Zenbook U500 Announced: 15.6" HD IPS, GT650M, Quad-Core i7...

Hard to say. Early reviews indicated two 2.5" bays (hence why I put that in the first post), especially since there was supposed to be a SSD+HDD version. Since there's no internal optical drive I don't see why that wouldn't be doable.

 

It's a 15.6" laptop, so if you remove ODD that is bigger than a 2.5"bay, you can have 2X2.5" bays in every 15.6" laptop, but maybe the 2.5" bays in UX51 are only for 7mm Hard disk.
UX51 doesn't need a proprietary solution like Sony because it hasn't the ODD, while Sony S15 include 2XSSD + ODD in its chassis.

 

Realistically, they could even be 5mm thick. The standard for 5mm thick 2.5" drives is there. WD even makes 2 hard disk models that are 5mm thick.

 

No early review said that, actually we only have 1 preview from mike. Anand and all the others got their info from I dont know where

not necessarily, when you go thinner the battery takes more horizontal space, and that notebook has a large battery. There is also the 2 fans thing

 

The Gigabyte P2542G is also a logical competitor. It's 1080p, contains a 660m, a Blu optical drive, and is much cheaper. The only advantage for the u500 is that it's 1 pound lighter. Think of the gains you get from the P2542G by just adding one pound.

Review Gigabyte P2542G Notebook - Notebookcheck.net Reviews

 

The P2542G to UX51 is apples to oranges. It is more of a gaming computer and has the characteristics of one-- heavier, bulkier, and more powerful. The same can be said of the MSI GE60. A logical competitor is the S15, or a 15.6" version of the U2442N/V.

The other draw to the UX51 is the small charger. My Y470 is not a large computer, but once you factor in the full size brick, the portability goes down.

I am being more attached to profile being a large part of portability.

I know we've all seen the Newegg and Tigerdirect links, but my local NYC computer store now has the 2x128 ssd version:

ASUS ZENBOOK Prime UX51Vz-DH71 15.6" Ultrabook PC - Silver in PC Ultrabooks | JR.com

I wonder why they would list it as a TFT screen instead of IPS..

 

It's also twice as thick, built of plastic, and doesn't have an IPS display. If you're stretching that far to find a competitor, Asus' own N56VZ is closer than that Gigabyte.

IPS is a type of TFT display (as is TN) so it isn't technically wrong, but it's almost as vague as saying "LCD".

 

Has anyone heard any new info about the UX52? Perhaps that one will be the "Prime" version with touchscreen? Any speculation guys?

I have to say that I really like the look of the new UX31 someone found: http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus/692703-new-ux31a-bestbuy-win8-touchscreen-black-finish.html

 

Maybe UX51 is the version without dGPU, and UX42 is a 14" version.
If number 2 in the name has the same meaning that has in the name of UX32VD then no unibody case for these laptops.

I would like a black version of UX51VZ like UX31

Inviato dal mio GT-I9100 con Tapatalk 2

 

Asus were, for a while, advertising a press event to be held on October 23rd. Perhaps we'll learn about more new models soon.

And if Jako still reads this thread, next time you're making pillow talk with Mr. Asus's daughter please whisper her some questions about an SSD+HDD version, and whether it contains replaceable SSD drives.

 

With the UX32 analogy, seems like it would be the cheaper version with *no* discrete graphics?
I personally hope that is the touchscreen version in 'Radiant Black' like the UX31 touchscreen.

 

I posted that review in the 'other brands' section.
Thing looks Great except the inner bezel is brush-aluminum bordered all around which looks distracting, Why have a matte screen if you're going to have a reflective bezel fringe.
I still might get it as it is selling at a good discount and then just paint or tape the semi-shiny part if needed.
It sells for app 1200 depending on which model which is about 1/3 to 1/2 LESS than these Ultras.

 

...because it looks more like a Macbook? Doesn't need to have any sort of explanation beyond that lately.

 

The matte version of the mac book pro does not have a reflective bezel. It's actually a matte silver, unlike the black reflective one.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

 

Drop Asus a message, and they'll probably change their design.

 

I believe he is talking about the Gigabyte P2542G - agree it looks like an annoying design choice - the yellow backing on the unit in the review looks too odd for me to buy either.

Peter

 

It's optionally available in black (high-gloss, smudge-tastic black).

