ASUS UL30A-A2 Thin and Light 13-3-Inch Silver Laptop - 12 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium) Review
I have just received this laptop a couple of hours ago, so these are my first impressions:
- keyboard: I almost did not buy this laptop because of other reviewers comments on an allegedly lame keyboard and almost unusable track-pad. I decided to give it a shot anyway. I'm glad. The keyboard (I'm typing on it right now) is in fact quite a bit nicer than most laptops I have had, and I've gone through 10 laptops in 2009, this one's my second for 2010, the other one being a brand new macbookpro 15" purchased in January to give some context)
When it comes to laptop typing, I'm particularly picky. This keyboard is solid, well put together, full size almost and MOST IMPORTANTLY, it has a dedicated page up / page down set of keys which do not require the Fn+arrow gymnastics some of the other brands put us through. This, my friends, is a keyboard that has been developed by someone who knew (s)he would have to use it. And it shows.
The chiclet thing is ok, we all got used to it since apple big push for it, so that's nothing out of the ordinary.
- track-pad: the other thing that held me back was the track-pad. Granted it isn't the best in the land but I have no idea what the other reviewers found in there that they actually found to be almost a deal breaker. I will say that it's slightly to sensitive, so it will click sometimes when the cursor is "on the way" to an icon. You may start applications inadvertently. hmmm, ok but it still will let me use the laptop when I'm on the plane and I don't have room for an external mouse. And I'll use a mouse (microsoft arc, best thing out there) when real estates allows.
the gestures work remarkably well. As some other commenters said, nothing close to apple's though.
- quality: some people have said this unit to be creaky. They're right. It's not worse than my toshiba R600-S4212 which sells for ,500 right now. So I don't consider this to be terrible. It compares very well with my Vaio Z series which we bought for ,800, so not bad in that regard.
- hd: this is the scary part in my opinion. As I said, I JUST got the unit, and when I pick up the laptop while it's loaded (I'm a developer, I often have code building in the background while I'm surfing the web for documentation) and that's SCARY. it sounds like the drive head is touching the platter or something. That is truly my worst concern. I have looked at the bottom of the unit and there is a door for the hard drive, which is a 2.5" so I may be able to take the wacky drive out and replace it with an after market ssd for my own peace of mind when I'm traveling.
- screen: as good as anything, I think this is really one of the strong point of this little guy. it's clear, contrast is good, vertical angle is a little funny: you get a much better quality if you open the screen all the way. For people used to only have the screen propped at 90 degrees, it may be something to adjust to. Horizontal angle is good, which is a bummer in my case, I'll have to buy a privacy film because the person next to me on the plane would have no problem reading on my screen.
- webcam: never mind. It's a joke. That's all I have to say about that. It's still nice that they put it in.
- battery life: can't comment, I haven't the unit long enough to say anything about that. I will say that the a2 comes with the longer-lasting 5600mAh 8-cell battery 84Wh. Same battery as in the ul50.
- weight: hmmm, I would say it is surprisingly heavy for its size in all honesty. It's almost like it's make of lead and enriched uranium. And don't blame it on the battery. It's still ok, but definitely waaaaay heavier than the toshiba r600. it's also less than a third of the price, so, you do get what you pay for.
I will edit this as I go if experience tells me otherwise..
--EDIT. Monday, March 1st 2010.
carrying the laptop from my office (downstairs) to my bedroom (upstairs), the hd make loud noises like the heads were hitting the surface and caused the laptop to cease functioning altogether.
I would strongly recommend anyone buying this little laptop to include a 2.5" SSD in the purchase to make it truly usable. This HD is just non functional for a laptop. Maybe I have a bad unit but if so, it does speak to some other reviewers concerns about overall quality. I'm fortunate enough to have a macbookpro I could fall back to in order to remain functional for work this morning but this is a major issue. I'm debating whether to RMA the unit.
ASUS UL30A-A2 Thin and Light 13-3-Inch Silver Laptop - 12 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium) Feature
- 1.3GHz Intel SU7300 Core 2 Duo Processor
- 4GB of DDR3 RAM, 2 slots, 4GB Max
- 500GB SATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
- 13.3" HD LED LCD Display, Intel GMA 4500MHD, 0.3M Webcam, Wi-Fi 802.11 bgn
- Windows 7 Home Premium Operating System (64 bit), *12 Hours of Battery Life
ASUS UL30A-A2 Thin and Light 13-3-Inch Silver Laptop - 12 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium) Overview
Weighing less than 4lbs and measuring less than an inch thin, the new ASUS UL30A is a harmonious blend of form and function. Powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo ultra-low voltage processor, it boasts an impressive 16-hour battery life for all-day computing. It also sports user-centric features such as a multi-gesture touchpad and provides an impressive multimedia entertainment experience with Altec Lansing speakers and SRS Premium Sound. All of these features and more are shrouded in a robust brushed aluminum lid that not only looks magnificent, but also helps in maintaining the notebook’s stylish exterior day after day. ASUS notebooks come with ASUS’ 360 service program that includes a 2 year global warranty, one month zero bright dot guaranty, free two-way shipping and twenty-four hour tech support seven days a week. Plus it comes with a FREE One Year Accidental Damage Warranty protecting your notebook from drops, fire, spills and surges.
