ASUS has been
attaching bamboo to its laptops for
some time now, but it was only ever really for show -- though the wood itself was certainly biodegradable, adding veneer isn't exactly the greenest statement in the world. This year, however, the company's Bamboo Collection will be
completely slightly more recyclable. With
Core i5-450M processors, they should be reasonably good performers as well, and
NVIDIA Optimus switchable graphics technology gives them a factory-estimated (read: unlikely) 11 hours of battery life. The panda fodder cases will be found in Taiwan for around $40,000 NTD (approximately $1,300) next month, though US availability is yet to be announced. Check out the
gigantic ASUS PDF for additional specs while you wait, and feel free to blow Ma Earth kisses all the while.
Update: Our friends at
Engadget Chinese inform us the new U series laptops aren't 100 percent recyclable after all; they still have a sizable plastic substrate underneath those thicker bamboo panels. It seems ASUS still hasn't managed to shake its wooden façade. Get specs and first-hand pics from the event at our more coverage link.
posted May 15th 2010 10:14PM
termites.
@account5
If you are being serious, the outer harder part of bamboo (which i think they are using) is termite resistant.
@account5 Combine this to the wood skin iPad and we have a duet. Opinions. http://j.mp/macbook-ipad-wood
dont let panda bear see this laptop...
Waaaa! A panda ate mah laptop!
@Marbles
Mo' bamboo, mo' problems
NEEDZ MOAR BAMBUU!!1
look at the recipes online, while you chop the spinach on the bamboo pad.
It brings a whole new level of danger to overclocking.
I think the specs and look are alright, though I'd still prefer to get a MacBook Pro
Bamboo is a grass not wood http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo. So no termites.
@LocalStain
Termites eat fungus which eats cellulose. Wood, grass, fungus doesnt care as long as it is cellulose.
With Lenovo, HP and even Samsung releasing so many laptops, Asus is really falling behind. I was looking forward to something good they'd release in the purported "May 13th launch", but I'm just going to buy an HP dm4 now.
@terence I feel your pain, I been patiently waiting for the ASUS "May 13th launch" too. I need a netbook before May 30th vacation trip.
I actually really like the unique bamboo look of this; If I hadn't already purchased a laptop recently I would definitely be buying one of these, maybe I'll end up buying one, anyone, if I get money to throw around.
Too bad about the idiotic glossy screen.
$1,300 got me a 16.4" 1080p i7 blue ray. This is sad.
I think it looks pretty okay.
Don't buy this laptop, Panda will eat it.
@ShakeShakeShake that's what Marbles said. WTF with panda and you both guys ;-)S
LOL @ the second girl to the left in the more coverage link.
The laptop she's hold is HUGE, and probably really heavy - the weak smile is all she can manage.
Compare to the smiles of the other showgirls.
That bamboo themed catalog would look awesome as a tablet.
JUDOOOOO CHOP!
for those wanting matching furniture and equipment with their bamboo floor tiles this may be the answer...
If only gadgets grew like bamboo!
Finally. Seems like this thing was never going to come out.
@Stinky Peterson
Umm...thats what she said.
Asus needs to stop using those ridiculously large bezel glossy screens.
@engadget Again, similar to how you treat chinese RMB or yuan, you are misusing "NTD." I believe NTD stands for New Taiwan Dollars, so putting a "$" symbol before the number is like saying an ipad costs "dollars 499 dollars" ($499 dollars). Right - doesn't make sense. I don't know why this bothers me so much.
ASUS, number 1 laptops.