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

Okay, Mikeysela, but again be sure and compare apples to apples.

Meaning that in battery life, you'll need to compare the R700 (or Tecra 700) to other laptops being tested by the same review group and same tests.

So the U30, U33 (& hopefully the U35JC) were tested to last 8 hrs. But what were the tests? Under what conditions and brightness, etc?

As Case1 is saying, when you look at the review of a video rundown done on the U30JC & the R700, they ran the same rundown video test on both and gave the 4+ hrs results. That tells us the battery life is probably similar in real use.

I read several reviews about the R700. It indeed looks like a very nice notebook IMO.

For me, I wanted the dual-GPU's so it didn't fit my needs.

As for WiDi, I think in a recent discussion there was the idea that to use WiDi, you needed an i-series processor & on-chip HD IGP (you'll have that) and a compatible WiDi-capable WiFi card (which you won't have).

But if you want WiDi, then just plan on buying the Intel 6200 Advanced-N wireless card for $35 (or so I read.) the 6200N & 6300N are WiDi-capable, or so I read.

Of course, you'll still need to have buy a WiDi Push2TV box ($100) to receive the signal and send it to the TV via an HDMI cable.

 

Well, I called Best Buy and my order has been officially pushed back to 8/2-8/13

 

Thanks for the input. May I ask why you wanted the dual GPU's? At the moment, if I order the protege, it will cost me about 250 more to get the Protege, plus the push2Tv box, so 350 overall. Do you think I would be happy with the U35JC? it seems like the best bargain for me in terms of thickness, weight, performance and price. Since I don't care about usb 3.0, Webcam, etc and all those things, i just need the basic solid performance of an i processor.

 

I wanted the dual GPU's for four reasons:
1) the possibilities of playing newer games. (I don't have a wii, PSP, XBox, etc or even a desktop to fall back on.)
2) Blu-ray movies (I don't have a blu-ray player for TV, just an external USB Blu-ray/DVD drive.)
3) I've heard that the newer Intel HD IGP chip is pretty good and can play HULU in HD and videos smoothly, but I wanted to be sure I could watch TV online w/o stutter or skipping. (I don't have a TV & antenna, or cable TV, etc.)
4) Working under IGP's and under other units using discrete graphics, I feel that there is no substitute to having discrete graphics and dedicated (non-shared) VRAM. I've had IGP-only notebooks while I also had dedicated graphics and non-shared VRAM ... and if I wasn't going to have a desktop, then I wanted a notebook that had a discrete GPU w/ its own RAM.

Now as to WiDi and the U35JC, looking over at GenTechPC, it doesn't look like the U35JC has WiDi/ But for $35 extra, GenTech will put in an Intel Advanced-N 6200 WiDi-enabled wireless card.

Would you be happy with the U35JC? Hard to say. Could you tell us your needs again? What do you want to do with the notebook? Battery life you think you need? Kinds of programs you want to run and kinds of pages you'll browse?

You've mentioned wanting the newer i-series processor, but any new notebook will come with one, so that's not much help in deciding between notebooks (a bit like saying "I'd like a car with wheels.")

 

"Quatro" it seems like your U30JC can use WIDI as well..... ASUS U30JC-A1 13.3" Replaced by ASUS U30JC-B1 LAPTOP - eBay (item 140424034064 end time Aug-04-10 03:24:26 PDT)

 

Ah, there you go beating that dead horse again.

His is the -B1 model (mine's the -A1). To be WiDi-capable would mean that the wireless card inside must be Intel (mine's Atheros) and WiDi-capable like the Intel Advanced-N 6200 wireless card (mine isn't) that is for sale in some places for $35.

Intel's own page on WiDi make it clear it is based on the notebook's WiFi (i.e. the wireless card inside).

 

Guy's I need your advise. Should I bite the bullet and pre-order a U33JC so that I get is as soon as they hit the stores or do I wait until some proper reviews have been published? I'm guessing I'll have to wait until August before we get any decent reviews and I've been without any form of computer at home for more than 3 months now! So you can imagine how keen I am to get a new laptop.

The only thing I'm really worried about on the review side is how the wooden trackpad performs. I'm sure you all remember the Polish reviews that said it was sticky. One thing that crossed my mind was, would it be possible to apply a clear plastic covering to the trackpad, like what people apply to their iPhones? Has this ever been done before? Would the trackpad still work or would this reduce the performance further? My thinking is that the plastic covering would overcome this sticky finger problem.

