ASUS U Series Bamboo Collection Owners Thread (U33JC/U43JC/U53JC)

The Bamboo Collection is available in the US. As of 9/16, the U33JC is currently available at some U.S. retailers in limited quantities. Some models of the U43 may already be available: U43F (BestBuy), U43JC-A1 and U43JC-X1 (Amazon).

As of 8/27, Amazon is running promotions on bamboo notebooks. Currently they are offering a $150 gift card and/or a free Push2TV WiDi adapter.





The pre-order prices are as follows:
U33JC-A1 GenTech - U33JC-A1 XoticPC - $969 (before 3% cash discount)
U43JC-A1 GenTech - U43JC-A1 XoticPC - $1,095 (before 3% cash discount)
U53JC-A1 GenTech - U53JC-A1 XoticPC - $1,095 (before 3% cash discount)

U33JC-A1 ExCaliberPC - $969
U43JC-A1 ExCaliberPC - $1,095
U53JC-A1 ExCaliberPC - $1,095

U33JC-A1 - Amazon - $999
U43JC-X1 - Amazon - $999
U43JC-A1 - Amazon - $1,099


U43F-BBA5 (no discrete GPU) Best Buy - $849.99

Asus product pages can be seen here:
U33JC
U43JC
U53JC

Some key specs for the US A1 models:
All models have the following - Nvidia G310m, 4GB DDR3, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, bluetooth 2.0, WiDi (Wireless Display), 1 USB 3.0 port, HDMI, 16:9 1366 x 768 glossy display, 8 cell battery (5600mAH), Asus 2 Year Limited Global Warranty, Asus 1 year Accidental Damage Warranty
U33JC - 13.3", i3-370m at 2.4Ghz, 500GB HDD at 5400RPM
U43JC - 14", i5-450m at 2.4~2.66GHz, 640GB HDD at 5400RPM, DVD±R/RW Combo drive
U53JC - 15.6", i5-450m at 2.4~2.66GHz, 640GB HDD at 5400RPM, DVD±R/RW Combo drive

I pre-ordered a U33JC on 6/30 through GenTech for a grand total of $939.93. Other models I had considered are the UL30JT, and the U35JC.
My decision to go for the U33JC is based on the following:
The U33JC has USB3.0, Bluetooth, a 2MP webcam, and WiDi. Both the UL30JT and U35JC lack these features.
The U33JC has a more powerful non-ULV processor which still retains battery life that supposedly rivals the ULV models. Asus claims around 10+ hours for both the U33JC and the UL30JT. This could be due to Asus' technology called Super Hybrid Engine.
The build quality of the U33JC should be superior as it is made mostly of bamboo and aluminum.
I don't require a powerful graphics card for gaming, so the G310m is plenty for me. I mainly want the Nvidia GPU for its CUDA capabilities.
My reasons for not choosing a U43JC/U53JC are that I don't need an optical disc drive and I am satisfied with an i3 processor as the only difference is the lack of Intel Turbo Boost (which I believe Asus partly makes up for with the SHE).

Reviews
U33JC (US Reviews)
* Engadget
* Anandtech
* PCMag
* LaptopMag
* cnet
* ComputerShopper
* NotebookReview
* TechReport

 

Great news; looking forward to hearing more on this.

 

Wow, Case1! A great & well-done presentation page. Thanks.

I'm honestly excited to see you get your unit this month and tell us how it is hands-on! I'll try not to be too jealous.

I think its housing looks awesome and very solid. I just hope it's as good as it looks.

Someone's asked me about the airflow. Its cousin, the U30Jc has no air vents or holes at all on the bottom to cover up. I find that really great. It draws air from two vents near the sound grills in the front and blows it out the left side.

I can't find any photos of the U33Jc's bottom to see if it is constructed the same. Please let me know if you see any sites with more photos, esp of the bottom ... even in a video. Thanks!

BTW, you didn't complete this in your list but the specs for the i5-450M show it runs at 2.4GHz and can go to 2.66GHz with Turbo Boost when needed. The i3-370M has no Turbo Boost, of course.

