ASUS announces stylish U/UX series ultra-thin laptops

Looking to add some allure to its portable lineup -- as if a model named Lamborghini wasn't enough -- ASUS has announced the U and UX series of ultra-thin laptops, expected to launch sometime in Q2. Both feature an illuminated chiclet keyboard and auto-adjusting LED backlit display. The U series also features a 15.6-inch glossy LCD and a touchpad that uses progressively fading lights to follow your fingertips. Under the hood, there's an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, NVIDIA GeForce G105M, up to 500GB HDD, and Altec Lansing speakers with SRS true surround sound. We don't have nearly as much information on the UX, unfortunately, but we do know it's sporting a slot-in optical disc drive. Full press release after the break.

Light and Light – Introducing the New U and UX Series Notebooks

An Intricately Crafted Series of Notebooks that Provide Both Contemporary Style and Effortless Computing On-the-go

ASUS, a leader in innovative industrial design, today presented the new U and UX Series, a new range of notebooks that celebrate contemporary styling and effortless elegance. Each of them a masterpiece so immensely desirable, the U and UX Series takes modern day computing to the streets, bringing delight to the users' senses and allowing them to work or play in style.

Immaculate Design for the Discerning Individual

The ASUS U and UX Series are designed for the modern individual who accepts no compromise when it comes to exquisite taste in high fashion and possesses an eye for the latest trends as well as the intricacies in design. Reminiscent of the streets of Paris with the evening fast approaching, the ASUS U and UX Series' newly-adopted illuminated 'chiclet' keyboard lights up brilliantly, not only providing users with the ability to type in the dark, but its subtle yet assuring glow also reminds the user of the star studded skies above. AI Light sensor technology intelligently detects the surrounding environmental lighting conditions and then automatically adjusts the brightness or dimness of the LED backlit display to provide a comfortable computing experience even in adverse lighting conditions. These features can be found adorning a softly contoured chassis, shrouded in a sleek and sophisticated glossy LCD lid and supported by a frame inspired by the curvature of a butterfly's wings.

UX Series – Gracefully Slim for Added Lightness

The UX Series' strikingly slim profile adds to an impressively minimalistic approach to avant garde notebook design. A slot-in optical disc drive helps the UX Series to maintain its elegant profile, while a contrast of matte and gloss finishes provides a sense of both sophistication and boldness.

U Series – Delight in Style and Substance

To further complement the illuminated 'chiclet' keyboard, the U Series sports an equally illuminated and interactive touchpad which sends a trail of progressively fading lights to pinpoint the location of the users' fingertips while delighting the senses. Powered by an Intel® Core™2 Duo processor which provides the muscle for extensive multitasking and productivity, the U Series is equipped with a hard disk drive of up to 500GB, providing more than ample storage for documents and multimedia. An energy-efficient 15.6-inch LED backlit display powered by a dedicated NVIDIA® GeForce® G 105M with 512MB memory provides users with stunning visual performance for presentations and entertainment while utilizing very little power. Combined with Altec Lansing speakers-equipped with SRS true surround sound that provides high definition audio-the svelte U Series is truly an all-rounded performer for any occasion or a night out in town.

[Paul C Posted Mar 3rd 2009 5:41PM]

price? cause this is looking sweet
and does anyone else notice apple is falling behind in terms of power, both CPU and GPU? sure, its made out of a solid block of aluminum, but really, do i give that much of a crap what it's made of?

(btw i am somewhat of an apple fanboy)

apple tax ftmfl

[fokka Posted Mar 3rd 2009 6:02PM]

a real apple fanboy would never call an asus "sweet"

and neither is apple falling behind a 105m graphics card. (would be hard to fall behind _that_)

whos da fanboy nao?!? :)

[Information Central Posted Mar 4th 2009 4:15AM]

Moronic glossy screen != sweet

[Ruben Posted Mar 3rd 2009 7:22PM]

"a real apple fanboy would never call an asus "sweet""

No, only a blind fanboy would.

[dark star Posted Mar 3rd 2009 7:48PM]

a block of aluminum and it still weights a ton at 5lbs! im not impressed with Apple.
i b more impressed with a nice powerful laptop weighing sub 2lbs.

[jimothyGator Posted Mar 4th 2009 11:54AM]

@darkstar: That would put it 1,995 pounds short of a ton.

[MeanSpyvie Posted Mar 3rd 2009 5:44PM]

Progressively fading lights! Where do I sign up!

[RKN Posted Mar 3rd 2009 5:44PM]

Is the UX a refresh of their 11" U1/U2 series? I'd like a solid competitor to the Vaio TT series.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 3rd 2009 6:14PM]

Related: I want to see a solid competitor to the Vaio Z series; powerhouse in a slim, 13.3" body. Preferably without the Vaio Z series price-tag :p

[Oli D Posted Mar 3rd 2009 5:50PM]

A Supplication to the GPU makers:

Please give us specs to judge graphic performance with, GPU clockspeed, VRAM, anything!
I cannot keep up with the endless GeForce X500TZ madness.

