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ASUS UL30A-A2 Thin and Light 13-3-Inch Silver Laptop - 12 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium) | 
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| Brand: Asus
Category: Personal Computer
List Price: $799.00
Buy New: $699.00
You Save: $100.00 (13%)
New (23)
Rating:  39 reviews
Sales Rank: 248
Color: Silver
Media: Personal Computers
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: Yes
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
CPU Manufacturer: Intel
CPU Speed: 1.3
CPU Type: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processors: 2
System Memory: 4
Memory Type: SDRAM
Hard Drive Size: 500
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Display Size: 13.3
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.7
Dimensions (in): 12.9 x 9.3 x 1
Warranty: 2 years warranty
MPN: UL30A-A2
Model: UL30A-A2
UPC: 884840499695
EAN: 0884840499695
ASIN: B002P3KMNU
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | 1.3GHz Intel SU7300 Core 2 Duo Processor | | • | 4GB of DDR3 RAM, 2 slots, 4GB Max | | • | 500GB SATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM) | | • | 13.3" HD LED LCD Display, Intel GMA 4500MHD, 0.3M Webcam, Wi-Fi 802.11 bgn | | • | Windows 7 Home Premium Operating System (64 bit), *12 Hours of Battery Life |
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Product Description
So you're looking for a great notebook, but don't want to spend a fortune. Something powerful would be nice. Something with good battery life would be handy too. On top of that, you want to be able to run all your favorite programs. And if had some nifty extras like support for multi-touch gestures it would be cool. Yep, you need a . . . PC? The ASUS UL30A-A2 does all of that, and more, for a price Apple can't touch.
Amazon.com Product Description
Free yourself from power cords and start exploring with up to an amazing 12 hours of all-day battery life with the ASUS UL30A-A2, thanks to its Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor and 13.3-inch LED-backlit display, which combines vibrant visuals with advanced energy efficiency. This stylish, ultra-portable notebook features a brushed aluminum lid that not only looks magnificent, but also helps in maintaining its stylish exterior day after day. The UL30A also features a multi-gesture touchpad, which enables you to intuitively zoom in or out of pictures via pinching, or navigate up and down pages by sliding your finger. 
Learn more about Windows 7 Home Premium below. | 
13.3-inch LED-backlit HD high definition display with a 16:9 aspect ratio. | 
An all-day computing companion, the ASUS UL30A provides up to 12 hours of battery life. | 
The chiclet style keyboard and spacious keys allow for a comfortable typing experience and also prevents dust buildup. | Pre-installed with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (64-bit version), you'll be able to easily create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. Windows 7 is the easiest, fastest, and most engaging version of Windows yet. Better ways to find and manage files, like Jump Lists and improved taskbar previews, help you speed through everyday tasks. Windows 7 is designed for faster and more reliable performance, so your PC just works the way you want it to. (Learn more about Windows 7 Home Premium below.) Experience FastBoot, the unique performance boost for Windows 7 made possible by ASUS's close partnership with Microsoft. With ASUS exclusive FastBoot technology, this Windows 7-enabled ASUS notebook starts up in a staggering 30 seconds. Compact and under 1-inch thin, you can fit the UL30A virtually anywhere--freeing space for books, files, or whatever else you need to enjoy a spacious workspace. The UL30A includes Altec Lansing speakers plus SRS surround for a virtual home theater experience on the go, as well as an HDMI port for connecting to an HDTV at home. You'll be able to store all of your favorite applications, most important documents, and large video and audio libraries with the generous 500 GB hard drive. Other features include 4 GB of DDR3 RAM (maximum capacity), integrated webcam, Draft-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g/n), Intel GMA 4500MHD integrated video graphics, and multi-format memory card reader.  | Now there is an even bigger reason to get the UL Series by ASUS. Adding to a whole trophy case of awards is the latest 2009 Editor's Choice Award by Engadget. Voted by Engadget's editorial staff as LAPTOP OF THE YEAR, the UL series is the ultimate companion for your mobile computing needs. |
And where some PC manufacturers only offer 1 year of warranty service, the ASUS UL30A comes standard with a 2-year global ASUS 360 warranty as well as 1 year of Accidental Damage Warranty (ADW). Key Features - High-gloss 13.3-inch LED-backlit HD high definition display with 1366 x 768 resolution (16:9 aspect ratio) that uses less energy and still gives you an immersive cinematic experience (Learn more)
- Up to 12 hours of battery life from 8-cell battery (5600mAh)
- Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. And you can watch shows for free when and where you want with Internet TV on Windows Media Center. Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium. (Learn more)
- Get more features with Windows Anytime Upgrade. It's the best way to add features to Windows 7, takes as few as ten minutes, requires no software or downloads, and you'll keep your existing programs, files, and settings. Windows will walk you through the simple upgrade process.