 

The U33JC is a real looker. I especially like the contrast between the metal and bamboo which gives it a nice clean yet elegant appeal. I'm strongly considering replacing my UL30VT with this and hopefully the U33JC will be equipped with 2 or 3 wifi antennas for an easy wifi card upgrade

 

Thanks, Quatro! It was your idea to start this thread.

I hope it is as good as it looks too. I find the price to be quite reasonable so I hope they didn't cut any corners to keep the price down.

I have been looking all over for pics of the bottom but am yet to see any. Now that you mention it, I might have seen some pics/video of the bottom on a foreign website. Hmmm... I'll get back to you on this.

I really do hope the ventilation is like the U30JC. I have seen you write about that before and I think that is really quite awesome. No covering vents while on the lap!

Thanks for noticing the incomplete specs. They are now updated. Anything else I should add?

Update: The photos I was thinking of are of the bottom of the U35JC. I still want to say I found a video that flips the U33JC around for a look but the best I could find at the moment is actually one of the videos you posted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCPb2Jua6f0
Set it to 720p and have a look at 2:33. There appear to be far fewer vents than on the U35JC, but it also doesn't appear to be the same cooling system as your U30JC.

 

I agree. It really is a beautiful design. Very classy. That would be a hard decision on whether or not to replace the UL30VT. I'd say if you have the money and could get a good price for your VT, go for it. But in all honesty, it probably isn't THAT much of an upgrade.

GenTech and perhaps XoticPC as well offer the option to upgrade the wireless card to an Intel Advanced-N 6200 802.11 a/b/g/n. Not sure if that helps.

 

whoa! Well-spotted! Yes, there are some tiny vents in the bottom, but nothing like a fan hole that can be covered. I just hated those in the cheaper notebooks. Those grid vents look similar to the UL30Vt/Jt, only with less vent holes in the U33Jc.

Looking at that video again in 720p ... it really seems to be metal trim that is a continuation of the aluminum top. That is SO classy-looking (and durable). My edges are mere silver-painted plastic that are already showing wear (black plastic under that silver paint).

As for cost, I paid $899 when the U30Jc first came out 3 mo ago. So for only $40 more, you are getting a lot more improvements (even a larger HDD) and an even classier, unique body. I'm still marveling at that metal trim.

Can't wait to hear your report once you get it.

 

Are there any reviews of U33JC-A1? I'm considering getting this or maybe the UL30VT-A1. Does the price/benefits difference justify the getting the U33JC-A1 over UL30VT-A1?

 

No, I have not seen any reviews for any of Asus' newly released notebooks (UL30JT, U35JC, U33JC, etc.). I will post any Bamboo collection reviews I find in this thread.

The price/benefits question really depends on what you plan to use the notebook for and how much you are willing to spend. You can get the UL30VT for under $700 which is pretty tempting. In my case, I had saved up around $900 just for a computer so I was willing to step up to the U33JC. I hold on to my notebooks for a while so the extra money is worth it to me.

The UL30VT likely has enough juice to keep most users happy. It can easily handle HD video and even light gaming. I personally waited all this time because I wanted an ultra-portable with Optimus. I couldn't see myself manually switching the GPU, and the switchable graphics was one of the main draws of the VT. What's the point though if I'm never going to switch them?

The performance increase, while I feel is pretty substantial, is probably pretty negligible to an average user. I do think the i3 in the U33JC should be quite an improvement though over the Core 2 Duo ULV in the VT.

Now that they have been released, I would at least step up to a UL30JT or a U35JC. The Optimus and new Intel chips make it a pretty easy choice. Seeing they are the same price and battery life is somehow comparable, the U35JC would be my second choice at around $800.

The omissions in these notebooks though made it pretty easy for me to step up to the U33JC. I expect bluetooth and if USB 3.0 is available I am going to take it. The 2MP webcam is also a bonus. I am the type of person that can't settle for a lower model if I know there is something that offers new tech for a little more scratch. Plus I think the bamboo is incredible.

