Asus Ultrabook "Zenbooks" Arriving With Five Models

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I've been waiting for Ultrabooks to hit the market for 3 or so months since the new Macbook Air release. I really want a Windows based system for its keyboard and no need for virtualization, but I feel like the PCs are TRYING to give away their business to Apple.

First, it's been a slow, uneventful rollout. Lenovo's been marketing U300s for two months, with no updates, no dates, no prices. Acer and Asus took their sweet time also, and didn't even give any specs (meanwhile Apple was eating their lunch). Second, now that Acer and Asus have released their ultrabooks, there's no place to go buy them. I went to Asus website and tried clicking all the retailer links from the product page...all of them broken links. Are you kidding me? I'm trying to throw money at them and they won't take it! Third, they're not even trying to compete on price. Even though the starter ultrabooks might beat MB Airs by $100 or so, when you load them up with i7 and 256 SSD, we're right back to the 1600 - 1700 price. No wonder so many people are saying "f'k this, I'm buying an Apple".
 
At those prices, they'll be total flops. Apple can command prices like that, but the PC market is different. It's been a race to the bottom for too long for hardware manufacturers, and despite the pros of such a small form factor, when people see that they can get a fast Core i5 based 15" laptop for less than $600 if they watch for sales, they'll pass on these expensive little netbooks.

At least with Apple, you get a much better and sleeker experience, not to mention their unbelievable customer service. Asus isn't know for their customer service. When I look at hardware to buy, I compare, and when I can get Apple for the around the same price, it's a no-brainer. I know an Apple product will be high quality throughout and they stand behind their product. You even get someone in the good old USA on the other end of the phone that speaks and sounds just like I do when you call, or you can just drop by an Apple Store and see a Genius.
 
[citation][nom]ruel24[/nom]or you can just drop by an Apple Store and see a Genius.[/citation]

Assuming you live in a major city with an apple Genius store. If they sell these at Best Buy its pretty simple to find a store near you, and while the sales staff knows jack about anything, the people in the tech department actually seem to know how to solve most problems on a PC.

Is blaming the way people hold their products as the cause of malfunction "standing behind their product"?
 
Too expensive. I am a big fan of these ultrabooks, I like the computers I use to look nice and can't stomach paying the Apple tax for a laptop, but this isn't any better.
 
Thank Asus for including some good SSD and sound! And 1600x900 is good; not full HD but definitely better than stupid 1366x768 that messes up my wallpapers and games (yes, I WOULD game on this, too... it can definitely take some of my favorite older games maxed out!)

However, I REFUSE to understand why all new Asus laptops and netbooks have this crappy 0.3 MP webcam... 2MP too difficult?

Nice specs. Now, if only they'd cost what they're really worth...

[citation][nom]ruel24[/nom]At least with Apple, you get a much better and sleeker experience, not to mention their unbelievable customer service. Asus isn't know for their customer service. When I look at hardware to buy, I compare, and when I can get Apple for the around the same price, it's a no-brainer. I know an Apple product will be high quality throughout and they stand behind their product. You even get someone in the good old USA on the other end of the phone that speaks and sounds just like I do when you call, or you can just drop by an Apple Store and see a Genius.[/citation]

Apple fanboy detected. Asus customer service is sweet, the product rocks (except those ultrabooks - too expensive) and I don't need to phone someone to figure out the problem. As for crApple "geniuses", I'm looking forward to heavily trolling them one day - let's see if they can brainwash a PC enthusiast into buying any of their underpowered junk! 😀
 
[citation][nom]amk-aka-phantom[/nom]As for crApple "geniuses", I'm looking forward to heavily trolling them one day - let's see if they can brainwash a PC enthusiast into buying any of their underpowered junk![/citation]
Please, please, please, arrange for a friend to video it and get it up on Youtube, I would pay to see the "Genius" begging for mercy
 


Me: "Wow, this MacBook right here is so cool! I bet it has all kinds of sick hardware inside, this 17'' chassis can fit loads of stuff!"

Genius: "Of course! Apple Mac allows for the best user experience possible!"

Me: "ZOMG, great!" *simulates iZombie Apple-awe* "Is the CPU here cooled properly? I hate it when laptops heat up and ruin my pr0n browsing experience..."

Genius, a little worried since the customer mentioned something named a "CPU": "Apple guarantees that MacBook will provide the most pleasant user experience available on the market."

Me: "Great! Now I'm DEFINITELY sure I want to buy it!"

Genius, glad that he brainwashed another client: "All right! You've made the right choice!"

Me: "Of course I did! So, how much?"

Genius (proudly): "Apple customizes your MacBook to suit your needs. The price depends on what you want from it!"

