UL30 / AS3810 / X340, little help?

[TimeKeeper]

** EDIT ** MSI X340 eliminated.
( 2 to choose )

I have a little dilemma, I have been torn between 2 "net/notbook"..

Asus UL30 ( SU7300 - roughly 7 hours battery life in real life ) ~ $680
Acer 3810T (SU4100 - roughly 5 hours battery life in real life ) ~ $580


***I love thin and light, I love long battery life, I love alumium casing, I love saving money, and I love build quality!!!

Generally, I only do web / Office/ occasional 720P via HDMI and no 3D games...


thanks~

 

[CurseTheSky]

I can't stand single core processors in today's multi-tasking world, so the SU7300 is my suggestion. I haven't tried the Acer Timeline series, but I have been fairly impressed with my UL30A. There are a few gripes - screen quality is similar to a very cheap TN panel desktop monitor (bad viewing angles, bad lack levels) though it is sufficiently bright and the colors aren't too bad, the keyboard is good but not the best I have used, the track pad is sufficient but the texture could be better, the lack of bluetooth built in on the UL30A model sucks, only 10/100 ethernet, some users complains about the Aerthos (sp?) wireless card, but mine seems to work fine. While that may seem like a long list, many are simply nitpicking. The good FAR outweighs the bad. The build quality is average at worst, above average at best, the aluminum cover is very sharp (looks wise) and sleek, it weighs very little, it's quite thin, and it handles anything I throw at it, as long as I don't play demanding games.

I've heard bad things about the MSI models. Google for reviews.

 

[Jjoshua2]

Asus has a new 13" ul30j or something like that that I want to get. It has aluminum and optimus switching as well as a better cpu and still good battery life apparently.

 

[bigpimpatl]

I bought a 2530p elitebook recently and have been very happy with it. I got it refurbished but for the price I couldn't say no. It's a business type notebook which it sounds like you are looking for; I get 5 hours with an SL9400, but I haven't done any aggressive power schemes.

 

[TimeKeeper]

Thanks... now we are getting somewhere.
I have eliminate MSI X340 due to single core/ DDR2 and not very sturdy.

 

[jchu14]

I am going to be an ass and suggest another possibility 😛

I am trying to find a new laptop with very similar requirement as you. I've narrowed it down to the UL30a and teh HP Probook 5310m . It's also in the 13.3" form factor with integrated intel 4500mhd graphics. The HP has gotten rave reviews all over.

Currently it's available at circuitcity.com for $830 - 15% bing cash back = $705

Pro of the HP
- Even thinner than the UL30a. The HP is 0.94" all the way around (no wedge shape). The Asus tapers out to 0.98"
- Aluminum lid and magnesium chassis alloy, professional look.
- matte screen available
- Much much faster SP9300 2.26ghz C2D processor with 6mb cache.
- 7200rpm HD standard
- much better integrated camera
- bluetooth standard
- gigabit ethernet

Cons of the HP
- only ~5 hour real battery life with 4 cell. HP says 6 cell will be available in the future.*
- No HDMI and VGA port. Only displayport. Adapters are aviable to convert the dp to both.
- 2gb memory instead of 4gb. Only 1 memory bank total. So upgrading to 4gb will set you back about $200.
- inferior warranty, only 1 year.

The deal breaker for me the lack of VGA out on the HP. Why HP thought a business laptop shouldn't have a VGA port is beyond me. I don't want to have to carry a dongle around. But I just love the HP's look, so I keep coming back to it. I also love the magnesium chassis. I had an HP NC6400 with magnesium chasis and that thing was rock solid.

*Notebook review results suggests that the HP is much more efficient with battery than the Asus actually. The 8 cell Asus has twice the battery capacity, but only 66% more life.

EDIT: on btw, newegg has UL30A-X4 on sale for $650 with a free targus carrying bag. The X4 looks the same as the A2 with the 8cell battery, 2 year warranty, and silver color.