You might want to re-read my first post at the bottom as I think I cover why I like the U33JC over similar Asus notebooks.

In the end, if you don't care about having a new i3 CPU, Optimus, and some of the other upgrades on the U33JC, I don't think you would be disappointed with the VT.

 

Wow, Case1. An excellent answer. You should post more often on the forum.

BTW, an off-topic fun thing: with the new Optimus NVIDIA beta drivers for the 310M and using NVIDIA's System Tools that allows overclocking in the NV Control Panel, I was able to stably push my 3dMark06 score from 3700+ to 4300! The cooling on this notebook is amazing. I must have run 3DMk06 over 20 times back-to-back. The bottom of the notebook never got over barely warm, and that was in two areas only (where the product key & serial # label is located (CPU or GPU?) and the one side of the HDD (near the same area of warmth.) The rest of the bottom stayed cool to the touch.

Not that it matters in my real-world use ... just fun for bragging rights.

 

That is really neat! I will definitely be trying this with the U33. Did you follow a guide or is this just something you know how to do? I'm not terribly familiar with overclocking CPUs or GPUs, but I'm pretty damn good at following instructions.

I really hope the U33 can match your U30 when it comes to cooling. That is VERY impressive. I can hardly browse the internet on any of the notebooks around the house without one of those cooling pads.

 

I used this simple guide:
Asus UL 80VT/UL 30VT Overclocking Guide Expert Laptop Review

I downloaded & installed NVIDIA System Tools. At first, I only had access to the shaders speed. (If you look at GPU-Z on the NVIDIA 310M page, you can see the 3 categories of default clock (GPU core), the memory clock (the VRAM speed), and the shaders speed (no idea what that is. Must control dynamic lighting).

When I installed the latest NVIDIA Optimus beta drivers 258.69, suddenly I could increase ALL of the speeds.

The 310M stock speeds were:
Core: 625
Memory: 790
Shaders: 1530

Increasing them little by little, I arrived stably at:
Core:764
Memory: 921
Shaders: 1721

That resulted in my 3DMark06 scores jumping from 3700 to 4300.

I saved that speed setting as a profile under NVIDIA Control Panel & then put the speeds back to default (better battery, of course). When I want to play a game, I can reactivate those o'c speeds for better game play!

Yes, I had/have a Dell that ever gets hot on the bottom, and before that I had an HP/Compaq ... both got really hot on the bottom and needed cooling pads. My wife complains that her white MB gets very hot on the bottom.

My U30Jc is weirdly cool on the bottom. I've NO idea how they did it.

 

The more I read about the U33JC the more excited I get about the thought of getting my greasy little paws on one.

I live in the UK and the www.asuslaptopshop.co.uk is listing the U33JC on their website as coming with a DVD Super Multi drive. Do you guys think this is correct? Asus Laptop »Asus Notebooks»Portable Long Battery Life 13.3 What would be the weight of this unit with a DVD drive?

According to their site I can pre-order one now and I'll have it in 14 days time. Oh soooo tempting!

 

i like the specs but just not the bamboo
will there be a version with the bamboo theme?

 

Hey mojof1, I think you mean without right? I'm with you on that actually, I would prefer it if you could get a non-bamboo version. All that wood reminds of those old yank tank station wagons with the wood side panelling.... bucket of wrong!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Buick_Roadmaster_Limited_Wagon.jpg

 

Any word on it coming to Canada? I don't want to ship from Xotic/GenTech because of all the taxes/shipping I need to pay.

 

Alas no eSATA nor Express Card !
Also why 1 USB 3.0 and 2 USB 2.0? Why not 3 USB 3.0? Since USB 3.0 is compatible with USB 2.0.

 

The U33Jc coming to the US does NOT have a DVD drive, which many will find attractive due to less weight.

BTW, your www.asuslaptopshop.co.uk link doesn't work for me. Do you have another link?

 

Saving on $'s perhaps?