Me: "Cool! Let's see what I can customize here!"

Genius: "You have a choice between three chips: fast, faster and very fast. Which one would you like to add to your MacBook?"

Me: "Of course, the fastest!"

Genius: "Done! What about the graphics card?" *makes a disgusted face since the existence of dedicated graphics cards is not approved by Apple* "Your graphics card will enhance your MacBook visual experience: do you want to watch online videos, edit photo and video content or maybe even work with 3D design? Whatever you want to do, Apple has a graphics card just for you!"

Me: "I want to do everything, because Macs can do everything! Give me a fastest graphics card you have!"

Genius: *amazed by the customer's seeming idiocy, but pleased with the amount of money Apple will get* "Alright. What about storage space? Mac allows you to store your photos, movies and music bought in Apple iTunes™©® store!"

Me: "That's great! I love watching movies, I want to have lots of space!"

Genius: "Sure! And last thing, what about memory? You know, RAM? Ah, it's fine, you don't need to get into details. Apple will provide you with the best user exp-"

Me: *cutting him off* "Oh, RAM is very important! I want to have loads of it! My friends say that the more RAM you have, the better your computer works!"

Genius: "Apple will make sure your Mac has enough RAM for the most pleasant user experience! Now that we're done with customizing your Mac, why don't you take a tour of Mac OS X on this Mac test machine while your Mac is being prepared?"

Me: "Eh? Oh, no, thank you. I won't really use Mac OS. I mean, it doesn't support SLI..."

Genius: "What. Did. You. Just. Say?!"

Me: "That Mac OS doesn't support SLI."

Genius: "No, before that!"

Me: "That I won't use Mac OS?"

Genius, raging: "YES! Your Mac comes with Mac OS X and you must use it in order to achieve the best user experience..."

Me: "No, that's cool, bro. If I'd want another Linux distro, I'd go for Ubuntu. 11.10 comes out tomorrow, ya know? Gotta try it, though I've heard they removed the classic desktop and I'll have to screw around with the repositories again to get it back. But actually I'll use Windows 7."

Genius, dumbstruck: "But Windows is such a vulnerable OS! Surely you don't want to risk malware infection!"

Me: "Nah, I don't really care about that, I know my way around my computer and remove malware manually, in a rare case it gets onto my machine.. didn't happen since I switched to Windows 7, actually... what a weird coincidence... and it has great driver support and gaming. SLI works there, and so does Crysis."

Genius: (speechless)

Apple employee: *comes in with the Mac* "Sir, your Mac is ready!"

Me: "Cool! Let's see the specs! <curses at the pointlessly huge touchpad and navigate to hardware specs> What's that?"

Apple employee: "But sir, you requested the best chip and the graphics card possible!"

Me: "Yes, I did. In that case, what are GT555M and Core i7 non-Extreme series doing here along with only 8GB RAM? And what's this price tag, $3K? GTFO n00bs, I'm off to the Asus store... I'll get a VX7 or a G74+desktop rig for this price... see ya! :lol:"

AE and Genius: "FFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!"

Me: *takes a picture of rage with a Galaxy S2* "And your phones suck, too!" *leaves an Asus ROG laptop advertisement booklet on the table and leaves*

That's the way I picture it. The only thing stopping me is that my country doesn't have any Apple stores 😀 Maybe it's for the best, less Apple = less blight.
 


Also, there're quite a few Apple Store trolling videos on YouTube, but mostly people jailbreaking iCrap right in the store or putting Android wallpapers on them xD Not funny enough. I want to troll them over tech specs.
 
[citation][nom]amk-aka-phantom[/nom]Also, there're quite a few Apple Store trolling videos on YouTube, but mostly people jailbreaking iCrap right in the store or putting Android wallpapers on them xD Not funny enough. I want to troll them over tech specs.[/citation]

I love how Apple is the first thing that comes to all you haters' minds :)

Can you just focus on what a piece of sh*t this is... NOPE :)

I guess it's a testament to how great the Macbook Air is... Asus has had forever to build something to compete and they hare a great company when it comes to MB, netbooks, so there's no reason they can't pull this off...

FAIL - Don't copy, do it one better! Don't just make another clone - and boys don't quote me specs for a lower price because if you can't deliver properly you fail - History proves that.

Back to foaming at the mouth ranting :) hee hee
 


You're right, Asus ultrabook sucks. So? All ultrabooks will, until they get their heads out of their a$$es... but they won't, because people will gladly buy a thin $900 (Acer) or $1000-1200 (Asus) if they don't know about the specs (And Air is not as cheap as it is in the US in the rest of the world, while these Asus/Acer laptops will have the same price, for the most part). I worked with MB Air, a disappointment; I don't care how thin it is, it's still 13'' and as such needs a bag that fits a 13'' laptop. Might as well go for something fatter and faster.