 

Wait, are you saying that for the extra 35 for the wireless card, I would be able to use the WiDi technology?? that's awesome then, in that case its a no brainer for me to get the U35 instead of the U33. It is still cheaper than the U33, and i dont care about webcam or usb 3.0. My needs are: a PC that can handle software for Electrical engineering program so be able to run MATLAB smoothly, programming software, word processing, excel, etc. And for school, I would like a light and thin of course, so the U35 would be good. On top of that, like any student, I enjoy watching HD movies and streaming tv shows and so WiDi is nice to have. But would the dedicated GPU make that viewing experience any better?

 

Greetings, Kingswood. Ah, how I miss the UK! Truly.

On the U30Jc, major reviews were out within 4-5 days of public release. Not basing it on the UK release but the US release, then that means we hopefully shall have reviews on the U33Jc by the end of July. If you've waited 3 mo, what's another week or so?

Then again, if your retailer has a return policy as we do here in the US (two weeks, usually), why not pre-order it & try it out? Here in the US, we can return a PC within two weeks, no questions asked or penalties, if we simply don't like it. That's what I'd do if I felt the unit was close to what I wanted.

Just save all of you packing materials and even leave most of the plastic covering on the laptop the first two days or so and see what you think.

I think you're correct.

Some people made complaints about the U30Jc's brushed aluminum trackpad surface. They felt that their fingers dragged across the trackpad if they were the least bit damp, and I do have to have truly dry finger tips to use it comfortably (something about the brushed micro-grooves on the surface that tend to grip).

Mine came with a plastic cover sheet (like on the iPhone screen) over my trackpad. Amazingly, the trackpad still worked perfectly with it on. I left it on for the first three days, but then felt it was time to experience the real trackpad surface! Just to say that the plastic cover sheet was very comfortable and worked perfectly.

 

If you look here, you can see that GenTechPC is offering to customize the U35Jc with the newer Intel Advanced-N 6200 wireless card for $35 extra. I'm 90% positive that should make your notebook WiDi-capable ... but you'd STILL need to spend another $100 later to buy the Push2TV receiver that receives your notebook's video signal and delivers it to your HDTV via an HDMI cable (if your TV has an HDMI-in port. Perhaps it also uses other ports as well. I don't know.)

To be sure about that, just phone GenTech at 800-990-7945 or email them at [email protected] and ask them if the installation of the Intel Advanced-N 6200 wireless card for $35 extra would indeed make the notebook WiDi-capable. They really do answer their emails fairly quickly and humans answer the phone.

For math crunching and engineering programs, I'd for sure get a notebook with a full-speed i-processor (like the i3-370M at 2.4GHz).

Yes, the dedicated 310M will make HD viewing better. It removes any possibility of stutters. You'll be able to do even blu-ray playback w/o stutter with the NVIDIA GPU. It could also be a help to any visual 3D programs you run.

This AnandTech recommendation of the U30/U33/U35Jc should encourage you.

 

With the delay in the BB release of the U43, is anyone else concerned that the U33 will be delayed from resellers like Gentech? With the history of delays that ASUS has in their launches, I'm really fearful that this isn't going to make it out to market in the next two weeks.

 

I find it more useful to be concerned about what is instead of what might be. The U43 will get here. There is no indication that the launch will be greatly delayed. Perhaps a few weeks. But everyone like Amazon has the unit up on their sites.

As more often happens, it's finding units staying in stock once it arrives. Once the U30Jc was released for sale, people were finding it difficult to find it in stock very long anywhere.

Since BB will be carrying the U43, I'd hope that it will stay more in stock. We'll see.

 

I suppose that's one way to look at it. I've been in need of a new notebook for about a month now but have been putting it off as the U33 is exactly what I'm looking for. If I have to wait much longer, I'm going to have to settle for a lesser machine or spend a ton more to get a Sony Z12.

 

Oops. Sorry. I misread your post. It's the U33Jc you're wanting. GenTechPC & XoticPC appear confident it will arrive in the next two weeks.

If you're serious, I'd pre-order from them, if I were you. Your card's not charged until the unit is shipped so you can always cancel & choose something else if you want (until the U33 ships.)

