Asus goes HSDPA with new V2 lappies

So sue us, there just aren't that many specs in the tech world that can warm our hearts quite like a blessed HSDPA chip snuggling inside of a laptop. Add a little bit of teh sexay, plus maybe a 3 megapixel webcam or something, and we're as good as sold. Asus has all of this goodness inside of its new V2 laptop lineup, along with a full complement of Core 2 Duo procs, a WXGA+ 14-inch LCD, ATI Mobility Radeon X1450 graphics with 256 or 512MB of memory, 80-160GB HDDs, 802.11a/b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, DVI, and a fingerprint reader. Best of all, Asus has somehow managed to include "Instant Fun PLUS," which we're sure is just like Instant Fun, but better -- or maybe it just lets you enjoy your media without fully booting the laptop. Tapering from 1.1 to 1.4-inches, and weighing 5 pounds, we could've done with a teensy bit more portability, but we're picky like that. Overall it looks like a pretty good offering from Asustek, though we'll reserve final judgement for when we've got a price and release date.

[Via Laptoping]

[Andy @ Dec 9th 2006 7:45PM]

Is it just me or does engadget seem to use obscure acronyms a little too often? I mean HSDPA isn�t exactly an acronym used every day like USB, AGP, PCI, etc. Couldn�t they at least use High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) once in the article so we don�t have to go search for the meaning of the more obscure acronym? Or maybe that�s just me.

[perfectionist @ Dec 9th 2006 8:01PM]

I wouldn't consider HSDPA obscure, at least since Cingular deployed it, although Engadget does toss around acronyms quite often.

Maybe an common acronym list would be nice.

[resource @ Dec 9th 2006 8:06PM]

Saying High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) wouldn't make what it is clear to a newbie.
Wikipedia is your friend.

Does this work only with Cingular's HSPDA or European GSM?
This could be my next laptop if it's not $4999

[doug @ Dec 10th 2006 11:11PM]

Asus makes awesome computers and they're almost always under $2,500. I've had mine for a year and a half, and its still a much better computer than average, and I paid $2,100

[tomas @ Dec 10th 2006 2:23AM]

It�s a nice laptop, but I want a macbook, help me.

http://thenotebookofmydreams.blogspot.com

[GJP303 @ Dec 10th 2006 11:52AM]

Are you just to lazy to get a job and pay for it yourself?

[Z @ Dec 10th 2006 2:05PM]

This V2 has great specs. I was considering a Sony SZ series, but this Asus V2 looks even better.

I just wish they'd get the cellular right. This laptop will work in North America (at least as far as the GSM/GPRS/EDGE is concerned), but the 3G is European only (according to the specs). Lame.

When will manufacturers understand that devices need to be QUAD-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and TRI-band UMTS/HSDPA?

But it's OK. I probably wouldn't use 3G anyway, considering that I'm with T-Mo and their 3/3.5G network aren't deployed in NA yet (not to mention, they'll probably be on a completely different band than 1900, anyway).

But GSM/GPRS/EDGE I would use. Just wish it were quad-band, though, especially considering T-Mo deployed service on the 850 band. Although, this shouldn't prevent adequate use.

Everything else looks superb. And I love the black finish. Providing the materials used on the chassis are nice and the price is right, I'm sold.

[resource @ Dec 10th 2006 11:18PM]

Thanks for the price info.

Does this have an express card slot?

[Shah Kanaw @ Dec 10th 2006 11:59PM]

I've long been a Mac guy and own 5 or 6 new Macs at any given time: I have to because I earn my living on them. However, I maintain a small stable (2, to be exact) of PC laptops for certain jobs and games for my kid. Let me tell ya, ASUS makes a good notebook. I don't have this model, I just bought a dual-core ASUS F3F007H, for $798 after rebate, and it's incredible in how rock-solid it is running XP. It looks good, too. I always had numerous, regular hassles with windows units, but I guess it's the BIOS that makes these so stable. I also have a dual-core MacBook and it's like comparing apples and oranges (pun intended) and it's a superb machine, as well. If you can't decide, you just have to list what you want to do with them. If it's games and chatty-teenage, instant messenger-type activities, go with the ASUS. If you use it for creative business and can't afford to lose data or waste time downloading drivers, battling windows intrusiveness, spyware, viruses and other crap, go the Mac. They're both good at what they do.

[aws910 @ Dec 11th 2006 5:20PM]

To say that a mac is completely devoid of "spyware, viruses and other crap" seems a bit short-sighted. These things exist for macs, just not as much because mac users aren't as big of a target as Windows users.

Macs MAY be more secure, but I don't think we'll know this until they gain the same market share that MS currently has. So.... will someone please call me when hell freezes over? thanks.