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

I have read about two 2.5" drive bays on Anandtech preview:
AnandTech - The ASUS Zenbook U500VZ: A 15-inch Ultrabook
but I think it's very probably that these bays are only for 7mm hard disk.

 

@MikeTLB... Are you sure the port on the right hand side between the subwoofer port and USB is a miniVGA? Are you sure it is not miniDisplayPort? MiniVGA is about as wide as a USB port but from the pictures that port doesn't look nearly that large.

miniVGA -- http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Mini-VGA_cropped.jpg

vs.

miniDisplayport -- http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Mini_DisplayPort_on_Apple_MacBook.jpg

 

I have asked the same question and Mike has confirmed mini VGA.
ASUS UX32VD has same mini VGA port and you can see in notebookcheck review:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Asus-Zenbook-UX32VD-Ultrabook.75591.0.html

Inviato dal mio GT-I9100 con Tapatalk 2

 

I'm really curious about the bays myself. Too bad Mike can't open it open it up to confirm.

I'm not sure if the bays will be up to 7mm only. Just had a look at newegg and there are no 7mm 500gb hard drives. The maximum I saw is 320gb. So it's either that they are up to 9.5mm or they got some unreleased 7mm 500gb drive from one of the HDD manufacturers.

 

http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/11/wd-7mm-scorpio-blue/

http://www.storagereview.com/western_digital_scorpio_blue_review_500gb_7mm_wd5000lpvt


Inviato dal mio GT-I9100 con Tapatalk 2

 

Thanks for the links. That's a possibility... Just noticed that it's just 5400rpm... Bummer. Really starting to hope the bays will accommodate 9.5mm drives, though that's probably wishful thinking.

 

But at least you could land 2x512GB SSD's in there Also, 5mm HDD's are coming soon.

 

Yeah I saw the 5mm drives announced recently, but highly doubt those will be any faster. I'd rather them start making 7mm at 7200rpm. 2x512gb would raise the price by at least $800

 

Yes it's true, it's just 5400rpm, but if you read linked review, you can see that WD 7mm drive has very impressive performance.
U500VZ will be available even with 2X256GB SSD version.

Inviato dal mio GT-I9100 con Tapatalk 2

 

This is a picture of the side: http://www.laptopmag.com/images/uploads/ppress/43882/Asus_Zenbook_g19.jpg

That is miniDisplayport, not miniVGA.

 

I skimmed through the review and checked out the benchmarks and while the performance is not bad it's being compared to other 5400rpm drives. Would've liked to see a comparison with a good 7200rpm drive.

 

At least it's cheaper per Gb when comparing to the upgrades offered by the manufacturer. Like that insane 500$+ price Apple charges for going from 256 to 512 when you can have a 256+512GB SSD's for that price.

 

Very true. That's why I'd really like to see manufacturers offering something like "half barebone" which would come with no ram and hard drives

 

Then they won't be making money. But I see how this would be beneficial to us.

 

Sorry, but a UX32Vd owner has confirmed to me that this is a miniVGA port and also notebookcheck has write miniVGA port.


Inviato dal mio GT-I9100 con Tapatalk 2

 

mini vga

mini dp

that doesn't matter much, for example i have a minidp to vga adapter for about ~$20 when i shopped for mbp accessories, but that is the mini dp on the side.
and the mini dp wins imho as it can be converted easily even into the second hdmi or dvi or vga.

 

I'm agree with you, miniDP is better than miniVGA, unfortunately every time that I have searched info about that, I found that Asus uses miniVGA...
miniVGA to VGA adapter is included in box of both UX32VD and U500.

 

For some reason their "mini vga" looks nothing like anybody else's mini vga but like everybody else's mini display.

Looking at this review: ASUS Zenbook Prime UX32VD-DB71 Review | Ultrabook Reviews

They even say the ux32vd has a minidisplay port while the ux31a has mini vga.

 

Anandtech confirms miniVGA even for UX32VD like notebookcheck:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5843/asus-zenbook-prime-ux21a-review

Inviato dal mio GT-I9100 con Tapatalk 2

 

I guess those are more reputable, you win.