 

Sorry Quatro... my fault.. major typo, the URL is: Asus Laptop - UK Best Deal Sale Laptops Buy Notebook Computer Discount UK - Buy On-Line Laptops and Accessories for Business and Home :-S

 

Case1, you have convinced me! I will be getting the U33JC. I like how the U33J has a fully powered i3 compare to the UL30JT.
This will be the first laptop I'm getting without a DVD drive. I'm planning to to replace the hard drive with WD Scorpio Black w. free-fall sensor 320gb 7200 rpm HD. How would I install the OS without a DVD drive?

 

There are places on the forum that can explain how to install an OS via a flash drive.

Personally, once I had bought a netbook w/o a DVD drive, I found it quite inconvenient at times (not just for installing the OS, but for installing a lot of other things or watching a DVD movie or burning a DVD or ripping a music CD, etc).

So the first thing I did was buy a slim USB external DVD drive. It just made life so much simpler as I had a DVD drive when I needed it and it was slim, light-weight and only required one USB cable to power it (no heavy wall adapter.)

Slim, USB external DVD drives are available on Amazon or Newegg for $30-45.

BTW, I think the U33Jc will turn out to be a really nice notebook and very fetching to the eye. A solid aluminum top & trim except for the bamboo palm rest ... I wish I could see one.

... and really odd. The ASUS dealer in the UK is listing the U33Jc as having a DVD drive yet GenTechPC & XoticPC have both confirmed that the US model will not have an ODD. The U43Jc 14" will have the DVD drive. I wonder if the UK dealer is confusing the U33 with the U43? It would be unheard of for ASUS to offer a DVD drive in a model and remove it in other parts of the world. Too hard to change the entire chassis.

 

That is great! I can't wait to see some reviews let alone receive my computer. How many weeks still?

Replacing the hard drive is a good idea. Quatro turned me on to the Seagate Momentus XT hybrid drive which I will probably get eventually.

It looks like Quatro went over the OS install. Just find a guide that explains how to do a thumb drive install. The first thing I will be doing when I get my U33 is a clean install from a thumb drive.

The external DVD drive isnt' a bad idea. I can do everything I need to with flash drives and the internet. I ordered a Blu-Ray drive on my girlfriend's HP and we have only used it a handful of times over the last year, and that was just for making CDs and DVDs for friends. Havent even used it to watch a Blu-Ray.

 

Any reviews yet of the U33 Bamboo?

 

30 programs/apps, each one installed via a thumb drive (after you get the CD contents to a thumb drive or find an EXE of the program, etc)?

No thanks. Most programs these days are accessible via a large EXE and one can keep them all on an external HDD (giant thumb drive ) but I find it easier to install some of my programs from the DVD.

Plus, I do DVD burning often enough and I rarely watch movies on my older, fat TV. I watch them on my notebook, so I need a DVD drive for that.

Granted, it's not a must as a LOT of my programs any more are bought online and are downloaded.

Oh well, after $900 or so on a laptop, having a portable, really thin & light DVD drive is a small expense extra for me.

Joke is, after the netbook, I wanted to buy the UL30JT, became tired of waiting as my $'s were burning a hole in my pocket and I wanted to get on with it ... and the U30Jc WITH an internal DVD drive came up for sale (no U33Jc at that time) so I bought that. Now I have an external DVD drive that I only use when on trips and I'm on my netbook.

 

Thanks Quatro, I'll look into installing OS via a flash drive. Hopefully I can build a bootable flash drive with Win 7 and integrated drivers for U33JC.

External DVD drive is not a bad idea however I rarely use the DVD drive on my desktop. But for $20 on GenTechPC & XoticPC, I can add on the external dvd drive for cheap. I just have to double check the brand/model they offer and hope it's not some cheap knockoff. Does anyone know if you can boot and install a OS from a external usb DVD drive?

 

This is what I have been waiting for. Mind you I would have liked the blue stained bamboo more but I very much dislike plastic.

Hopefully I will be able to get a hold of it in Canada.

