Comments on: ASUS UL20A-A1 Thin and Light 12.1-Inch Silver Laptop – 7.5 Hours of Battery Life http://www.timepass24.com/asus-ul20a-a1-thin-and-light-12-1-inch-silver-laptop-7-5-hours-of-battery-life#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=asus-ul20a-a1-thin-and-light-12-1-inch-silver-laptop-7-5-hours-of-battery-life Timepass24 - The Unlimted Fun Mon, 21 Mar 2011 13:38:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jan http://www.timepass24.com/asus-ul20a-a1-thin-and-light-12-1-inch-silver-laptop-7-5-hours-of-battery-life/comment-page-1#comment-39380 Jan Sat, 05 Jun 2010 03:48:47 +0000 http://www.timepass24.com/asus-ul20a-a1-thin-and-light-12-1-inch-silver-laptop-7-5-hours-of-battery-life#comment-39380 This thingy came to me all the way down to Chile thanks a friend that got it from Amazon. <br />I never told him but it has a Centrino 2 instead of a Core 2 Duo processor. <br />I mean, C'MON! Did you messed with the stickers randomly or I get screwed? <br />I'm pretty mad about this. I think this is why I only get 5.5 hours of battery life. Sucky processor form hell. <br /> <br />Other comments: <br /> <br />Single button on pad: ANNOYING! My thumb was literally in pain after using the thing for 2 hours. I had the Synaptics programmed for double clicking and problem solved. Good zoom in-out and scoll-up-down-side features. Easy to manage and very useful. I cannot live without the pad now... <br /> <br />Thin very thin layer underneath the keyboard: don't get me wrong, the real sized keyboard is beyond great but it bends when I type and that makes me very nervous. The layer is not enough to hold the keys but I think this is how they reach the weight desired... or so I like to think. <br />I have to type very gently and carefully because I'm paranoid something would break between the t and g. <br /> <br />Dedicated keys for energy profiles and useful tasks: great. <br /> <br />GREAT sound on mic input: I made a video for a friend outside, 17 floor on midday busy Santiago and sound was surprisingly perfect. <br /> <br />Bloatware: It has some as every machine in the universe, just get rid of it. <br /> <br />I had been working on it and not a single problem on software or speed. I'm a "totally cloud girl" so I have only Itunes and Chrome installed and Asus is in pristine pretty out of the box state and I will keep it that way. <br /> <br />It only never get even slightly warm, is silent, can be carried around on one hand and it's pretty perfect for me that work and study at strange hours and situations. <br /> <br />A very good machine. Check yours has a freaking Core 2 Duo right away! <br />Type gently, remember. Rating: 3 / 5 This thingy came to me all the way down to Chile thanks a friend that got it from Amazon.

I never told him but it has a Centrino 2 instead of a Core 2 Duo processor.

I mean, C’MON! Did you messed with the stickers randomly or I get screwed?

I’m pretty mad about this. I think this is why I only get 5.5 hours of battery life. Sucky processor form hell.

Other comments:

Single button on pad: ANNOYING! My thumb was literally in pain after using the thing for 2 hours. I had the Synaptics programmed for double clicking and problem solved. Good zoom in-out and scoll-up-down-side features. Easy to manage and very useful. I cannot live without the pad now…

Thin very thin layer underneath the keyboard: don’t get me wrong, the real sized keyboard is beyond great but it bends when I type and that makes me very nervous. The layer is not enough to hold the keys but I think this is how they reach the weight desired… or so I like to think.

I have to type very gently and carefully because I’m paranoid something would break between the t and g.

Dedicated keys for energy profiles and useful tasks: great.

GREAT sound on mic input: I made a video for a friend outside, 17 floor on midday busy Santiago and sound was surprisingly perfect.

Bloatware: It has some as every machine in the universe, just get rid of it.

I had been working on it and not a single problem on software or speed. I’m a “totally cloud girl” so I have only Itunes and Chrome installed and Asus is in pristine pretty out of the box state and I will keep it that way.