 

The UX31 is designed for slimness and has a fixed amount of RAM and an SSD that you can't easily upgrade yourself. The UX32VD is slightly thicker but has an HDD and RAM that you can upgrade, and is cheaper. The UX51 it seems does have upgradeable RAM, but we still don't know whether the SSDs can be swapped. If the UX52 stood to the UX51 as the UX32 stands to the UX31 then you might expect the UX52 to be a cheaper, thicker version with an HDD in a standard 2.5" bay, whereas the UX51 may have SSDs in some more awkward format. All speculation of course. Maybe Asus will reveal more with the Windows 8 launch.

 

I think the guess currently is that U500 will be available at Windows 8 launch. If that is true I guess people will be quick to take a screwdriver to the laptop and investigate it further. Although it would be extremely nice if Asus clarified some of these question regarding upgradeable RAM and SSDs before the laptop is in customers hands.

 

I've followed the thread since the beginning, but I must have missed a passage somewhere...At first we speculated about U500. Then it came out that probably U500 would be available with the name of UX51. Now I read about UX51 and UX52. Where does UX52 come from? Did you find this name somewhere or it's a guess based on the existence of UX31 and UX32?
Thank you

 

It just came from this spreadsheet on Asus's site that lists a bunch of notebook model numbers including a few we have not heard about. The numbers include UX42, UX42VS, UX51, UX51VZ, UX51VZH, UX51VZA, UX52, UX52VS. We could also wonder whether the UX42 might be something similar but in an even more portable 14" format.

Edit: it's also mentioned on this Asus model list.

 

Thank you very much. Hopefully they will clarify everything next week

 

An other rival could be the Samsung Serie 7 Chronos 700Z5C S06.
- 2,3kg
- 24mm thick
- 15" matt (TN?)
- up to i7-3615QM
- GT 640M
- 1 HDD/ 1ODD + Cache -> own modification into SDD/HDD (?)

Has anybody got a test to read?

 

not in the same league. 1600 x 900 and it is a pretty bad screen to boot. I returned mine after only a few days.

 

If it came with a decent TN screen @ 1080p it would be worth a look because of the price. But with the cheap screen, 640m and fairly cheap construction (painted plastic doesn't wear well, they would have been better off with black) it's not very interesting. It's really only a good option if price is your greatest concern (it's only ~$1000).

If you're looking for a system in the same sort of range the HP dv6 has a fairly decent 1080p screen (optional) and is available with a Geforce 650m (DDR3). Build quality on that is similar to the Samsung, as in not fantastic but not terrible.

 

I can't believe I'm saying this but after visiting the Apple store I've cancelled my UX51VZ pre-order and bought a MacBook Retina. It's a damn shame that the MBR has been out since June and has technology in it that Ultrabooks/Thin & Lights won't have until next year, if it all. The 2560x1440 res, thunderbolt, high speed samsung/toshiba SSD's. and thin form factor are just too much to pass up unfortunately. It remains to be seen how well it will run Windows 7 for me, but I'll be sure to report back. I don't see why Samsung can't release a machine like this, considering they make the panels and SSD's. Seems like it would be easy for them. Maybe it's more lucrative to sell the parts to Apple since Macbooks sell more units than Series 9's? Of course maybe they would not if the Series 9 had these features.

 

Apparently Windows 7 runs perfectly fine. My only gripe with the rMPB is the inability to upgrade the SSD. I want to put Win 7 on it as well, but I will sacrificing HDD space to either OS. It's a shame that those SSD's could not have been removable.

 

Consumers tend to scoff at high priced Windows computers but are more than happy to purchase expensive Macs. The profit margin is just not there for Windows OEMs to use the tech inside the rMBP.

 

..well, people never were required to get a passing grade at math at Apple High.

But that seems to be working out for them anyway for some reason. So no complaining, I guess.

 

I know this sounds impressive, but every time I look at rMBP and I put it on 2560x1440 everything is so small imo, everything looks "more convenient" to me in 1600x900 or whatever the resolution is. I don't want to experience lag since the graphic cards needs to push 2-3 times more pixels on the screen - some people say that has been fixed, but under stress, how does it really perform on that level. In addition, developers need to create a specific version of their app to make it retina ready, and supposedly, Apple isn't even doing that for their Final Cut Pro, so I think "retina" is way over hyped. Also, if you switch to a lower resolution - what is the point ? It's like buying a house with a jacuzzi that you never use, but you can say that you have one just because it sounds cool.

