ASUS U30JC — Get The Best Deals +Free Shipping On U30JC
The ASUS U30JC is the latest 13-inch notebook from ASUS offering the new NVIDIA Optimus switchable graphics. Offering the best of both worlds, Optimus allows seamless switching between the Intel GMA HD integrated graphics and the NVIDIA GeForce 310M dedicated graphics. For the average user this translates into great gaming performance and excellent battery life when your priorities are writing term papers or taking notes in class. Check out our in-depth review to see how the notebook performed in our tests.
Compared to the UL30A-A1 we reviewed in September 2009, the ASUS U30JC A1 looks similar but seems to have gained a little weight. The profile has changed from thin and sleek to rather average with the inclusion of an optical drive. The increased chassis size might also be related to the dedicated graphics card but that wouldn't have affected the notebook size as much. The color scheme is darker gunmetal-grey instead of bright silver, a slight change from the UL30A. Inside the palmrest shares the same brushed metal finish as the lid and the keyboard surround painted plastic. Just like the UL30A, the screen bezel is glossy black. The keyboard is a Chiclet-style model, with matte black keys and silver lettering. I think the design looks excellent, and appeals to both average consumers and business professionals. The finish is also designed to look great over time, with the aluminum cladding resisting smudges and scratches.
The screen offered on the ASUS U30JC is a 13.3-inch LED-backlit 16:9 WXGA panel. The display rates slightly above average, with good color saturation and contrast thanks to a glossy surface. Black levels are good with no apparent backlight bleed at high brightness levels. However, the viewing angles don't shine with this panel. Vertical viewing angles show a lot of distortion with as little as 10-15 degrees movement forward or back. Horizontal viewing angles are better, but still show signs of mild color inversion past 45 degrees. Backlight brightness levels were very good, even at the 70% level we like to use for battery tests. At 100% brightness, we recorded a value of 208cd/m2 with our light meter. Comfortable viewing levels in the office were 70-75% and 50-60% at home.
The ASUS U30-series offers a large Chiclet-style keyboard that is very comfortable to type on. The palmrest seems to be perfectly-sized even for my large hands with a soft edge on the front that prevents pressure to your wrist. The keys are very responsive with a nice springy action on each press. The individual keys in U30JCA1 appear to be almost flat, but a straight edge over the surface shows a very small cup to the center of each key. The texture is a rough matte finish, and doesn't attract finger prints or smudges.
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