It only never get even slightly warm, is silent, can be carried around on one hand and it’s pretty perfect for me that work and study at strange hours and situations.

A very good machine. Check yours has a freaking Core 2 Duo right away!

Type gently, remember.
Rating: 3 / 5

]]> By: Roger Wilco http://www.timepass24.com/asus-ul20a-a1-thin-and-light-12-1-inch-silver-laptop-7-5-hours-of-battery-life/comment-page-1#comment-39379 Roger Wilco Sat, 05 Jun 2010 02:04:18 +0000 http://www.timepass24.com/asus-ul20a-a1-thin-and-light-12-1-inch-silver-laptop-7-5-hours-of-battery-life#comment-39379 I choose the UL20 as my next laptop mid-April 2010 thinking I had bought my next all around mobile machine. In general I agree with the positive comments here about it but sorry to say, I no longer own it. After about 10 days the hard drive failed (of course at a point of critical need no less) outright. I'm around enough technology all the time not to get too 'upset' about it, things do fail, but after having spent the necessary burn in time getting the machine setup to my preferences, installing and authorizing software, removing unnecessary software, etc. I was a bit disappointed to say the least. I've used many, many Asus Motherboards and other products with great success in the past (CUSI-FX anyone?) so was a bit surprise to end up here. <br /> <br />When it worked, I liked the overall form factor (thin, light), speed (sometimes a bit of a delay - HD issue?), keyboard feel, battery life, price. <br /> <br />As others have said, I didn't like (hated?) the touch pad or the sensitivity of the buttons (too hard to press). Unlike other touch pads I've used, without a border or edge, it was too easy to move your finger off the pad and have to re-orient or look at the touch pad to 'recover' where your mouse is and resume moving it. While I'm not happy to have wasted my time with the machine and have it fail, in some ways I'm a bit relieved that I won't have to use this touch pad any longer -- simply too disruptive to my productivity. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Rating: 2 / 5 I choose the UL20 as my next laptop mid-April 2010 thinking I had bought my next all around mobile machine. In general I agree with the positive comments here about it but sorry to say, I no longer own it. After about 10 days the hard drive failed (of course at a point of critical need no less) outright. I’m around enough technology all the time not to get too ‘upset’ about it, things do fail, but after having spent the necessary burn in time getting the machine setup to my preferences, installing and authorizing software, removing unnecessary software, etc. I was a bit disappointed to say the least. I’ve used many, many Asus Motherboards and other products with great success in the past (CUSI-FX anyone?) so was a bit surprise to end up here.

When it worked, I liked the overall form factor (thin, light), speed (sometimes a bit of a delay – HD issue?), keyboard feel, battery life, price.

As others have said, I didn’t like (hated?) the touch pad or the sensitivity of the buttons (too hard to press). Unlike other touch pads I’ve used, without a border or edge, it was too easy to move your finger off the pad and have to re-orient or look at the touch pad to ‘recover’ where your mouse is and resume moving it. While I’m not happy to have wasted my time with the machine and have it fail, in some ways I’m a bit relieved that I won’t have to use this touch pad any longer — simply too disruptive to my productivity.