[Leindurstit Posted Mar 3rd 2009 5:51PM]

If they'd just stop completely changing their naming conventions every four years, we wouldn't have this problem. Intel and AMD, too, are guilty of this...

[Oli D Posted Mar 3rd 2009 5:53PM]

Please sir, can i have some deets?

[YoYo Posted Mar 10th 2009 12:26AM]

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-G-105M.13790.0.html

Google.com Do u use it much

[edeab220 Posted Mar 3rd 2009 5:50PM]

**random thought**

UX...man does anyone remember the days of the Sony Clie UX50? Ah, the good old days.

**end random thought**

[RKN Posted Mar 3rd 2009 5:53PM]

I miss the Vaio UX UMPC. : (

[Pizzicato Posted Mar 3rd 2009 6:00PM]

More Photos:

http://www.heise.de/cebit/bilderstrecke/561/0/nt520afd

[axton Posted Mar 3rd 2009 6:12PM]

Thanks for the extra photos.

As for the computer itself:
Hell yes Asus. And it has a number pad!!! My only suggestion would be to maybe have a slightly smaller screen (14.1" perhaps) to make it a little more portable. But overall, this is one sexy computer.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 3rd 2009 6:13PM]

they overdid the gloss

[RKN Posted Mar 3rd 2009 6:06PM]

Damn Asus is making some good stuff, I am officially an Asus fanboy!

[fokka Posted Mar 3rd 2009 6:07PM]

to the manufacturers:

please stop producing non glossy things.
akkumulate the glossy output for just one year.
put it up you stupid fat a$$es!!!

how i hate it. everything glossy...displays, palm rests, cases, there are even glossy keyboards, touchpads!!! cmon, whats up with you §$%&/&%$??

i just can hope this hype is over when i buy a laptop the next time. but i doubt.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 3rd 2009 6:09PM]

Whats the deal with that touchpad? Is it made for lefties or something?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 3rd 2009 6:19PM]

if you look back, evey lappie that had a numeric keypad has the touchpad more to the left, to align to the middle of the *keyboard*, excluding numpad. It actually makes more sense, so you hand(s) can return to the letters more easily.

[zdravko Posted Mar 3rd 2009 6:16PM]

Uhhhhhhhhh, the photo shows a regular-loading DVD drive. Please, prove me wrong!

[RKN Posted Mar 3rd 2009 6:18PM]

That picture is of the U, the UX will have a slot loading drive.

[jayayess1190 Posted Mar 3rd 2009 6:23PM]

Because that is a U series laptop, not UX.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 3rd 2009 6:30PM]

Please ship with 8gb ram.

[Richard Posted Mar 3rd 2009 7:02PM]

ASUS is on fire! Are they trying to steal the spotlight from Apple?

[Ruben Posted Mar 3rd 2009 7:24PM]

My, that came out wrong.

I mean an awakened fanboy.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 3rd 2009 7:36PM]

Asus is putting some good stuff out there. Even their netbooks are pretty good.

[Adamd21 Posted Mar 3rd 2009 8:42PM]

They have me sold on the products they make.

They have been making outstanding computer parts for years including motherboard, video cards etc.

Now with the laptop I was happy to go out and get one from them. So far no issues and works like it should!

Also with Asus you get a great bang for the buck and they don't skimp on the video card like most do.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 3rd 2009 8:09PM]

When will laptop manufacturers get over this ridiculous glossy black phase. Its like they want to make their laptops look like cheap toys on purpose.... At least make it flat black.

[gadgetfanboy Posted Mar 3rd 2009 10:27PM]

Hear, hear!

Can't stand it, please please hurry up and die with a needle in your eye, glossy black plastic.

IANAAF (I am not an apple fanboy), nor do I own one or intend to, but damn the matte black soft-touch finish on the black Macbook looks really nice, I wish manufacturers would copy THAT.

[KC Posted Mar 3rd 2009 9:43PM]

It looks like ASUS really likes the Sony VAIO FW series 'cause their U series takes a large amount of inspiration from Sony' FW series.... But ASUS added the things Sony should have; like backlit keys, a number pad, and LED backlight

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 3rd 2009 10:09PM]

Where are the complaints about the glossy screen XD

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 3rd 2009 10:38PM]

I'm waiting for the 12" model. Until then I'm just looking the other way.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 3rd 2009 11:21PM]

I'm writing this now on an ASUS 1000HE and I like it, alot. It's a slightly scaled up version of the 901 with a better keyboard and a screen that you don't have to squint to see. It even fits on my lap, rather than being balanced on one thigh like the 901.

Finally, someone with a back-lit keyboard ! I can't tell you how much I hate having to tilt the screen down towards the keyboard to be able to type in the numbers from my RSA secure ID when I'm logging in to work in the dark...

And a slot-loading CD rom drive ! Finally ! I had been waiting for the Amex Digital BDR external drive that was annouced but never arrived..... finally I broke down recently bought a sony external drive, only to be disappointed that it can't be powered from the USB cable........Anyway, I only ever use it to install Office, or re-install XP so.... I'm happy enough with it, but a slot loader would be sweet. The chassis should be much sturdier....

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 4th 2009 11:50AM]

Nice laptops, anyone know when they are released to the public?