ASUS UL30Vt-A1 Thin and Light 13.3-Inch Silver Laptop (12 Hours of Battery Life) | 
| Brand: Asus
Category: Personal Computer
List Price: $849.00
Buy New: $749.99
as of 9/7/2010 12:32 CDT details
You Save: $99.01 (12%)
New (6) Used (3) from $703.99
Seller: J&R Music and Computer World
Rating:  71 reviews
Sales Rank: 530
Color: Silver
Media: Personal Computers
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Number Of Items: 1
Batteries Included: Yes
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium
CPU Manufacturer: Intel
CPU Speed: 1.3
CPU Type: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processors: 2
System Memory: 4000
Memory Type: DDR2 SDRAM
Battery Type: Lithium Ion
Hard Drive Size: 500
Graphics RAM: 512
Free Memory Slots: 2
USB Ports: 3
Display Size: 13.3
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.7
Dimensions (in): 12.9 x 9.3 x 1
Legal Disclaimer: We do not in any way represent that any part we sell is legal to possess in your jurisdiction. Check with you local authorities to ensure it is legal for you to possess before buying!
MPN: UL30Vt-A1
Model: UL30Vt-A1
UPC: 884840561378
EAN: 0884840561378
ASIN: B0032FOKXS
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | 1.3GHz Intel SU7300 Core 2 Duo Processor | | • | 4GB of DDR3 RAM, 2 slots, 4GB Max | | • | 500GB SATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM); Wi-Fi 802.11 bgn; Bluetooth; 0.3M Webcam | | • | 13.3-Inch Widescreen HD LED LCD Display; NVidia G210M Graphics with 512MB DDR3 + Intel GMA 4500MHD (Switchable VGA) | | • | Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit) Operating System; 8 Cell 5600mAh Battery |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Product Description
Style and Performance in Perfect Harmony
The energy-efficient, slim, and stylish ASUS UL30Vt-A1 notebook redefines ultraportable notebooks with new power boosting features. Free yourself from power cords and start exploring with up to an amazing 12 hours of all-day battery life1. Powered by the ultra-low-voltage Intel Core2 Duo processor SU7300, and optimized with 4GB of DDR3 DRAM, ASUS GraphiX Boost switchable graphics, and exclusive Turbo33 technology, the UL30Vt-A1 takes you further than most other notebooks with eye-catching style, optimized performance, smart power usage, and a generous 500GB of storage. Its ultra-slim profile makes traveling a breeze and its 13.3-inch HD LED-backlit display offers bright, vibrant visuals and advanced energy efficiency.
Effortlessly navigate your e-mails and favorite websites with the enhanced multi-touch trackpad and complete important assignments with ease using the comfortable chiclet keyboard. The UL30Vt-A1 also features Altec Lansing speakers, plus SRS Premium Sound, for a home theater experience on the go. The UL30Vt-A1 is built from the ground up to give you the best value; it’s an ultraportable notebook that truly delivers mobility and power on demand.
 | Now there is an even bigger reason to get the UL Series by ASUS. Adding to a whole trophy case of awards is the latest 2009 Editor's Choice Award by Engadget. Voted by Engadget's editorial staff as LAPTOP OF THE YEAR, the UL series is the ultimate companion for your mobile computing needs. |
The most comprehensive ASUS 360 notebook warranty package is icing on the cake.