 

Thinking about the 14 inch model as a replacement for the dud Envy 14 I'm shipping back today.

BestBuy lists specs as not having bluetooth - is this a mistake?

 

Of course Intel's own website states otherwise. Reason being is this: Intel vs. Nvidia: The tech behind the legal case | Nanotech - The Circuits Blog - CNET News

There is a huge dispute between intel and Nvidia. Intel refuses to accept ANY Nvidia Optimus card works with WIDI (reason being is because the two companies are fighting like little kids). Ask Intel and they will state only computers with only Intel Graphics cards in place will work. The wireless card having to be Intel MIGHT be correct, but, if you look at any of these new Asus with WIDI enabled. None of them mention any Intel wireless cards being used. For an extra charge (such as from GenTechPC) you can upgrade to an Intel card but in the stock configuration it doesnt mention Intel as being the wifi card and still it lists it as being widi enabled.

But, everything else from Intel is BS. I did a lot of research on this even before the Bamboo line came out.

 

Is one of these resellers known as better than the other? Will one of them ship faster? I live on the east coast if this makes a difference. I haven't really had much experience with online electronic retailers outside of Newegg, Amazon, and Buy.com.

 

Oh, that's interesting. What happened to your Envy 14? What did you not like about it? Others seem to be raving about it, so I thought it must be a pretty good notebook.

And why buy it from BB? They often have the same or higher prices (after tax. So BB's $1,000 becomes $1,086 in OK) and have features removed (e.g. no BT & shorter warranty ... and did you notice that thier's comes with the punier 0.3 MP webcam?)

GenTechPC has the U43Jc here for preorder for $1,095 and free shipping.

Their's has Bluetooth, 2.0 MP webcam and a 2-yr warranty & 1-yr accidental damage warranty. They have a 15-day no-questions-asked return policy.

 

I know what you mean mate. You spend enough time in the UK and it just sort of starts to get under your skin. Having Europe on your door step certainly helps too I'm not sure how I'm gonna cope when I eventually head back to the Land Downunder! The weather and proper sandy beaches will certainly help.

Damn good idea! I'll get onto the various websites and see if any of them have such a policy. If so, I'll definitely go for the pre-order.

You truly are a notebook deity!! Is there nothing you haven't tried? That's wicked news. At least I'll have a possible mod option if the trackpad turns out to be too annoying in it's natural state

 

Agreed. If I didnt HAVE TO get my laptop through Best Buy, I would purchase it from another vendor.

 

Thanks, I'll go the Gentech route. When you say no questions asked, does that mean no restocking fee?

My Envy 14 had all kinds of problems. Poor contruction - gaps on the top. Super loud fan noise that never turned off, even after I adjusted the BIOS. Horrible trackpad. Keyboard flex.

Others seem to like them so maybe I got a bad unit. But, given the problems with the past Envy line, I decided to cut my losses. That Radiance screen was nice though (although SUPER glossy...)

 

Just checked their website and it looks like no restocking fee on standard models.

Unfortunately, I want to upgrade the wireless card to Intel, which I guess would render my unit "custom" and open me up to a 15% restocking fee.

 

No, no, no. Please get this straight. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH NVIDIA OR NOT OR OPTIMUS. Absolutely nothing. Among the hardware requirements, it has to do with the kind of WiFi card your notebook has.

Forget Optimus. Of course it works under Optimus! Of course it works with the NVIDIA GPU ( because you have the onboard Intel HD IGP on the required i-series CPU any way!) Why would NVIDIA & Intel be fighting. ALL of the Optimus -systems have an Intel HD chip as part of the graphics switching, so it's a moot point. What's there to fight about.

It's the type of WiFi card that is the deciding factor ... NOT Optimus or an NVIDIA GPU. Perhaps it's not a requirement to have an Intel WiFi card. I think so, but could be wrong. But I can assure you that my U30Jc with it's Athros AR9285 wireless card is NOT WiDi-compatible.

It could be if I just change the wifi card. I'm confident of that. But as it is now, it will not do WiDi ... and it's not because of Optimus or NVIDIA but I don't have the right Wireless card.

 

Hmm, not promising. I have several weeks before I get my Envy 14, but hopefully it pans out. Otherwise, I'm going the U43 route.

 

Ha! So your an Aussie! Well, I had lots of Aussie friends while working overseas and liked them all, but I can say nothing about the country as I've never been there.