 

Sorry for my intrusion guys, I'm the owner of the UX32VD Zenbook prime that Mac talked about. I can confirm that that connector is a MiniVGA. I took a photo with an Apple MiniDP to VGA a friend of mine gave to me when I was waiting the XPS15.



EDIT: not a great quality photo I've had to admit, but my Fuji isn't anything special when comes to macro zone...

 

That definitely isn't the same miniVGA port that Apple used... looks like a custom Asus thing.

 

or maybe the apple one is customized

 

Hmmmm. Now I'm confused.

I was in fact very sure that's miniVGA and no Mini Displayport, although from those pictures it does look a lot like the latter.

I'll try to double check, but that might take a couple of days, i don't ave the laptop around anymore..

 

Good news mDP is much better than miniVGA specially because there's an adapter to VGA.
Thanks, Mike

Inviato dal mio GT-I9100 con Tapatalk 2

 

wait wait, let me double check first. I've edited my post accordingly.

I'm looking at the pictures right now, and it looks like miniDP, but I can't say that for sure. Like I said, I was so sure that was miniVGA that I didn't check it out carefully enough.

 

Ok, so we must wait, but I guess it's very probably the mystery port is miniVGA.

Inviato dal mio GT-I9100 con Tapatalk 2

 

OK, not sure if this makes sense, but it looks like this port resembles a miniDP, but... you can see that the plastic interior is not as wide as on a standard miniDP Port. You get slightly bigger gaps on the sides, between the plastic interior, and the edges. Which makes me think it's some kind of inverted miniVGA, with the MALE on the laptop and the FEMALE on the adapter. Just my theory of course and can't be confirmed without a clear shot of the adapter, which... I did not take

see the pic, it's not ultrasharp but I don't have a better closeup than this one

 

Seems the same port of the picture that infoMatt has taken from UX32VZ:


So could be miniVGA

 

It seems like you're having some buyers' remorse about the envy. I just got my 3rd replacement, so I could actually return mine now although I ordered my first one in late June (lol problems). However, assuming similar prices, I honestly don't think the asus is a better option if you game occasionally to moderately (notice I said better option; I'm not saying the asus is worse in any way). This is because I'm reading 95C for initial tests in the first look, and knowing that this thing is <20mm, there's no way it can really keep the temperature at levels that will give me peace of mind. I know apple tried valiantly with the rMBP with 650M but that thing runs pretty damn hot. Unlike most computers, the envy keeps temps under control quite effectively.

I've gotta say though, it looks like asus did a fantastic job with the design. I wonder how build quality compares to the envy.

 

@Mike, could you test something like raising the back a little while gaming to see if it reduce the temperature?

The U500 has big vents on the underside but they are so close to the ground that the airflow may be very low.
Something as simple as this could lower the temperature 5 to 10 degrees easily.

 

You do need very small intakes for fresh air because the cold air floats in easily/automatically if you push the hot air out. But this is where I see the problem. The gap is pretty small where the heat should be pushed out of the housing.

 

do i wish that i had the asus over the envy? yes. do i regret buying my envy? no lol. I had a set time frame and the envy was the best option at that time. with tech i realized u gotta buy when you need it. I needed a laptop for college and my envy fit my requirements.

Honestly, if someone was willing to trade my envy for the zenbook i would take it even if i had to sacrifice some of the cooling for the less weight and sleekness.

Personally I would probably have been better off with the u31a cause i realized I don't have much time for games right now. and when i do that would probably be during break when im at home with access to my desktop.

Technology will continue to get better so its not good to live with regrets . The next envy I will be willing to bet will one up the u500 and the chain will go on. When i'm in the market again i will have to make the decision again to c what fits my needs.

for u i would say if u dont need a laptop right now, return the envy and try out the asus. I wish i had the money to try out both

 

Please tell me this machine has a TPM...


Sent from my generic electronic device using some lines of code and waves and stuff.

