~ Asus U6 Owners' Lounge ~

System recovery? Maybe something got messed up in the OS files, and rather than digging up the cause it might be easier to just reinstall it.

 

OK, I just gave my U6S a major facelift. I installed 4gb of RAM, Patriot PC2-5300 2x2gb, Hitachi 200gb 7200RPM, and Windows Vista Ultimate 64-Bit with SP1. Everything is flying off the screen, so fast. I really recommend to put a 7200RPM Hard drive if you are running Vista OS. My stock Seagate 5400RPM struggles under Vista. I did not care about battery life since my laptop is always plugged in and everytime I bring the laptop to the class, every student station has an outlet. I highly recommended to use 7200RPM HDD for Vista

 

Just picked up an Asus U6Sg (Singapore version), pretty decent specs of T9300 (Penryn), 3GB RAM, 250GB, and 256MB video ram on the Nvidia 9300.

Questions: the power brick on the darn thing is *massive*. It's such a shame as they clearly spent a lot of time designing the laptop, but why bother if your power brick is going to be just as heavy and bulky as the entire laptop itslef! (Taiwanese manufacturers still haven't gotten to the same level of design and functionality as, say, an Apple.) Anyways, does anyone know if one of these universal adapters from Kensington, iGo, Targus, etc. will work with the U6? The laptop is too new to be listed on any web sites.

Also, if the version doesn't come with the 3/3.5G card/antenna built in, is it possible to add aftermarket?

 

You can downgrade the battery to 3-cell or 6-cell

 

What question does that answer?

As to the power brick: how big is it really? I'm curious. Anyway, I suspect the tip will be just the same as for the other ASUS laptops, so; if the power specs match on the third party adapter (i.e. it supplies at least the amount of watts that the stock adapter supplies -- you can read that on the adapter itself), AND if the third party adapter is listed as supporting an older ASUS, it'll probably work.

But please, wait from confirmation from owners before purchasing.

I don't know about the 3G.

 

Workaround for making the Asus U6 SM370 webcam work on XP

Asus does not provide any XP driver for its U6 series.
The generic Microsoft UVC driver works but sometimes the camera freezes, and the image is upside down.
I searched a long time for a valid solution, so here is a workaround that may also work for you if you have a Silicon Motion SM370 camera chip (not the Chicony one).

Edit of 11-Mar-2008: New version of the workaround in this new thread.

Original 1st version:
http://rapidshare.com/files/98051387/Asus_U6_SM370_webcam_driver_for_XP.zip

 

@ E.B.E.: sorry for my late reaction.
The multicard reader is working now, after deinstalling and installing several times. No idea why it works now, but it works
@ E.B.E & fmjrey:
Camera: If have tried to find software to flip it but did not succeed. I think the problem is, that it only uses the normal, with windows XP provided drivers, he does not accept both drivers I found here.

I do have 3G card installed and used it the last days. It works fine.
I had a Dell before, but that 3G card gave problems when the laptop went into hibernate. The asus works allways, whenever I need it. Simply as expected

So: I am only working for a solution for the camera, but it is not that important, I do not use it often. The laptop is further brilliant and can be advised to everybody! Only downside (as always with Asus) are the batteries, although I did receive 2 with my order.

 

@micstar:
I installed XP because of the troubles we had with Exchange 2003. My company is not ready for Vista yet, since there are simply to many problems with it. The SP1 will probably improve it.
Having about 150 computers on XP, means it needs to be tested before we use it. XP is doing a fine job, I do not need Vista myself, although Vista is beautiful, so I use vistamizer (theme-software)

 

@haroldv:
try the driver package I posted earlier. If you follow the instructions from the included README.txt file, you won't have an upside down image. It works perfect on my machine.

@micstar:
XP starts, shutdown, and works much faster. With vista you give much more power to M$ to update things on your system and do things you're not even aware of. I just don't trust M$ especially in a context of all the spying the US government is doing on everyone. BTW, my XP installation is just secondary, I'm in the process of migrating to linux, so it's another reason that makes me prefer XP over vista, which I'll only use in the last resort. I would actually compare XP and Vista to the situation of renting your house, whereas with Linux you own your house!

 

Uh, I don't think this thread is the place for discussing these things.