 

I've been checking out some more resellers here in the UK and they ALL list the U33JC with a rather strange set of specifications, especially when you compare it with the units that are about to go on sale in the US:

• ASUS U33JC-RX068V
• Intel Core i5-430M (2.27GHz)
• Window 7 Home Premium 64bit
• 4GB (2048x2) DDRII 1066 RAM
• 500GB 5400rpm hard drive
• 13.3" HD TFT 1366x768, Color-Shine, LED
• Switchable Graphics: NV G310M, 1G VRAM + Intel GMA, 4500MHD,
• DVD Super Multi Dual Layer

An i5 processor and a DVD drive are the biggest differences.
But what the hell is with the DDRII RAM!!!!!??? Surely that's not right?

And would you check out the quality of the web sites we have to deal with over here!! I think they need to spend a little more on the look and feel. They don't really entice you in to spending your hard earned cash. It's almost as scary as handing your money over to someone on ebay and just hoping beyond hope that what you bought will actually turn up in the post!:

• U33JC-RX068V ASUS U33JC RX068V Intel Core i5 430M 2 27GHz Window 7 Home Premium 64bit 4GB 2048x2 DDRII 1066 RAM 500GB 5400rpm hard drive 13 3 HD TFT 1366x768 Color Shine LED Switchable Graphics NV G310M 1G VRAM Intel GMA 4500MHD DVD Super Multi Dual
• Asus Laptop
• Buy U33JC-RX068V Intel Core i5-430M (2.27GHz), Window 7 Home Premium 64bit, 4GB (2048x2) DDRII 1066 RAM, 500GB 5400rpm hard drive, 13.3 HD TFT 1366x768, Color-Shine, LED, Switchable Graphics: NV G310M, 1G VRAM + Intel GMA, 4500MHD, DVD Super Multi Du
• Asus U33JC-RX068V

By the way.. I'm a bit of a newbie on this forum.. can anyone tell me how to get URLs to appear as URLs rather than what keeps happening to me where they get converted into links based on the page titles? (as above)

 

Absolutely. Like booting from a USB flash drive, the BIOS, anymore, knows to look in the external USB ports for bootable material like a DVD. If there's a bootable HDD already in the notebook then I have to tell BIOS on bootup which drive I want to boot from.

That's how I installed everything on my netbook.

 

Well, you're doing better than me. I didn't know about the_

• command or how to insert bullets with_
• ! So thank you for that lesson. Let's see if I can return the favour.
  
  It's actually quite easy to correct what's happening to your posted links. Just click on the "Quote" button and you'll see what I've done.
  
  Here is your first link redone.
  Your link address with a new title I assigned it:
  My Link 1
  
  Now just your link as a bare link address:
  http://www.morecomputers.com/extra.asp?pn=u33jc-rx068v
  
  Unfortunately, what's happening, as you're seeing, the forum server webpage (or whatever program runs this forum) insists on trying to assign a title to links it verifies. That's what it's doing to you.
  
  To get around it, you either need to give the link your OWN title (1st example) or after submitting it, reopen/edit it and you'll see the silly name it's given your link and you can erase it and put it back to the simpler URL format (the 2nd example). In the 2nd one, I had to submit it, let the server give it its name and then reopen it and delete that name and put it back the way I had at first.
  
  A faster way, in a list like you've done, is to copy the list, submit the post, reopen/edit the post, and then paste back your original addresses. The forum server program seems to believe you really want that address by the 2nd try! But sometimes, it just won't comply and then you have to give it whatever name YOU prefer.

 

@kingswood
I checked out all of those links you posted. I truly believe there are a few errors in these listings. The i5 I would expect as it seems most models being sold abroad have one. The DDRII I am quite certain is an error and one of the shops (lambda-tek) even lists it as DDR3. And I would say with almost 100% certainty that it coming with a DVD drive is not accurate. That is just not how Asus does it. It would be a different model if it had a DVD drive.

Those are some pretty poor websites. No pictures. No details about features. That is too bad. Given the quailty of the websites, a few errors in the listings wouldn't surprise me. GenTech (who I pre-ordered from) here in the states briefly had the U33JC listed with a DVD drive as well.

