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Asus UL20A unboxed, in the flesh

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When a reader email in and asked about the Asus UL20, I said it’s a nicely spec’ed CULV notebook but is very expensive at Php49,990. When he came back and asked about the model which is just Php37,900, I immediately investigated and checked if it’s really true or if there’s a catch.

True enough, some stores still offer the UL20A at Php49,900 with an external DVD Writer. The other store has dropped the price to Php37,900 without the ODD but at a much lower price. I think Asus has finally realized it won’t sell its notebook at that high a price.

So I grabbed a unit yesterday and am testing it out now.

The specs are similar to the original one:

Asus UL20A
12.1″ display @ 1366×768 pixels
Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 1.3GHz
Intel GMA 4500MHD
3GB DDR2 RAM 800MHz
320GB SATA HDD
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 2.1
3 x USB 2.0 ports
Windows 7 Home Premium

The UL20 lacks the HDMI port common to most other notebooks in its category.

Also, the 6-cell battery is a low-capacity Li-Ion rated at only 4400mAH similar to the one in the Asus Eee PC 1201T (and is actually inter-changeable between the two).

The price has gone down to Php37,900 which is a huge drop from Php49,990.

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Written by
Abe Olandres

Abe Olandres

Editor-in-chief

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

View all posts by Abe Olandres →

38 Comments

RE
Resources Effectively for Wealth Future · 13 years ago

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HO
Home Improvement Guide · 14 years ago

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Reply
JA
Jay Ee · 16 years ago

@Paul 6.5 for a good powered notebook is good! You have anything else to say about the notebook? What about performance? :)

Reply
ST
StrayArrow · 16 years ago

Will wait for about a month maybe something will come up with a better specs and deal.. :-)

Reply
PA
Paul · 16 years ago

I also just bought my ul20 last weekend. And based on my experience, it had a maximum battery life of 6.5 hours of continuous surfing and computing. I dont know if that is short but that is long enough for me to say that it has a good battery life.

*just a thought i can share*

Reply
@B
@bi3L · 16 years ago

nice…

a number of pros and cons.

Pros..
Price at 37.9 K
RAM (3gig)
320GB SATA HDD
12.1″ display

Cons
no HDMI port
low capacity battery
Intel GMA 4500MHD

it’s true that you can get a better deal with your 37.9K, probably with a nvidia or ATI grafx, HDMI and a better battery but I like the 12.1 display that’s why I placed under the cons.

But if you can haggle not to include the Win7 Home, then you can even slash at he 10% to20% of the total cost of the unit.

http://abielonline.blogspot.com

Reply
@B
@bi3L · 16 years ago

nice…

a number of pros and cons.

Pros..
Price at 37.9 K
RAM (3gig)
320GB SATA HDD
12.1″ display

Cons
no HDMI port
low capacity battery
Intel GMA 4500MHD

it’s true that you can get a better deal with your 37.9K, probably with a nvidia or ATI grafx, HDMI and a better battery but I like the 12.1 display that’s why I placed under the cons.

But if you can haggle not to include the Win7 Home, then you can even slash at he 10% to20% of the total cost of the unit.

hppt://abielonline.blogspot.com

Reply
RY
ryan ang · 16 years ago

Nakakita na ako nito.. It’s one of those laptops better held than seen in photos (kinda like the timeline series ng Acer). It’s a sweet laptop kaya lang nga yung cons such as lower rated battery and no HDMI.. with HDMI naman, not sure if it’s a requirement in the long run I mean I guess for hooking up to a monitor or an LCD proj for presentations and that’s it. Meron naman VGA (as consolation :P)

Asus hit the mark with the UL30A/VT/JT nice balance of size, battery life and brute speed. Eventhough it carries the same proc, puwede siyang i-overclock :P plus discreet nVidia G210M. (JT series has the new i7 chips naman)

Reply
VA
val · 16 years ago

Nice design :)

Reply
BR
BrianB · 16 years ago

It’s cheap for 37k. The glossy screen looks like it can only be used in a dark room.

Reply
BR
braindead · 16 years ago

i wonder how long will the battery last? anyone with an idea?

Reply
VA
Vance · 16 years ago

btw the 14″ to 15″ has discrete video card.. usually NVDIA 100 to 310m, if your lucky a ati 4300..

The intel 4500MHD, is not impressive I think even the ATI 3200HD beats that video card a little bit..

Wait for the Ion 2 platform that supposedly supports other intel processors.. which will mke the CULV a good buy.

Reply
VA
Vance · 16 years ago

Still pricey! I think I saw a compaq or acer for same price with core I3 processor already, yun nga lang its a 14 to 15″ screen..

I think we all shouldn’t be surprise with the price most 12″ to 13″ laptops cost more than the 14 to 15″

Reply
CA
Calvin · 16 years ago

arrgghh sayang walang hdmi port. ok na sana.

Reply
TH
third · 16 years ago

I think it’s still pricey for a 12.1″ screen. You can get laptops that has a higher specs with that price point. But I have to say, it looks sexy to me.

Reply
JH
Jhay · 16 years ago

The size is just right for me. Hopefully this thing doesn’t weigh as much as my current laptop.

Though I’d wait for the next price drop. :P

Reply
PI
PinoyAffiliatize · 16 years ago

it’s features and looks is pretty cool. i’m interested on how much it’s weight?

Reply
LO
lowell · 16 years ago

I have an UL80V model. It’s features are pretty awesome. It has an 8 second boot up system. I think I’m the only proud owner of this here in the Philippines. ^_^

Reply
IC
IC DeaDPiPoL · 16 years ago

I’m impressed with the RAM (3gig) and Intel 4500HD but the lack of HDMI port and lower spec’d battery is a downer.

Also the processor seems a bit slower (1.3ghz) hope its to lower the heat generated.

Reply

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