- Chiclet style keyboard and multi-touch trackpad for comfortable and intuitive use (Learn more)
- ASUS IceCool Technology for cool-to-the-touch palm rest
- Exclusive Express Gate feature enables ultra-fast boot so you can connect to the web in just 10 seconds
- Energy efficient, dual core 1.3 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor with ultra-low voltage for extended battery life (Learn more)
- 500 GB SATA hard drive (5400 RPM)
- 4 GB of installed DDR3 RAM (1066 MHz; 2 x SODIMM slots; 4 GB maximum capacity)
- Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD integrated video processing
- 0.3-megapixel webcam for connecting with friends and family over video chats
- ASUS SmartLogon facial recognition system detects your face and logs on automatically
- Draft-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g/n)
- HDMI high-definition audio/video output allows a single cable to transmit uncompressed high-definition video to your digital TV or LCD
- Altec Lansing speakers enhanced with SRS Premium Sound for home theatre quality acoustics (Learn more)
- ASUS Super Hybrid Engine for extended battery life
- Dimensions: 12.9 x 9.28 x 0.98 inches (WxDxH)
- Weight: 3.74 pounds (with battery
- Warranty: 2 year global warranty and 1 year accidental damage warranty (Learn more)
Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
With its integrated Draft-N Wi-Fi networking capabilities, this laptop provides up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range using 802.11n-compatible routers as you would with 802.11g networks. It's also backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found at Wi-Fi hotspots and in older home routers). This notebook also provides Fast (10/100) Ethernet networking. - 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
- 1 HDMI output for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable
- Analog video output: 1 VGA
- 5-in-1 memory card reader compatible with Secure Digital (SD), MultiMedia Card (MMC), Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, and xD Picture Card
- 1 headphone jack (S/PDIF digital audio output), 1 microphone jack
- 10/100 Fast Ethernet
What's in the box
This package contains the ASUS UL30A-A2 notebook PC, AC adapter, rechargeable 8-cell battery, and user manual Learn More
The 13.3-inch LED-backlit display offers bright, vibrant visuals and advanced energy efficiency, and it has a high-definition resolution (1366 x 768) and 16:9 ratio display for watching movies and HDTV programming without annoying black bars. It's supported by an integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics processor for cinematic visual quality. Equipped with HDMI connectivity, you can easily stream media whether you're on the move or through an external display at home or in the office. The UL30A is complemented with Altec Lansing speakers--30 percent more powerful compared to those found on conventional notebooks--and SRS premium surround sound, providing high-quality audio playback without the need to connect to external speakers. The angle of the speakers also allows audio to be "bounced" upwards from any surface to provide better amplification, delivering a wider frequency range, which in turn produces lower pitches that allow users to hear every reverberation of the drums, as well as every note in pitch perfect quality.
 Windows 7 Home Premium makes it easy to create a home network and share all of your favorite photos, videos, and music. You can even watch, pause, rewind, and record TV. Get the best entertainment experience with Windows 7 Home Premium. | Simplify everyday tasks | Work the way you want | Make new things possible |  |  |  | - Simplify your PC with new navigation features like Aero Shake, Jump Lists, and Snap.
- Customize Windows to look and feel the way you like by changing themes and taskbar programs.
- Setting up a home network and connecting to printers and devices is easier than ever.
- Windows 7 Home Premium supports the latest hardware and software.
| - Designed to make your PC sleep and resume quicker.
- Takes full advantage of 64-bit PC hardware and memory.
- Connecting to wireless networks is fast and easy.
| - Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV with Windows Media Center.
- Watch your favorite DVD movies.
- Includes integrated video and Dolby audio codecs.
