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

[Ghost117]

Hey, about the keyboard...

http://www.laptopspirit.fr/wp-conten...c-bamboo-1.jpg

This shows an absolutely normal american keyboard on the 33

[Case1]

Sorry for the silly question, but looking at the 43 series, what justifies the $100 price increase for buying at Gemtech, etc, over BestBuy?

That is not a silly question.Keep in mind there could very well be mistakes on any website that lists specs, but here is what I found to be different.

The Best Buy model doesn't have any USB 3.0, the webcam is only .3MP, no bluetooth, and the warranty is only 1 year parts and labor (which probably means no accidental damage warranty).

Those are the difference I can find just comparing the spec sheets. My thought though is that all of those hardware differences are mistakes on the Best Buy listing. I think the only difference would be the warranty as Best Buy wants you to buy theirs.

Keep in mind that if you use the cash discount you only pay $1,062 at GenTech and XoticPC, and I didn't have to pay tax on my U33JC either. That should negate any difference in price between Best Buy and the online retailers.

[Case1]

Hey, about the keyboard...

http://www.laptopspirit.fr/wp-conten...c-bamboo-1.jpg

This shows an absolutely normal american keyboard on the 33

Good find! Whew. This assuages my keyboard concerns. Thanks for that.

[Quatro]

Sorry for the silly question, but looking at the 43 series, what justifies the $100 price increase for buying at GentechPC, etc, over BestBuy?

1) Not really $100 cheaper at BB since you'll have to pay about $86 tax ($1,085 at BB) but no tax at GentechPC.
2) GenTechPC is $33 cheaper ($1,062 total) if you pay in cash or Paypal. That actually makes GenTech CHEAPER. Aren't taxes fun?
3) BB's has a 0.3 MP webcam. GenTech's is 2.0 MP
4) BB has a standard 1-yr warranty. GenTech's has ASUS' 2-yr warranty + 1-yr accidental damage.
5) IMPORTANT: BB's has 3x USB 2.0 ports (NO USB 3.0). GenTech's has 1x USB 3.0 + 2x USB 2.0
6) BB lists the battery at 5 hr 10 min so for sure their battery is the weaker one: 4400mAh. GenTech's has the 5600mAh
7) GenTech's has bluetooth. Best Buy doesn't list any BT
8) GenTechPC throws in an optical mouse & a carrying bag. BB? No.

Moral: Read the two lists carefully and compare where you can. There's usually more than meets the eye.

Anything else?

[Quatro]

Hey, about the keyboard...

http://www.laptopspirit.fr/wp-conten...c-bamboo-1.jpg

This shows an absolutely normal american keyboard on the 33

Let's hope you're right. But that photo was taken at the Jan 2010 CES and showed the pre-release demo model. Even the specs didn't turn out to be the same ... soooo I guess Case1 can continue to be worried!

[Case1]

Let's hope you're right. But that photo was taken at the Jan 2010 CES and showed the pre-release demo model. Even the specs didn't turn out to be the same ... soooo I guess Case1 can continue to be worried!

Hehe, I feel at ease. It makes sense in my mind to have this European version keyboard with the additional currency buttons and letters with the accents, and then a US version that omits those things. I will be quite upset if I have a dang GBP and Euro sign on my keyboard at the expense of a regular enter and left shift key.

Not going to happen.
I hope...

Update: I direct you to the wikipedia page about keyboard layout. I believe what we are dealing with here is a United Kingdom style keyboard. They wouldn't release a UK keyboard in the US, right?
I never realized the small left shift key and inverted L enter key are so prominent throughout the world. That seems like it would be fairly awkward to type on.

[kingswood]

When comparing the difference in specs between one model and another, one thing I don't think people should worry about is a lower resolution webcam. I read a review a couple of days ago of the HP Envy 14 (I'll try and dig it out) where it talks about how HP have downgraded the webcam from a 2MP to a 0.3MP because as they found with their previous Envy's, everyone was complaining about the poor performance of the 2MP webcam in low light. Apparently lower res cameras perform far better in low light than the high res ones. HP are claiming that with the new low res camera on their Envy 14, you can Skype in the dark and just use the laptops screen to illuminate you. The old is new again!!

[nexus14]

T
BTW, I think the U33Jc will turn out to be a really nice notebook and very fetching to the eye. A solid aluminum top & trim except for the bamboo palm rest ... I wish I could see one.

by trim, are you referring to the sides of the laptop, like where the USB ports, hdmi port are?

if so, i do hope it is a metal trim. from the youtube vids, it looks silver but it could also be painted silver over plastic

[kingswood]

Update: I direct you to the wikipedia page about keyboard layout. I believe what we are dealing with here is a United Kingdom style keyboard. They wouldn't release a UK keyboard in the US, right?
I never realized the small left shift key and inverted L enter key are so prominent throughout the world. That seems like it would be fairly awkward to type on.

I'm an Aussie living in the UK (just gone six years! I must be mad!) Anyway, I use a UK keyboard everyday and I can say with 100% certainty that the keyboard you are are all needlessly worrying about, is European only, NOT UK. UK keyboards don't have any of the other weird characters with little ticks above them. The UK keyboard is almost identical to the US apart from the '@' key and '|' getting moved around to accommodate € and £. There is no way Asus would sell laptops to one of the biggest markets in the world with anything but the keyboard standard for that market. They would be utter nutters!

[SSJ]

When comparing the difference in specs between one model and another, one thing I don't think people should worry about is a lower resolution webcam. I read a review a couple of days ago of the HP Envy 14 (I'll try and dig it out) where it talks about how HP have downgraded the webcam from a 2MP to a 0.3MP because as they found with their previous Envy's, everyone was complaining about the poor performance of the 2MP webcam in low light. Apparently lower res cameras perform far better in low light than the high res ones. HP are claiming that with the new low res camera on their Envy 14, you can Skype in the dark and just use the laptops screen to illuminate you. The old is new again!!

Which has yet to be proven.
But a lower res. should produce lower quality images, videos.