The UK was great ... except for the drizzly, never-dry homes and rain. But I loved my friends there and the lovely walk areas.

Well, I haven't tried dropping my laptop off of a balcony ledge to 30 ft below as I saw on a YouTube clip once. And I haven't tried spilling a teaspoon of Coca-cola into my laptop's keyboard as my wife tried once (fried the keyboard instantly.)

See, there are many things I have yet to try.

 

Then answer me this (and yes Nvidia and Intel is in a pissing match), why does the Asus that are WIDI enabled NOT have an Intel card built in? Not one of the sites that lists the Bamboo line as having WIDI says one word about an Intel WIFI card. Every noptebook I have researched that has an Intel wifi card says so.

 

Just got an e-mail back from Gentech - they say there is no need to upgrade to the Intel card as WiDi is built into the laptop already. Never heard of them before this thread, so I'm not sure how knowledgeable they are.

 

You seem to have NVIDIA on the brain. I think they're not even in the equation (not important) for WiDi. I think you're saying the same. So why are we arguing?

Let's take it one step at a time. Please respond to each one for me:
1) If you have an Optimus system, you already have an onboard Intel HD IGP, right? Do you agree with that? You can't have dual graphics without one of them being the Intel IGP.
2) So the secondary video chip type is immaterial. Would you agree with that?
3) WiDi is also specific to a WiDi-compatible wireless card, right? The WiDi signal is FOR SURE broadcast via the wireless card. Not all wireless cards will broadcast WiDi. Would you agree with that?
4) What are the specific requirements you feel are needed for any laptop to do WiDi? Just an i-series processor? What keeps a laptop from being WiDi-compatible?

If you feel that the only internal hardward requirement for a notebook to be WiDi-compatible is to have an i-series processor, then we are going to have to agree to disagree.

 

They are very reputable. Many on this forum have bought notebooks from them. You can also check with XoticPC who is a similar company and offers identical prices & services. They also have a high reputation. You could call them and confirm the info on the U43 being WiDi-compatible.

... what am I thinking. The U43 is the Bamboo line. They are all WiDi-compatible and it is clearly listed in their specs on both sites. Somehow, at the start, I didn't realize WiDi was one of your requirements.

I think I gave the $35 card upgrade advice to someone buying the U35Jc ... but I could be getting confused.

 

I am in no way, and i mean NO way trying to argue as you are far more knowledgeable than I am on computers. Period.

What I believe the difference is an I-series processor, and the Intel Wireles Display Software that can be downloaded online (and of course the Netgear PTV1000 router box). The Wifi card is up in the air for me as look at the post above the one you just made, Gentec stated there is no need to update the wireless card to an Intel one. Because "WiDi is built into the laptop already" Whatever that means. I know back in January when WIDI was exclusive to BestBuy and 3 notebooks (that is why I am stuck with a Best Buy gift card) that the laptop had a specific button to launch WIDI.

Looking at the Bamboo line notebooks, I do not see any specific WIDI button. Also, from all accounts I do not see listed anywhere as having a Intel wifi card.

You want to know the real reason I keep bringing this up is I am very concerned that my U43JC from Best Buy will not have WIDI as it is not mentioned in their description. However, I have found numerous mistakes in their online descriptions. Whenever I call Best Buy to find out information all they do is a google or a bing search. There is no actual information on their computer system. So, I have no way of knowing anything from Best Buy. Best Buy is also selling a U43F model that does not have Nvidia Optimus but just Intel Graphics card and is stated as WIDI enabled.

 

Okay. That's pertinent. For sure, the U43Jc line offered via GenTech & Xotic (& ASUS in general) is WiDi-compatible. It's in the specs.

But BB does often cut features to sell for a lower price in-store. So their's may indeed not have WiDi. You'll have to see once they're in.

The wireless card isn't mentioned in the specs. True. The card could easily already be a WiDi-type wireless like the 6200-N or the 6300-N. ASUS often uses Intel as well as Atheros cards (often within the same model). Only reviews will reveal if there is any model using the Aethros card and doing WiDi or a standard Intel card not listed as WiDi.

Note this PCMag quote:

See, he mentions the wireless card that has the built-in WiDi software built into it. I don't see that that is just software you download but is built into the wifi card.

