ASUS UL30A-A2 Thin and Light 13-3-Inch Silver Laptop – 12 Hours of Battery Life
Product Description
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.Amazon.com Product Description
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.
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
High Definition That Doesn't Break the Bank
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 |
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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.
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Energy Efficient Intel Core 2 Duo ULV Processor
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.)
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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.
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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. |
Eye-Catching Sophistication
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.
Industry Leading Customer Warranty
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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
ASUS UL30A-A2 Thin and Light 13-3-Inch Silver Laptop - 12 Hours of Battery Life
February 21st, 2010 - 20:54
Overall, this computer is lovely but it fails miserably despite the four processing modes. I am shocked and infuriated that this model rated so well! It can’t handle viewing streaming video – even the computer review videos about the machine. I viewed less than a minute worth of marginal and high-quality video before promptly deciding it is getting returned.
Using the Windows 7 performance evaluation application, this machine scores the following on a scale of 1.0 (worst) to 7.9 (best):
Processor (calculations per second): 4.1
Memory (memory operations per second): 4.8
Graphics (desktop performance for Windows Aero): 3.9
Gaming graphics (3D business and gaming graphics performance): 3.4
Primary hard disk (disk data transfer rate): 5.9
UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHH!!!!! This machine is an insult to consumers and should have never made it on the market. The distance between keys is annoyingly huge for small hands, the touchpad is centered which is very annoying for right-handed use because it detects my stretched palm while reaching for a third of the keys on the board, I can only use one program at a time with any reasonably ok response time, and it is a complete understatement to say that this machine is a fingerprint magnet – its one giant smudge screen. The box on the power cord gets ridiculously hot.
The positives: It’s pretty, light-weight, stays cool, and has a super long battery life that in no way, shape, or form should convince you that you should pay more than $100 for this machine.
Supposedly Asus makes computers that might last longer than some others, but now I’m completely aggravated that it won’t just die within its first year so that I can get a refund.
Rating: 2 / 5
February 21st, 2010 - 21:09
As usual, when something seems too good to be true, it is. I purchased this notebook about 30 days ago when comparing it to the MacBook Air and Dell Amado. Boy did I make the wrong call. Of course, the notebook is perfect so long as you don’t need more than 10 feet of range for a wi-fi connection. You will see bars, but no connection beyong this point. It is amazing to me that so many have this complaint, yet when you call ASUS (I have twice), they tell you it is a router problem. Really, a problem with every router in the US?? On the upside, it’s a very stylish, light and user friendly notebook with a great optional ASUS drive that fires up in 8 seconds. As I said, if you don’t need wi-fi access or will always be close to a wireless access point, it is a great laptop. For the rest of us, given the terrible customer service, pay the extra $400 and get a Dell or Apple.
Rating: 1 / 5
February 21st, 2010 - 23:47
(UPDATE 11/17/09) WIFI does not work!!!!!!! I called Asus Tech Support two times with zero resolution or even a call back. Finally, I looked into the matter and found a common WIFI (Atheros card) problem with other Asus reviewers too. It’s documented on the discussion posts for both the UL30A-A2 and UL30A-X5 on Amazon. One of the ASUS discussion boards talk about buying an external antenna to boost the wifi card’s range. I am really disappointed with my experience because I researched and waited 1 month for Windows 7 only to buy a lemon that has issues with internet connectivity. Which is a deal breaker for a laptop. So I will return my laptop tomorrow.
ORIGINAL POST:
I read each of the reviews on Amazon.com and based my decision to buy the ASUS UL30A-A2 because of the positive feedback I read from users. However, I have no idea what these other users are smoking because there are a few major issues with the laptop.
Pros:
* Decent price for the specs
* Size and form
Cons:
* Touchpad is almost unusable. I have to tap and pull 2-3 times for the mouse to respond. The whole point of having a laptop is so you do not need to connect an external mouse to it so you can use it on your “LAP”!!!
* The multi-touch gesture is nice marketing but half of the time, it doesn’t recognize when I use two or three fingers. Lame.
* Wifi had problems keeping a connection (I have another computer connected to the Wifi Hub and no problem with my Lenovo)
* When I called customer support from Asus, I got a rude and unhelpful response. He basically told me to contact my ISP to see if they can fix the problem. Excuse me? Um, the last time I checked, my other PCs are having no issues with internet.
Rating: 2 / 5
February 22nd, 2010 - 00:20
I bought the ASUS UL30A-A1 on October 2 and have used it daily for work since then. I am a consultant so I needed something light and powerful going back and forth to my client’s place of business. I was a little reluctant since my previous computer brands were IBM and Dell and never heard of ASUS. So far it has been great…I love the feel of the keyboard and got used to the mousepad rather quickly. The mouse pad is sensitive so I do find, while typing, my thumb will inadvertantly graze the mousepad causing the curser to move elsewhere in the document. Easily solveable with an external mouse. It is so lightweight that I just throw it in my briefcase, leave the powercord at home (becuase the battery lasts all day) and I’m on my way. Also, the boot up time is very, very quick.
Rating: 5 / 5
February 22nd, 2010 - 01:26
Overall this is a great little laptop. The battery life is incredible. It boots up fast and the display is brilliant. My only complaint is with the touchpad. It is impossible to make fine movements with the touchpad. The pointer jumps and skips when making fine movements. Very annoying!!! I’ve updated the touchpad driver but that didn’t eliminate the skipping and jumping. Others have recommended using an external mouse but that defeats the purpose of a “lap”top. Also, the bar that controls the left/right mouse buttons is so firm that it is practically unusable – but the tap features of the touchpad work quite nicely to replace the need for left/right buttons.
If you do a lot of photo editing or other tasks that require precise pointer movements avoid this laptop. Or look on eBay to find a good deal on a used one (mine). I may be selling it soon if I can’t overcome this very annoying problem.
Rating: 3 / 5