| Jump Lists
New in Windows 7, Jump Lists take you right to the documents, pictures, songs, or websites you turn to each day. To open a Jump List, just right-click a program icon on the Windows 7 taskbar. (You'll also find them on the Start menu.) What you see in a Jump List depends entirely on the program. The Jump List for Internet Explorer 8 shows frequently-viewed websites. Windows Media Player 12 lists commonly-played tunes. Your Jump List missing a favorite? You can "pin" whatever files you like there. Jump Lists don't just show shortcuts to files. Sometimes they also provide quick access to commands for things like composing new e‑mail messages or playing music. Improved Windows Taskbar
In Windows 7 you can "pin" favorite programs anywhere on the taskbar for easy access. Not crazy about the icon lineup? Now you can rearrange them any way you like by clicking and dragging. Finally, there are new ways to preview windows. Point to a taskbar icon to see a thumbnail preview of open files or programs. Then, move your mouse over a thumbnail to preview the window full-screen. You can even close windows from the thumbnail previews--a big time saver. Snap
Ever need to cut through a cluttered desktop and quickly focus on a single window? Just click a pane and give your mouse a shake. Every open window except that one instantly disappears. Jiggle again--and your windows are back.  |
 Offering the latest in ultra-low voltage processing power, the dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 has a has a power consumption rating of just 10 watts and a 1.3 GHz speed that's paired with a fast 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB) and 3 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)  | Intel Core 2 Duo Processor: The Dual-Core that Delivers Impressive Power While Saving Energy
Featuring dual cores that power through the most intensive tasks, the Intel Core 2 Duo processor lets you surf the web, download content, connect with friends--and do it all with ease. Intel Advanced Smart Cache technology minimizes wait times by allocating more access to frequently used data to the processing core that needs it most. Intel's power-saving capabilities enable fast, cool-running performance even in a compact form factor. |  | Intel Centrino 2 Processor Technology: Breakthrough Technology for Mobile Creativity
With dual-core processing, ultra-fast wireless and exclusive energy conservation features, Intel Centrino 2 processor technology lets you achieve more, aspire higher, and log many more miles between battery charges. Optimized wireless capabilities provide up to 2x greater range and up to 5x better Wi-Fi performance1. Intel Clear Video Technology combines hardware- and software-based video processing features to deliver sharper image quality, improved clarity and customizable color control. |
Impress onlookers or complement any setting with the UL30A's brushed aluminum finish and high-class appeal. Simply opening the notebook you notice the interior casing around the display that brings the color to life so that time-after-time the UL30A shines with a brilliant, high-gloss finish. Plus, the chiclet style keyboard and spacious keys not only allow for a comfortable typing experience but also prevents dust buildup keeping it nice and clean every time you use it. Inspired by the light grace of a butterfly, the UL30A carries the hallmark contours and slim elegance that separate it from the typical cookie-cutter notebook with a true style of its own. With ASUS IceCool Technology, you're ensured extended battery life and a cool-to-touch surface, so even after the longest computer sessions there's limited heat for optimized comfort. The palm rest area also makes your experience more enjoyable so you have plenty of space to place your hands while typing on the keyboard.
The industry's most complete notebook care package offers a level of coverage that would add hundreds of dollars to the price of competing laptops: - 2-year Asus 360 global warranty (estimated $200 value)
- 1-year ADW (estimated $100 value)
- 30-day flawless display guarantee
- Free 2-way standard overnight shipping
- 24/7 tech support
 | Accidents Happen
You have extra protection when they happen to your ASUS notebook purchased in the US or Canada. ASUS will fix it or replace it for you at no charge during the first year after purchase in the event of damage from accidental spills, drops, electrical surges, or fire. - Warranty covering accidental drops, spills, power surges, and fire damage
- Target 3-business-day turnaround time for repair / replacement; not including receiving and shipping time
- One-way shipping (from ASUS to the user) at no additional cost
- 24-hour toll-free phone support
- One incident covered per notebook
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 39
 Excellent laptop, confusing specs December 24, 2009
Ryan Mercovich (Rochester, NY)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
This is an amazing laptop with a super bright screen, and amazing battery life. My only complaints are that the screen is a little too glossy (but what laptop isn't these days) and that no powerful dedicated GPU is available that can provide this much battery life. This computer can do basically everything though, and is a great buy.
With so many variations of the UL30A, it is hard to know which is the best.
A break down given by an ASUS rep somewhere on the web is below (unfortunately i can't find the link).
A2 vs. X5 vs. A3b
Battery:
UL30A-A2 = 8 cell 5600mAh
UL30A-X5 = 8 cell 4400mAh
UL30A-A3B = 8 cell 5600mAh
HDD:
UL30A-A2 = 500GB 5400rpm
UL30A-X5 = 500GB 5400rpm
UL30A-A3B = 250GB 5400rpm
RAM:
UL30A-A2 = 4GB DDR3
UL30A-X5 = 4GB DDR3
UL30A-A3B = 3GB DDR3
Operating System:
UL30A-A2 = Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
UL30A-X5 = Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
UL30A-A3B = Windows 7 Professional (64-bit) with XP Professional downgrade option
Warranty:
UL30A-A2 = 2 year global, 1 year ADW, 30 day no-bright-dot
UL30A-X5 = 1 year global, 1 year ADW, 30 day no-bright-dot
UL30A-A3B = 2 year global, 1 year ADW, 30 day no-bright-dot
what an awesome little computer! October 23, 2009
educated reader
16 out of 19 found this review helpful
I ordered my ASUS UL30A-A2 last week with one day shipping so I could get it ASAP with Windows 7. It arrived on Oct. 22, the Windows 7 release date, and I am very happy with it. I did a lot of research on thin and lights with large amounts of battery power, and from all the reviews I could find, the ASUS UL30A was the clear winner, with the Acer Aspire Timeline 3810T just behind it. I've had my computer for less than 24 hours, but keeping that in mind, here's my current assessment:
Pros:
- It is very thin and very light. It's about half the wight of my old Dell Inspiron, and the size is small enough to be really portable and large enough to watch movies.