ASUS UL30A-A2 Thin and Light 13-3-Inch Silver Laptop - 12 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium) Specifications
Free yourself from power cords and start exploring with up to an amazing 12 hours of all-day battery life with the ASUS UL30A-A2, thanks to its Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor and 13.3-inch LED-backlit display, which combines vibrant visuals with advanced energy efficiency. This stylish, ultra-portable notebook features a brushed aluminum lid that not only looks magnificent, but also helps in maintaining its stylish exterior day after day. The UL30A also features a multi-gesture touchpad, which enables you to intuitively zoom in or out of pictures via pinching, or navigate up and down pages by sliding your finger.
Learn more about Windows 7 Home Premium below. |
13.3-inch LED-backlit HD high definition display with a 16:9 aspect ratio. |
An all-day computing companion, the ASUS UL30A provides up to 12 hours of battery life. |
The chiclet style keyboard and spacious keys allow for a comfortable typing experience and also prevents dust buildup. |
Pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (64-bit version), you'll be able to easily create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. Windows 7 is the easiest, fastest, and most engaging version of Windows yet. Better ways to find and manage files, like Jump Lists and improved taskbar previews, help you speed through everyday tasks. Windows 7 is designed for faster and more reliable performance, so your PC just works the way you want it to. (Learn more about Windows 7 Home Premium below.)
Experience FastBoot, the unique performance boost for Windows 7 made possible by ASUS's close partnership with Microsoft. With ASUS exclusive FastBoot technology, this Windows 7-enabled ASUS notebook starts up in a staggering 30 seconds.
Compact and under 1-inch thin, you can fit the UL30A virtually anywhere--freeing space for books, files, or whatever else you need to enjoy a spacious workspace. The UL30A includes Altec Lansing speakers plus SRS surround for a virtual home theater experience on the go, as well as an HDMI port for connecting to an HDTV at home. You'll be able to store all of your favorite applications, most important documents, and large video and audio libraries with the generous 500 GB hard drive. Other features include 4 GB of DDR3 RAM (maximum capacity), integrated webcam, Draft-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g/n), Intel GMA 4500MHD integrated video graphics, and multi-format memory card reader.
 | 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. |
And where some PC manufacturers only offer 1 year of warranty service, the ASUS UL30A comes standard with a 2-year global ASUS 360 warranty as well as 1 year of Accidental Damage Warranty (ADW).
Key Features
- High-gloss 13.3-inch LED-backlit HD high definition display with 1366 x 768 resolution (16:9 aspect ratio) that uses less energy and still gives you an immersive cinematic experience (Learn more)
- Up to 12 hours of battery life from 8-cell battery (5600mAh)
- Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. And you can watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV on Windows Media Center. Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium. (Learn more)
- Get more features with Windows Anytime Upgrade. It's the best way to add features to Windows 7, takes as few as ten minutes, requires no software or downloads, and you'll keep your existing programs, files, and settings. Windows will walk you through the simple upgrade process.
- Chiclet style keyboard and multi-touch trackpad for comfortable and intuitive use (Learn more)
- ASUS IceCool Technology for cool-to-the-touch palm rest
- Exclusive Express Gate feature enables ultra-fast boot so you can connect to the web in just 10 seconds
- Energy efficient, dual core 1.3 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor with ultra-low voltage for extended battery life (Learn more)
- 500 GB SATA hard drive (5400 RPM)
- 4 GB of installed DDR3 RAM (1066 MHz; 2 x SODIMM slots; 4 GB maximum capacity)
- Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD integrated video processing
- 0.3-megapixel webcam for connecting with friends and family over video chats
- ASUS SmartLogon facial recognition system detects your face and logs on automatically
- Draft-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g/n)
- HDMI high-definition audio/video output allows a single cable to transmit uncompressed high-definition video to your digital TV or LCD
- Altec Lansing speakers enhanced with SRS Premium Sound for home theatre quality acoustics (Learn more)
- ASUS Super Hybrid Engine for extended battery life
- Dimensions: 12.9 x 9.28 x 0.98 inches (WxDxH)
- Weight: 3.74 pounds (with battery
- Warranty: 2 year global warranty and 1 year accidental damage warranty (Learn more)
Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
With its integrated Draft-N Wi-Fi networking capabilities, this laptop provides up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range using 802.11n-compatible routers as you would with 802.11g networks. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found at Wi-Fi hotspots and in older home routers). This notebook also provides Fast (10/100) Ethernet networking.
- 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
- 1 HDMI output for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable
- Analog video output: 1 VGA
- 5-in-1 memory card reader compatible with Secure Digital (SD), MultiMedia Card (MMC), Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, and xD Picture Card
- 1 headphone jack (S/PDIF digital audio output), 1 microphone jack
- 10/100 Fast Ethernet
What's in the box
This package contains the ASUS UL30A-A2 notebook PC, AC adapter, rechargeable 8-cell battery, and user manual
Learn More
The 13.3-inch LED-backlit display offers bright, vibrant visuals and advanced energy efficiency, and it has a high-definition resolution (1366 x 768) and 16:9 ratio display for watching movies and HDTV programming without annoying black bars. It's supported by an integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics processor for cinematic visual quality. Equipped with HDMI connectivity, you can easily stream media whether you're on the move or through an external display at home or in the office.