two-year global warranty Thirty-days flawless display guarantee Free two-way standard shipping 24-hour tech support seven days a week
Plus ASUS Accidental Damage Protection: ASUS UL30Vt-A1 also come with a One Year Accidental Damage Warranty protecting the notebook from drops, fire, spills, and surge.** 
Key Features - All-day computing with up to 12 hours of battery life1 (Learn more)
- Exceptionally compact and light, under 1-inch thin, and weighs less than 4 pounds
- Powered by the Intel Core2 Duo Processor SU7300 for energy efficiency (Learn more)
- Exclusive Turbo33 Technology for 33% system performance boost during process-intensive multi-tasking (Learn more)
- GraphiX Boost instantly switches between the energy-efficient built-in graphics and powerful ASUS Discrete Graphics Engine (Learn more)
- Color Shine 13.3-inch LED-backlit widescreen HD display that uses less energy and gives you an immersive cinematic experience (Learn more)
- 4GB of DDR3 system memory for smooth performance with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit installed
- 500GB hard drive for responsive, convenient storage and access to all your documents, music, videos, and photos
- Chiclet style keyboard and multi-touch trackpad for comfortable and intuitive use (Learn more)
- Built-in high-speed 802.11n wireless connectivity for Internet browsing
- Integrated webcam for connecting with your friends and family
- Altec Lansing speakers enhanced with SRS Premium Sound for home theater quality acoustics
- ASUS IceCool Technology provides a cool-to-the-touch palm rest
- ASUS 360 two-year global warranty and ASUS ADW one year accidental damage warranty* (Learn more)
Learn More Takes You Where You Want to Go
 | Experience up to 12 hours of all-day computing with the UL30Vt-A1 *. Thanks to its ultra-low-voltage Intel Core2 Duo processor SU7300, high-density Lithium Ion 8-cell battery, LED-backlit display, and ASUS Super Hybrid Engine (SHE), you can maximize your time on the move and minimize time plugged-in.
And with our new FastBoot Technology providing an ultra-fast boot time of only 30 seconds, you can use your PC anywhere, virtually right away. A generous 500GB of hard drive storage holds your favorite music, videos, and photos.
Compact, and under 1 inch thin, the UL30Vt-A1 fits virtually anywhere –freeing space up for books, files, or whatever else you need. The UL30Vt-A1 lets you focus on the essentials in life. With this kind of mobility, you get the peace of mind you deserve. |
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Instantly Boosts PC Performance
 | ASUS has innovatively designed the UL30Vt-A1 to provide you even more performance when you need it.
The ASUS exclusive Turbo33 technology automatically boosts the system performance by 33% and more. When process-intensive multi-tasking is needed, Turbo33 automatically takes CPU, memory and even graphics performance to a whole new level to ensure a smooth and seamless computing experience.
With this performance booster, the Intel Core2 Duo SU7300 is over 25% faster than a SU9400 CPU. This translates into almost 20% more overall system performance than a notebook powered by the SU9400.*** |
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Switch Between Extended Battery Life and Full Speed Graphics
 | The UL30Vt also features GraphiX Boost to instantly switch between the energy-efficient integrated graphics and the powerful ASUS Discrete Graphics Engine powered by NVIDIA CUDA enabled GeForce G210M.
This ASUS exclusive feature gives you the ability to maintain a perfect balance between conserving the battery life and enjoying surreal high-definition graphics.
With GraphiX Boost, you no longer have to sacrifice all-day battery life or jaw dropping graphics. Now you can switch between the two on-the-fly whenever high graphics processing demand is needed without having to reboot your system. It is truly graphics power on demand. |
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Energy Efficient Processing
 | The ASUS UL Series Laptops are the perfect balance of style and performance for mobile computing. They all feature an Ultra-Low-Voltage Intel® Core™2 Duo processor so that you can enjoy the performance and long battery life you need in the sleek designs you crave.
Sleek new ultra-thin laptops powered by the latest ultra-low-voltage Intel® Core™ processors deliver this unique balance of performance and power consumption to let you travel light and provide the performance you need for music, HD video, photos and more.
Intel® ULV processors are also optimized for battery life, so you can stay unplugged longer and use your laptop on the go without having to search for power outlets.
Full feature computing on the go – thin and light with long battery life – with Intel Inside®. |
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Eye-Catching Sophistication
 | Impress onlookers and complement any setting with the UL30Vt-A1’s brushed aluminum cover and a high-class appeal. From the first time you open the UL30Vt-A1 you notice the stunning interior casing around a display that brings color to life, and shines with a brilliant, high-gloss finish.
