These features make it pretty potent for a netbook, being able to run all kind of multimedia content, both self-stored or streamed, some modern games and all you daily applications. Don’t expect wonders from it, but one thing is for sure: this mini laptop can multitask and is no longer sluggish when running multiple applications simultaneously like other computers on the Atom platform do. Having Optimus means you also get better autonomy than the previous generation of this device did, the 1201N, thus expect up to 6 hours of life on a single charge.

There are also some changes in terms of design, materials and layout. Details about these and the performances of this netbook are available in the Asus EEE PC 1215N review here. Some video reviews are available there too and comments and opinions are greatly appreciated.

Related posts:

1. Asus EEE PC 1215N – top choice with dual core Atom, Ion and Optimus
2. Asus EEE PC 1201PN – new gen ION, but this time affordable?
3. Asus 1015N available – ION and Optimus on a 10 inch EEE PC

From all of them, the best balance between mobility, performance and price is offered by the 10 inch mini laptops and this is why they are the most appropriate picks for the majority of users. However, there are lots of different 10 inchers available right now on the market, some better, some worse. That’s why I’ve decided to write this post and tell you a couple of words about the models that stand out from the crowd.

You will notice that specs are pretty much the same for all the devices present in here, because most of them use the same Intel platform. However, there’s more about picking a laptop than specs. You will want to know how well they look, how reliable they are, how comfortable is the keyboard or whether or not they get noisy or hot. This is why i made this list of recommendations, so you’ll know that these devices are good and can meet most of your criteria. The list is based on my experience with these netbooks (I’ve been around them since early 2008) and reviews/opinions from regular buyers, gathered from various online sources. So, let’s see what are right now the best 10 inch netbooks.

Asus EEE PC 1001P – $290 – review in here

This Asus manages to provide an excellent price/features ratio. Comes with standard specs (N450 processor, 1 GB of memory, 160 GB hard-drive) and good battery life (up to 11 hours on paper, more like 8 in practice) and is also very solid built, with a matte textured casing that will deal perfectly with fingerprints or scratches.

However, unlike more expensive devices, this one only offers a standard flat keyboard, which is good but not as comfortable as an ergonomic chiclet one. Also, in terms of connectivity, you only get Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g and Gigabit Ethernet. The base versions does not get Bluetooth, but there is an upgraded one which does.

All in all, the Asus 1001P is a good buy. Goes right now for around $290 an is available in white, black, blue or pink. The version equipped with Bluetooth and bigger 250 GB hard-drive currently goes for around $300, so is also a good pick. All those prices include Free Shipping within the US borders and you can always read more details about the Asus EEE PC 1001P in this review.

Asus EEE PC 1001P

Samsung N150 – from $279

The Samsung N150 is another 10 inch display worth buying, especially if you plan to spend a lot of your time on the road. Unlike the 1001P, it also brings a matte screen along the matte body, and this time the casing is not textured but silky smooth, with a nice rubberized finish that feels quite nice.

The Samsung N150 sells for $279 – $330 in the US ( with Free Shipping included), depending on the version you’ll pick. Notice than not all of them come with the matte casing, as the pink, yellow or red ones are glossy, while the blue and matte are definitely matte.  However, the device looks great and if you wan to use your netbook outside, that matte screen is a must.

Also, this Samsung comes with chiclet keyboard and better webcam, plus Wireless N connectivity, but battery is smaller so autonomy only stretches to around 6 hours in real life use.

Samsung N150, with matte or glossy versions

Asus EEE PC 1005PE-M – around $329

The bigger brother of the 1001P, the Asus 1005PE-M EEE PC comes with a couple of extra goodies. First, it has faster Wi-Fi N wireless, 92% chiclet keyboard with individual keys and is somewhat more beautiful and solid built.

However, unlike the 1001P, this one comes with a complete glossy casing, which, while looking very good, is incredibly sensible to fingerprints, scratches and smudges.

