Ul30vt

Hi there!

I think the only difference between the X1 and the speculated A1 is the battery and possibly the colour. I'm a fan of the black one too as it's reported to look incredibly sleek . Yes, the black aluminum is brushed as well. Yes the 5600MAh battery weighs around 0.2 pounds more. Should you wait? It's always a good idea to compare options before making a purchase, but that's a personal choice.

To answer your last question: It appears as if the ASUS utilities can be downloaded readily from the official UL30Vt page: http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=57XDSj2LxRg41F0d . If you click on the 'download' tab and then on utilities, you will see express gate, and power4gear utilities among others. So even from a clean install, you should be able to get your system working as it's supposed to. Of course, there are quite a lot of downloads, so it may be a bit of a pain!

{:^)~

 

5600mAH? but this is supposed to come with a larger 8 cell battery...

 

There are two sizes of 8-cell batteries. The X1 comes with a 4400mAh 8-cell. This is the unit that's available for preorder and is a smaller battery. However, we're speculating that there will be a A1 (just like the UL30a lappies) that will come with a larger 5600mAh 8-cell. The 5600mAh is also slightly heavier (~0.2lbs == 0.09kg).

Further back in the site someone found the 5600mAh battery for sale on amazon for around $120:
http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-8-Cell-L...ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=pc&qid=1259431683&sr=1-3

For those that like the black colour (like me) and want a larger battery, buying the UL30Vt-X1 may be a good choice and getting the larger battery afterwards.

};^)~

 

well, for double the battery life, I think all of use would very much love the get the 8 cell battery.

Anyways, I was lurking the ASUS website, and under the UL series the Vt wasnt listed...lol I love when that happens...had to google it

So, here it is:
4 cells: 2200 mAh
8 cells: 4400/5600 mAh

Strange, each time I do a search on this laptop, the 5th link is this thread...¬¬

 

Here's a question:
Is the UL30Vt thinner than the macbook pro 13?

Consider this: They MBP thickness is listed at 0.95" and the UL30Vt at 0.98". Now 0.03" is around 1/32" which is miniscule, but consider this: I've read that ASUS measures the ENTIRE width, including the 'feet' that suspend the laptop above the surface its resting on and slight battery protrusion. So if one were not to count the feet, I'm guessing that the UL30Vt would be less than 0.95" as the feet and battery protrusion are BOUND to be higher than 1/32".

Even the feet on my inspiron (which are very squat) are around 3/32" (0.09"). If the UL30Vt feet/battery-protrusion are the same, the thickness of the unit could be 0.91" overall.

Measuring from a table top, the UL30Vt will stand higher than the MBP, but in a bag, under the arm, etc, it may actually be thinner overall. In any event, having seen a MBP, 0.95" is very thin indeed, thus 0.98" would be very thin as well (1/32" should be imperceptible unless measuring with a caliper).

Thoughts?

}:^)~

 

Yeah, I'm looking at getting a spare battery and kissing the wall socket goodbye forever! I'll let everyone else crowd around them in the coffee-shops/library. With a spare battery, I'll be good for days of worry free use.

This was my major reason choosing this laptop over the MBP. That and the price, performance, os, weight, of course

Heh heh. This thread is the 5th ranked because it's where all the action is!

}:^)~

 

capn' that sounds like a good option, buying a new extended battery at a later date. I'm hoping that the smaller battery helps with weight and overall bulk (or lack thereof) of the x1 version. I'm hoping that SSD and powersaving mode will be snappy for light web browsing (google chrome probably) as well as cool and whisper quiet with 5+ hrs of battery. Then ability to easily overclock and turn on dedicated graphics for HD web videos or whatever GPU intensive applications (cuda, openCL, new unforeseen browser or OS features) come along. Do these seem like reasonable expectations?

 

Hey,
Didn't see anyone else bring it up in this (really really long ) thread, but as far as I can tell there's one more difference between the X1 and the A1, though I'm not sure how much of an issue this is for most people- the UL30VT X1 comes with the Atheros AR8132M which only has 100mbit, while (most? some?) A1 models come with the Atheros AR8131 which is a gigabit card.