- I haven't fully tested the battery life yet, but so far it's been pretty impressive.
- The screen quality is amazing, and it comes with some of the most beautiful desktop images I've seen. I am truly impressed.
- It doesn't get hot. It has been on my lap for hours at a time while working hard to transfer over files from my other laptop, and it hasn't been even uncomfortably warm.
- The keyboard and touchpad design are great. I like the mac-style keyboard that will help keep crud from accumulating under the keys, and is easy to type on. The touchpad is flush with the wrist-rest areas, which means it also will stay cleaner with years of use. Some computer reviewers did not like the touchpad, but for me it's plenty big, and it only feels "sticky" when you press down too hard. You have to use a light touch, but it doesn't take long to adjust to.
- It's fast enough and big enough for everything I need. I'm in the midst of transferring all of my music and videos, from both my old laptop and my external hard drive, only my Asus so that I can have everything with me at once, and only use my external as a backup. The system operates fast enough for my needs, though from what I've read it won't suffice if you're a gamer.
- It doesn't come with Norton Anti-Virus pre-installed. This means you don't have to go through hours of trying to uninstall it so that your computer can run the way it's supposed to. It simply comes with a basic internet security program.
- Most of the computer is somewhat fingerprint-proof. The only exceptions are the big glossy screen (which you shouldn't be touching anyway), the black border around the screen (which you will sometimes need to touch), and the touchpad button (which is small, but you will probably be touching it a lot). However it is still better than most laptops, as the rest of the computer will not show fingerprints.
- Windows 7 is great! Again, I haven't fully tested the ins and outs, but so far it's been an easy transition for someone who has been using XP since it came out eight years ago. I avoided getting a computer with Vista, but have used it on friends' computers on occasion, and Windows 7 seems like an improvement.
- I read that the power adapter would get hot, but so far mine has stayed cool. And it has been plugged in for 18 hours straight.
- If you press Fn and the space bar, you can easily shift through 4 different power options: Entertainment Mode, High Performance, Quiet Office, and Battery Saving. This is an awesome feature because if you're watching a movie, it will let you change settings to stop the screen from dimming or turning off without even exiting the movie.
Cons:
- The Amazon order did not come with the mouse or computer case it promised!
- I don't like the reflections you can see in the glossy screen. This isn't unique to this computer, I just don't like glossy screens in general.
- It came with a sticker on it saying it had 12 hours of battery life, so I'm not sure if the 16 hour claim is true... and like I said I haven't tested it. Either way, though, I don't think I'll ever need it to last more than 12 hours without being plugged in.
- The way that the hard drive is partitioned is confusing. It has an OS C drive and a data D drive. However it automatically puts all of the users documents and music folders in the OS drive rather than the data drive. This is easy to change, but I still haven't figured out how to change the start menu links to my documents so that it takes me to the D drive instead of the C drive.
- The touchpad doesn't support rotate and zoom motions that are common on Macs and coming out in newer PCs. Certainly not a huge problem, but they would be nice, since the touchpad does support scrolling and right click motions.
I think that's all for now. I'll try to update this when I find more pros and cons worth mentioning, and have measured the true battery life of the machine.
Very good ultraportable laptop October 25, 2009
T. Stauffer (grand rapids, mi)
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
This is an amazing laptop. Overall worth every penny. Was debating between this laptop, acer 3810, and the hp dm3. This to me seemed to be the best overall while the other had a few things i liked. First off I am a student and wanted something light and long battery life. So far(ive only had this since day after windows 7) the battery at 100% and with wifi on and surfing the web with low brightness the battery status says ten hours max and only goes down from there when i watch videos are start some heavier multitasking. As far as the processor the core 2 duo at 1.3ghz handle everything i throw at it thanks to windows 7. Itunes and mozilla open at same time shows little slow down and hulu and youtube hd fullscreen play great. Heres a list of some of the things i like and things i dont.
Good
Construction- aluminum lid shows this laptop has a little toughness despite being so thin.