Still, if you like the glossy exterior, the 1005PE is a very solid pick, comfortable and reliable. And with a discounted price of around $329 (with shipping included), it’s no wonder it’s such a popular device right now. Plus, you can get it in white/black/pink or with Kindle for PC installed at not extra cost.

Asus EEE PC 1005PE-M

Toshiba NB305 – from $330 to $370

The Toshiba NB305 is right now the most popular netbooks in the US and my personal favorite. It brings similar hardware to the best other 10 inch netbooks available, with N450 processor, 1 GB of RAM, 250 GB hard-drive and top notch connectivity. And while some might not consider it as good looking as the EEE Seashells, the Toshiba Mini NB305 is very solid built. Plus, based on my experience with the previous generation, it is also very reliable.

And last but not least, the Toshiba is the most comfortable of all. The lightly textured casing is available in a multitude of colors and is resistant to scratches, the screen is good, although still glossy and the metallic feel keyboard plus trackpad with two click buttons is the best combo present on a 10 inch netbook at the moment.

The Toshiba NB305 is available in a couple of different versions, with prices ranging from $300 to $370. You can check them out by clicking the link and see the very good marks and review received from regular buyers, which managed to bring this mini laptop on the top of bestsellers lists on big webstores like Amazon or Newegg.

Toshiba NB305 - most popualr and my favorite

Asus EEE PC 1005PE-P – around $365

The Asus EEE PC 1005PE-P is and has been for quite a while one of the most popular netbooks in the United States, next to the Toshiba Mini. It’s similar in looks to the other 1005PE-M present above, but it also offers Bluetooth, bigger storage and battery, capable of up to 14 hours battery life (more like 11 in practice, but this performance still makes it the best in the 10 inch class).

The 1005PE-P is available in a couple of different colors and goes for around $365, with shipping included within the US.

Also, while the standard 1005PE-Ps are glossy, there’s also another version with a matte soft-exterior casing, way better in dealing with scratches and fingerprints. It’s not a lot more expensive, as it sells for $375 w/ Shipping , but is only available in Black.

Asus 1005PE-P, also available with a matte casing

Asus Touch EEE T101MT – $485

Unlike all the other netbooks above, the Asus T101MT is a tablet 10 incher, with a convertible touchscreen. Thus, it can be used like a standard netbook, as it comes with a keyboard and all, but also the screen can be swiveled in order to transform the device into a slate.

Having this function adds a lot to your everyday experience with the device, browsing or watching movies being an absolute pleasure while in tablet mode. Also, you can use it to take notes or sketch different things with the included pen. Besides this, the Asus T101MT looks very nice, with a black matte finish and incredible attention to details.

However, it is sometimes sluggish, as the poor Atom hardware inside can’t really keep pace with all the demands of the touch interface. Still, for every day tasks, it should do just fine.

The Asus T101MT goes for around $480 w/ Shipping included in the US these days. You can get it from here, where you’ll also find more details, pics and reviews from regular users who bought it and posted their opinions about it online.

Asus T101MT tablet with covertible toushcreen

Sony Vaio W – $449

Last but not least in our list of top netbooks is the Sony Vaio W. Being a Vaio, it is by definition amazing looking and extremely solid built. It comes in a couple of different colors and the most appreciated are the white and pink ones. Plus, the entire casing of the Vaio W, both outside and around the screen and keyboard is matte, so scratch and smudges resistant.

Inside you’ll get the best available hardware in the 10 inch netbooks class, with N450 processor, 10 inch HD display (1366 x 768 px), 1 GB of memory, 250 GB hard-drive, Wi-Fi N + Bluetooth and 6 Cell battery. However, this will only offer up to 8 hours of life, beyond the category’s average.

All in all, the Sony Vaio W is a great pick if you are willing to pay its price. Like most Vaios, it is expensive, as it goes for $449 right now. That is 20% more expensive than other devices, but the quality of the end product you’ll get kind of justifies it.