Rating: 2 / 5

]]> By: Ahdy Messiha http://www.timepass24.com/asus-ul20a-a1-thin-and-light-12-1-inch-silver-laptop-7-5-hours-of-battery-life/comment-page-1#comment-39378 Ahdy Messiha Fri, 04 Jun 2010 23:51:24 +0000 http://www.timepass24.com/asus-ul20a-a1-thin-and-light-12-1-inch-silver-laptop-7-5-hours-of-battery-life#comment-39378 Got this laptop yesterday. When I'm close to the router, I connect over wifi fine. When I move to 20ft away, connection is very limited to non-existent. An old sony laptop sitting right next to it connects just fine, and it only has a BG card. Not sure what's wrong. I can only seem the Intel BGN 1000 wireless card sucks - in either case, that's a deal breaker for an ultraPORTABLE laptop. I plan to call ASUS, if I can't get anywhere with them, I will return the laptop - to me lack of connectivity is a deal breaker. <br /> <br />I'll post any updates. <br /> <br />Other than that, it's a nice looking light laptop with 6 hours of battery life on 50% screen brightness/wifi on. I like te brightness at about 75%., <br /> <br />UPDATE: I'm not sure what happened. I played around with a few settings, installed firefox, and my connection is almost as good as the Sony laptop (2.4 Mbps down on [...] - as compared to 0.7 Mbps I was getting previously). Hopefully, whatever I did/didn't do stays and the connection keeps. If not, I'll either buy a new card or return the laptop. It's very nice though...I'd hate to return it). <br /> <br />The other thing is the Synaptics touchpad driver included doesn't support two-finger scrolling. Some people have downloaded a more generic Synaptics driver and have gotten the 2 finger scrolling to work). <br /> <br />UPDATE 2: I returned the original laptop I received and purchased another. I have had no problems with WiFi connectivity (may main issue with the original), indicating I likely just had a bum card. This lappie does have the Intel Wireless 1000 bgn card seen in many other laptops (vs. the atheros card - the ethernet card is atheros). <br /> <br />The loose keyboard panel is still in issue. I think it's just way they're manufactured. If you accept that, the keyboard is great. It is not backlit like the U20a. <br /> <br />It's otherwise a very nice laptop, relatively light and sleek. I downloaded the synaptics driver from the synaptics site and now have 2 finger scrolling working without problem. <br /> <br />I'm giving this laptop 3.5 stars due to: <br />-5-6 hrs of battery life (wifi on, screen 50%) vs. 7-8 hours <br />-loose keyboard panel <br />-slightly sticky touchpad (too much friction) <br /> <br /> <br />UPDATE 3: <br /> <br />I've been using this lappie for a few days nows, and here are my thoughts: <br /> <br />1. I'm relieved that the wifi card is working fantastically, and that I probably just had a bum one in the first go arond <br />2. I'm consistently getting about 5-6 hours of battery life with wifi on, screen around 75%, 4-5 hours watching videos. I do wish the battery life was better. If there was a battery with a 55 wHr rating for $100, I'd buy it in heart beat. <br />3. The loose keyboard panel doesn't bug me (though I should really call ASUS and have it fixed under their warrantY). Keyboard is otherwise great to type on. <br />4. The laptop is very attractive, relatively light, and I love the non-finger print magnet brushed aluminum finish on the lid. Rating: 4 / 5 Got this laptop yesterday. When I’m close to the router, I connect over wifi fine. When I move to 20ft away, connection is very limited to non-existent. An old sony laptop sitting right next to it connects just fine, and it only has a BG card. Not sure what’s wrong. I can only seem the Intel BGN 1000 wireless card sucks – in either case, that’s a deal breaker for an ultraPORTABLE laptop. I plan to call ASUS, if I can’t get anywhere with them, I will return the laptop – to me lack of connectivity is a deal breaker.

I’ll post any updates.

Other than that, it’s a nice looking light laptop with 6 hours of battery life on 50% screen brightness/wifi on. I like te brightness at about 75%.,

UPDATE: I’m not sure what happened. I played around with a few settings, installed firefox, and my connection is almost as good as the Sony laptop (2.4 Mbps down on [...] – as compared to 0.7 Mbps I was getting previously). Hopefully, whatever I did/didn’t do stays and the connection keeps. If not, I’ll either buy a new card or return the laptop. It’s very nice though…I’d hate to return it).

The other thing is the Synaptics touchpad driver included doesn’t support two-finger scrolling. Some people have downloaded a more generic Synaptics driver and have gotten the 2 finger scrolling to work).

UPDATE 2: I returned the original laptop I received and purchased another. I have had no problems with WiFi connectivity (may main issue with the original), indicating I likely just had a bum card. This lappie does have the Intel Wireless 1000 bgn card seen in many other laptops (vs. the atheros card – the ethernet card is atheros).

The loose keyboard panel is still in issue. I think it’s just way they’re manufactured. If you accept that, the keyboard is great. It is not backlit like the U20a.

