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

GenTechPC here lists the U33JC as coming with a 500GB 5400rpm HDD. No idea of the maker yet.

My point is that they tested a WD Blue Scorpio 640GB HDD. The US version will have a 500GB HDD. It will be a different HDD and possibly a wholly different maker (it has happened before, even in the same model & size with ASUS.)

You need to wait until it is really released in the US & Canada with reviews before making any expectations of negotiables like the HDD & maker.

 

Meh, I imagine it will be pretty durable over the long run. No way to tell for sure, but this gives me a little comfort. Also from the Asus global page:

"Bamboo also has a tensile strength that rivals that of steel, making it a perfect substitute for plastic."

I imagine when they say patterns and textures may change, they are mostly talking about how things like the touchpad and where you rest your wrists may change a bit over time, mostly because of oils in the skin.

 

So we're into the "mid-late July" timeframe, has anyone gotten any further guidance as to when this thing is going to start shipping?

 

I was told last week by GenTech that they are expecting to receive their first shipment during the week of the 19th. So between July 19-23 we should see the first wave being shipped out.

Hopefully less than a week to go.

 

Hopefully comes in soon.
Now I'm stuck between U33 and U35. Just because I'm not sure on the whole bamboo strength.
But U35 has no USB 3, trying to future proof.

 

and WiDi? I would think thats a much bigger feature than a usb 3.0..but that's just me..

 

and im still not sure if usb3.0 and WiDi is worth the extra 150..but WiDi is a tempting technology..what do you guys think?

 

It could also mean that, like wood guitars, the treated bamboo wood darkens in color with age.

Oh, and as for differences btwn the U33Jc & the U35Jc, Mikeysela, don't forget the 2.0 MP webcam as well (instead of 0.3 MP) and Bluetooth. There are at least 4 major differences plus the U33JC has brushed aluminum over the entire keyboard area (except the palm rest which is dark wood).

 

Yea, but a Webcam is something i personally use really rarely. USB 3.0? yea sure its faster, but nothing that impacts my life big time. If i plan on using the laptop for surfing, movies, word processing, is it worth it for someone like me 50 get the u33jc instead of the u35jc? I do like the bamboo look very much, but to me, it would be paying 150 extra for the bamboo look. IT doesn't seem worth it. I mean, for the extra 150, i rather have either a stronger cpu, more ram, or a faster HD.

 

I personally use the webcam a lot (skype with family across many different areas). That and bluetooth are my main reason for wanting the U33 over any of the other offerings that ASUS has. I don't know that any other manufacturer has these features in an ultraportable 13" with long battery life, either.

C'mon ASUS, get your act together and ship these things already!

 

Yea I think I'll just get it over and pre-order.
Just gonna run by the store and look at a 13" and a 14", see if I really cant stand the 13".
I'm dropping from a 15.6 M860TU, so we'll see how I handle to a light notebook ha.

 

USB 3.0 is more significant than it would seem at first glance. At 10 times the speed of USB 2.0, it will enhance data transfers to and from external devices - particularly as more and more usb 3.0 devices become available. In a year or two down the road, you'll regret not having usb3.0.

WIDI as well is significant - especially if you have an HD TV and enjoy viewing HD content sourced from the internet onto a more substantial medium (more substantial than your 13" display). Best of all, its WIRELESS. No need for HDMI cable from your notebook to your TV. Think of the benefits of going wireless for internet access compared to earlier days when one had to be physically "tethered" to gain internet access.

I realize there are other options to WIDI - but they require unsightly and unweildly fobs, or potrusions attached to your usb port on the u33. For that reason,, I welcome the efficient and tidy solution offered by cpu-included WIDI.

And the other features, including bluetooth and decent webcam, make it even more attractive. (I only wish the bluetooth was version 3.0, but I'm almost certain it's not.)

The U33 is a real winner on paper and I believe will also be in reality.

 

Great! Then go for the U35Jc. You'll be happy with it.

Yes, I noticed the same. USB 3.0 is actually FASTER at data transfer from an external HDD than an eSATA port. That'll be important for those backing up or copying large files to & from an ext HDD. What's great is that USB 3.0 external enclosures are not expensive for the speed they'll provide .... IF you have a USB 3.0 port on your notebook.

 

Ok, everyone. It is a new day and I can not get through the day without obsessive talk about the new bamboo line. So, come on people. Keep me entertained and sane until it actually comes out

 

I'm on board! So my question is this...does anyone have any more info on the thickness? Gentech lists it as 0.58"-1.22" It comes out to be thicker than the U35jc (0.6"-0.98") on the thicker end, but thinner on the thin end. Does this make any sense to anyone?