Sony Vaio W with great looks , solid build and HD display

Conclusions

That’s about it for now. These are at the moment the best options for quality 10 inch netbooks and mini notebooks. As you can see, there are cheaper and more expensive versions, matte or glossy ones and many color options, so theoretically there’s something for everyone’s taste in here.

Still, this list will suffer changes in time, as new and better devices will enter the market. Thus, don’t forget to check it out from time to time I’f you looking to get a 10 inch mini laptop in the near future.

Also, comments and opinions are always appreciated, so don’t hesitate to post your comments.

Related posts:

1. Asus EEE PC 1015P – popular mate 10 inch netbook
2. Asus EEE PC 1016P – business style catches on netbooks
3. Asus EEE PC 1015PE – matte 10 incher for every pocket

As you might have guessed from its name, the Asus 1015T is part of the new line of 10 inchers Asus prepares for this year. Thus, it’s very much alike to the Asus EEE PC 1015N or the 1015P/1015PE models in terms of aspect, bringing the same Seashell design and matte casing. You’re not only going to get this scratch-proof exterior, but also the palm-rest are will be covered by it. And once you open the lid, you will notice the new chiclet keyboard and trackpad design that will be present on all new Asus 10 inch laptops this year.

Solid built and decent looking Seashell Asus 1015T

However, what’s different on this device from all the others is the hardware inside. Like I’ve told you, this gadget boosts an AMD  Neo V105 processor, with ATI 4200 graphics and up to 4 GB of DDR3 RAM. All these completed by decent storage (up to 320 GB 2.5″ 5400 rpm hard-drives), good connectivity (Wi-Fi 802.11 N and Bluetooth 3.0) and 3/6 Cell batteries.

Specs show you there's and AMD heart inside

We should expect from the Asus 1015T to be somewhat more powerful than a standard netbook quipped with Atom N450. Also, graphics should be superior, even capable of running 1080p content (which you’ll be able to output via HDMI). Thus, you will end with a snappier device, but with the cost of sacrificing autonomy (you’ll only get around 5-6 hours out of the 6 cell battery, while on Atom you should expect 8 to 10).

Matte exterior and HDMI output

Overall, the 1015T will be a nice solution if you want a faster than average 10 incher. I am looking to see the AMD platform in action live before saying anything more though. This should happen soon, as the Asus 1015T EEE PC is expected to ship in Q3 2010 along with the other new 10 inch Asuses, so look for more details about it soon (including info on prices, which are unknown for the moment).

Via Netbooked

Related posts:

1. Asus 1015N available – ION and Optimus on a 10 inch EEE PC
2. Asus Lamborghini VX6 – luxurios looking 12 inch mini laptop
3. Atom 330 netbook – best netbooks with Intel Atom 330 inside

I mean fine, this Asus will bring the dual-core Atom D525 CPU and 4 GB of memory, plus Nvidia ION2 chip. So graphics will do fine, but in everyday applications you’ll see the drawbacks of this configuration (which is of course the low power Atom CPU). And this is a shame. We’ve already seen 12 inch or even smaller devices announced with at least Core i3 ULV processors, why on Earth would they pick Atom for their mini laptop which is supposed to be their fastest? Why?!?

12 Inch Asus Lamborghini VX6 with flamboyant looks

Of course, in terms of looks and build quality, there’ almost nothing not to like about the VX6, although the design is too sophisticated for me, I proffer more classic casings.

I like that the Vx6 will come with Bluetooth 3.0 and USB 3.0, a very good HD 12.1 inch display and a full-size chiclet keyboard. However, I see no HDMI output on this machines, based on the available pictures, and this would be a bummer.

All in all, the Asus Lamborghini VX6 is an interesting machine. Will be great for multimedia, will run HD content and even some modern games. And will certainly catch everyone’s attention with its aspect. Unfortunately, putting an Atom processor kind of ruins it all. Especially since it’s surely going to be pretty expensive.

Via Tech in Style

Related posts:

1. Asus UL20FT – powerful mini laptop in the 12 inch class
2. Asus 1015N available – ION and Optimus on a 10 inch EEE PC
3. Asus 1215N gets reviewed and appreciated

First, there are going to be two different EEE Pads available, the EEE Pad EP101TC with a 10 inch display and the EP121 with a 12 inch one.