Plus, the chiclet style keyboard and spacious keys not only allow for a comfortable typing experience, but also prevent dust buildup, helping to keep your keyboard clean every time you use it.
Inspired by a butterfly’s grace, the UL30Vt-A1 carries the hallmark contours and slim elegance that separates it from the typical cookie-cutter notebook. |
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High Definition That Doesn’t Break the Bank
 | If you’re looking for mobile HD playback that doesn’t break the bank, with its 13.3-inch 16:9 ratio High Definition display, the UL30Vt-A1 is a great solution when you’re on the go.
When you’re at home or in the office, you can easily stream high definition media to external displays with its HDMI connectivity. Complemented with Altec Lansing speakers and SRS premium surround sound, the UL30Vt-A1 provides high-quality audio playback so there’s no need to invest in expensive speakers.
With the UL30Vt-A1, you can enjoy all your favorite movies and music where you want, when you want, with crisp clarity and great value that you will appreciate every time.
You can also instantly switch from integrated graphics to the ASUS Discrete Graphics Engine –powered by NVIDIA GeForce G210M GPU –to enjoy casual gaming and all your favorite movies and music with crisp clarity that you will appreciate every time. |
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Comfort Included
 | With ASUS IceCool Technology, you’re ensured extended battery life and a cool-to-touch surface, so, even after long computer sessions, there’s limited heat for optimized comfort.
With plenty of space to place your hands, the generous palm rest area makes typing on the chiclet style keyboard an enjoyable experience. It’s comfort made easy. |
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ASUS Exclusive Windows 7 Features
 | Experience FastBoot, the unique performance boost for Windows 7 made possible by ASUS’s close partnership with Microsoft.
With ASUS exclusive FastBoot technology, Windows 7 64-bit-enabled ASUS notebooks start up in a staggering 30 seconds. That is 40% faster than 32-bit operating systems.
ASUS helps get you up and running faster than ever before.
System performance is subject to system configuration. This data is based on a comparison between a FastBoot-optimized ASUS notebook running 64-bit Windows 7 and an identically-configured notebook without FastBoot running 32-bit Windows Vista. For more details regarding the test results, please visit the information site. |
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ASUS 360* -- Comprehensive Notebook Warranty Package Included  | ASUS complimentary notebook care package.
ASUS 360 offers a level of coverage that would add hundreds of dollars to the price of competing laptops:
Two year global warranty
Thirty days flawless display guarantee
Two way free standard shipping
24/7 tech support |
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ASUS ADW* -- 1 Year Accidental Damage Warranty**  | Accidents happen. But when they happen to your ASUS notebook purchased in the US or Canada, you have extra protection. Whether your notebook is damaged by accidental spills, drops, electrical surges, or fire, ASUS will fix it or replace it for you during the first year after purchase.**
Warranty covering accidental drops, spills, power surges, and fire damage
Target 3 business day turnaround time for repair / replacement; not including receiving and shipping time
One-way shipping (from ASUS to the user) at no additional cost
24 hour toll-free phone support
One incident covered per notebook |
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ASUS Makes Your Windows 7 Experience Better
 | Recently rated #1 in consumer reliability among Windows-based PCs by SquareTrade, and PCMag.com, ASUS gives you the peace of mind you deserve every time you start your UL30Vt-A1 notebook.†
ASUS worked extensively with Microsoft to develop time-saving features like FastBoot technology –reducing the time needed for startup and shutdown by up to 40% –and LocalMe –a GPS-like application.
Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. And, thanks to Windows 7’s enhanced power management, you can enjoy unplugged gaming longer.