 

Just means it's more pointy on the front lip.

Comparing side-shot photos, it looks like part of that extra thickness in the U33Jc is the bamboo-covered lid. The lower housing appears to be a bit thinner than the U30Jc.

And there is disagreement on the thickness of the U35Jc between Gentech, ASUS, Xotic and the Polish reviewers referenced earlier. Two say 1.2" Two say 0.98". The full-sized 370M processor may indeed need more space for cooling. We'll see soon enough.

 

"We'll see soon enough."

WRONG, it will never be soon enough until we actually see it, hold it, smell it

 

Well, clearly ASUS thinks patience is a virtue.


... hmmm, and smell the laptop? Smelled like packing materials when I unboxed mine.

 

Xotic has "External USB Slim DVD±R/RW Drive ( + 19 )." Seems cheap for a spare. Anybody know which they carry?

 

Call & ask them. A human answers.

Probably a no-name Chinese clone ... that's what mine is and it works great.

GenTechPC makes the same offer for the same price. $19? Nice.

 

Yah, gave them an email already.

 

A phone call would be faster...

BTW, the latest CPU-Z 1.55 for 32 & 64-bit Windows is now available here. It's an installer so it will pick up whether you're using x32 or x64.

 

Righto lads! Check this for a bit of a curve ball. I just spoke on the phone to the guys at www.asuslaptop.co.uk here in London to get some clarification on a few things, namely:

• When the hell is their stock arriving? and;
• Why are they, and almost all the other UK resellers, listing the U33JC as coming with a DVD writer?

The guy I spoke too said that they have had verbal confirmation from Asus they will be receiving their shipment next week. Praise the lord!

When I queried him about the DVD writer, he said that they have had countless phone calls and emails from people like myself telling them that their spec listing can't be right. So in the face of all this they then called Asus directly to clarify the situation and Asus confirmed that yes the UK version of the U33JC is coming with a DVD writer. I couldn't really believe my ears, but that's what he said. He also said that the proof will be in the pudding when they pull the first one out of it's box. All very intriguing.

After I got off the phone it did occur to me that perhaps Asus are including an external USB DVD writer with the UK version, rather than it actually being built in. I didn't want to bother them with another call to suggest this possibility, so I guess I'll just wait until next week to find out. I'm even more excited now! Bring it on!

 

Did anyone notice that the uk and au versions are identical and both have the i5-430m (older gen) while the usa one has the i3-350m which is newer and meant to havw comparable performance to the i5-430m. I wonder why au/uk aren't getting the i5-450m

 

@kingswood: Very interesting regarding the DVD drive. Way to put in the call to Asus. I still say there is no way the U33JC will have a built in DVD drive. No way. That would be great for yous if it does come with an external drive though. I'm certainly not expecting one with the US version.

@wanged: The US version is supposed to have the i3-370m. The Asus page lists the i3-370m, i5-430m, i5-450m, and the i5-520m as CPU options for the U33JC. Who knows why Asus chose which CPUs for certain markets. I'm certainly okay with an i3-370m though, especially because it probably keeps the price down and gives comparable performance to the lower i5 offerings.

 

I also asked the guy from asuslaptop.co.uk what kind of interest they had had so far in the U33JC, because they have had them available for pre-order for the last 3 weeks. I was surprised to hear that so far they have only had 7 pre-ordered. He said that they have 20 coming in their first shipment, which also seemed quite small. Having said that, there is quite a lot of competition in the online sales market here, so I guess they need to be cautious.

Now that I know that the units are less than a week away I'm extremely tempted to pre-order one myself. Do I bite the bullet or do I wait for some proper reviews to come out?

Knowing my luck it will get panned in all the reviews, dashing all my hopes of the almost perfect laptop and I'll be left waiting for another 3 months for something bigger and better. And in the meantime I'll waste more hours being a sad-o reading every post on notebookreview and over analysing every shred of information I can glean about the upcoming Asus Shredded Coconut line of edible laptops :wink:

On the plus side I might become a "Notebook Deity" like good old Quatro!

 

this is very useful info. thanks! I am one of those 7 and after following the saga of UL30VT not coming to the UK, then the UL30JT not coming to the UK, and the U30JC not coming to the UK... I am very pleased to have waited and now have a reasonably priced 13.3 inch laptop with switchable graphics, USB 3.0, sub-2kg form and a bamboo presentation that is at least remarkably different to a lot of what is around, including the always annoying apple fanbase.