The compact EEE Pad EP101TC seems to target directly the iPad and will be very light and thing (weigh 1.5 pounds and measure 0.5 inch in thickness). We know nothing about the hardware inside for this one, but it will be powered by an Windows Embedded Compact 7 operating system. Not sure what this one means, but it’s probably a lighter Windows 7 version. Asus promises it will be compatible with all other Windows operating systems, will offer an easy to customize interface and will focus a lot on Cloud Computing apps.

10 inch EEE Pad EP101TC focuses on Cloud applications

The Asus EEE Pad EP121 is wider and heavier, but comes with ULV Core 2 Duo hardware, so we should expect quite some performance out of it. Will be offered with Windows 7 Home OS and will be able to run all our daily applications, plus games and multimedia content. Asus promises up to 10 hours autonomy for this EEE Pad and that’s impressive considering its power. Also, a special designed docking station with integrated keyboard will be available for it, making it ideal to use not only on the go, but also on your office.

Asus EEE Pad EP121 with powerful hardware

Last but not least, there’s the Asus EEE tablet. With it, Asus tries to kill more birdies with a single shot, as it will be a device made for taking notes and reading ebooks. Thus, it attacks ereaders like Amazon’s Kindle, but offers extra functions. The EEE Tablet will come with a backlight-less LCD touch-display, probably a 7-8 inch one, capable of displaying black and white colors (in 64 shades of gray) and refresh content in just 0.1 seconds. It will offer 2450 dpi input sensitivity , thus the screen will be resistive and will be great for taking notes, inking, etc.

Thus, the EEE Tablet is a device meant for students. A 2 MPx camera, microSD and USB ports will also be available on it. We know nothing about the hardware inside though, but we know Asus promises up to 10 hours of life for it (which is a lot less than e-ink readers can offer but better than the iPad).

Also, from the pictures we have, the Asus EEE Tablet looks quite good and thin, so it will probably be a nice device to have around.

Asus EEE tablet - digital note-taking and ereader device

That’s all we know about these devices for now. But stay tuned, more details, pictures and clips will be available soon, and we’ll add updates as we find out more.

Via Engadget

Related posts:

1. Apple Tablet leaked Pictures. This could be real.
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3. Rumor: Apple Tablet to Counter Netbooks, out in Q1/Q2, 2010

We don’t have exact details on this device for now, only a couple of pictures from Sacha at netbooknews.de from the scene, but, the 1015N will most certainly come with the Intel Atom N450 single core processor, Intel Atom N550 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 1-2 GB of memory, 250-320 GB storage space and hybrid graphics, consisting in integrated GMA 3150 solution and the 8 CUDA cores Nvidia chip. Both will be controlled by Optimus, Nvidia’s graphic chip management system which automatically picks between the two according to the applications you’re using.

First ION + Optimus combo in a 10 inch Asus netbook

Having ION and Optimus on this 10 inch Asus 1015N means you’ll get way better graphic performances than a standard 10 incher can offer, so it will be able to run some modern games (unlike other similar netbooks, even those with Broadcom HD accelerators) and handle multimedia content, including 1080p clips (self-stored, but hopefully Flash also). And there’s also a HDMI port for outputting those too (see the picture below). All these without sacrificing battery life when not running such intense applications. There’s a 6 Cell battery on the displayed 1015N, so we should probably see 8+ hour autonomy out of it.

On the exterior, the Asus 1015N EEE PC brings the matte soft plastic finish Asus displayed on other soon to come mini laptops, like the 1015P/PE series . This should be great when dealing with fingerprints and smudges. And once you open the lid, you’ll get the standard chiclet keyboard and wider trackpad, a design we’ll probably going to see on all 10 inch Asus EEE PCs this year.