As much as it saddens me to say it (an almost perfect laptop )- I have to say this is a real deal breaker for me and it's a real shame... guess I'll either have to a. wait and see if the specs listed are correct or b. just wait for the A1 version and hope that one carries gigabit ethernet.
Either that or just buy the UL80VT-A1, as a last resort of course

 

Some buyers with UL30vt, also a picture of UL30vt black.

original link
http://www.mobile01.com/topicdetail.php?f=233&t=1324408

translated link
http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mobile01.com%2Ftopicdetail.php%3Ff%3D233%26t%3D1324408&sl=zh-CN&tl=en

 

I also have an SSD coming and I would be interested in a guide / walk-thru to do a clean install on the SSD. Can it be done easily, even without an optical drive? Any links/guides to doing this?

 

i'm interested in this as well!

 

someone on that chinese site posted the following WEI for the UL30vt:

this is when "graphics are open" (i assume that means 210m active)

Processor: 4.9
ram: 5.4
Graphics: 4.9
Game Graphics: 5.9
Main hardware (hard drive?): 5.9


this is with it off

Processor: 4.9
ram: 5.4
Graphics: 3.9
Game Graphics: 3.3
Main hardware: 5.9

 

note:

it looks like some of the chinese models only have 2 gigs of ram?

 

Really great observation. There's yet another difference in addition to the battery and the network card: the warranty.

It seems that the UL30Vt-X1 comes with a 1 year, while A1's generally come with 2 year warranties.

So to sum up, the differences of the X1 and theoretical A1 is:
1) Smaller 4400mAH 8-cell battery (vs 5600mAh 8-cell)
2) Atheros AR8132M 100-megabit card (vs gigabit ethernet)
3) 1 year warranty (vs standard 2 year)

}:^)~

 

Indeed those look like small details to take into account, especially the warranty one.

That theoretical A1 version sounds each time better.

What just got to my head is the GPU. ASUS did underclock the GTX260M on the G51 series, I wonder if they did the same here to keep temps lower and better battery life...this is me wishing they did no such thing

 

This is interesting... so they get a centrino sticker instead of the regular core 2 duo sticker. If I understand this centrino stuff, that means they get intel wireless instead of whatever that other one is? (atheros or w/e)

 

The graphics score seem low for the 4500. It has the DDR3 1066 so it should be higher than my U81-a scores as I get;

Processor: 5.6
ram: 5.6
Graphics: 4.1
Game Graphics: 4.1
Main hardware: 5.9

Unless Game and Graphics scale with the CPU?????????

 

the scores above may be b/c there's only 2 gigs of DDR3 in the chinese model?

hard to say for sure.

 

actually, i just found the UL80vt's WEI (posted here http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5476814):

Processor. 4.9
Mem: 5.4
Graphics: 4.9
Gaming: 5.9
HD: 5.6


pretty consistent with what we have above. seems like a small bump in HD performance?

*edit

purported ul30VT WEI

with discrete:
Processor: 4.9
ram: 5.4
Graphics: 4.9
Game Graphics: 5.9
Main hardware (hard drive?): 5.9

without:
Processor: 4.9
ram: 5.4
Graphics: 3.9
Game Graphics: 3.3
Main hardware: 5.9



ul80vt WEI
with discrete


without

 

One thing, WEI is not a very trustable benchmarking tool.

I would suggest these for benchmarks:
CPU Z for CPU information
GPU Z for GPU information
HWMonitor for temps information
Futuremark for overall benchmarks
PC Mark Vantage gives results on the system, but offers better results on Vista.
PC Mark 05 more benchmark tools
HDTune for the HDD is a good way to measure its performance
3DMark Vantage for 3D GPU performance
Core Temp for checking your CPU temps
RMClock to be in control of you CPU
Battery Eater to test and know the maximum and minimum battery runtime.