Also, I'll be keeping tabs on Linux compatibility, that is looking good so far for the very similar U30JC model: https://launchpad.net/~asus-ul30

 

Hey avilellab, good to find a fellow UK resident amongst these forums! Thanks for the Linux related info! Very good to know, as I'm actually a Linux systems engineer and will definitely be setting my laptop up to dual boot Fedora and Windows 7. I can't abide the MacBook fan-boys or the Ubuntu ones for that matter The idea of a wood panelled laptop really turned me off initially, but the more photo's and videos I've seen of it, has sort of made it grow on me. It's definitely unique and really does look quite classy.

So did you place your pre-order with asuslaptop.co.uk via their website or over the phone? Did they give you free delivery?

 

Not sure about the order, our admin did it for me. I'll ask.

 

yea the wood paneling came onto me as well. And officially preordered a U33 from Ken at GenTech!
ETA End July, lets hope for the best.
Anyone interested in an M860TU (NP8660)

 

I can't wait to see and feel the quality of the bamboo. It seems Best Buy has pushed its shipping date back to 7/30 - 8/x. Before, it was 7/23

 

Yes, I have been patiently waiting for my oblations and appropriate veneration and am a little shocked that it has not been forthcoming.

Hey, everyone. Did you notice that the U43JC is up for sale over here at Amazon. .... though it lists as being presently out of stock.

 

Are you guys not worried about the thickness of the u33jc? i was really happy to see the i series processor and the 3.7lb weight, but with a thickness of over an inch, doesn't that take a bit of the appeal away?

 

The thinkness is 1.48 - 3.10 cm, so it won't be uniformly over an inch. I think only the back is that thick, the front should be thin.

 

Yea, that may be so, but isn't a thickness of a laptop really measured from at its thickest part? Is the ul30vt under an inch all throughout?

 

Also, what is the differenece between the ie UM and the i3M? because if it is not substuantial, can you guys think of a reason not to get the UL30JT over the u33JC since it has longer battery, thinner and still has the i3?

 

Because I was looking at a Toshiba Tecra 700 for about 1100$ CAD, so effectively its about the same price as the ASUSU33JC but is only 3.19 lbs, is uniformly under an inch, has a DVDRW drive with an i3M, 2.26Ghz CPU. Is that a better choice then?

 

I am ordering mine for the bamboo and buiild quality. My previous laptop was brown carbon fiber, so I wanted a change. The Toshiba Portege R700 might be more fitted for you.

 

Depends. Are you comparing apples to apples? Same basic features offered?

Does the Toshiba have switchable graphics (two GPU's)? All-aluminum top? 7-8 hrs real battery life? USB 3.0 (10x faster than USB 2.0)? 2.0 MP webcam? BT? 2-yr warranty & 1-yr accidental damage warranty? (U33's CPU is 2.4GHz)

The wood-finish part some will love and some will hate.

Now if you wanted a Toshiba Tecra 700CT, here's the NBR review to read!

The cost? $6,239!

BTW, do note the end of the post. Very important!

 

I think I've had that Amazon link up for over a week on that first post where I list the sellers
Please keep posting things like that though because I'm certain to miss them.

Yes, the thickness at its thickeset point is more than the UL30/U35, but I believe it is also thinner at its thinnest point and is also very close in weight. The build quality SHOULD be superiour though in the U33. I feel build quality and weight are more important than shaving a quarter inch off the butt.

The i3-330um (1.2GHz) should be plenty zippy but the i3-370m (2.4GHz) should be noticebly faster. For me the minimal difference in battery life made it an easy choice. If the i3-330um gets only marginally better battery life, then why choose it over the i3-370m? This is why I would choose a U35JC over the UL30JT. Although, until official benchmarks come out it is all speculation.

As Quatro pointed out, we really need to know how else these notebooks match up (build quality, GPU, battery, warranty, other features).

That is truly hilarious, Quatro. I look back at my notebook I bought 5 years ago for $1,500 and shake my head. Over $6k for that marvel though! Ouch. That's tech. At least now I feel the components in a notebook like the UL30/U30/U33/U35 could probably last me 5 good years.

 

Bamboo hardwood floors tend to dent and scratch easily...have any U33JC/U43JC/U53JC owners had problems with their paneling?

 

They aren't out yet

 

Yes, I owned a Toshiba Protege that I bought out of box for a "steal" at $1,600!