 

The funny thing is you mention that Best Buy often cuts features to lower price in-store.......Thats the part that really bugs me, is that the Best Buy model IS NOT ANY LOWER....it is $999.99 and after tax it is right up there with the models sold online. Once I open that box from Best Buy and if it doesnt work, there goes a 15% re-stocking fee......Is there a way to find out the specs without actually opening the box? Is there a specific number on the box such as a serial number or something of the sort that I could call in to Asus and they could bring up the exact specs without me opening the box?

 

I would get a promise from the floor manager (face-to-face) that their U43J is WiDi-compatible or you can take it back w/o a restocking fee. If you have to, have the store manager open it in front of you and confirm himself that it does or does not have WiDi before you pay & take it away.

 

The U43F is sold in stores at Best Buy, BUT the U43JC is an online order ONLY and I already made the order. With that being said, what do you think my strategy should be? Also, any idea if there is a way such as a sku on the box or something that I can call Asus with to get the exact specs?

Lastly, if it is not and all I need is to add a Intel WIFI card, then how hard is it to swap out a wifi card in a laptop? Is it something I should not be messing with on a new computer?

 

Swapping WIFI cards are almost as easy as memory. You can grab the cards on ebay for cheap.

 

What? BB's not going to be stocking the U43J in their stores? I didn't know that. That's unfortunate.

I just called BB. The sales rep said that until it was actually in stock, no one could really know what would be in-store and what would be online only. He did say that usually if it was new, it came to the store eventually.

But he's just a sales rep. He doesn't really know either.

Would ASUS be able to tell you details about BB-modified ASUS notebooks? Perhaps. Call & tell us what you find out. I've a feeling that even BB can't get to all of the details because they don't really have it in hand. Once you have it, you could call in the SKU, sure.

So do you have to buy it via BB because of a cash card you need to use?

Usually, swapping out the wireless card is not super-difficult, though I'd have rated it harded than installing memory as those little antenna tabs can be a pain to get on & off, and sometimes they stick the card in a hard-to-get-to place. In my U30Jc, you have to lift up the keyboard. In a Mac, it's awful to get to!

I'm a PC and proud of it.

 

I hate to contradict Quatro because I find him to be very knowlegable, informative, and erudite .... and more, but .....

I think that the widi feature is a feature that's built-in to the intel cpu and NOT the intel wireless card.

The reason I believe that is because when I spec a U33JC at XOTICPC, which I understand includes USB3.0 AND WIDI capability, I'm not forced to upgrade the wireless card to obtain the widi feature.

Also, a google search of Intel widi seems to indicate this feature is a function of the CPU chip - not the wireless card.

That's my understanding anyway.

But I think I've believed everything else that I've ever read that eminated from the very wise Quatro.

 

Flattery will get you everywhere .... (*ahem*, erudite nonetheless).

If true, then ALL i-series processors would be all you need. Therefore, ALL notebooks with i-series CPU's would be WiDi-capable, and I don't see that as a fact. Quite the opposite.

Why would you be forced to upgrade the wireless card? The U33Jc is already stated that it is WiDi-capable, which, to me, says that it comes equipped with the needed wireless card already.

Ask yourself the very excellent question Case1 brought up: if all i-series laptops were already WiDi-capable, why wouldn't Intel and ASUS be tooting their horns about it? They'd certainly sell more units. Why have "WiDi-capable" listed on some new ones & not on others from the same sellers? That wouldn't even make good business sense unless ... there's more needed to make a unit WiDi-capable than just the CPU.

Sigh. It IS. It's the Intel HD graphic chip built into the CPU. That's one of the hardware requirements.

AT LAST ... I found it HERE. Intel's actual list of hardware requirements for a laptop to do wireless display under the helpful title:
Requirements for Intel® Wireless Display

Here's another quote I've already used from a PCMag article:

You see? He says Intel took an "Advanced-N 6200 Wireless card" and "and programmed some extra software on top of it". They took an existing wireless card and used software to work with it ... meaning the software doesn't work with just any wifi card.

Now, if a laptop actually existed which had the i7 mobile quad-core that DIDN'T have the Intel HD graphics chip onboard and the maker used an ATI or NVIDIA graphics chip, but the laptop had the other 4 requirements met (i-series, Intel wireless card, WiDi software & Win 7) -- would it still run WiDi on the NVIDIA or ATI chip (with the Intel HD on-chip graphics missing from the CPU)? That's the question I heard posed by mjnoles1.

