Two months with Asus UL30a
This article was intended as a review with elements of the report on the two-month "user experience" of this laptop. Since there were no reviews of this laptop on Habré, and the model is interesting, I assume that readers will be interested to read, in addition to the review itself, also comments on the long (2 months - I think the period for which it is already possible to judge about the long work in the future and put it out I already have an opinion based on a first impression about a particular component of the product) from me as a user-programmer who uses this laptop in everyday work / study. So let's get started.General information about the model and the reasons why I chose it.
This laptop is part of the Asus UnLimited Series, that is, it offers light and thin long-life laptops built on the basis of the ULV (Ultra Low Voltage) series processors, which allow for sufficiently productive processors (this series of processors includes proces such as celeron, pentium, core 2 solo / duo frequencies from 1.2 to 1.6 GHz, with various cache options. TDP is from 10W, which is quite a bit, agree) to have a long operating time. The disadvantage of such processors is the reduced frequency, but even at that they remain Intel Centrino processors, which completely detaches them from the Atoms and allows you to work comfortably.
The laptop I chose to replace my old Acer Aspire 5561, which was built on the basis of Core Duo 1.6, produced more than enough performance for my tasks, but both the runtime (3h) and the dimensions / weight (14 "/2.3 kg) were for I was unacceptable - I needed a working time of 5 hours, and less weight (I carry it all day on my backpack. Everything was simpler with dimensions - 14 "was too big, but the principle" the smaller the better "was not for me - I looked at 11 "models - you wouldn’t want to kill eyes from a small screen. I wanted to choose something between 12 and 13", while 12 or 13 - there were unprincipled, both comfortably fit in a backpack, and the other required parameters of the device played a greater role - the operating time first of all.
Also, the laptop was required to have a minimum of wifi / BT / cardreader / 3USB. VGA / HDMI was welcome - at home the TV set and 24 "monik, I wanted to cut it. CD / DVD-RW - was unprincipled. Price - well, the moral threshold was 30 thousand, which eliminated the definitely good models from Sony, MacBook Pro, Asus U20, ThinkPad x200 (s).
Total - everything was chosen between the models on ULV (Atom didn’t suit me in principle - photoshop and Visual Studio were in the main programs that were worth running) from Acer, HP, ASUS, Lenovo. I have to say right away, from previous quality experience - Acer was immediately marked, I didn’t like HP corny, the choice was between Lenovo U330, Asus UL20, Asus UL30. Further, actually interrupted topics, forums, "played" with laptops in the store trying to understand what is more convenient. By that time, I decided that I want a laptop on Core 2 Duo (SU7300 if we talk about a specific model), because only there is, firstly, 2 cores and an uncut cache, and secondly, virtualization technology that allows you to run virtual machines and XP Mode on Win7 .
The UL20 “fell off” when I realized that they did not come with more than a 6-cell battery, HDMI is missing, and the operating time of the UL30 is higher, in addition, the keyboard is trimmed to pbup / down / home and so on, which is not eat right. Lenovo “fell off” due to not the best reviews on the forums and again - the battery and battery life. So, the choice was made in favor of UL30, and I began to look for a Model with an extended battery (8 cells, 5600 MAh) and SU7300. I will make a reservation right away, UL30 comes in 2 body colors - gray and black, black is more easily soiled, gray is better. I wanted gray, but the SU7300 + gray in the Russian Federation did not seem to have been delivered yet (and even more so in December it wasn’t imported, then it was just hard to find the SU7300 UL30), so as soon as I found a black one that meets my requirements, I took it without hesitation ( By the way, I paid a little more than 27k wooden)
Main characteristics
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- Screen: 13.3 ", 1376 * 768, glossy
- Processor (in this configuration): Core 2 Duo ULV SU7300, 1.3Ghz
- Video: Integrated Intel 4500MHD
- Memory: 4 GB DRR3
- Winch: 5400rpm, 2.5 ", 320Gb
- WiFi (b / g) + WiMax (Intel 5150 AGX), Gigabit Lan (Atheros), BT, 3 * Usb, VGA, HDMI
- The keyboard is full-sized (all buttons are present, only the top row is trimmed in height), sony / mac style - low profile, separators between the keys
What was expected, what is not:
- In the American version, 802.11n is implemented, although there is no WiMax. I hoped that 5150 would be with N Wi-Fi, but it is not there. True, judging by the conversations of the experts, cards 5150 with and without N differ in EPrm, so it’s possible to fix the case by EPROM
- Claudia backlight. Alas and ah, this is only in U20 and higher (U and UL series are very different, both in functionality and in price). This model also does not have a light sensor and, accordingly, adjusts the screen brightness for lighting. Apparently a marketing ploy.