Click HERE to learn more about the time-saving ASUS FastBoot feature. |
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Warranty ASUS 360* (2 Years Global Warranty) + ASUS ADW* (1 Year Accidental Damage Warranty**) + Flawless Display Guarantee ASUS UL30Vt-A1 comes with ASUS 360 (2 years global warranty), ADW (1 Year Accidental Damage Warranty*) and Flawless Display Guarantee. If the purchaser discovers one defective bright dot within 30 days of purchase, ASUS will replace the panel without cost to the purchaser.
What's in the Box ASUS UL30Vt-A1 AC Adapter 8 cell Battery Pack Warranty Information Cards
Specifications Operating System: Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Display: 13.3-inch HD LED-backlit Widescreen (1366 x 768) Intel Platform: Intel Core2 Duo processor SU7300 (1.3GHz) Graphics: Switchable: Intel GMA 4500MHD and ASUS DGE powered by NVidia GeForce G210M with 512MB VRAM Wireless: WLAN 802.11b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz) LAN: 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet Memory: 4GB DDR3 DRAM, 2GB x 2 (upgradable to 8GB) Storage: 500GB 5,400RPM Hard Drive Camera: 0.3 Megapixel Speakers: SRS Premium Stereo Speakers by Altec Lansing, Hi-Definition Audio CODEC Microphone Digital Array Microphones Card Reader: 1 x 4-in-1 card reader: MMC, MS, MS-Pro, SD Input/Output: 1 x Mic-in, 1 x audio-out (S/PDIF), 1 x VGA, 3 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x RJ45 LAN, 1 x HDMI Keyboard: 13.70-inch keyboard with MS Windows function keys Battery Pack: 8-cell Lithium Ion High Density Battery - Up to 12 hours1 Dimensions: 12.68 (L) x 9.17 (W) x 0.59 ~ 0.97 (H) –inches Approximate Weight: 3.7 lbs (with 8-cell battery) Color: Silver
1Estimated maximum battery life test was done in ASUS Power4Gear battery saving mode with Mobile Mark 2007. Actual battery life may vary based on product settings, usage patterns and environmental conditions.
† Rated number 1 Windows-based PC maker in PCMag.com’s Service & Reliability Report 2009. Rate number 1 PC brand according to SquareTrade, the leading direct-to-consumer warranty company (for more information visit http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109/ ).
*For notebooks purchased on or after Sept. 10, 2007. The ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty covers “ASUS” brand notebooks only, and does NOT extend to: “Built on ASUS”, “ASMobile”, “Powered by ASUS”, the Eee PC, or some other models. These retailers are currently among the companies that do NOT participate in the ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty: Best Buy, MicroCenter, and The Source by CircuitCity in Canada. Limited of one claim per notebook for Accidental Damage Warranty. ASUS reserves the right to discontinue this program and to modify the terms and conditions thereof at any time. ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty Program starts from the date of your ASUS notebook purchase, when all the requirements are met.
**One incident covered per notebook
***Performance figures were tested in PCMark 2005 v1.2.0 in 1366x768x32bit. Figures are for reference only and may vary depending on system setup and conditions.
All specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers on selected models. Products may not be available in all markets. Product may not be exactly as shown in photos.
Celeron, Celeron Inside, Centrino, Centrino Inside, Core Inside, Intel, Intel Logo, Intel Atom, Intel Atom Inside, Intel Core, Intel Inside, Intel Inside Logo, Intel Viiv, Intel vPro, Itanium, Itanium Inside, Pentium, Pentium Inside, Viiv Inside, vPro Inside, Xeon, and Xeon Inside are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.
