Asus U3 caught on film

Asus, a company that's pushing some pretty interesting and innovative products into the spotlight as of late, is stepping up to bat with another new entry, dubbed the U3. The 13.3-inch ultraportable rocks a Billy Joel-approved "piano black" exterior, with a smooth, sensual leather finish on the palm rests, making it stylistically quite distinctive. The U3 features the much-loved Santa Rosa chipset, and will likely utilize one of Intel's low voltage Core 2 Duo processors (the L7500, for instance), but that's just where the fun begins on this baby. The jam-packed specs include integrated GPS, HDMI and S-Video outs, eSATA, USB, and Firewire ports; SD and ExpressCard 54 slots; and an NVIDIA 8400M graphics chipset -- which can be switched off via hardware for power conservation. Asus reps say the system is due in September at a price point somewhere around $2,000.

[Thanks, Coriolis]

[Kevin @ Jul 15th 2007 3:15AM]

Wow, very interesting specs! Just hope that integrated GPS has an external antenna so it can be used in a car. Sounds like a great replacement for my aging Sony 12" 505.

[RTFA @ Jul 15th 2007 3:21AM]

if you bothered to read the link, you would have found this bit of information:

"The big news with the U3 is it will offer integrated GPS, you can see the antenna port here on the right side of the notebook, you will be able to plug in an antenna extension here or just rely on the integrated antenna. According to the Asus reps I met with, they feel that the internal antenna will be strong enough to pick up satellite signals and having a bulky antenna to carry around shouldn't be necessary."

[B166Er @ Jul 15th 2007 3:23AM]

And we have a winna! Coulda used the 8400gt or better, but hey, with eSata, and HDMI (but no HD/BR) and possible light weight? Man, i was gonna splurge on the Dell, but this is IT! It what i need! I still cant believe it took oems this long to figure out ESATA is essential!!! Im gonna have to wait a lil longa for it, but give me more time to save up. XMas anyone?

[felix @ Jul 15th 2007 3:57AM]

Check the images, the USB port on the left side is adjacent to a small power-out plug (the AC-in is on the right side). So presumably ASUS might also offer an external HD/BR drive (drawing power out of the USB+power port).

[Alvin @ Jul 15th 2007 3:38AM]

YES! Finally, a laptop that matches both my piano AND my couch!

[ssag @ Jul 15th 2007 5:09AM]

I love it, but can we get a 17" version?

[Why the leather? @ Jul 15th 2007 8:04AM]

Why the LEATHER?

If you want a nice soft touch get some pleather - why put animal skin on your laptop. It's bad enough that $5,000 cellphones use alligator skin, there's no need to start skinning bambi just to sex up a laptop.

[cpt @ Jul 15th 2007 8:24AM]

Yes, I agree the use of real leather is functionally a bit unnecessary. But if I remember correctly they use cow-hide leather exclusively. (Hope that makes you feel better, unless your a vegetarian?)

[Rob @ Jul 15th 2007 10:01AM]

I'm just surprised about the title of this post. Who'd of thought in today's day and age that a tech blog would use a film camera?

[Arnie @ Jul 15th 2007 11:48AM]

I realized from the pictures it doesnt have a drive even a DVD one which is kinda a bummer but for the specs/price I wouldnt mind lugging an external one. This will be my next laptop if I can save the money for it by September!!

[Tony Colonello @ Jul 15th 2007 1:31PM]

I just wonder long long before the heat starts to make the leather come loose? Then you'll have a laptop looking like and old Cadillac with a ratty top.

If they would drop the leather and make one in burnished brass....

[Elais @ Jul 15th 2007 9:02PM]

I want a tablet with a graphics switch. ASUS, please and thankyou

[Jake @ Jul 16th 2007 10:38PM]

Why is it that Apple is the only one that does slot-load optical media? I'm sure there have been others non-apple to do it, but nothing notable. What gives?

[mz @ Jul 17th 2007 10:17PM]

this might derail my mac purchase plans.