 

i guess i'm going to buy envy 15 i7 with 1080p, slap some antiglare screen protector and swap the ssd caddy to it from my envy 14 .. hope that will let me work outdoors better. i don't like to stare at myself in the mirror for long,lol

u500 seems like very costly cross-shop when it will be presented.

 

What do you need TPM for?

 

Bitlocker. But that's besides the point.

 

honestly i was really annoyed by the glossy screen of the envy but i have since gotten used to it. Also, if it is that bothersome, the brightness negates it. I have gotten an antiglare screen but havent gotten around to putting it on yet. ill let u know how it goes. yeah the u500 is going to be costly but it might be worth it considering thinness and weight difference. i would have to see it in person tho before i decide b/w the two because my roomate has the rmbp and that with the case doesnt really seem much different from my envy. yeah the envy is thicker but weight wise i felt the same.

 

that would be wonderful, i would totally appreciate if you'd show couple pics. i guess it would be very beneficial, if you could take a pic before and after installation, taken in manual camera mode with same exposition, so everyone could see how that exact protector changes the brightness output. :thumbsup: anyhow, i would really be thankful. i live in a galaxy far far away from havng a chance to hold any accessory for envy in my hands. only online shopping thing.
most of the time my laptop spends like this(in a pic), see how i managed the cooling, just hangs the most heating part in air same trick wouldn't work as good with asus i guess. plus some accessories that i already have would be handy.
http://i.imgur.com/QUlEFl.jpg

back on the topic comparing to envy and others:
i don't think weight can be much different. similar hardware, similar chassis material, similar screen panel. don't think asus can be much lighter, it should come at a cost. plus bigger battery will give some weight too. what about thickness, imho, with such a big height and width, the thickness won't make the world of difference, you know, one third of thickness, yes, but does 0.3" really change the whole experience with the same weight? maybe for someone, but not for me

 

I think a lot of it is purely for looks. It will definitely look a bit slimmer than your standard brick-bodied laptop.

 

im guessing its going to weigh 1-1.5 lbs less than the envy/xps 15, ~.5lbs less than vaio, and on par with the retina

as for pictures for the matte screen, i wont post them here cause this is the asus thread but i will post more than likely later today in the envy 15 thread here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...vy-15-32xx-intel-ivy-bridge-amd-7750m-96.html

 

Sony Vaio S15 and retina MacBook have same weight 2Kg.

Inviato dal mio GT-I9100 con Tapatalk 2

 

oh i thought viao was 4.9 and retina 4.4 mybad

----

@apkraven, i put on the antiglare protector. took freakin 2 hrs and i still got dust and air bubbles in it. the video tutorial guy is a beast at putting them on. im posting the pics in the envy 15 thread now

 

I need this laptop so bad! I'm such a junkie of this thread, I refresh it more then 5 times a day looking for new info about the device.

I sure hope there comes some information regarding models, their pricings and a delivery date.

Also hope they make the cooling system a bit better so they eliminate throttling!

 

I remember seeing it on some sites or even the reviewer's youtube video details section that it will be out in early-mid Nov at around $2000. I'm guessing cheaper versions may be near 1600 or 1700.

 

Anyone plans to run Linux on this ultrabook? Please let me know! I'm eager to know how well it'll work on release day...

 

probably not well.

 

This may have been posted before, but here are a few pictures from Asus's presentation at IFA.

Thickness: 6~19.7 mm
Viewing Angle: 178 degrees

 

Thanks for the link. Few of the laptops / ultrabooks I haven't seen before like the U38 and the business model. Looks like pretty soon there will be plenty of options with or without touchscreen and great to see Asus is starting to include FHD IPS panels on the majority of their new products. I wonder if other manufacturers will follow. 2013 might be the IPS year

 

Asus seems to be in love with IPS because Apple hasn't put IPS panels on their laptops yet. Of course, this means Asus is going to charge more dough for their laptops than they did before. Asus is also using more and more brushed aluminum. I feel like everything is moving toward higher-end products in competition with Apple. There's also the Asus U6 which looks like a compromise between price, thinness, CPU, and GPU.