EDIT: Got distracted again :lol: All ultrabooks suck, since the price is too high. Happy now?

I'll take an Asus N-series over this one any day.
 


Actually, that's BS. Delivering = specs for the price. Not the case here, though 😀
 
[citation][nom]amk-aka-phantom[/nom]You're right, Asus ultrabook sucks. So? All ultrabooks will, until they get their heads out of their a$$es... but they won't, because people will gladly buy a thin $900 (Acer) or $1000-1200 (Asus) if they don't know about the specs (And Air is not as cheap as it is in the US in the rest of the world, while these Asus/Acer laptops will have the same price, for the most part). I worked with MB Air, a disappointment; I don't care how thin it is, it's still 13'' and as such needs a bag that fits a 13'' laptop. Might as well go for something fatter and faster.EDIT: Got distracted again All ultrabooks suck, since the price is too high. Happy now? I'll take an Asus N-series over this one any day.[/citation]

It's about choice! So suit yourself :)

I travel and lugging around a 7lb laptop along with everything else was unnecessary - The Air does the job. I don't game on it but it's much nicer than any netbook and it should be for the price.
 
[citation][nom]amk-aka-phantom[/nom]Actually, that's BS. Delivering = specs for the price. Not the case here, though[/citation]

Um, well then why are they all failing when the match the specs. How many Dell's have tried to compete and failed at This? Adamo?

You need to support the device and if you're going to beat the current benchmark you need to really deliver, not just barely undercutting
 


I travel, too... I don't mind carrying a beast of a laptop with me, I'm strong enough to carry it :lol:



IDK about Dell, but Asus usually delivers pretty well. This time is an exception, but I expected it to be one.

I don't see what's that bit about "support" and how it's relevant.

Actually, let me throw in a bit of specs... Air has WAY worse specs for the price. Maximum i5, 4GB RAM and if you add a bigger SSD, the price is WAY more than this Asus.
 
Unsure of how to quote someone here, but here's my response:

I have both Apple and non-Apple hardware. My computer is both Windows and Linux and I built it from scratch. My phone is an iPhone and I have an iPod Touch. I'm rather neutral on Apple.

Apple has an upfront tax on their equipment. That tax pays for $29 OS upgrades on the Mac and free iOS upgrades on the iPhone, etc.. It's subsidized into the ecosystem this way. Also, you do, in fact, get a person in the US when you call Apple. I don't get someone in India I can't understand that just reads from a script and doesn't solve my problems at all, frustrating me and causing me to refuse to buy their products ever again, as Dell has. As a matter of fact, they actually go out of their way to help you.

Many people out of warranty have been giving new iPhones by Geniuses at Apple Stores. A friend turned his in because it got wet and they still gave him a new one for his honesty. THAT is service. That is what brings customers back.

On the flip side, have any of you ever tried to call Asus support? What a joke! Email support is practically non-existent... The sad thing is that I _LOVE_ Asus's products. I will only use Asus motherboards in my builds. I'm eyeballing a ROG laptop, too. But the price of those products aren't near what Apple wants, and honestly, Asus does some serious corner cutting in places Apple doesn't - like the keyboard on their laptops.

When Asus wants Apple prices and don't deliver Apple quality goods and services, people are going to balk. Apple has a HUGE momentum with marketing and consumer mindset. Asus is still quite unheard of by many average consumers outside the system builders and people that are techie.

For this, I say, these products are going to die a horrible death! There is no way they're going to sell any volume of these worthwhile. They've had high-end netbooks in the past, and that's basically what an Ultrabook is. Asus didn't sell them well, either.
 
[citation][nom]amk-aka-phantom[/nom]I travel, too... I don't mind carrying a beast of a laptop with me, I'm strong enough to carry it IDK about Dell, but Asus usually delivers pretty well. This time is an exception, but I expected it to be one.I don't see what's that bit about "support" and how it's relevant. Actually, let me throw in a bit of specs... Air has WAY worse specs for the price. Maximum i5, 4GB RAM and if you add a bigger SSD, the price is WAY more than this Asus.[/citation]

Aside from USB 3.0 the specs are the same, and the price is almost the same - spec it with a 256GB SSD and let me know. Oh wait - you can't because it's not yet fully released.

Support is when they plan on delivering to the - ASUS has a horrible track record with delivery. Not sure if you live in the US, but they say they are releasing something and it's months before it hits the market.