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Product Description
The energy-efficient, slim, and stylish ASUS UL30Vt-A1 notebook redefines ultraportable notebooks with new power boosting features. Free yourself from power cords and start exploring with up to an amazing 12 hours of all-day battery life1. Powered by the ultra-low-voltage Intel Core2 Duo processor SU7300, and optimized with 4GB of DDR3 DRAM, ASUS GraphiX Boost switchable graphics, and exclusive Turbo33 technology, the UL30Vt-A1 takes you further than most other notebooks with eye-catching style, optimized performance, smart power usage, and a generous 500GB of storage. Its ultra-slim profile makes traveling a breeze and its 13.3-inch HD LED-backlit display offers bright, vibrant visuals and advanced energy efficiency.Effortlessly navigate your e-mails and favorite websites with the enhanced multi-touch trackpad and complete important assignments with ease using the comfortable chiclet keyboard. The UL30Vt-A1 also features Altec Lansing speakers, plus SRS Premium Sound, for a home theater experience on the go. The UL30Vt-A1 is built from the ground up to give you the best value; it's an ultraportable notebook that truly delivers mobility and power on demand. All-day computing with up to 12 hours of battery life1Exceptionally compact and light, under 1-inch thin, and weighs less than 4 poundsPowered by the Intel Core2 Duo Processor SU7300 for energy efficiencyExclusive Turbo33 Technology for 33% system performance boost during process-intensive multi-taskingGraphiX Boost instantly switches between the energy-efficient built-in graphics and powerful ASUS Discrete Graphics EngineColor Shine 13.3-inch LED-backlit widescreen HD display that uses less energy and gives you an immersive cinematic experience4GB of DDR3 system memory for smooth performance with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit installed500GB hard drive for responsive, convenient storage and access to all your documents, music, videos, and photosChiclet style keyboard
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 71
 Very innovative notebook January 9, 2010
Dave (Portland)
87 out of 91 found this review helpful
I got to use this laptop for a few days and it's brought me dangerously close to buying one for myself. If you are looking for a thin-and-light notebook with great battery life and a little gaming life under the hood this is (in my opinion) the best choice on the market today. What sets this notebook apart is two things:
1. At the push of a button you can switch from a low power Intel 4500HD graphics processor to a higher power NVidia G210M with 512MB DDR3 RAM (this defaults on when plugged in and defaults off when unplugged).
2. At the push of a button you can enable the "Turbo 33" mode which uses a mix of hardware (such as overclocking the cpu) and software to boost performance by up to 33%. I ran some basic benchmarks and it seemed to work pretty well.
CPU - The 1.3GHz Intel SU7300 Core 2 Duo Processor 3MB Cache 800MHz FSB is a great fit. Some of the thin-and-lights in this class ship with either a Core Solo (i.e. single core) or Celeron CPU. I tend to avoid both because the single core CPUs tend to choke on all the Internet Security software you need these days and the Celerons come with cut-down cache and now power saving modes.
RAM - The included 4GB of DDR3 is just the right amount to really start taking advantage of a 64 bit O.S. I also like that Asus used DDR3 which uses less power than DDR2.
HDD - It comes with a 500GB hard disk drive which is more than most users need today. The 5400RPM speed is slower than the 7200RPM drive you will find on some models but I prefer the reliability and power savings that come with a 5400RPM drive.
DISPLAY - The 13.3 inch widescreen is glossy and reasonably bright. Outdoor use will suffer from some glare but the backlit screen helps. I found the vertical viewing angles are a little tight but it wasn't a big deal.
GRAPHICS - As mentioned above it switches between a low power Intel 4500HD graphics chip on the motherboard (fine for most non-gaming tasks) and a more power hungry NVidia G210M that will actually let you do a some 3D gaming (though newer games will still run best at reduced settings). This simple and clever innovation really sets Asus apart. Oh and either chipset can do 1080P HD video.
Battery - It's rare to get a battery this good in a notebook this thin: 8 cell 5600mAh. I couldn't get the claimed 12 hours of battery life but I got very close (doing a normal mix of MS Office tasks and web browsing I got just shy of 11 hours). Even doing very compute intensive tasks like gaming or playing back video I went over 6 hours. Most notebooks can't run Word that long.
Touchpad - At first I hated the touchpad but as I got used to it I really liked it. It two-finger scrolling and three-finger right click which may trip you up at first but after a few days you won't want to go back.