 

I was on a different forum and found these guides to win 7 clean install w/o optical drive. I have already been able to test boot to the usb drive using this method, but won't know how it works until I have my shiny new computer with blank SSD in it I hope that ul30vt will have slic support. Otherwise, windows key should be on bottom. I'll make the backup cd images before I swap drives just in case.

http://blog.hznet.nl/2009/03/how-to-install-windows-7-from-an-usb-stick/

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=433602

Anyone want to weigh in on waiting until in stock on amazon for deal, vs preordering before it gets sold out?

 

Since the battery life is tested with the 4500MHD integrated graphics, Asus would have no reason to cripple the 210M. Anything is possible, but I don't see any advantage to it. In fact, it would hinder it in the performance tests. It also seems unlikely that Asus would deviate from the 210M they placed in the UL80VT. It could happen, but I doubt it.

 

yeah. no one said WEI was the best.

but 1) it's the only thing we've heard so far that's close to a review of performance, and 2) on stock machines w/ similar hardware w/ windows 7 preloaded by the same company, it seems reliable enough to compare the 30vt with the 80vt

 

Without contrary information the UL80vt and UL30vt numbers should be real close. Battery life may be the only real life difference as the first UL30vt's ahve the 4400Mah battery. While WEI isn't great it at the least is a good for preliminary comparisons.

 

Even with the lower capacity battery, it still might end up edging it out in regards to battery life because it does not have an optical drive sipping power nor does it have quite as large of a screen. Although both of those together probably are only 1-3 watts or so... Then again, moving from an idle of 5 watts of UL30 to say, 8 watts of the UL80 is more than the higher capicity battery would provide... Under load, this would slightly change, if say load power was 15 watts versus 18 watts. This numbers are pure speculation on my part, but just giving an example of how the battery life could be on par despite a smaller initial battery.

Even with all of this said, all units will experience some variability. Not every SU7300 sips the same exact power, nor does ever 14" display some a certain MFG within the same make and model sip the same power... The same with all the components. It is entirely possible some UL30's could come off the line consuming more power than some UL80's... Although this would probably be rare, it can and does happen.

 

I disagree with this part of the ODD. When idling it does not consume anything (in theory) or at least it should not consume anything.

The larger screen will indeed consume more though.

That is 100% true. The fact that it is rated at 10W does not mean they all consume the same.

 

The 4400 Mah is only 78% of the 5600 Mah. That is a huge difference in power draw to make the two batteries last the same amount of time in these two similarly equiped systems. you also have to remember as Lipo's approach 0.1c (10 hour life) or better the battery efficiency increases. Lipo's love low draw, just a fact of life with them right now.......

 

Can't wait for this one to come out!

 

I'd have to see evidence that that an idle CD-ROM drive does not draw any power. It may be insignificant relative to other items, but it still must consume some power. I can't imagine that the entire device turns off completely. It *might*, but if that is the case, you will have to wait a few seconds when it powers on for Windows to detect the device and make it usable. Which, I admit, could be the case. On that note, is there any evidence that it does disable the device when not plugged? Serious question. I'd be interested in knowing.

 

have question about 2nd one
which one is better card? atheros or gigabit?
is gigabit is better then.....hmmmmm

 

Gigabit LAN is faster.

 

I wasn't aware that the UL30's battery is LiPo. I thought it was LiIon. What is your source?

}:^)~

 

Interesting...reading about the topic.
It seems it does consume a very small amount of battery even when not accessed...(I did found that if you have a ThinkPad you can simply plug it out and its done).

But back to topic, after reading and googling (and getting back to NBR every time) it seems like the ODD can consume up to 5W (more or less) when used vs the up to 3W of the HDD when used...the minimum numbers I cant find them, since they seem to be different per manufacturer, but my guess should be around 1W? And if it is USB powered it consumes even more than the 5W...(so if you want to have more battery life and watch movies, HDD or Flash Drive is suggested since it consumes less)...