It’s otherwise a very nice laptop, relatively light and sleek. I downloaded the synaptics driver from the synaptics site and now have 2 finger scrolling working without problem.

I’m giving this laptop 3.5 stars due to:

-5-6 hrs of battery life (wifi on, screen 50%) vs. 7-8 hours

-loose keyboard panel

-slightly sticky touchpad (too much friction)

UPDATE 3:

I’ve been using this lappie for a few days nows, and here are my thoughts:

1. I’m relieved that the wifi card is working fantastically, and that I probably just had a bum one in the first go arond

2. I’m consistently getting about 5-6 hours of battery life with wifi on, screen around 75%, 4-5 hours watching videos. I do wish the battery life was better. If there was a battery with a 55 wHr rating for $100, I’d buy it in heart beat.

3. The loose keyboard panel doesn’t bug me (though I should really call ASUS and have it fixed under their warrantY). Keyboard is otherwise great to type on.

4. The laptop is very attractive, relatively light, and I love the non-finger print magnet brushed aluminum finish on the lid.
Rating: 4 / 5

]]> By: G. Heslop http://www.timepass24.com/asus-ul20a-a1-thin-and-light-12-1-inch-silver-laptop-7-5-hours-of-battery-life/comment-page-1#comment-39377 G. Heslop Fri, 04 Jun 2010 22:23:27 +0000 http://www.timepass24.com/asus-ul20a-a1-thin-and-light-12-1-inch-silver-laptop-7-5-hours-of-battery-life#comment-39377 The battery life on this machine is far from the promised 7.5 hrs. In fact it only lasts about 3 hrs. I will be contacting Asus to find out why. Rating: 2 / 5 The battery life on this machine is far from the promised 7.5 hrs. In fact it only lasts about 3 hrs. I will be contacting Asus to find out why.
Rating: 2 / 5

]]> By: J. Lee http://www.timepass24.com/asus-ul20a-a1-thin-and-light-12-1-inch-silver-laptop-7-5-hours-of-battery-life/comment-page-1#comment-39376 J. Lee Fri, 04 Jun 2010 22:09:17 +0000 http://www.timepass24.com/asus-ul20a-a1-thin-and-light-12-1-inch-silver-laptop-7-5-hours-of-battery-life#comment-39376 I got this on Nov. 16th. At the first time, I really loved it. <br />It doesn't look cheap at all, keyboard layout is good. <br />I planned to get an extra 2G RAM, but I don't need it anymore because it is so fast. <br /> <br />That night, this little thing had a problem. <br />I couldn't change is power plan. <br />So, I asked to Amazon.com for a replacement. I got it in two days.(Amazon rocks!) <br />I dropped by UPS center to return one laptop, and went to library. <br />There was another problem. <br />When I pointed the battery icon on the right bottom side, it showed a message(plugged in, not charging) <br /> <br />WTF? <br /> <br />It supposed to show me (fully charged) or (plugged in, charging). <br />I mailed to Amazon.com customer center, and also Asus. <br /> <br />All of them happened only in five days. <br /> <br />I don't have time to argue on this thing since I'm taking five classes in a college. <br /> <br />Think once more before you order. Rating: 2 / 5 I got this on Nov. 16th. At the first time, I really loved it.

It doesn’t look cheap at all, keyboard layout is good.

I planned to get an extra 2G RAM, but I don’t need it anymore because it is so fast.

That night, this little thing had a problem.

I couldn’t change is power plan.

So, I asked to Amazon.com for a replacement. I got it in two days.(Amazon rocks!)

I dropped by UPS center to return one laptop, and went to library.

There was another problem.

When I pointed the battery icon on the right bottom side, it showed a message(plugged in, not charging)

WTF?

It supposed to show me (fully charged) or (plugged in, charging).

I mailed to Amazon.com customer center, and also Asus.

All of them happened only in five days.

I don’t have time to argue on this thing since I’m taking five classes in a college.

Think once more before you order.
Rating: 2 / 5

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