It comes with most of the usual stuff: HDMI port (for an external monitor or compatible TV), Ethernet port, wireless b/g/n, 3 USB ports, headphone jack, microphone jack, and a vga (for an external monitor). It does lack any kind of optical drive, so no playing CDs or DVDs without an external drive. For this you would need the ASUS UL80Vt-A1 14-Inch Thin and Light Black Laptop. It's a "thin-and-light" which as you would guess means it is thin (1") and light (3.75lbs). I also found it to be very quiet. It comes with a facial recognition feature that allows you to login without a password but this was disabled by our IT department so I wasn't able to try it out.
I see a lot of notebooks and I've generally been impressed with the build quality of Asus notebooks. The build on this model looks great and it's helped by the sleek and simple design: no fancy little bits that fall off in a year. In my opinion this is the thin-and-light to have if you need great battery life but don't want to give up all the fun. If you don't do any 3D gaming you don't need the Nvidia chipset and you probably should save a little money on a notebook without it such as the nearly identical ASUS UL30A-A2 Thin and Light 13-3-Inch Silver Laptop. Otherwise this is a great choice for a student or business traveler who likes to do a little gaming.
Sweet machine, very impressed June 16, 2010
Suman Chakrabarti (Pittsburgh, PA)
18 out of 18 found this review helpful
I was trying to decide whether I wanted an iPad or a netbook, but neither really fit the bill. I'm a photographer and I need to have a machine that's fast enough for photography, but something light enough to carry. I never use DVDs to install anything anymore and I need a lot of battery life. This machine is the best choice for me.
Pros:
Battery life: On full power, 4 hrs. On normal use, 9 hours. On power saving, about 11+ hrs. UNBELIEVABLE!
Graphics card: I need a video card that can support Photoshop CS4/5 and Lightroom 3. I don't play games, but I figure 512MB of RAM would be good for that.
Keyboard: absolutely love the chicklet keyboard. It has Home/End keys which are important to me and don't exist on HPs similar line.
LED Monitor: unbelievably clear. Still nice to have an HDMI port to output to my 23" monitor, too, but great for on the road.
Weight: This thing is ~4 lbs. No need to carry the cord, since the battery life is awesome.
Quickboot: It has a nice quickboot option that allows you to boot to a lightweight browser and skype experience. Neat, but Win7 boots so fast, I'm not sure I need it.
Turbo mode/overclocking: Very nice option, not entirely sure I'll use it, but still, very nice.
500GB Drive: They partition the drive so drive0 is ~120GB and drive1 is ~340GB. The rest is used for the reinstall partition.
Cons:
Facial recognition login: I like the idea, but the camera resolution is too low for it to work well. They'd have done better by not doing it at all.
Touchpad: It's nice. It does the 2-finger tap to double-click and 3-finger tap to right click, but it's slightly inaccurate and I have to get used to it. I like using a mouse anyways.
Turbo-mode: you have to reboot to switch to turbo mode. Just doesn't seem worth it.
Bloatware: DON'T INSTALL CRAPPY SOFTWARE I WON'T USE ON MY MACHINE!!!
I have several machines, and this one is definitely my new favorite!
This laptop is the BOMB!!! (In a good way) January 20, 2010
Thomas Schroth (Marietta, GA United States)
26 out of 28 found this review helpful
I am told I over analyze purchases and must say I have been watching laptops for a couple of years. My goals were lightweight and portable but not so small I could not read the screen and LONG battery time. After all it is a portable! I tried a 15.6 but what a moose! A 14" seemed just right but the chassis was bigger and heavier. I was afraid of a 13.3 but then it dawned on me that is was the same resolution as the 14 and only .7" smaller, not a full inch. I went from store to store lining a 14's up next to a 13.3's and I really could not tell the difference! Listen my fellow middle agers,I have exceptionally poor eyesight so if it worked for me it will for you! (no offense to my eye Surgeon, Dr. Barry Lee, he did a great job with what I gave him to work with!).