This now has me thinking, how about DAEMON Tools that uses a virtual ODD? Cause on my laptop, I have dual ODD reported and I only have one...^^ Strange...I will check that as soon as I get my new laptop, since HWMonitor does not support my laptop it is too old...

Conclusion is the ODD should consume very very little when not used, but still consume...I was almost certain mine didnt consume at all, or is it so little it was negligible...dang, no wonder my battery never reaches the hour (plus how worn it is)

 

Below is meant only as a generalization, there are way better resources out there to more scientifically and more specifically explain the issues with Lithium batteries. For the unitiated 1C = hour draw rate while 0.5C = 2 hour draw rate and 2C is 30 minute draw rate for the total drain of the battery.

LiPo or LiIon suffer the same fate, they love slow discharge (I think you are right though that these are LiIon). This is one of the biggest problems with Lithium technology. I'm not sure about LiIon but LiPo draw rates have caught up more with high draw NiMh. While there are high C rate discharge batteries the effectiveness of the batteries is reduced by high C discharge. The problems lie in that the higher the amp draw the lower the output voltage reducing the total watts output. while at these lower rates the difference is slight the power draw is slight as well.

This has alot to do with their low loss. The batteries tend to have a high Internal Resistance. This high IR compared to other chemistry means you can hold most if not all the internal charge including the peak (When charged to peak). It also is the reason you see the slow down of charge rate, especially at the last 10% or so.

So in otherwords the slower the draw the more total watt hours you get from the battery. Actually I think LiPoly can sustain a higher C draw from single cells while maintaining voltage, the reason they are so popular in radio controled EP aircraft at the moment for the power supply. Of course laptops though do not require 20-30+ C draw rates either. Actually thank god for that, at 2 minutes of 30C you would have to boot and then just down..........

 

Good information.

 

Thanks for the explanation. I am not to well versed it battery tech, not yet at least. Though this post does interest me to the point where I might spend the next few weeks reading about it.

 

It is very interseting and chages rapidly. For many years battery tech was practically stagnent, it is amazing to me the progress as of late. Lithium Tech was a huge leap and our hunger for larger capacity in smaller and lighter packages is driving the market.

off topic a bit but in the next decade or two our batteries will look so antiquated it isn't even funny. It is just a matter of time before it becomes practical to drive a vehicle 400 miles on a charge, power a laptop 72 hours straight or even wear a universal battery that will then power any portable device we have on us at the time. It just amazes me, the future is so close..........

 

Do you have more info on that? I have been searching for new battery technology for long, since LiIon is showing its age already and the charging capacity is lost over time, to the point my old 4 cell battery cant hold a 1 hour charge while doing nothing but web browsing and I have an IGP...

It would be interesting to see how the UL30Vt does with the battery, how long does it run in reality and how good the battery is...

 

My chemistry prof. used to tell us about how he was working on a new lithium battery chemistry that has a much higher duty cycle lifetime and less heat. These batteries do better with higher discharge rates as well. They came out as the a123 systems li-ion that are found in many power tools and the new chevy volt. I was very impressed with these cells, I pulled apart some power drill batts to use in my electric model planes. I was very excited about these cells in laptops, run cooler, several thousand charge cycles as opposed to 300-400 for laptop batt. This will be the most likely next evolution of laptop batteries. Now, a new company has announced progress on a new rechargeable zinc-air battery (revolt I think is the company) that will far exceed even the new li-ion batts. So, the new li-ion hasn't even been put in to many consumer products, and something better is almost to market. Nimh was the big thing for how many years? Tech is moving very quickly. Either way, I hope when the time comes to replace my ul30vt battery, I can do it with a better set of cells.

 

will it be there any change that '-A' series will come out?
according to past post -A beats -X in 3 big different area,,,,,
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

The problem may lie in the charging technology being geard to the cells at hand............

 

@TANWare,

Thanks for the wonderful information on Battery life! I agree that now that now that it's a 'race' we're seeing giant leaps in battery tech. When coupled with wireless charging (magnetic resonance), and other innovative ideas, we'll certainly have laptops and other devices that can go weeks without being plugged in!