I don't think so, but that's not mainly a real issue since 99% of i-series CPU's have the Intel IGP built into the CPU. But this llist of requirements make it clear that the type of wireless WiFi card used is crucial. Not just any wifi card will do.

Unless one of you can find literature stating otherwise.

What? You want me to point you to the posts where I was wrong? There are plenty, but don't let me do your work for you!

 

If the u33jc is widi-capable for ALL u33jc's, why does XOTICPC show the Intel Advanced-N 6200 as an optional $35 upgrade?

Does this not imply that it's not necessary to have this optional wireless upgrade to enjoy the widi feature?

Otherwise, the default wireless card would need to be the 6250 or 6300 according to the list of requirements you show.

And the 6250 or 6300 would be a "downgrade" to the 6200?

 

Because they are putting the sales page up on a template web page. I remember when they were selling my U30Jc with an optional express card TV upgrade ... except that the U30Jc doesn't have an Express Card slot! Or when they listed the U33Jc & U35Jc as having "the fastest optical disk drive around" ... when those units have no DVD drive.

No, it implies they're busy and don't have time to look over their own pages with a fine-tooth comb unless someone points out an error.

The default wireless card isn't stated. Most likely, THEY don't know what the default card will be as they don't have any real specimens in their store. Again, they said the specs say you don't need to change the wifi card as the laptop is already WiDi-ready.

But do please respond to the requirements list Intel has kindly already posted on their WiDi page instead of just guessing. What's the point of me going to the trouble of posting quotes of a list of requirements from the Intel page if you're not going to respond to them?

And note this quote from Tom's Hardware:

There it is again. You need a " current-generation Centrino-branded wireless" card to do WiDi (not just any wireless card will do). And also note that the type of CPU is important because WiDi "employs the integrated HD Graphics engine". So the CPU is important because of the onboard integrated graphics chip, as I said.

And here's a quote from a CNET article quoting Intel:

There's that required Intel Centrino wireless card again...

How many quotes do you need anyway?

 

And really, folks, this WiDi solution seems to be nice (no dongles) but glitchy, slow (according to reviewers, there's a noticeable and annoying time lag) and expensive (you'll still need to spend another $100 to get it to work!)

So what?

I'd rather buy the upcoming solution: the Alereon NoWire wireless adapter It seems like a better & more powerful solution to wireless HDTV use. Here's a demo It's not out for sale yet so I've no idea of its cost.

 

Yeah, I HAVE TO purchase it through Best Buy as I wanted WIDI when it first came out as it is a very useful technology. So, I purchased the Dell Studio 15Z Best Buy Blue label, which was one of the first 3 to have WIDI(Best Buy have the exclusive contract to this technology for 6 months)......Well, the first Dell the Windows Media Center crashed and the GeekSquad could not fix it, so they swapped out another new Dell. The second one I received the mouse button squeeked horribly and best Buy swapped it out for a third one. Now, I am three months since I had the original laptop I purchased through Best Buy and the computer started to smell like smoke. Then all of a sudden the bottom of the laptops plastic actually started to melt and left an indention on the bottom of the laptop. Best Buy took it back and gave me a gift card for the full amount of the laptop.

So, I really have to purchase it through BestBuy

"Quatro" huge favor......If I get the laptop and it doesnt work with WIDI (which is very important to me). Can you walk me through replacing the WIFI card to an Intel version? If I bring it to a place to swap it out (it should be pretty easy for a laptop repair guy to replace it, right?), atleast help me with the steps I need to update the Intel wifi cards software. I never replaced one of these cards. I don't know what needs to be done.

Is it take out the old wifi card and put in the new wifi card and then update the software of the new wifi card? if so, where do I find the software to update the new Intel WIFI card? Intel's own website has the newest software to download to all of the wifi cards?

Also, is it going to be an easy direct swap? Are all WIFI cards the same size and have the same connections?
Edit:^ I guess in regard to the direct swap question, if the WIDI doesnt work on my U43JC, then I just find out from the lovely people on hear what wifi card do they have in their U43JC and then I'll just purchase the exact same one. Then it should be an easy direct swap?

 

Now that REALLY is a horror story! Pretty incredible.

You may want to bookmark this post to refer back to once your laptop arrives.