As for the URL thing, I almost always do hyperlinks. If you don't know how to do that, you highlight the word(s) that you want people to click on and then click the icon that looks like a globe with a chain link. It will ask you to type in the URL and that is it. Make sense? Here is a hyperlink to that Lambda-Tek website.

 

@Quotro
@Case1

Hey guys, thanks for the posting lessons. Very much appreciated I think I've got it down pat now.

Case1, I think you're right about the specs for the UK U33JC model. My guess is, they just haven't got one in to look at yet and have just made some random guesses. The only difference between the US and UK model will be the processor. The wait is killing me!

The only dilemma I really face is that I don't think I can stomach the bamboo panelling. People are gonna think I'm a total tosser carrying around a wood panelled laptop, just as they would if I drove around in a Rolls Royce Phantom! So I'm sort of leaning towards the U35JC, but it doesn't have USB3 and the processor is the i3 370M instead of the i5-430M. Maybe I need to see them side by side in real life before I can make the final decision.

 

Oh. It's the first time for me to notice the "globe with a chain-link (paper clip)" icon! I've been doing it the hard way via cut & paste and adding in the [URL= parts of the line. I'm learning yet another new trick!

But I think he wanted a way to put in the address without a title or link word, just the raw address.

 

A "total tosser"? I lived in the UK for three years and that's the first to hear that term. I assume it means something like our "total loser" ... someone who should be tossed out?

If you could see it, you may indeed change your mind ... or be assured that it looks like when, in the 60's, they put wood paneling on the sides of various station wagons!

I think it will look unique and very tasteful ... if you like wood things, which I do.

 

LOL! Not quite Quatro. It's another way of calling someone a w@nker

Most people that drive around in posh cars (like Rolls Royce's) are usually total w@nkers! They think the world revolves around them and everybody owes them something.

 

Is it worthwhile to upgrade the CPU at the following price points? Which one would you upgrade to?


-Intel® Core™ i3-350M, 2.26GHz, (3MB L3 cache) - Standard
-Intel® Core™ i3-350M, 2.26GHz, (3MB L3 cache) - Standard
-Intel® Core™ i5-430M, 2.26-2.53GHz, (3MB L3 cache)- ( + 219 )
-Intel® Core™ i5-520M, 2.4-2.93GHz, (3MB L3 cache) ( + 329 )
-Intel® Core™ i5-540M, 2.53-3.06GHz, (3MB L3 cache) ( + 369 )


also, the pic of the U33JC shows that the "enter" key is upside down l-shaped... i refuse to buy laptops that do not have the conventional horizontal "enter" key... are the pics reprensentative of what you're going to buy?

 

Ohh the Asus bamboo series has returned.
I will be happily ordering a new U43 once it is out from Xoticpc.

I was considering a u33 as I don't need the disk drive, however with the upgrades I would purchase, its cheaper for me just to get the u43; I can deal with the extra pound ha.

Looking forward to some reviews once these are out! If all appears right I'll order one up asap.

 

NO ONE and I truly mean NO ONE really knows the specs on this machine. I already pre-ordered the U43jc and every company I called to find out the exact specs as each website has different specs for the same models all stated that they do not have it in stock yet and they will not know the exact specs for certain until the models show up in their stores.

It truly is a mystery what these will actually be packing when they come in stock.

If the U43JC doesn't come with what it is supposed to when I receive it, I am just going to return it and purchase the Toshiba M645.

 

The spec on the Tosh M645 looks pretty damn sweet, but have you seen how many pounds that thing is packing? 6lbs at it's lowest configuration and then upwards from there. Eeesh!

http://laptops.toshiba.com/laptops/satellite/M640/M645-S4050

 

Well, "wonker" isn't a term used in the States either ... but THAT one I heard plenty!

 

I hadn't noticed that about the Enter key. Time will tell, but for the US keyboard, yes, that's probably the one they'll have.

I wondered how they found the space for that inverted L Enter key as my U30Jc doesn't have it. I found that to steal that top right key (\ and | on my keyboard), they had to shorten the left Shift key and add an extra key there.