 

Agreed, let's move this to the XP vs. Vista thread

 

I think I messed up by buying the Fujitsu P8010 instead of the Asus. The performance on the Asus is by far better then the Fujtsu P8010. I regret buying this laptop I bought. While I should have gotten this Asus with the new Penrynn CPU that has the 6MB cache in it and 2.5 Ghz processor I got stuck with the low voltage 1.2 SPU from Intel which is not all that fast and responsive as the processor in the Asus. Built quality on the new Fujitsu is not all that great either. I thouht the Japanese product would be better then the Taiwanese product but since the new laptop from Fujitsu is sourced with imported components it no longer beats the Asus like it used to

 

@fmjrey:
I installed as you wrote in the readme file, and it worked yesterday.
Today I had to do the same procedure again and now it works again.
But in both cases, the camera is very,very, very slow. It is more like a photocamera which takes a shot every 30seconds.
In any case: can not be used as a camera. Very disappointing, since it is the last issue I have (with XP). Further: brilliant Asus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I installed several drivers after the webcam workaround and I noticed my webcam became unstable while using the scanner and camera wizard. It stops working and completely disconnects form the usb bus (with the same kind of sound as if you disconnected a usb device). You need to power down the laptop to get it back. I uninstalled and reinstalled the driver workaround and it seems fine now. I noticed the frame rate is rather slow in the scanner and camera wizard but not as bad as 1fp30s. However when using skype video is fluid and usable. I think the scanner and camera wizard is not really a video application but a simple tool to take snapshots.
In vista I noticed the same slugginess as in xp using the face logon feature (smartlogon). I have yet to try skype on vista...

 

I have tried the camera with skype on Vista, and it works fine. Looks slightly delayed compared to XP however.
I also made a new version of the workaround driver, it can be found in this new thread.

 

Sorry for bringing in the XP vs. Vista topic...

I already disassembled the device last weekend - i was curious if i could find a 3G-Card-Slot...

and the answer is: YES!

It wasn´t easy to find: Under the keyboard there is a pci-express-card-slot with two connectors (my guess: UMTS- and GPS-Antenna?) for the newest series of Sierra Wireless MC8775-8785 Series..

So there´s only one question left: Where to buy such a device?
I found a 180€ price-tag (one single shop in germany)...
Definately too expensive at the moment.

Mic

P.S.: Build quality seemed very good (magnesium-chassis)...

 

Hello all,

I've been eyeing this laptop for the past week or so, I'm looking at new laptops, and I'm wondering if anyone can give me a long-term brief on the laptop, i.e. what they like about it and what they don't. A lot of owner's I've talked to really like it, but I'm curious if any problems have come up after owning it for a couple of months. A few more specific questions I had: How's the build quality on it? (My brother has an Asus 14.1 incher he paid 1500 for under a year ago and it's already falling apart, plastic chipping, etc.) Also, has anyone run linux/Ubuntu on this?

 

Keep in mind the Asus uses a normal voltage processor and the Fujitsu uses a low voltage processor, optimized for more battery life. The Fujitsu will have noticeably better battery life than the Asus.

I like Asus, but in general, their notebooks get mediocre battery life. It looks to be improving though.

 

I have installed kubuntu 7.10 on it without any problem, and triple boot with vista and xp. I have yet to spend more time to get my kubuntu setup right. I only installed it and then setup a functional xp install. I intend to migrate all my outlook stuff on Kontact, and set up syncing with my nokia e65, hp printing, etc. Once that works i won't boot xp unless necessary (e.g. EAC ripping, video tools, etc.).

Any other linux users around here?

 

I use Ubuntu 100% on my Asus G1s lol...

 

That's good to know, I plan on using Kubuntu 90% of the time on this notebook. What about the build quality of it?

 

How's the battery life now that the U6Sg has the Penryn?

 

There's a review linked in the InfoBooth I'm not sure how detailed it is.

Battery life, I wouldn't put too much hopes in it. The increase will probably be minimal, if any.

 

mikaelnilsson, which camera does your U6S have? Is it the Silicon Motion SM370 camera chip or the Chicony one?

t3hw00x, do you not experience any freezing problems at all when you use the vista drivers in XP?

 

My U6SG is equipped with the Silicon Motion SM370 Chip ....
Battery life is around 3h for the 6-cell and 1,5h on the 3-Cell.

Depending on Wifi, Bluetooth, user profile etc. expected batterylife may differ...