Matte exterior

And overall solid construction, completed by nice looks

For now, we know nothing about pricing and availability for the 1015N. Asus announced they’ll offer more details about these in a further press release, so stay tuned for more details on this netbook in the following weeks. We’ll update once we find more.

Source: Netbooknews.de

Related posts:

1. Asus EEE PC 1215N – top choice with dual core Atom, Ion and Optimus
2. Asus EEE PC 1015T with AMD inside promises more power
3. Asus EEE PC 1015P – popular mate 10 inch netbook

The Asus UL20FT is the latest device offered by this constructor in the 12 inch class, scheduled to enter the market sometime in the near future. Asus plans to update the current series with the new Intel hardware. Thus, the UL20FT will be built on the ULV Arrandale platform and there will be a couple of CPUs for you to choose from, with the most powerful probably the Core i3-330UM clocked at 1.2 GHz. Add improved graphics (still integrated), 4 GB of memory and 500 GB storage, plus windows 7 Home premium as OS and 6 Cell batteries capable of providing autonomy of 8+ hours and you get an idea of how good will this new 12 incher be.

We know nothing of pricing and availability for the Asus UL20FT for now, but more details should be available soon. Also, we have no pictures of it to show you, but considering the strategy Asus used for the Arrandale UL30JT, I’m pretty sure this UL20FT will be nearly identical in terms of design to the existing 12 inch UL20A.

I for one am curious to see the level of performance improvements offered by this notebook when compared to the current generation, UL20A. And also am eager to see how much extra money we’ll have to get for it, as the existing version goes for around $500 these days.

So stay tuned, more details will be added, as I’m keeping my eyes on this Asus UL20FT and you should too if you plan to get a portable laptop this year.

Related posts:

1. Asus Lamborghini VX6 – luxurios looking 12 inch mini laptop
2. Asus 1015N available – ION and Optimus on a 10 inch EEE PC
3. Best 10 inch netbooks and mini laptops right now

On the outside there’s a premium aluminum casing, an ergonomic chiclet keyboard, a big trackpad and a matte display. Inside, you get the same Intel Atom N450 standard configuration, but a couple of new goodies, like faster Bluetooth 3.0 and 2xUSB 3.0 ports that will come in handy when you’ll need to transfer data fast and safe.

Like I said, the guys at Techinstyle.tv managed to snag an Asus 1016P from under the eyes of an Asus engineer and now have some new pictures of the device. See some of them below, with the rest here.

As you can see, this is undoubtedly one of the best looking netbooks ever made, and if build quality and expected battery life of 14 hours will live to their expectations, I’m pretty sure this EEE PC will be very popular. Enjoy the pictures for now and stay tuned for more info on the 1016P Asus in the next weeks.

Source: Techinstyle (via Ndevil)

Related posts:

1. Asus EEE PC 1016P – business style catches on netbooks
2. Asus EEE PC 1001P review – perhaps the best netbook under $300
3. Asus 1005PR EEE PC – HD capable 10 inch netbook

On a first look at the Asus 1015PE you notice that the casing is not matte, thus way better when facing scratches, smudges and fingerprints. In fact, a soft rubberish material was used for the upper casing, similar to the one used on the matte version of the existing Asus 1005PE (just launched in the last months). The same material is used now also for the palm-rest and the entire area around the keyboard, so bye bye nasty glossy finish. In fact, not entirely bye bye, as the 10 inch display remained glossy (based on what we know right now) and so did the area around it. But still, the 1015PE is an improvement. And, if you don’t like the soft finish, you can opt for a textured one, on the Asus EEE PC 1015P.

Asus 1015PE mini laptop

The keyboard and trackpad changed too. From the pictures, better plastic is used for they keys and the trackpad is now bigger and matte too, plus it’s separated from the rest of the palm rest by two narrow lines, dressed in a nice chromed finish. Click-button is bigger too and easier to press, but it’s still a single-click one.