Nothing perfect in life.



And if you attempt to replace you processor, I believe you'll void your warranty as that's much more major tampering. And the extra price for an i5 is a lot extra you could just add to getting a different laptop that has what you'd want or getting an SSD that will make your PC feel much faster than adding a few megahertz. 2.4GHz 2 core/ 4 thread is already pretty fast for most laptop work.

 

Are there other differences in the U43 over the U33 other than the ODD & screen size?

 

Not that I can think of?
ODD, screen are the only two prevalent. U43 starts with i5 up to i7. U33 starts with i3 and up to i5.

 

Oh. So the main reason for you getting the U43 over the U33, even though you don't need an ODD, is the processor upgrade?

 

Wow, I can't believe I never noticed the enter and left shift key. That is REALLY a bummer. Just typing right now I can tell that I press the left shift key at the far right edge and the enter key at the far left edge. That could be a significant reach the way the U33 keyboard is. A gap of one letter-sized key seems pretty huge. Why wouldn't they use the same layout as on the U30JC? What even is that key they snuck in there between the comma/quotation mark key and the enter key? Do any of you have experience with a keyboard like this?

@kingswood, I lived with a geordie for two years and I definitely know what a tosser and a wanker is. If I were paying some ridiculous price just for the wood I could maybe understand, but there is hardly any premium tacked on for the bamboo. I think it is going to look and feel fantastic. It seems very tastefully done to me, but I certainly understand it is not for everyone. From my perspective, I am surrounded by MacBooks as they are the "it" thing to have in college. I think the U33 might catch a few glances. Anything to take away some Apple fanboy's smugness

@mojof1, I certainly wouldn't consider upgrading the CPU at those prices. Even the lowest upgrade adds almost 25% to the cost of the notebook. If CPU power is really that important to you, perhaps you should be looking for something else. I don't see how anyone could justify over $200 for an upgrade to a CPU that is identicle except for the Intel Turbo Boost...

Update: Surely this isn't the keyboard that will be on the US model. This has to be a European style keyboard. There are keys for GBP and Euros as well as a few other things I've never had on a US keyboard. There is just no way, right? Right?

 

Tracking this thread. Can't decide between the u43jc and the HP Envy 14. Leaning toward the Envy, but HPs track record/reliability just isn't promising.

 

i believe that the enter key shape is just because a european keyboard is shown. i've noticed that euro models have a different key layout than the rest of the world

 

Hmm.... that IS an extra key! I can see where they moved the [ \ ] key down to beside the left shift & shortened the L-Shift, but they've ADDED an actual extra key to the right of the [ ' ] key. Unfortunately, my pic from Gentech is too fuzzy. Do you have a clearer keyboard photo?

Well, in my poor photo, I CAN see the $ sign just above the 4 where it is on a US keyboard, but the other symbols are just too fuzzy & unclear for me to see. On a UK keyboard, over the 4 is a £.

Again, do you have a link for a clearer photo of the U33Jc's keyboard?

update: Duh. If I'd just have followed your link, I could have seen the clear photo you posted! And it IS the same photo posted over at Gentech. Looks very European with the extra á£éó and Euro symbol [ € ] that I can't even find under my character map. Personally, I'd love an extra £ symbol as I use it sometimes.

Anyone know how to find € in Character Map or some key combination on a laptop??

And I can see that the extra key is the # symbol usually over our 3 but that's been taken by the £ symbol. Odd. Trying to cover all of their bases outside of the US? Yet each country DOES have it's own established keyboard.

What I don't see is any key with the WiDi symbol; the hotkey to turn on WiDi. Perhaps it's just a hardware switch.

We won't know until the units get here. Don't ya just LOVE surprises?!

 

I'm in the same boat. Was going to go for the HP DV6T SE, but the $300 coupon expired just before I ordered. If the u43jc had a lighted keyboard.....

I may end up with a HP product simply because of Costco's return policy.

 

Sorry for the silly question, but looking at the 43 series, what justifies the $100 price increase for buying at Gemtech, etc, over BestBuy?