on how you use it.

 

Doesn't the Z cost twice as much? Get this season's UL, and when specs improve, get the next version. As an added bonus, you'll have a spare laptop for hammering nails or fixing the wobble on the kitchen table.

}:^)~

 

That's AWESOME! Rep for you! It looks like I'm getting the X1. I never thought I'd say that. For $20 - $40 more than the A1, I get the 8-cell 5600mAH battery and a spare 8-cell 4400mAH... Plus the unit is black (hopefully it'll be black at other retailers as well). That's a hard deal to beat!

Now, rep for anyone that finds the first Canadian retailer!

EDIT: Whoops, I could be wrong about that. In fact I'm certain that I am. It seems that the UL80Vt-A1 is only $24 more than the UL30Vt-X1, which implies that the UL30Vt-A1 will not be too much more expensive than the UL30Vt-X1. I may just get the A1 after all. Of course it has a smaller drive... Sigh... All of these specs! No wonder people buy macs! I'll have to take a wait and see before deciding on the X1 or the A1....

}:^)~

 

Sorry, don't want to get off topic (away from the Asus.) I might be able to find a Z for 1050-1150, that is why I brought it up. But yes, MSRP of the Z is 2X. But I can find discounted Z's but no discount on the ul30tz.

 

That makes much more sense!

};^)~