Also, awkward key placement for Win7/Win8, non-optimal hardware drivers, worse battery performance, not being able to upgrade RAM or SSD, really makes all those nice things in an RMBP not be worth the price for me.

Supposedly, why would you want the RMBP for 200$ more over the ASUS when ASUS has equal or better hardware and an 1080p IPS (assuming you would use the 1080p configuration on an RMBP)

 

Damn you. I just bought an UX31A for my wife and I already want another laptop.

 

dv6 is ddr5 btw

 

Its simple, you either do it or dont. When the idiots saw the asian companies taking over with the low price offerings, they dropped everything that was more expensive, including the xps line at some point, and put all forward towards that. Stupid strategy comes back to hit them in their ''heads'' because they entered to gain nothing, not even brand recognition, just brand dilution and pollution.

So in the end, apple was/is the smart guy.

 

Pre-orders available on XOTIXPC.com:


UX51VZ-DH71

UX51VZ-XH71


Also have the Taichi21-DH71 (dual screened ultrabook) for pre-order.

 

In the hard drive field they specify "upgradeable"

 

Oh thats interesting! I want to see the sorcery!

 

Interesting to see the customization options on Xotic. They list the graphics card as DDR3 but I am pretty sure that is a typo.

Also interesting-- the ability to customize hard drives that are SSD only, and that you have to pay $25 extra for the external DVD unit, which I thought came with the package. But they do offer the slim blu-ray as an option for $99, which was what I was hoping for.

 

The DH71 says it comes with two SATA II SSDs by default, not SATAIII, that can't be good, right?

 

My question is, is it worth upgrading the screen through them?

 

depends, do you want better viewing angles or color accuracy? if you prefer the latter upgrade the panel.

 

Some of the upgrade they have available at Xotic seem kind of strange. i7-3940XM with TDP of 55W, surely that will give bigger problems with cooling.

But if it is true that they can perform all those upgrades that should be good news for us. That should enable us to replace SSDs and other stuff.

 

those cpus were indeed strange, stranger still that usually you cant upgrade the cpu on the U series that xotic sells. That you could change the monitor was another bizarre thing

 

They do have all ASUS Windows 8 notebooks announced as pre-order items now, it could be that they copy-pasted from a similar notebook and are waiting till the final specs to update the text and upgradeable items.

That is just a speculation however.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

Doesn't sound good. Hopefully an error. But some of the upgrade drives offered are SATA III. If it's true that the built-in drives are SATA II then I wonder whether the SATA III upgrade drives would run at full speed. If the motherboard supports SATA III then Asus might just be being cheap by putting in SATA II drives. If that's what they're doing it seems counterproductive since it will put people off this laptop.

 

Yeah, they would be better off selling it with empty bays and letting people put their own HDDs or SSDs

 

It also says that it's 1.2-1.0 inches thick and has a DDR3 650m. Hopefully they have the details wrong.

 

Tiger Direct also lists the height (of the XH71 variant) as being 1.0 - 1.2 inches, so not as slim as the MacBook Pro Retina, which is 0.71 inches thick, or the Sony Vaio S15 is which 0.95 inches thick and weighs less. (If only Sony would fix that orange problem on the screen - and start selling up-to-date models in Canada!)

ASUS UX51Vz-XH71 Ultrabook - 3rd generation Intel Core i7-3612QM 2.1GHz, 8GB DDR3, 512GB (2X 256GB) SSD, 15.6 Full HD, Windows 8 Professional 64-bit, 1-Yr Warranty, 1-Yr Accidental at TigerDirect.com

Edit: looking at that again, they list the UX51's weight as an implausibly light 4lbs, and they incorrectly call it an Ultrabook. So perhaps Tiger Direct don't have accurate details either. (Though I really hope they got the weight right!)

 

Where is it available to buy the black edition? I only see stores selling the yellow design.

 

The Samsung 700Z3C is nearly complete out of alu, I thought the 700Z5C has got a good case. But your right it hasn't got the same very good specs like the Asus. But no bad specs. And in my country it costs with max. equipment over 1600$! But I know precisely nothing spezial about the Samsung.

The specs of the avaible HP dv6 Notebooks in my country are very bad and not comparable with the Asus.

 

any pre-orders available with the 3632 CPU?