- It was expected that the aluminum lid would not be a brand (metal all the same ...), however, ASUS invented the easily soiled aluminum, which I congratulate her on. Alas, for me it was a minus, like glossy plastic throughout the case.
- no PCMCIA / ExpressCard
Now let's move on to everything in order
Housing
The case did not creak, it did not bend much. The metal lid looks solid. The hinges of the screen are rigid, allow opening and remaining at any angle (opening angle of the order of 130 degrees). There is no magnetic latching, as well as latches. 4 diodes (3 blue activities + red-green power) are on the end, they are not very bright and therefore the vision does not distract or interfere, and when necessary, they are clearly visible.
On the right is 2 * usb, a card reader (for SD cards, I have not tried cards of other formats), a power connector, a microphone input and a headphone output.
In front - only indicators.
On the left - HDMI, VGA, 1 * USB, ventilation holes. Behind - empty, there is a battery.
Power / Battery
The power supply to the laptop is small, akin to netbook. The result - quickly throws himself into the bag. But it charges for a long time - it takes about 3 hours for me to fully charge.
The laptop was taken with a battery of 8 cells, 5600 mAh. The battery and its shape (reading that it is extended) is perfectly calculated - there is a ledge, but ergonomics do not suffer, the battery slightly lifts the laptop in the back (it is more convenient to tilt the keyboard and it is more convenient), it does not interfere with transferring. In general - nonsense.
Battery life ... Well, what I said - GOOD FELLOWS! On my settings (WiFi / WiMAx, applications like Visual Studio, the screen is about 40% brightness) it lasts about 8 hours (sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less depends very much on what you are doing, but on the whole). Without wifi - accordingly, you can think about the very cherished 12 hours that are written about when buying. In general, the battery life is satisfied as an elephant. During the game, a little note lasted (considering the Intel 4500MHD video card) a little more than 4.5 hours ... I think it will pull 5-6 hours on films, I didn’t specifically test, I don’t know.
Screen
It suited me in size - the most for a mobile device. You can’t kill your eyes about a trifle, but the size allows it to still be “mobile”. Resolution 1376 * 768 allows you to watch 720p without downscale, which is good for me. The screen has a 16: 9 ratio, that is, a widescreen in the full sense of the word. I'm used to it at 4: 3/16: 10 (at home it was 17 ", at work 19" 4: 3, another 24 "16:10). I had to get used to it a bit, but I got used to it.
The brightness is sufficient, even more than. Viewing angles are horizontal with vertical ones - as always in TN, you should not expect a miracle, deviation from the vertical leads to a change in the image, but this is now in all laptops, except for the premium class. Gloss - interferes like any gloss. But I’m used to it still I don’t even notice on the previous laptop, enough for me to interrupt it.
By default (for me) the fonts for such a screen at this resolution are too small - so I increased them in Windows. Now rejoice.
Summary: In general, the screen is ordinary glossy with decent brightness.
Keyboard and touchpad
I liked the keyboard. The keys are full-sized. All buttons are in the usual places. Only the top row with F1 ... F12 is trimmed in height, the rest are square. The keys are divided and have a small stroke, as on Sonya and MacBook last. I like it.
The touchpad is not recessed, it is distinguished on the surface by recessed pimples with a radius of 2 mm with 5 mm between them. The touchpad is capacitive, supports multi-touch in wood (scrolling with 2 fingers vertical / horizontal + pressing with 2 and 3 fingers with the middle and right buttons, flipping with 2 fingers. In general, normal multi-touch). In addition to soiled, I like everything.