The UL30A is complemented with Altec Lansing speakers--30 percent more powerful compared to those found on conventional notebooks--and SRS premium surround sound, providing high-quality audio playback without the need to connect to external speakers. The angle of the speakers also allows audio to be "bounced" upwards from any surface to provide better amplification, delivering a wider frequency range, which in turn produces lower pitches that allow users to hear every reverberation of the drums, as well as every note in pitch perfect quality.
Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. You can even watch, pause, rewind, and record TV. Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium.
| Simplify everyday tasks | Work the way you want | Make new things possible |
 |  |  |
- Simplify your PC with new navigation features like Aero Shake, Jump Lists, and Snap.
- Customize Windows to look and feel the way you like by changing themes and taskbar programs.
- Setting up a home network and connecting to printers and devices is easier than ever.
- Windows 7 Home Premium supports the latest hardware and software.
| - Designed to make your PC sleep and resume quicker.
- Takes full advantage of 64-bit PC hardware and memory.
- Connecting to wireless networks is fast and easy.
| - Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV with Windows Media Center.
- Watch your favorite DVD movies.
- Includes integrated video and Dolby audio codecs.
|
Jump Lists
New in Windows 7, Jump Lists take you right to the documents, pictures, songs, or websites you turn to each day. To open a Jump List, just right-click a program icon on the Windows 7 taskbar. (You'll also find them on the Start menu.) What you see in a Jump List depends entirely on the program. The Jump List for Internet Explorer 8 shows frequently-viewed websites. Windows Media Player 12 lists commonly-played tunes. Your Jump List missing a favorite? You can "pin" whatever files you like there. Jump Lists don't just show shortcuts to files. Sometimes they also provide quick access to commands for things like composing new e‑mail messages or playing music.
Improved Windows Taskbar
In Windows 7 you can "pin" favorite programs anywhere on the taskbar for easy access. Not crazy about the icon lineup? Now you can rearrange them any way you like by clicking and dragging. Finally, there are new ways to preview windows. Point to a taskbar icon to see a thumbnail preview of open files or programs. Then, move your mouse over a thumbnail to preview the window full-screen. You can even close windows from the thumbnail previews--a big time saver.
Snap
Ever need to cut through a cluttered desktop and quickly focus on a single window? Just click a pane and give your mouse a shake. Every open window except that one instantly disappears. Jiggle again--and your windows are back.
Offering the latest in ultra-low voltage processing power, the dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 has a has a power consumption rating of just 10 watts and a 1.3 GHz speed that's paired with a fast 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB) and 3 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)
 | Intel Core 2 Duo Processor: The Dual-Core that Delivers Impressive Power While Saving Energy
Featuring dual cores that power through the most intensive tasks, the Intel Core 2 Duo processor lets you surf the web, download content, connect with friends--and do it all with ease. Intel Advanced Smart Cache technology minimizes wait times by allocating more access to frequently used data to the processing core that needs it most. Intel's power-saving capabilities enable fast, cool-running performance even in a compact form factor. |
 | Intel Centrino 2 Processor Technology: Breakthrough Technology for Mobile Creativity
With dual-core processing, ultra-fast wireless and exclusive energy conservation features, Intel Centrino 2 processor technology lets you achieve more, aspire higher, and log many more miles between battery charges. Optimized wireless capabilities provide up to 2x greater range and up to 5x better Wi-Fi performance1. Intel Clear Video Technology combines hardware- and software-based video processing features to deliver sharper image quality, improved clarity and customizable color control. |
Impress onlookers or complement any setting with the UL30A's brushed aluminum finish and high-class appeal. Simply opening the notebook you notice the interior casing around the display that brings the color to life so that time-after-time the UL30A 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 prevents dust buildup keeping it nice and clean every time you use it. Inspired by the light grace of a butterfly, the UL30A carries the hallmark contours and slim elegance that separate it from the typical cookie-cutter notebook with a true style of its own.
With ASUS IceCool Technology, you're ensured extended battery life and a cool-to-touch surface, so even after the longest computer sessions there's limited heat for optimized comfort. The palm rest area also makes your experience more enjoyable so you have plenty of space to place your hands while typing on the keyboard.
The industry's most complete notebook care package offers a level of coverage that would add hundreds of dollars to the price of competing laptops: - 2-year Asus 360 global warranty (estimated 0 value)
- 1-year ADW (estimated 0 value)
- 30-day flawless display guarantee
- Free 2-way standard overnight shipping
- 24/7 tech support
 |
Accidents Happen You have extra protection when they happen to your ASUS notebook purchased in the US or Canada. ASUS will fix it or replace it for you at no charge during the first year after purchase in the event of damage from accidental spills, drops, electrical surges, or fire.
- 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
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Mar 18, 2010 11:33:35
NetBook