Improved trackpad and keyboard

Inside, not much has changed. For now, the Asus EEE PC 1005PE is expected to bring:

• Intel Atom N450/N470 processors (followed by N455/N475 later) + GMA 3150 graphics
• up to 2 GB of RAM DDR2 (with DDR3 memory support on a later version)
• up to 320 GB hard-drive
• Wi-Fi N, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• 3xUSB slots, 4-in-1 card-reader, VGA out, 0.3 MPx webcam
• Stereo Dolby speakers
• 3 Cell battery (23 Wh) or 6 Cell battery (55 or 63 Wh ) – up to 13.5 hours of life
• Windows 7 Starter
• weighs 2.3 pounds (with 3 Cell battery) or 2.5 pounds (with 6 Cell one)

So, as you can see, only minor improvements will be seen on the 1015PE in terms of performance, but the hardware is pretty much standard and similar to what all the other 10 inch mainstream netbooks offer. This while connectivity is top notch, battery life is better and the device comes with a nice design and solid built quality.

All in all, with the 1015PE, Asus manages to solve two of the biggest complaints current Seashell versions had: the casing and the trackpad. If they’ll use a matte display too, this device will be just perfect.

Way better with the soft rubberish finish

For now, we know nothing on availability and prices, but stay tuned for more details in the near future. The Asus EEE PC 1015PE is for sure a netbook we should keep our eyes on, as I’d reckon it will be the most popular mainstream 10 incher of the next couple months.

Perhaps the most popular 10 inch netbook for the second half of 2010

Related posts:

1. Asus EEE PC 1015P – popular mate 10 inch netbook
2. Asus EEE PC 1016P – business style catches on netbooks
3. Asus EEE PC 1015T with AMD inside promises more power

What we have here right now is the Asus UL30JT, the next step from Asus in terms of mobile computing. Shortly, this laptop merges the looks and build quality of the previous generation with a new hardware platform, meant to offer better performance and increased autonomy in the same time. Read the review below to see how exactly is that possible and to find out if the product leaves up to its expectations.

Specifications

• Intel Core i5-520UM 1.07 Ghz processor with Intel Boost technology (boosts frequency when needed)
• 4 GB of RAM DDR3 1067 MHz
• 2.5″ 640 GB hard-drive 5400 rpm + Online Storage
• X4500M graphics + Nvidia GT310M + Optimus
• Wi-Fi N, Bluetooth 2.1, Gigabit LAN
• 3xUSB ports, card-reader, webcam, VGA+HDMI output, speakers
• 8 Cell battery 5600 mAh 84 Wh
• Windows 7 (Ultimate on this particular version, but it will probably ship with Home)
• weighs 3.7 pounds (1.75 kg)

Design and build quality

On the outside, nothing much has changed from the previous generation. I remember back when i first got my hands on the Asus UL30A, I considered it one of the best looking laptops ever-made. And I still do. The UL30JT is almost identical to that one, in fact there’s only one thing different: the entire palm rest and the area around the keyboard are no longer made out of a glossy plastic, but a matte one which feels better and catches smudges harder.

While the casing of this device is made out of matte plastic, the lid is covered in a brushed aluminum finish. This gives a more elitist aspect and while better than a plastic case when dealing with scratches, it still catches smudges and fingerprints. They shouldn’t be so easy to spot on the silver finish though, so I would get that instead of this black one, if given the choice.

A looker - the 13 inch Asus UL30JT

Build quality is solid, very solid i must say. And based on reviews received by the previous UL30s, the entire computer is very reliable. So you shouldn’t have problems with it on the long run (although that’s something for the future to prove).

Ports and features

Back - only the battery, a big 8 Cell one

Back side

Left side – card-reader, headphones and mic, 2xUSB slots, Ethernet, DC-IN

Left Side

Right side – big heating vent, VGA, HDMI and 1xUSb slot

Right side

Front – nothing but the system LEDs

Front side

Bottom – big battery and the dedicated bays for upgrading RAM and HDD

Front side

Also, see my hands-on clip below:

Keyboard and trackpad

They keyboard on the Asus UL30JT is a chiclet-styled one with independent keys, also 100% Full-size, thus those of you with bigger fingers won’t have any problems with it. Good overall, although the plastic used for the keys doesn’t quite feel right and the flex is a little bit too obvious.