But for now, the UL30 is king

}:^)~

 

Here is to hoping with the larger battery version though that a silver one also emerges too. With just the black and lower battery one available I may just sit and wait a bit........

 

This is the same boat I am in. If I could have gotten the current one before this Friday (so I had it for my next trip) I would have done it. But since I only have one week scheduled out this month, I can afford to wait another month to see what surfaces. I prefer the silver look and a larger battery myself.

 

I know this is a bit silly to ask compared to the other issues in this thread, but does anyone know if the UL30vt (ordered from Amazon) will come with a bag or a mouse, or something else like Asus usally throw in with new laptops?

 

You got it. I like the black version personally, but would pay a few dollars more for the larger battery, the standard 2-year warranty, and the gigabit ethernet (though I'll likely never actually require this). I would even take it in silver as well as the choice of colour is a minor concern for me. But only if it's released in short order; the additional features of the A1 are quite minor to me, especially considering the cost of a spare battery.

That said, I'm definitely going to wait, but hopefully not too long. I have some $16 mass effect that needs playing, and some 12-hr mobility to enjoy!

I'm planning on travelling as well, and a new machine with more than 2hr life is an absolute requirement. This inspiron would be fine, but it's big, heavy, and has terrible battery life. That and the fact that the GPU is limiting for some of my use cases (did I mention mass effect? ).

In any case, I'm looking forward to the UL30Vt-A1. However, if there are no signs of the A1 before the end of the year, it's more than likely that I'll spring for the X1 and buy a supplementary battery. The 2-year warranty is nice, but I generally take care of my laptops and have had little need to send them in for any reason. The gigabit ethernet is nice as well, though I'm quite certain I'll never actually *use* it. Lastly, the larger battery is very nice, though I'm going to purchase a spare, so this too is of little concern. Plus, I like the black, which I would pay a small premium for.

If there are signs of the A1, I'll factor the timing, price, and specs into my value function and decide whether or not to wait it out.

}:^)~

 

HOLD THE PHONE! I'm not sure how this was missed:

The amazon listing of the UL30Vt-X1 includes BLUETOOTH!
http://www.amazon.com/UL30Vt-X1-13-...Premium/dp/tech-data/B002XZLURC/ref=de_a_smtd

I'm not sure if this is a listing error or what, but it certainly adds another point of distinction from the UL30A-An line in addition to the discreet graphics.

So, if this is true, the differences between the UL30Vt-X1 and a theoretical UL30Vt-A1 may be:
1) Black aluminum (vs naked aluminum)
2) 1 Year Warranty (vs 2 year warranty)
3) 100Mbit ethernet (vs gigabit ethernet)
4) Bluetooth (vs no bluetooth)*
5) 4400mAh 8-cell battery (vs 5600mAh 8-cell battery)
* It's possible that the UL30Vt-A1 will have bluetooth if it's in the X1.

}:^O~

 

I'm not sure if it does, but somehow I doubt it. In any case, I have a new Logitech V450 wireless mouse that I HIGHLY recommend. It doesn't have too many frills, but what it does have is great performance, amazing battery life (continuous use at least 1 to 2 months before battery change), a solid construction with a great feel, a nano-usb dongle (low power, can be left in safely), sleek and good looking, and very inexpensive!
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Logitech-V450-NA...14QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMice?hash=item45ed5e6472

Bags can be found anywhere ranging from $5 to $50. It's a style/function choice, so shop around! Make sure that it'll fit before buying!

}:^)~

 

Thanks for the answer, I'm thinking of getting one of the new Logitech ones, anywhere/performance, whatever they call them.
As for the bag, the only reason I'm asking is because I have someone bringing it over to me from the US and I'd like him to bring it in a bag (or a sleeve rather), I guess I'll just have him pick up something cheap if it doesn't.

 

Is one of the versions supposed to be better (more expensive?) or are they just two different specs?