ASUS's UL30Vt announced, somehow finds room for discrete graphics

ASUS impressed the world with its lightweight, inexpensive 13.3-inch UL30 over the summer, and just last week impressed us with its switchable-graphics packing bigger cousin, the UL80Vt. Now the 30 is getting the discrete treatment, enabling users to choose from molasses rendering and "all-day computing" battery life or slightly more robust graphics and slightly (about an hour) shorter longevity. The system also packs DDR3 memory, a 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor (able to be overclocked), and that "stylishly robust" aluminum lid. No word on release or price, but the earlier Vt models didn't come with a massive leap in MSRP, so we'd expect this one not to fall too far from UL30's $749 street price.

ASUS UL30Vt

[Thanks, Neti_Neti]

[The Albatross Posted Nov 17th 2009 9:26AM]

Crap that thing looks really nice, and I like Asus as a brand a lot. Any idea if it's got a multitouch track pad?

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 17th 2009 9:57AM]

The UL30 has a multi-touch pad, "ELAN," so I'd imagine this version will have it as well.

[ajw85 Posted Nov 17th 2009 9:42AM]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

TIME TO BUY A LAPTOP!

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 17th 2009 10:10AM]

This is just what I've been waiting for in an ultraportable laptop.

[dannnnn Posted Nov 17th 2009 10:36AM]

anyone know if this machine will be as horribly flimsy as the ul30a??

that´s the only thing holding me back with this - apparently it is no stronger than a peice of folded paper!

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 17th 2009 10:42AM]

@dan

Planning to drop it? Kill spiders with it?

[Peytral Posted Nov 17th 2009 10:47AM]

OMG it's finally here! My credit card is ready Asus.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 17th 2009 10:49AM]

i can't tell from the pictures but is the screen edge to edge? not a big deal, just curious if anyone knows

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 17th 2009 11:04AM]

I found this under the display specs:
"13.3" HD (1366x768) Color-Shine (Glare-type)"
These guys are so honest, love it.

[sibyy Posted Nov 17th 2009 11:26AM]

FYI I convinced a colleague to buy the A2 version, which he got Friday, and to answer some of your questions:

- The 8 cell battery does protrude only very slightly, i.e. just props the laptop up a bit nothing significant though.
- It seemed quite sturdy, I definitely wouldn't call it flimsy
- No the screen is slightly recessed from what I remember

[Dale P Posted Nov 17th 2009 12:32PM]

I would seriously love to Hackintosh this bad boy. Seems Apple don't have the market cornered were slick laptop designs are concerned.

[Dale P Posted Nov 17th 2009 12:32PM]

Or where, if I could type today.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 17th 2009 1:12PM]

i was looking at getting the dv3 by HP but this seems much superior and no tax (thanks amazon!) so i'll be getting this shortly. my only question is how does the CULV processor compare to the AMD Neo dual-core?

[Peytral Posted Nov 17th 2009 2:59PM]

You made a terrible choice, HP makes the most unreliable laptops, and also this laptop is superior to the HP. There is no competition between intel's CULV and AMD's junk.

[gooberlx Posted Nov 17th 2009 4:34PM]

@soulsaber: Uhhh...he didn't get the HP.

@icec0ld: When I've read about the HP dm3t (w/ intel su7300) vs dm3z (athlon neo L335), reports were performance was about the same, if not a bit in favor of the intel. Considering this chip is clocked 33% faster by default, I'd expect a fair performance advantage.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5442429&postcount=202

[deadwolfbones Posted Nov 17th 2009 2:40PM]

Still wondering why no one offers a lappy with these specs but something better than WXGA.

Oh well, I'll probably still buy one. Fits every other check box on my list.

[deadwolfbones Posted Nov 17th 2009 6:50PM]

Should be the same screen as in the UL30, which got good marks from notebookreview.

[deadwolfbones Posted Nov 17th 2009 6:51PM]

Er, that comment was supposed to be for the dude below me. :D

[Euraty Posted Nov 17th 2009 3:26PM]

I wonder if they put a better screen on this model, as I heard the screen on the ul80vt was quite terrible. Anyways, looks like a great laptop...

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 17th 2009 4:03PM]

Dump that slow drive for a 7,200 rpm Western Digital or SSD and you'd be set. I love Asus.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 17th 2009 5:52PM]

I have the UL30A and its an okay computer. The battery life is awesome and it does everything I want, but there are some serious issues with it, or at least the two I have had. The first UL30A, when I plugged in my iPod failed and would not turn on again. Luckily the store I bought it from gave me a new one and transfered my HD. The second UL30A, which I'm using now, has a similar issue. When I plug in my iPod, when it already has the cord attached to the iPod, the computer turns off. I'm not really sure what's going on with it, but it's a little unnerving. Otherwise awesome computer, oh ya, and the battery is a lil jiggly, which is kinda annoying.

[tybert7 Posted Nov 17th 2009 6:18PM]

@soulsaber

There is a price difference for the amd models, battery life and raw performance (for higher end culvs) is less than the intels, and so it costs less. The dm3 allows both configurations, and if configured with the intel, you get a ssd option for a fraction of the cost the drives cost by themselves. ~$300 for a 160 GB ssd drive option

Spec wise, that is not crap.

And while the battery suffers with the amd, for around $500, ~4-5 hours of battery life is more than plenty for alot of people, and that comes stock with the 3200 which should allow some hardware acceleration for flash when amd updates the catalyst drivers.

Both are beautifully designed machines. Even if you have some general hp hate, judge each machine on its own merits.

[Peytral Posted Nov 18th 2009 1:00AM]

Yes, I admit that I do have a bias against HP, but that's because my current laptop right now is some sort of HP dv2000 series with an AMD, and it sucks =/

It also doesn't really help that an article today showed that HP is the worst in reliability.

[thesuspect Posted Nov 18th 2009 12:28AM]

Unfortunately it seems the model to be released in the US will be black not silver as pictured (according to the ASUS rep on the Amazon forum). Why? The early 2000s called and they want their "hey at least it's not beige like your old desktop" color back.

[ArtInvent Posted Nov 18th 2009 8:18PM]

This kind of lappy at this price with full Win7, lots of mem, bigger HDD, dual core, huge battery life, awesome (relatively) graphics . . . kind of makes netbooks look like not such a great idea after all. I guess that's what MS wants us to think. It's working.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 19th 2009 9:52AM]

I. Want. This.