If the keyboard kept from the previous generation is a good one, i would have hoped the trackpad with that dimpled texture to have been replaced. It’s not matte anymore, which is a plus, but still responsiveness and overall touch-feeling are not as they should be. Don’t get me wrong, this touchpad does its job, but sometimes won’t be as quick and precise as you would want it to be.

Chiclet keyboard and dimpled trackpad

Display

The Asus UL30JT comes with a 13.3 inch LED backlit display with 1366 x 768 px resolution (perfect for a screen this big). Very good overall and with nice colors, brightness and viewing angles, as long as you use it inside on in poor light conditions. When taken outside or used in direct light, it turns into a mirror, because it’s glossy. The clips in this post stand as proof for that too. So too bad, i wished Asus had a matte display for this device, at least as an option you’d have to pay extra for.d

Screen is glossy

Hardware

The UL30JT proves its superiority over the previous UL30 series when it comes to hardware. First of all, this device packs the Intel new generation ULV processor built on Arrandale platform (32 nm), the Core i5-520UM. Clocked at 1.06 GHz, this processor comes with 3 MB of L3 cache, HyperThreading and 800 MHz FSB, while bringing Intel’s Turbo Boost technology which automatically increases frequency (by increasing the multiplier) in case extra performance is needed. Theoretically the increase is up to 1.86 GHz, although CPUz presented numbers up to 2.4 GHz on this system (but it might be some kind of mistake)

The device is based on the HM55 Express Chipset and comes with a hybrid graphic solution (managed by the Nvidia Optimus technology). The two graphic chips used are the GMA X4500 and the Nvidia GT310M. Optimus is the link between the two and seamlessly changes between them based on the operation the computer is performing (and its requirement for graphic power). Thus, when browsing, listening to music, writing, the system uses the integrated chip in order to offer better autonomy, but when watching HD content or playing games, the dedicated Nvidia GT310M chips jumps immediately in action, in order to cope with the requirements.

Good hardware

Also in terms of hardware, the Ul30JT brings 4 GB of RAM (upgradeable to and 640 GB storage. Wi-Fi N, Ethernet (Gigabit Lan) and Bluetooth are present as connectivity options, but there’s no sign of even optional 3G (at least not on this test version I have on my desk – there’s usually a slot behind the battery on in the left-side, but this one lacks it).

Performances and Software

When speaking of performances, this laptop is perhaps right now one of the lords in the 13 inch class. While still using an ULV platform in order to also offer decent battery life, it can run nearly all kind of software and applications.

1080P - Flash

This test version came with Windows 7 Ultimate, but it will probably ship with Home Premium or Professional. Anyway, Asus loads it with quite a lot of bloatware (at least 10 applications you’ll hardly ever going to need) which has some effects over the snappiness of the entire system, thus, if you get this laptop, installing a fresh Windows should be your main priority.

Self stored 1080P on Power Saver

Still, even with the bloatware installed, this notebook is fast. It can run any type of software, including power hungry ones like Photoshop, Corel, etc. Still, don’t expect them to load as fast as on your desktop. What the UL30JT is meant for is multimedia on the go, thus it can face 1080P content both self-stored and Flash, even on battery-more with Power balance profile selected. The screens below prove it.

It scores a 3.0 Windows 7 rating, with the poorest mark received for graphics.

Windows 7 rating

But even so, this laptop can handle games. I for one tried Anno 1404 which is a RTS launched late last year and it can run from 20-25 fps (on native resolution with details on medium) to 50-80 fps (on 1024 x 768) with details also on medium. So more than playable. Other games like Counter-strike, Call of Duty, Sims, all should run decently on this laptop as long as you don’t expect to play them on full-details.

So overall the UL30JT performs amazingly well for a 13 incher ULV laptop. Better than i was expecting actually.