Networks
LAN - just working. There was no place to protest gigabit, I won’t say speed. Wi-Fi is really only 802.11g, n will probably need to be finalized with a file. Catches well, holds too. Iota - works. The average level of reception is a bit (within the margin of error) better than a whistle. Sinezub - just working.
Sound
The card is naturally integrated. And through the headphones - mediocre. BUT (!) The inscription on the Atec Lansing speakers is really true. I haven’t heard so much good sound from the squeakers of the laptop for a long time. Stereo is audible, there are even some hints of bass (and there is no subwoofer). In general, the speakers are built-in what you need and how you need it.
Other iron
The card reader is a convenient, spring-loaded with a blank (though it's easy to lose it). USB - no complaints. CD / DVDRW - not as a class. I bought LiteOn eSau 208 from the media myself - it works as read quietly as a clock from one Usb, and I don’t need more from it.
Camera is bad. Frankly no. Like the built-in microphone. put for check "to be." So keep that in mind.
System and software
Windows 7 Home Basic came with the laptop (plin, why was it translated? Home Basic and that's it). I expanded Windows Anytime Upgrade to Professional - I wanted a full-fledged Aero (yes, I know a little thing but fun) + I needed XP Mode to work - and it is only in Pro and higher.
experience
In fact, here you first need to determine why I needed a laptop. At home I have a machine with a large screen, Q9450 / GTX260 - so the laptop was not bought for games. At work - a working comp + test macbook pro - and then it doesn’t work.
I need a new laptop was to study (second degree - in the pairs have something to count view
UL30 pleased me with its light weight (with an expanded battery of about 1.8 kg), its compact size - I threw it in my backpack and forgot. And most of all - with the operating time - there was enough battery for all my manipulations. For 5+ hours of lectures, he never planted a battery below 40% - he planted it only later at home.
The keyboard is comfortable - the coding has gone easy, and I’m getting an article on notics :) Almost silent - if you listen in a quiet room, you can sometimes hear a slight noise from the ventilation system. Vincch sometimes crackles, but not for long, but immediately a certain difficult process is going on ... I’m thinking about how to put an SSD in a big computer for greater silence. Although the laptop is so quiet.
The screen for watching solo films is enough for me, as well as the sound path. You can listen to music, but with Revolution 5.1 the sound can not be compared - day and night. But not those old tweeter tweeters. Listen without tears - you can.
Performance on Photoshop, studio, etc. - enough. 4 gigabytes of memory with x64 Windows - enough, even for heavy applications and games.
Games - a separate conversation - played in LineAge, PerfectWorld, Quake, CS on it - pulls. The first two are in medium settings and if there is no huge crowd on the screen. WoW don't play - xs. Although I can say that the screen is too small for modern game interfaces (or I’m already in the habit of 1920 * 1200).
For 2 months, the plastic began to wear off a bit along the edges of the lid on the inside. It can be seen so far only with strong side lighting. Naturally, it doesn’t affect the functionality, but I don’t care about the beauty - the main thing is that everything should be comfortable and work. I decided to deal with opacity by buying an opaque film - this is a matter of the future, as is the fight against the missing 802.11n.
conclusions
As you already understood, I like a laptop. Even more. For my tasks - a mobile device for tasks that the atom cannot cope with and with a long battery life - copes with a bang. A full set of wireless interfaces makes it possible to use the Internet wherever you want (well, except that if there were still built-in 3g, it would be really gorgeous).
The keyboard turned out to be (despite some angry reviews on the forums) - convenient, for both ICQ and
What upset - the glossy laptop is completely (then when the gray ones are brought in the same - it will be better, the gray one is less easily soiled), you have to wipe it. Surprised by the know-how - easily soiled aluminum ... very surprised, we will consider the know-how of ASUS.
No camera and microphone - could either not put it, or put it better (again, apparently the machinations of marketers who put the main tick - like there is a camera).
The lack of Wi-Fi 802.11n - apparently there are already some intrigues connected with the legitimacy of WiFi N - I don’t know exactly why a separate modification of 5150 for Russia was made not supporting it and differing only in firmware.
In general - an extremely positive long-lived laptop for mobile use.
PS All pictures were found in Google and addresses are inserted here. I tried to take from different resources in order to avoid a harbraffect.