The thing was a tank. Very solid. In those days, trackpads were just being introduced and I still preferred the little lime-green eraser mouse in the middle of the keyboard.

Then I had an IBM Thinkpad for a similar price. Also a tank. Also had a red eraser mouse in the middle of the keyboard.

I look at the prices and features offered now & just laugh. Amazing.

I hope that they have put a hard enough coating (acrylic, varnish, something) that it withstands abuse. I would have thought they tested that area since laptops get a lot more wear & tear than fine wood furniture or instruments.

I'm looking forward to the upcoming reviews where (hopefully) they test the strength of the wood paneling.

 

I would think that switchable graphics (dual GPU's) is such a specifically unique idea and so affects performance & battery life, it should be thought of as its own of kind laptop and not comparable with single IGP solutions.

 

oh, and the protege R705 does have aWIDI technology so thats good. So really, at 3.2lb, under an inch thick, for 800 with WiDi tech, this is what im looking for. However, as far as GPU goes with switchable graphics, the toshiba only has integrated intel graphics. But If i don't game at all, does that affect me in any way? I do watch movies and videos tho, so do i want the discrete GPU?

 

I will mention that the protege does have an inferior battery life, with reviews claiming only about 4 hrs or so, so I think the U33JC would be better, but that would require waiting for more reviews in that area. but the 3.2lbs and <1in thickness might be the most important aspects for me. I'm just wondering how noticeable the difference between the 3.2 and 3.7 and 1 inch vs 1.2 inches...

 

@mikeysela
I would think the thickness would be more noticeabale than the weight. A half pound seems like nothing. I checked out a few reviews of the R705 and it does sound like a real nice notebook. Build quality seems very good too, expecially for the size and weight. Just wondering though, why is an extra 1/4 inch on the butt and a half pound so important? Seems pretty negligible to me. But I also understand that, hey, the U30JC is only a little thicker (overall) and just a little more weight, what's the big deal? I know Quatro has no problem with the size and I probably wouldn't either, but in my head it matters for some reason.

If the extra 1/4 inch and half pound make the difference for you, then it seems you can't go wrong with that Toshiba. The switchable graphcis on the U33JC really makes it a different animal though. I don't game on a PC much either, but the GPU is going to be used more and more for every day things like HD video playback, video encoding and picture editing. I really see the GPU adding legs to the U33 in its twilight years.

The battery life for the Toshiba is likely very close to what the U33 will get. Engadget reviewed both the U30JC and R705. In the same test (using the Intel GPU), the U30JC only managed 4:10, so the R705 pulled a very respectable time in that video playback test.

I also didn't notice any mention on any of the reviews or best buy about bluetooth for the Toshiba. Not sure if that matters. Ultimately, if USB 3.0, bluetooth (?), warranty, and most importantly the switchable graphics don't matter to you, then you should be very happy with the R705.

 

But the U35JC is suppose to have around 8 hrs of battery i assume? so that would be 2x the Toshiba. My problem is that in canada , the protege is essentialy Tecra700, but i cant find anywhere that says it also has the WiDi technology which i would like to see. It seems that the U35JC might be the best compromise, with <1 inch thick, 3.7lb weight and a solid 820 US price. 150 Less than the U33JC, and i dont care about usb3.0 or the webcam or anything. bascially , its between the U33JC, U35JC and the Protege. they all have bits and pieces i would like to combine in one laptop. The best compromise is prob u35JC because only 820 U.S, less than one inch and a good battery life (8-10hrs?). I don't care much for usb3.0, Bamboo or 2.0MP camera. WiDi would be sweet, but not totally essential and not sure that is worth the extra 150 bucks for me

 

Hey everyone. I have a small admission and retraction to make. Earlier, I had said that the new NVIDIA Optimus Beta drivers 258.96 had caused me to lose 400 points.

I was wrong. I DID lose 400 points, but I finally discovered why. It was because a few days earlier, I had messed with my boot up settings (I'm sure none of you ever mess with any of your settings :wink: ) and forgotten about it.

I had reverted back to the original NVIDIA drivers, but the missing points .... remained missing. Then under CPU-Z, I realized it was only reporting 1 core & 2 threads (should be 2 cores & 4 threads.)

EMbarassed, I suddenly remembered my changes under boot of msconfig.

I changed it back to what it was originally, and voila! My missing 400 points magically returned.

So, just to say that the new NVIDIA Optimus Beta drivers 258.96 work realy well for me on my U30Jc.