ASUS UL30 Owner's Lounge

Try install the newest touchpad drivers from synaptics website.
http://www.synaptics.com/support/drivers

 

That fixed it, thanks!

 

What is the max angle of the screen tilt on UL30?

 

Do the new UL30's come with a Synaptics touchpad? I thought they come with an Elan according to Kevin's review.

Or can Synaptics drivers be used with Elan touchpads? I'd like to improve the performance of the touchpad as well.

Thanks!

 

The UL30s still use Elantech's touchpad as far as I know. Try out the Synaptics driver yourself to see if helps with the cursor movements, but keep in mind that you may loose some of the multi-finger gesture functions.

 

I returned my UL80VT earlier this weak due to dead pixels on the screen and am debating replacing it with a UL30 instead as I really don't think the optical drive is worth the added size. I am tempted by the UL30VT supposedly coming out next month but the thing is I really don't need the Nvidia graphics as I don't game or do anything video intensive beyond playing divx and mkv files which even integrated graphics can handle.

I was wondering if anyone had tried putting the Power Gear software with Turbo mode on the UL30A? It would be nice if Asus would at least offer this upgrade afterwards since its clearly just a software solution. Missing out on the turbo mode is the only thing keeping me from pulling the trigger on the UL30A so it would be great if there was some kind of work around.

 

I dunno, I love this touchpad. Like any new laptop it took a bit of fine tuning and getting used to it, but now I think it's great.

 

Anyone who owns a UL30a please take the time to visit my wireless poll.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=431784

Thanks

 

guys, some feed back on the webcam would be most appreciated!

 

The webcam blows, which is a shame, but it's expected with VGA resolution. It's fine for Skype, but you won't want to so any video blogging. Another major blunder is the microphone. It's total garbage. It uses software to increase the gain, which in turns makes your voice sound robotic/electronic. If the extra gain is turned off, it records at a very quiet level. I bought a bendy plug-in mic off eBay for $4 ( http://cgi.ebay.ca/Mini-Flexible-Mi...omputing_LaptopAccess_RL?hash=item518defd83e), which is great and solves the mic issue.

It's too bad Asus cheaped out on some of the components. But rest assured, these issues are the extent of the disappointments I've experienced. The laptop is really great overall.

 

Your choices in the poll are pretty black and white with nothing in between.....>>
Are you experiencing wireless problems with your UL30a??
YES it's driving me crazy I could hardly take this poll
NO my wireless is solid as a rock

I just got my UL30 yesterday and I use an Apple Airport Express , in my house the connection is very stable, ive experienced a few drops but that was walking around with the UL30 , if I set it down its good. Outside the house the connection is spotty. The Wi-Fi in the UL30 is for sure on the weak side. My house is just a single story and under 1000 sq ft . I am still going to contact Asus and see what they have to say about this.

 

Overall I really like this UL30, but I need to uninstall that Express Gate, to put it bluntly , its a dumb program.

 

It was more to get a discussion going then to have a very detailed poll...

 

Hi guys, I ordered my UL30A-A2 on 10/21/09, and when I went to register for the ADW, It was denied and this message appeared:

Has this happened to other people for the A2 or any other models?

 

I did not even know what ADW was, I had to Google it up ...'Accidental Damage Warranty' , anyhow I entered my SN and DOP HERE and got the same message as you. I bought mine from Buy.com, perhaps they are not an authorized dealer or something? I wonder if our 2 year warranties are any good?

 

How do I enter BIOS on UL30?
I have tried with F2, Delete, F11 but nothing works.

I live in Sweden and have this model: Asus UL30A-QX165V
Not sure if its A_ or X5 model

thanks

 

I found a problem with my UL30, would someone please tell me if this is normal or not.................yesterday I defragmented the hard drive and it took a LONG time..........this morning I am running McAfee virus scan and its taking forever, its been like 15 minutes and its only 2% done! Are these UL30s just slow or is there a problem with mine? What might it be?

Id appreciate some help here, thanks

 

One other thing, my UL30 has a sticker over the touchpad showing images of a hand and how to use the touchpad, Id like to get it off..........could someone who removed this sticker tell me how hard it was to remove ?

Lastly , I don't get what two-finger scrolling is, could someone explain what it?

Thanks

 

@bentvalve:

you could ya know... pull it off with your fingers. really! it's not that hard.
There will be a teensy bit of residual adhesive left on the touchpad, but just rub the touchpad for a min and it will come off easy as pie.

refer to the manual and you will learn how to use other multi-finger gestures.
but essentially; drag two fingers on the touchpad at the same time and it will scroll webpages or programs up/down/left/right.

 

Sticker is off, thanks.

Got it on the touchpad, what a nice feature! Thanks.





Whats you opinion on my speed issue?

 

What do you expect from a CULV processor?

 

Måske kan jeg hjælpe dig:
Can't help you with the BIOS as I don't have the notebook my self, but I am from Denmark so I can help you out with the model-nr.-issue.

Yours would be a "silver X5"-model with bluetooth as far I can see. Please read this thread, especially post #71. It is in Danish, but you will see a list of the available models in Denmark (and all of Scandinavia, it seems), among these the QX165V you own.

For the rest of you with wi-fi trouble:
In the same thread as linked to above, I ask in #125 whether the DK-owners of the UL30 have had problems with wi-fi connection. #126 in the thread claims he has a QX056V corresponding to the A2-model in the US, and says his Atheros has no problems at all. He also mentions a BIOS-update, which should fix this problem. He states: "His notebook, however, came with the latest BIOS update preinstalled". He does not mention the version of his BIOS. Consider checking out this option if you have wi-fi trouble.

