Free yourself from power cords and start exploring with up to an amazing 12 hours of all-day battery life with the ASUS UL30A-X5, 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 (see larger image). |
 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 (silver model shown). |
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.
Kindle for PC – Now Pre-Installed on Select ASUS Laptops
 | Read more than 500,000 Kindle books on your ASUS computer with our Kindle for PC application. The app comes pre-installed on select ASUS PCs, and no Kindle is required. Already have a Kindle? With Whispersync, you can access your library of Kindle books, notes, marks, and more on your ASUS. Learn more: Read Kindle Books on Your Computer
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 | 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 in addition to a 1 year global warranty, the ASUS UL30A-X5 includes a 1 year 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(4400mAh)
- 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: 1 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-X5 notebook PC, AC adapter, rechargeable 8-cell battery, and user manual
Learn More
High Definition That Doesn't Break the Bank
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 |
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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.
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Energy Efficient Intel Core 2 Duo ULV Processor
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.
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 | 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. |
Eye-Catching Sophistication
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.
Industry Leading Customer Warranty
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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
List Price: Unavailable
Sale Price: See "More Info" for price.
Rating
I was pleased with this model UL30A, I did not need or want the switchable video, so this was a good bargain at 599 for the larger 13.3 screen and full size keyboard. The screen is very thin, notebook is light and solid. I have a few other Asus notebooks and like the chicklet style keyboard they use. It is also very cool running. The reason I would not give it 5 stars is the ridiculous battery claim or 12 hours. This is not realistic in any fashion. I would say it is in the range of 7-8 with normal use, so even if everything is turned off I don’t see any way to get to 12.
Overall, if you are looking for a 13.3 thin and light netbook it is a fantastic deal. If you want to go a bit smaller and save about $100 I would look at the 1201N-PU17-SL as an option.
Rating
This is the second UL30A-X5K I’ve recieved from Amazon. The first one had a dead pixel in the middle of the screen so I returned it and Amazon sent me this replacement very quickly, no problems. Thanks Amazon. I primarily bought this notebook because it offers a mix of portability, battery life, and performance. I have a 10″ eeePC netbook and a 17″ Sony Vaio FW series. I needed a notebook with more power and functionality than my netbook but with better portability than my Sony Vaio. I chose this version over the one with the switchable graphics card because of the cheaper price. So far the 4500MHD card has met my needs perfectly. I typically use this computer to browse the internet, create MS office documents, and for entertainment such as online videos, and video/ music playback. Video playback is excellent, I have no problems streaming HD video content.
The UL30A-X5 handles multitasking quite well. I was pleasantly surprised at how quick the 1.3ghz dual-core ULV processor works. The 4gbs of RAM is very handy as well for resource intensive programs. As far as build quality goes, I was a little underwhelmed. It feels nice and solid but apart from the aluminum case(fingerprint magnet) it seems a bit plasticky. The build quality is slightly better than eeePC series but I was expecting more at this price point, however the glossy screen does give it more of a high-end look. I still give this laptop five stars because while it’s not amazing by any means it is a solid, good performing PC with excellent battery life.
Pros: Slim form factor, quick performance, battery life: around 9 hours of web browsing on power saver, better than average speakers, nice keyboard, good screen, Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit, lightweight, HDMI port, large hard drive, 1yr warranty,
Cons: Dated BIOS; does not allow booting from SD card, comes loaded with bloatware, somewhat cheap build quality, fingerprint magnet case, no bluetooth,
Overall I am pleased with my purchase, I recommend it to anyone who needs a notebook with great balance between performance and portability.
Rating
I received my computer a day ago and I haven’t had a single problem with it. I’m not a huge computer nerd, but I’m not computer illiterate… so here’s my PRO/CON list.
PROS
-It was easy to get it started. I was using the computer as I normally would an hour after I opened the box it came in.
-The keyboard is easy to type on.
-The track-pad is nice. People who have reviewed the UL30A-X5 (basically the same thing only without the Kindle Program installed) say they don’t like it, but I like it. It doesn’t make the skin on your finger feel “tired” if that makes sense.