I have a powerful desktop so I did not need a desktop replacement class Laptop. I also can't stand a slow poke so a netbook was out and so was a celeron. The T6600 CPUS are the sweet spot for price and value and they are plenty snappy but they are power hungry (compared to the SU's). The SU7300 was just the ticket. Yes, I got the TURBO 33 VT version but I don't think that matters at all. I wanted it for bragging rights only. Same goes for the separate GPU, I want to hedge my bets in case I do some vector art editing. I am NOT a gamer.
I wrestled with the lack of a DVD drive but hey you can download ANYTHING, DVD drives are really on the way out, don't sweat it!It's worth the size and weight savings. The keyboard is REALLY GREAT, I am not a touch typist and the keys have nice spacing and definition. (I would have paid BIG money for a back lit keyboard but that just narrows the field TOO MUCH. Touchpad is fine also but I live with my Logitech NANO V450 mouse anyway.
The battery life is the real deal and that sold me on this unit. I am coming up on 4 hrs with wifi, bright screen, remote desktop, iTunes, 2 browsers and only down 25% on the battery. Seriously! I charge it and leave without the power cord. I really wanted the silver cover after seeing a black one in person it really showed finger prints. Silver is GREAT!
Another thing I like about the VT version is a little bit faster DRAM and Bus, I don't believe anyone could tell a difference but it makes me feel like I have the latest and greatest and am hedging my bets regarding being outdated sooner then later. If you need to save a few dollars, don't worry about it!
There are no compromises here and if you don't know ASUS, they have been around FOREVER and have been an OEM supplier since, like FOREVER! Don't get hung up on the big name companies, it means nothing! The ONLY complaint is the lack of documentation. I got NOTHING to help me figure out the VT features like discrete graphics switching or the Turbo boost (That's the over clocking feature. It steps the CPU up 33% This is VERY unnecessary, I can not come close to pushing this thing in standard mode.) I suspect most will never adjust these features anyway but HEY ASUS, are you listening? Send me a manual, pdf is fine! If its on here somewhere then you made it too hard to find! :)
ASUS got it right on the second try June 19, 2010
ubat (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
I was thrilled when I removed the Asus UL30VT-X1K from its box and set it up. For a third of the price, it seemed as good, if not better, than the top-of-the-line 13.3" Sony Vaio that had died on me after a mere year and a half of use, and no abuse.
Beautiful 13.3" LED screen, good specs -- fast, energy-saving processor, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, hybrid graphics card, fantastic battery life -- and the chiclet keyboard I'd learned to use and love in my Vaio? It seemed perfect. Except for one slight glitch: the Intel graphics chipset failed after 72 hours. Diagnosing the problem was easy enough; fixing it was not. I returned the laptop to Amazon feeling horribly let down and disappointed. I'd come so close to finding a replacement for my Vaio and it had fallen through in such a big way. (One observation: Amazon refunded me with no delays or arguments.)
Call me an idiotic optimist, but I wasn't about to write ASUS off so easily. In the scant 72 hours I'd fiddled with the UL30VT, I'd really loved it. I also understood that, no matter how rigorous quality control can be (in this case, both ASUS and Intel's), flukes will happen. And given my history -- you don't want to know --, they will usually happen to me... So what did I do? I got myself an identical replacement.
I received it, set it up and began the countdown to failure. To my delight, it didn't happen. Two messed up units would have quenched any optimism and blacklisted ASUS to me 'til hell froze over... As the days passed, I rebuilt my trust in the brand and really began to use this little machine for all it is worth.
The problem with me is, not just any laptop will do. What I look for:
* Low weight -- I travel a lot and can't lug lead bricks around. At 3.8 lbs., it's as good as it gets for a machine with its specs.
* An AC that doesn't look and weigh like another lead brick. This one is a lot smaller and lighter than similar machines', and with a long cord.