 

My laptop came with bios 207. I updated to 211 and still had issues with wifi connection. (Hitting F2 should bring you to bios.)

If I had a spare wifi antenna, I could easily test if adding a 2nd antenna might improve things. Then maybe open up the laptop and route the 2nd antenna to the right palmrest or above the keyboard instead of to the monitor bezel, to save the headache. I may also replace Atheros with Intel Wifi 1000 or 5100.

 

Seems like i cant enter BIOS. WIónder if this computers BIOS is locked?

 

You can try resetting the computer by unplugging the AC adapter and remove the battery. Then hit the power button for a few seconds. Maybe that will help.

 

You should be covered by sending in the warranty card that came with the laptop.

 

1. Is the atheros FULL or half mini ?

2. You think that the intel 1000 or 5100 would get more connections than atheros even with 1 antenna?

3. How would it affect the battery life.

Sincerely, kokibauk

 

thanks, I sent that in today.

 

I don't know much about the CULV other than its a low voltage processor made for ultrathin laptops like our UL30s. Well I guess I know they are pretty weak as well.

 

I got my Speck laptop bag today, my UL30 fits in it perfectly. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a simple bag for their UL30.

 

I took all the stickers off my UL30, I hate them. Just pull them off slowly, and use rubbing alcohol and soft cloth to remove the residue.

 

Get rid of McAfee, download Microsoft Security Essentials.It's free and fast.

As for the defrag, it's more about hard drive speed then the processor. I assume your using the built in defrag. I like defraggler, it's free.

 

hello all,
i have a quick question regarding the ul30a. i have seen various reports that the max amount of ram that is supported is 4gb, but if you look up the chipset on the intel website it says that 8gb is supported. what specifically in this notebook limits the amount of ram?

 

I honestly have had no problems with the wireless card at all ... weird.

Can't speak on this one as I never use a webcam, unfortunately....

I have not had a problem with the touchpad myself ... man, I must have just totally lucked out on this one!

Looks like the problem was solved already ... I also took the sticker over the touchpad off immediately.

 

I have also been trying out MS Security Essentials, and so far I like what I see!

 

Thanks, I will try Microsoft Security Essentials, I only use McAfee because its free thru my internet provider, Comcast.

 

Another question;

What is the difference between Power4Gear High Performance and High Performance , which is faster etc. etc.?

Also what all happens in these high performance modes ?

 

So finaly I enterd BIOS. Set to 5% overklock.
I also heard from a Danish friend here "jUbib" that its likely I have X5 silver modell.
I have now another question. Do u guys sit on battery all days and then charge it whan it low, or do you sit with your ASUS on charge hole day with battery in laptop or do u remove your battery from laptop when sitting plugged in with power?

Also after my second recharge I now have around 7,5 hours on power4gear battery saving. That is after sitting on the laptop 1hour and 20 min. Only surfing and watching music videos on media player...I have the 4400 mAh battery

 

1. Is the atheros FULL or half mini ?

2. You think that the intel 1000 or 5100 would get more connections than atheros even with 1 antenna?

3. How would it affect the battery life.

Sincerely, kokibauk

 

For people's information, an Asus rep for amazon.com wrote on October 30th that he hoped to have UL series power adaptors and batteries purchaseable from that website in another week or so.

Direct quote is:

So perhaps extra batteries for the UL30's will be available soon!

 

Has anyone here purchased the X4 model from newegg?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220632&Tpk=asus UL30

 

When I'm at home, I have it plugged in at least 2/3 of the time. I generally remove the battery when I have the laptop plugged in -- It's a habit of mine.

The Atheros is a half, I think, based on a spec sheet.

The Intel 1000 uses less power than the 5100, so I would guess the 1000 has less range but saves on battery life. I don't have either so I can't do a real comparison.

The plan now is to order an antenna next week on eBay and test if installing a 2nd antenna improves wifi. If not, then maybe buy the 5100.

 

sweet keep us posted

But will the intel card give u more range? even though you only have one antenna?

 

I would not install the 5100 without a 2nd antenna. It was a dumb thing for Asus to install only 1 antenna.

 

Yeah agreed But the question is, will it fit. Looking at the photo that was posted here , Cant a second antenna be installed, and put just right next to the first antenna, and point in the same direction?

Why wouldnt it fit, im just a noob, so you can explain if you know the answer

 

Would you mind running a Full Scan so I can compare the times? I am running one now, its been 1 hour and 25 minutes and its not finished yet....if I had to guess id say its gonna be 1 hour 45 minutes before its finished.
Its also in High Performance mode with the processor setting at min of 100% and max of 100% . I maxed the processor speed in every mode.

 

I would have to disassemble the laptop to route a new antenna next to, or nearby, the one already installed. That's plan B. Plan A is install an antenna like this one from ebay and tuck it in the hdd bay. That is not the idea position, but if it works, then I wouldn't have to disassemble the base and void the warranty.

 

ok so its not possible to just put another antenna RIGHT next to the other antenna? that way i wouldnt have to take anything apart.

Im taking that close, so both antenna would almost touch each other?

 

The wire is not the antenna, if that is what you are thinking. Take a look again at the photo on ebay; the antenna is the brown square. The wire routes to the antenna (brown square) that is located inside the LCD bezel or somewhere inside the base of the laptop that would require disassembly.

 

oh i see, so the black thing that is on this photo

http://www.notebookcheck.net/typo3temp/pics/89deba155f.jpg

goes all the way somewhere inside the LCD bezel .

I thought the black thing was just an antenna, and u could buy another one and place it right next to it silly me