Greetz

Mic

 

for those who installed XP, do the chicony cameras freeze or look upside down when you use the vista driver? Or is this only a problem with the silicon motion camera?

 

Conclusion? Does this work good with XP?

 

New working nVidia drivers (v174.70) for windows XP and Vista, see this new thread. They work great on my U6S with XP.

 

On Vista 32bit it only says: Drivers are not compatible.

Am I doing something wrong?

Cheers

Mic

 

As explained in my post starting the thread, get the hardware id of your nvidia card, look it up in one of the inf file included in original_inf(s).zip and replace the default inf.

 

Sorry - I was just too stupid to read

 

on xp

video image is upside down / camera button doesn't work

SD card reader doesn't work

sometimes won't return from standby

 

Hi everyone,

How much RAM can the U6S support? The Asus website says the U6E can go up to 4 GB, but it does not say much for the U6S; all it says is that it comes with 2 GB.
Can the U6S also support a maximum RAM of 4 GB?

Thanks!

 

Yes - at least the U6Sg can handle 4 Gig (I´m running 3 atm).
2 Slots each capable of holding 2 GB
In mine they installed 2 different types: 533Mhz and 667Mhz...
I wonder if it would increase perfomance noticeably to change the slower to a matched 667Mhz ...

Cheers

Mic

 

If you read back, you will find that more people had this issue and solved it mostly. My camera is now working, but the sd card reader needs reinstallation every time after hibernate.

 

So will you all recommend Asus U6?

Thx

 

It won't recognize more than around 3GB, however, regardless of how much you put in there using 32bit XP or Vista. See EBE's info in the Info Booth sticky for further info on this if needed.

Only in a benchmark, and then just perhaps. You'll never be able to tell for any daily usage types of things -- might as well just keep the 533.

 

Hi

I recently got a U6e... and after extensive uses.. i have notice that the white trackpad is getting a yelloish, browish color..=[
I am wondering if there is a way to clean it. I have tried using Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.. but it doesn't seem to work.
Anyone have any recommendation or tips

 

Got the same problems here with Vista.

The Cardreader seems a bit unstable.

Also some of the buttons are not working properly (the ones that are in combination with fn).
For example the "pop-up browserwindow" gives me an error since i installed Firefox (Error 1", can´t get environment variable).
Also the camera-button doesn´t activate my camera anymore (doesn´t bother me at all) and the deactivate tochpad FN+F9 which is rather useful when writing doesn´t work. The rest seems to work OK.

Is there a possibility to not hibernate but go to S3 (fans and drives down, only a small amount of power is needed to keep the RAM alive...
allowing to do an instant restart?


Greetz

Mic

 

The bezel of my U6S has rubbing marks. I believe the bezel is rubbing against the keyboard and touchpad when the notebook is closed. I have had the notebook for couple of months and i travel a lot with it.

Does anyone has the same marks around their notebook bezel?

 

How do i install XP? U6SG with T8100 and GF9300.
All on page 5 dont work.

thx

 

Hi!
I have ASUS U6Sg ... All on page 5 dont work!!!
HELP PLIASE!!!

 

Could you be more specific? What isn't working? Are you having problems installing XP or one of the drivers?

 

Just got the T9300, 3GB, U6SG-2P014E. I am amazed about the speed of this little laptop computer. I was a bit worried about performance due to the tiny graphics card and the 667mhz ram - but what a miscalculation.

I still think i will upgrade the 2048 + 1024, 667mhz ram to 4gb of 800 mhz, as the motherboard should be able to handle the faster ram, and with the prices of ram at the moment, it would be crazy not to.

I guess i am on of the first to get this particular model, and for all you out there, speculating in buying one, i can only say - go for it!

 

If the soldered RAM is 667 then isn't it true that the discrete RAM will be downclocked to 667 anyway? I do not know for sure but I think it is very likely. Just a heads-up before you spend your money.

 

the U6 has soldered ram?

 

Actually, I don't know... I just assumed it because it's a small notebook. Let me check.

Checked and no it doesn't. Sorry about that.

 

Check this however: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=238547 !!

 

Does anyone know how can one change what the hotkeys do?(especially those under the screen, but also those with fn+arrowkeys)

They dont seem to be caught by any of my programs when capturing keys.

 

Try this utility and let us know if it works on your machine.