-The quick-start option is really cool! I know I’ll use it a lot when I want to quickly look something up on the internet but don’t want to go through the process of starting up Windows. Windows also doesn’t take a long time to start up… it takes a minute from the time you hit the power button to the time you can run a program.
-The camera is very fun to use. It might just be the novelty of it, but it’s a fun little plus.
-As others have written before in other reviews (for the UL30A-X5), there is little “bloatware”. You’re not really bombarded with the free trial stuff.
-No problems with Wi-fi range.
-It stays cool.
-It’s quick, as a new computer should be.
CONS
-Fingerprint magnet, as others have said before. But does that really matter?
-The right-hand shift key is shorter than your average shift key. I find myself pressing the up arrow by accident, but I think I’ll be able to train myself not to extend my pinky so far sooner or later.
-The battery life for using normal Windows is 7 hours. Still not bad, but don’t get your hopes up for 12!
-I did get one “This application is not responding” message when I used the application that comes with the webcam. I think I was clicking different things too quickly and it got confused.
-No optical drive. This isn’t really a CON, but a forewarning. While not having one makes it harder to install software, it also makes the laptop lighter. You can buy an external one that burns DVDs for $50.
And that’s all! If I ever have anything else to add, I’ll be sure to write it here. Feel free to ask me any questions!
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EDIT: Today I logged onto my computer and I had some snowy rectangles on my screen, as well as some horizontal snowy lines. It’s hard to describe. I simply restarted the computer and everything was back to normal. I’m hoping something is not wrong with the monitor’s connection. I’ll keep you posted if it happens again.
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Rating
I bought the laptop for my daughter who needs a laptop for school. The battery life is the main reason I bought this laptop. I bought a similar model for my son back in December and he loves how light the laptop is and no need to bring the charger to school. Can’t beat the price for a 13 inch screen when you know it is a good reliable laptop.
Rating
We purchased this from Amazon about a month ago. This really is my favorite laptop I’ve had. It’s really nice, thin, and light. The keyboard is a good size, and the mouse input is really good. You click with a single finger, can scroll up and down with two fingers, middle click with two fingers, and right click with three fingers. It works really well for me. There are physical mouse buttons, too, if you don’t like the multi-finger clicking.
The laptop works great for web-browsing and word processing, which is all we use it for. I would highly recommend this to a friend for similar tasks.
Rating
Well, I’ve had this laptop over a year now and it has not been a nuisance at all. I’ll explain this nice and simple why you will love this laptop.
1. 1-2 year ‘idiot’ warranty. Meaning you can destroy the laptop anyway you want it, and they’ll send you a replacement anyway. (Not that I’m telling you to do so, but however the occasional laptop smack to a co-worker for being hungover won’t hurt)
** Just make sure when you send in the warranty form, you check their ASUStek site for the new address, some of the forms have the wrong address… so you need to check their site to see where to send the forms and such.
2. I love computers and use them everyday, so getting a laptop with a 1.3ghz duo core processor was a step down from me. However, when I received it and turned it on, it runs superbly smooth. I was actually amazed with the quality from Intel and ASUStek. Browses through the internet with no noticeable lag and has a balance that is very proportionate. I ran Starcraft II on it, with little to no hiccups at all and that actually surprised me with the Intel 4500. It runs videos fine up to 720p; 1080p could get a low framerate and lag for you.
3. Extremely thin and light. When I say thin and light, I mean thin and light. I wanted a Macbook air for the super thin look and weight. However I wasn’t going to shell out a grand of two for it. (Don’t get me wrong, I love Macs too), I carry this on my shoulder back pack, and I don’t even notice that it is there. It’s about the weight, of a thin text book, and feels way less. For $600 how can you complain, and if you bought this a few months ago they also gave you a free external Asus cd/dvd drive with a $60 rebate.
4. Battery power, I mean.. I didn’t believe it got up to 12 hours and it probably does with the right sense of “tuning”. However, I did manage to receive 4-5 hours on performance with low brightness and 7-9 hours on ‘power saver’ with low brightness. It’s actually pretty interesting to sit in a cafe with no charger needed and all the Starbucks people look at you wondering why your laptop isn’t dead. Sure the 12 hour claim is a wee bit stretched, but considering the price and the quality of the build, you won’t mind. (compared to other laptops that claim 5-6 hours and die at 2.)