Keyboard-chiclet took some getting use to but learning to love it. I dont notice much flex at all and like typing on keyboard.
Trackpad-was scared it was gonna be like the crappy eeepc bumpiness but it is smooother than i thought. and the clicker seems useable and multitouch scrolling is a little jittery but better than nothing.
Battery life- no exact numbers yet but better than my crappy hps that lasted 45min to 2 hours.
Windows 7- makes everything fast and intuitive
Heat- Runs cooler than any laptop ive used and it quiet also.
Asus porgrams- some are junk but some are useful
Bad
No bluetooth frustrates me but not huge deal easy to fix but it would have been nice it had been included.
No optical drive- fine with me makes it lighter and that is more important to me.
Graphics-Havent really tried any games but sure this isnt great would like option of a dedicated switcheable card. CULV+9400M/ION would be perfect even with some sacrifice on battery life. 4500mhd has handled streaming video fine for me just would like to do some fps gaming.
Just would like to say that acer 3810tg in europe and asia with ati 4330 need to come to america or asus put the 4330 in the ul30 and i would be happy add throw in some bluetooth. And i know the hp dm3 had the 105m but it also has optical drive making ti slightly heavier but i have had terrible experince with hp and never serious considered buying one just wanted to compare. anyway hopes this helps people considering this laptop because so far i am happy. also helps gizmodo named this best 13 inch ultraportable morning after i recieved mine.
Light, cheap, nice and fast. What else could you ask? November 1, 2009
B. Hubbard (Detroit, MI USA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I was looking to replace a 4 year old Dell D410 - small, light, single core laptop. Not counting inflation, it cost more than twice as much as The Asus USL30A, and the differences show how much has changed since then. I didn't really even seriously consider any of the offerings from Dell or HP. The price / weight / performance ratios didn't work out in their favor.
I saw a positive short review of this laptop on [...], and in my research didn't come up with anything better.
After about 4 days with the laptop, I am quite happy with the purchase:
Pros:
- Very light, compact and thin. Easily fits in a shoulder bag or briefcase.
- Feels solidly built, not overly fragile like some of the ultra light or sub $1000 notebooks.
- Stays very cool. Amazing job on the cooling system - and no loud fan noise.
- Screen size / resolution works well for normal web browsing and watching online video. LED backlight is nice and bright.
- Hard drive is HUGE for a laptop of this price.
- Minimal "bloatware" - didn't have to spend 3 hours cleaning trial and unnecessary software off like I would have on an HP
- Great audio
- Windows 7 really is a solid new OS - the worthy replacement for XP that Vista never was.
Cons:
- Keyboard and trackpad take some getting used to. Especially the single mouse "rocker" button.
- Speakers are on the bottom front lip, so if the notebook is sitting on a bed or your lap, the sound suffers.
- Glossy, reflective screen. Not my preference, but whatever.
- Win7 Home Premium version won't connect to a domain, so this is a solidly consumer PC unless you're going to upgrade the OS. Clearly not an "Enterprise" PC - but I could see it having a place in smaller businesses or for students.
Other thoughts:
- Battery life looks to be about 6-8 hours of normal use without having to dim the screen or take heroic action. The battery saver mode improves that, but unless you live on long airplane flights or are a student with marathon days, it probably isn't worth the hassle.
- No real problem with keyboard flex or loose battery as other reviews have reported, both of which had me worried. Battery has both a latch and a lock to hold it into place, and fits very snugly. It's not going anywhere, at least not on my unit.
- The X3 model is black, better looking, but has smaller battery and only 1 year warranty. For the $50 price difference, go for the A2 unless your heart is set on black.
- First laptop I've bought in over 15 years without a modem in it, and no PC Card slot. But has 3 USB ports.
- Hard drive looks to be 2.5" 95MM standard drive, not a silly 1.8" unit. So possibility to replace with an SSD is real. Of course, a decent SSD is going to cost almost as much as the laptop...
Bottom line: This is a solid PC for this class, and should be striking fear into the heart of HP and Dell. Asus is going to eat them alive if they keep this up.
Met all expectations November 11, 2009
R. Greenberg (Southern Maryland)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I've been working with computers for over 30 years. This is the first computer of any sort that met and I will expect exceed all of my expetations (over time). It is the perfect computer for doing MS Office type work, emailing documents back and forth, and internet use. It's nice and fast, great display, no issues with the key board, and set up was not that difficult. I have a very capabile desktop and did not need to duplicate what I already had. This is the PERFECT machine for getting work done and keeping in touch with email. Now if it keeps working for a few years, ASUS would have hit a huge home-run.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 39
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