A shame you'd need to go to a Geek Squad guy to swap your card. (A good friend was in Geek Squad, so I know many of their tricks.) They really charge so much for so little.

After you get the unit and see if WiDi works (how, exactly, are you going to do that without the Push2TV box?), we'd need to either see how to access the wireless card (or you pay someone else to do it).

You can buy the Centrino Advanced-N 6200 on Amazon here for $28 (incl shipping) and the Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 here for $41 (incl shipping). You can also use the Centrino Advanced-N 6250 card. To know the difference, you'd need to study up on the three cards.

Yes, any more, notebooks take half-height mini-PCI cards so the size is standardized. What's not standardized is how many antenna wires they use and where ASUS sticks them in the notebook. They sometimes put them down by the RAM slot on the bottom (the best solution as it's the easiest to get to.) Mine's under my keyboard (still very accessible). You'll have to wait until it arrives to know. That part we can walk you through.

Then usually Windows will recognize the new wireless adapter and put in its own driver for it. Intel will have a it's own driver for it here for Windows 7 64-bit. The driver works for the 6200, 6250 & 6300 Centrino wireless cards.

And THIS appears to be the page to download Intel's MyWiFi Utility (which, I think, works with the card to make WiDi access possible). I'm guessing at this point as I've never dealt with a WiDi-capable laptop nor its software.

Who knows, even IF you don't have the right wifi card at the start, ASUS' driver & app DVD may come bundled with the standard drivers for their (non-BB) U43Jc that DOES do WiDi.

All in all, it shouldn't be that hard.

Oh! And HERE is a doc from Intel to explain the order of software to install for WiDi!


... One step at a time.

 

If that 35 dollar upgrade to the U35JC is all thats needed to enable WiDi technology, then i would be a mad fool to pay an extra 115 bucks for a u33JC for a bamboo finish, a webcam, and a usb 3.0 port!! if the 35$ extra to the U35JC is all thats needed, this is the laptop of my dreams cuz it would be cheaper than the u33jc, thinner, and 115 bucks less pricy!! amazing!!

 

Actaully, now having read everything, it doesnt seem like the u35JC will be able to do WiDi at all. oh well, its a tech that i can live without. I mean, Ill just use an HDMI cable and plug the damn thing to do the tv when i want to watch a good movie or a tv show. How lazy have we gotten people????

 

Quatro, good work on the WiDi debate. I really think you nailed it by listing the components that Intel and various other sources say are required for it to work.

mikeysela, the U35 does sound perfect for you, but I still believe it would be able to do WiDi with the upgraded wireless card. Why don't you think it would work?

 

You are going to be a BIG help when I get my U43JC in from Best Buy, I can tell. Thanks in advance

"After you get the unit and see if WiDi works (how, exactly, are you going to do that without the Push2TV box?"

Simple, I already have the Push2TV box . I still have it from when I bought the Dell and the box was bundled with it, so I got it for like $65 instead of $100.

When I get the laptop in, is there a way to find out what wifi card is in the unit without pulling the laptop apart? Is there a way through windows 7 to see what wifi card is installed in the laptop?

I do feel better knowing that you are pretty confident that I will get this WIDI working in my BestBuy Asus U43JC even if the bestbuy version does not have it enabled from factory.

 

"Intel Wireless Display requires a laptop PC based on select 2010 Intel Core processors, Intel HD Graphics, and Intel Centrino wireless with Intel MyWiFi Technology enabled."

I read that online, and I feel like that implies that purchasing the wireless card isn't enough. I may have the proper card but it says "with Intel MyWiFi Technology Enabled". I feel like since the U35JC wasn't advertised to be capable to do WiDi, it must not have that technology enabled. But again, im kinda assuming from what I have read there.

 

Click the start menu and type "Device Manager" and click on it (Device Manager) when it comes up in the search results.

Find "Network Adapters" and expand it. There you will find your wireless card. Hopefully it says something like " Intel® Centrino® Advanced-N 6200" instead of something by Atheros.

This is from Intel's MyWiFi page.

So if you add any of the WiDi compatible cards they are all MyWiFi capable.

 

This is still kinda iffy to me. It says it needs an intel laptop with those particular wireless cards. But we know that you need an i series CPU to have WiDi...or do you? because according to that, you can have the WiDi tech on a C2D, since thats an intel machine , as long as you have the appropriate wirelss card..