Lastly - glad you can carry a beast laptop, hon - I don't need to prove what a man I am by how LARGE my laptop is 😉
 


Oh come on!! The "rumors" of Apple's iPhone-for-a$$ were there for how long..? (well, it was actually supposed to be iPhone 5) Yet when Asus announced Z68 boards, I saw them in India in 2-3 weeks, and that's FAST - normally all new tech takes months to get here, be it Asus, Apple or any other brand. SGS 2 took about 3 months and the price sucks ($700 as opposed to $550 in US)

Specs are NOT the same. 128GB Air with i5 and 4GB costs $1300, while this one will cost $1100. Not much of a difference, but it's there. Get that laptop without an OS (yes, you can do it if you're not in US :kaola:) and you're down to $1000. Put Ubuntu; enjoy.

I don't neet to prove anything but my desire to sacrifice the lighter weight of my backpack for some power under the laptop's hood 😀

EDIT: Aside from USB 3.0.. lol.. sure, USB 3.0 doesn't matter... :lol:
 
[citation][nom]amk-aka-phantom[/nom]Oh come on!! The "rumors" of Apple's iPhone-for-a$$ were there for how long..? (well, it was actually supposed to be iPhone 5) Yet when Asus announced Z68 boards, I saw them in India in 2-3 weeks, and that's FAST - normally all new tech takes months to get here, be it Asus, Apple or any other brand. SGS 2 took about 3 months and the price sucks ($700 as opposed to $550 in US)Specs are NOT the same. 128GB Air with i5 and 4GB costs $1300, while this one will cost $1100. Not much of a difference, but it's there. Get that laptop without an OS (yes, you can do it if you're not in US ) and you're down to $1000. Put Ubuntu; enjoy.I don't neet to prove anything but my desire to sacrifice the lighter weight of my backpack for some power under the laptop's hood EDIT: Aside from USB 3.0.. lol.. sure, USB 3.0 doesn't matter...[/citation]

The rumors weren't a press release from ASUS 😉 Press release means immanent release.

Asus unfortunately is bad about releases - there was a netbook I wanted to purchase a few years ago and it took them 5 months to release it to the general market. India is great for Indians but don't do a US press release and then put a pretty picture on your website with nothing to back it up for months.

So you're proud that they matched the specs for $200 less?
You're happy that they didn't bring anything really innovative to the market? If Apple didn't release a Macbook Air they wouldn't have something to clone. If you paid attention to my previous response I said Innovate, do something better, not just match the specs for a little less... This is the reason these companies have yet to take Apple's crown. I'm all about competition, it's good for everyone. Competition isn't bringing the same sh*t to the market for a little less...

USB 3.0 is important, but does it have Thunderbolt/lightspeed? no.

LOL, keep bringing up that you're such a man for carrying a heavy laptop! :)
 
The point is you need to bring something market changing! Not just copy for a lower price!

Not everything Apple produces is market changing, but they have done quite a few. Companies try to steal sales by cloning for cheaper which is fine for business, but don't defend that as if it's something amazing.

Think Sony with the PS3 when it was first released!

 


I don't want to think consoles, I don't want to throw up on my keyboard :lol:

Exactly what market change do you want? Sake for the sake of change is bloody stupid, Ubuntu 11.04 with its Unity crap proved it perfectly. PC are just fine the way they are.

I will defend a company who takes a concept, refines it and sells it at a lower price than the other one. Value for money is always worth defending.
 
[citation][nom]amk-aka-phantom[/nom]I don't want to think consoles, I don't want to throw up on my keyboard Exactly what market change do you want? Sake for the sake of change is bloody stupid, Ubuntu 11.04 with its Unity crap proved it perfectly. PC are just fine the way they are.I will defend a company who takes a concept, refines it and sells it at a lower price than the other one. Value for money is always worth defending.[/citation]

The problem with the business model that you are defending is that every month hardware become cheaper - It's not a leap to release hardware a few months later that is cheaper or better specifications as technology updates every day.

Dropping the prices is good only so far as it starves the market - eventually both companies have really skinny margins and can't continue to produce products and change direction. This isn't good for innovation.

You keep bringing up Ubuntu which has nothing to do with this argument. It's free, great! And "PC are just fine the way they are." ?? Really, you can't serious, I must be misunderstanding you! Why don't we all go back to XP it worked beautifully! ROFL

The PS 3 is an analogy, so I'll restate it for you: When Sony released it, it was a market changer - It brought a level of hardware that was unparalleled at it's time. A Blue Ray player included made the PS3 cheaper than many stand alone Blue Ray players...

What I want is Asus to do the same - they did when they released their first netbook - It started the craze...



 
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