Here I’ll list some noticeable cons:
1. Minor but is noted for the fingerprint magnet. I’m used to it, knowing that a lot of laptops and electronics are jaded to use this kind of material. Though in fact it looks nice, it attracts a lot of oil and dust. However, a lot of the companies do this to their products. LG, Samsung, Sony TVS, the PS3, some phones and etc. etc., so i guess they wanted to enter the bandwagon as well?
2. Noted** There is a face detection login, however it is still quite ‘buggy’. I took over a thousand pictures and still it does not notice my face on contact, I’d have to angle my face a certain way and sometimes move my hair out of my forehead, just use the regular password log on.
Summary:
Overall this is a solid laptop. Not a lot of bloatware, and even if there is, it’s easily uninstalled. The webcam is also .3 megapixel, however, you never use it enough to tell that it is actually pretty detailed, I enjoy the webcam and noticed that it does look very indeed clear. Also the 4GB of ram? That is what I’ve been asking for! A lot of ddr3 for a low price, and of course Windows 7 Home (64-bit). For those of you with Vista, it’s time to change, this laptop will carry your kids through college, and will probably get you through work. It’s light versatile and has this body of Armor, literally made out of metal and rigid lines. I wouldn’t trust companies like Dell, because after a while of use, there monitor becomes pretty shaky, due to the poor hinges they use. This monitor has not shaken and I’ve owned it for a full year. You’ll love this laptop and it’ll give you everything you need.
If you don’t want a netbook w/ Intel Atom (what a joke) and you don’t want a Mac, or a heavyweight laptop, this is the perfect fit.
Rating
What other reviewers have said is true. It’s a great machine, but it retains fingerprints. As long as you don’t use it in a crime, who cares? I bought it to work, not to admire.
It boots up and runs so much faster than my reliable old Dell Latitude D505. Recently discovered the Express Gate feature. Wow! It bypasses booting the OS, and takes you almost instantly to a web browser, music player, photo utility, and I don’t remember what else. From here, you can close it, or boot Windows 7.
It’s light, sharp looking (even with fingerprints), and has a long running battery, though running wifi seems to drain it faster. So far, I’m impressed. Oh yeah, the sound system is pretty good for a little machine.
Rating
I bought this computer from Amazon 2 weeks ago, but as I’m a Linux fan (Ubuntu to be more specific) I was always in doubt of buying or not a computer because of compatibility.
If this is your case, the search is over: Ubuntu 10.04 is 100% compatible. Wonderful, all working “out of the box”: Screen, multi-touchpad (impressive), wireless, sound, Fn-shortcuts.
The Intel card is capable also to run de 3d linux compiz desktop effects without a problem, and to run moderate-graphic games.
The battery (at least for me) lasts 6 hours of use on Ubuntu (Windows realistically is about 7 hours) and if you want the battery longer you can install an applet to control the processor speed to save extra time (very similar to the ASUS system that comes pre-installed on windows). To find it just right click on the upper Gnome bar and find on the applets.
I’m not sure about the other distributions, but I guess that Debian based ones will have similar performance.
Hope that this could help.
PS: the dual-graphic “brother” of this computer (ASUS UL30VT-X1K) can work on Linux, but is not yet 100% out-of-the box. You will have to do some research for a solution. But for me as I don’t use the Laptop for games, this is 100%.
Rating
very happy with this laptop
been using it for several months
it’s very quiet, light, and never heats up. Those were the key things I looking for.
great price, small. processor is fast enough , and the battery lasts 6-to 7 hours of normal (constant) usage,good screen
I was worried that lack of dvd would be a problem but that was not at all the case.
all positive – except the touchpad mouse which is tricky (i use a wireless mouse)
Rating
I’ve used it for the past 10 days. This laptop is great for mobile use – light, powerful enough for videos (youtube and hulu), nearly full sized keyboard, big enough screen, and long battery life. I am glad I did not buy a netbook.