Stay tuned, I’ll get back with some tests later on (if you want me to run a particular test, please post a comment and I’ll see what i can do). Here you can see the results for the benchmarks conducted on this laptop.

Also, see this video below for more details on performances in clips and games.

Battery life

Like I said before, this laptop packs an 8 Cell 5600 mAh 84 Wh 15V battery. A pretty big one, but the hardware is needy too. So, expect to get:

• around 7-8 hours of life on light browsing on Wi-fi with Screen dimmed to 50% (and no music)
• around 5 hours on regular DivX movies
• around 3 hours on HD playing and gaming
• anywhere in between for a mix of these

All in all, you get good performance and battery life of around 5-7 hours on average, which is more than excellent. And the battery charges from 10 to 100% in around 2.5 hours, so pretty fast.

Sound, webcam, noise, heat and others

The UL30JT comes with a webcam, like all modern netbooks, placed on the upper part of the display. It’s only a 0.3 MPx one, so don’t expect much, but for chatting and Skype is more than enough.

Sound quality on the other hand is top notch. The speakers in this notebook are not only loud, but also very good. I reckon there’s some Altec Lansing technology inside, like I’ve seen on other Asus devices.

As for noise and heat. I have to say this device is a little bit noisier than the other 13 inch laptops I’ve tested. Having the powerful hardware comes with a price, and especially when playing or watching HD clips, the fan will get quite loud. Not disturbingly loud, but still, you’ll hear it. Also, the bottom-left part of this Asus gets a little bit hot and there’s a lot of warm air dispersed through that vent on that side. Yes, i know, “a little bit hot” it’s not really scientific, but I lack a method or tool to properly measure temperature on the surface, although I’ve been looking for one (suggestions would be appreciated ).

So for now, you’ll just have to take my word for it: this laptop gets somewhat hot on the left-bottom side. But is it “Burn my legs hot”? Definitely not, at least for me, and I have low heat tolerance

Where you can get it

You can’t get it yet. This device is not available on the market yet and what I have on my desk is an early sample. However, we should see it in stores soon, probably in the next weeks.

I’d reckon prices will get to around 700-800 bucks, but we’ll just have to wait and see what Asus plans. I’ll update this part once i know more.

Asus UL30JT - a winner

Final thoughts

If you’ll read some of my other posts on this site, you’ll see i almost never rate a device “top notch”. The UL30A was one of the exceptions and now the Asus UL30JT is another.

I i were to rate it, i would give it 9 out of 10. I like the looks, the design and the construction quality. I like the powerful hardware in this light body and the fact that it comes with Optimus, so you get a mix between performance and battery life. Overall, I like it, although I would have given it a 10 if Asus changed the screen with a matte one and the trackpad with a better option (like we saw they’re preparing for the EEE PC 1218 for instance).

Still, if Asus manages to get the UL30JT for a fair price, which should be around 700-800 bucks, I’m sure it will quickly become very popular. Because it’s good, bringing portability, power and hopefully a nice price tag under a single roof. And this doesn’t happen too often.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• sleek aspect and solid build quality
• light and compact for a 13 incher
• bright display, very good inside or in poor light conditions
• latest generations ULV hardware from Intel
• top performances: can run nearly all kind of applications, clips and even most of the modern games
• good full-size keyboard, although with a little bit too much flex for my taste
• big battery which translates in good autonomy: up to 8 hours
• very good speakers
• good connectivity, but no 3G option

Cons:

• Glossy display (so unusable outside)
• trackpad with the dimpled finish and single-click button will do its job, but is not the best
• aluminum exterior still catches smudges and fingerprints and they are noticeable on this black finish
• gets noisy and hot on its upper left-side when used in intense applications
• there’s a lot of bloatware preinstalled with the OS

All the pictures

Related posts:

1. Asus EEE PC 1001P review – perhaps the best netbook under $300
2. Asus EEE PC 1015PE – matte 10 incher for every pocket
3. Asus UL20FT – powerful mini laptop in the 12 inch class