* Fast processing, with plenty of RAM -- I edit photos, same as another satisfied reviewer.
* A big enough screen (over 12.1"), great quality-wise.
* Generous storage space.
* Bluetooth and wireless.
* A comfortable, ergonomic, well laid out keyboard, because besides editing photos I also write a lot.
* Off-board graphics card or a hybrid graphics solution, for obvious reasons.
* As many USB ports as can fit on the laptop. This one has three, not bad at all for its size (the Vaio only had two, hah).
* A machine that is pleasing to the eye and nice to touch is a bonus.
The UL30VT has it all. Plus a webcam + mic, which I may end up using some day. And it is beautifully thin, taking up little space in my backpack.
What I don't need:
* A trackpad, because I always use a mouse.
* A DVD / CD drive. I can install or back up to an external hard drive or my network.
* Shiny surfaces. Yes, this machine has them all over. They make it sleeker, but not easier to maintain fingerprint-free. I can live with that.
The UL30VT truly is a pleasure to work with. It is responsive, quick, clever and didn't come with too much brand bloatware -- very little, in fact, compared to Sony and HP machines. I have Turbo mode on all the time, and taking no energy-saving measures will give me almost 5 hours of battery time with no noticeable lag in performance. If I make an effort to stretch it by doing all the things ASUS recommends, the battery lasts over 10 hours. I have never had a laptop with such an impressive battery life. The Kindle for PC software was also a nice little touch. I can see myself reading on the computer's very clear screen, but more than that, being able to carry my bird field guide in the computer's hard drive and not in my backpack -- this is the only Kindle download I've made so far -- is very, very handy.
The ASUS UL30VT is truly conceived to be portable. It balances heft and resources very well, giving me the best of both worlds for a price that seems more than reasonable. I am very happy that I gave ASUS a second chance.
Light, Powerful, Cost Effective 13.3", a "Must Have" February 6, 2010
P. Purcell (USA)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
I have been following the 13.3" laptop market for the past year waiting for someone to offer one with a powerful video card at a fairly low price. ASUS has done it with the UL30Vt! This is the second ASUS we have in our household and it definitely does not disappoint -- the build quality is as good or better than the other name brand laptops we have in our stable and I traded a 14.1" HP for this. I do not regret it.
Pros:
- Light -- I can carry it one handed anywhere I go and I'm not worried about dropping it.
It is like carrying a spiral notebook!
- Great video card -- The laptop automatically switches between an intel video chipset
(low power demand) and a powerful NVIDIA card when as you plug and unplug the laptop
into the powercord.
- Great screen -- the HD screen is awesome and looks better than others provided by other
well known brands.
- DDR3 Ram -- blazing fast and low power usage.
- Intel Power efficient processor -- while the intel chip is rated below 2.0 Mz, it runs
faster than my 2.6Mz chip on my work laptop that also has DDR3 memory. Don't know how,
but it gets better "Experience Ratings". Also, you can overclock the chip using ASUS
software, but I haven't needed to.
- Cool -- the machine runs cool. I have never had it become uncomfortably warm.
- Battery life -- battery lasts a long time. Have put in a 7200 RPM HDD to replace the one
provided by ASUS... and the battery lasts 10 hours or more.
- Looks -- holy smokes, looks cooler than my daughter's school MacBook Pro. I cannot
keep her off my machine.
- Keyboard -- I was a bit leery of the 'chicklet' keyboard as I learned to type on a a
"Selectric". However, the keyboard supports my heavy typing style and hasn't slowed me down.
Cons:
- A bit more 'bloatware' than I expected, but most was ASUS software to try to make the
machine more 'user friendly' Had fun figuring out what to turn off...
Overall?
- A great buy and I'm glad I waited. There are at least two other named brand laptops that offer a similar laptop
(switching video cards to save power) but they run at least twice this price or more. ASUS created a winner here...
... and I'm the ultimate skeptic of computer hardware.
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