ASUS U43JC-X1 14-Inch Bamboo Laptop (10 Hours of Battery Life) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this as a replacement for a Dell 1720. As I study computer and electrical engineering, I'm very familiar with the internal components of electronics. This is a very well made notebook. Most of my friends and colleagues find the notebook very attractive and distinctively ideal. But, aesthetic taste differ from person-to-person and can only be merely objective. So, what is really important, are the numbers in between that motivated this to be my final choice. And, I'm glad I did 100%.
Processor Core i5 450M
This is currently the SECOND HIGHEST SCORING DUAL CORE MOBILE PROCESSOR, according to PassMark's website. The first being the Core i7 620M, which cost roughly twice as much and only provides a 10% improvement. Very smart on ASUS's behalf, because the majority of programs only utilize two cores. This means that most people buying a quad core will only use half of the potential of their CPU. Whereas, this processor doubles the amount of pathways for the dual cores to use. In short, the processor optimizes both cores by having twice as many streams and acts like a quad core ALL OF THE TIME. And, this doesn't even include the 12-way associative 3MB of L3 cache. GREAT NOTEBOOK PROCESSOR. PERIOD
RAM
Most people don't really understand RAM or How it woks. So, I'll keep this simple. Your CPU has a core speed. You RAM has a core speed rating. When both of these are the same speed, your computer is termed "synced." A very very important thing. If your computer is not synced, some of the data is lost in the transmission and has to be sent again. Making it slower than originally intended. This computer is synced perfect, so DO NOT GO OUT AND BUY FASTER RAM. It will be a waste of your money. The latency is 7-7-7-20 and as good as you can buy for 1333.
USB 3.0
I bought this with every intention of getting the most out of USB 3.0. I felt really disappointed in the performance for a few reasons. Some are my fault, and I'll explain. Intel has said they will not support USB 3.0 on their boards. They are waiting for LightPeak to replace all current standards. While this is a smart business move for Intel, the rest of us are left with the consequences. The only way USB 3.0 can be used with an Intel processor is through the use of third party controllers. These are not nearly up to the speeds of the AMD boards. I own a Super Talent Supercrypt 32GB that I planned on using for clean installs, but you need to install the drivers after installing the OS for USB 3.0 to work, $#!}. So, USB 3.0 can only be used for AMD board clean installs. And, to make matters worse, the drivers are slow. I can hit about 96MB/sec on the U43Jc, but on an AMD board I get about 230MB/sec. I should have researched a little more, but hopefully, I can save some of you time. DON'T LET THIS BE THE DECIDING FACTOR FOR BUYING THIS COMPUTER. All Intel based notebooks will suffer from the same problem, and AMD processors aren't nearly this good. If it's a problem, wait for LightPeak.
Switchable nvidia 310M
By knowing how to use this, you can increase you battery life. Just hit the button in the upper-left corner, and you will switch to the onboard graphics card, simple. This card is not made for extreme video games, but CASUAL games can be played with ease.
Display 1366x768
This is one of the brightest and clearest screens I've seen. Some people might complain about the resolution, not being high enough, but do you really need more resolution on a 14" screen?? NO
Bluetooth
Absent in this model. Have never used it before, so it wasn't a factor for my decision.
Keyboard
A chicklet style keyboard that is almost identical to a MacBook Pro. I like it.
DVD Drive
I guess people still use these things. Anyways, it contains one of the best made for notebooks, a Matshita UJ89A2S.
Bloatware
Almost all PC computers come with this nowadays. Just download Revo uninstaller and remove what you don't think you'll use. Search Google for Asus Bloatware guide for information.
Camera
I believe all computers come with, pretty much, the same camera. Until someone starts putting Carl Zeiss lenses on these things, there all the same to me.
Audio
Audio is on the low end, but most loud notebooks go loud and sound distorted. If audio is really important to you, you probably think all notebooks sound horrible. Cure: Buy a pair of Klipsch Image S4. Simple the best affordable headphones available.
Coupon
I'm mentioning this now, because this severely affected the final part of my review,but since it was part of the original price, I included this in the review. I purchased this for $999, and received a $150 Amazon gift card. This made all the difference in the world. I know computer speed "bottlenecks" in certain areas. The biggest area is the hard drive. While the U43Jc-X1 comes with a Seagate Momentus 5400rpm, the Crystal Disk Mark I scored was around 90MB/sec. Faster than most, but I wanted this notebook to fly. So, I used the coupon to order a 64GB Crucial RealSSD C300. Best upgrade for any computer in the world.
Battery Life
Most people are getting close to 6 hours, and I concur. After changing the hard drive, I was getting closer to 8 1/2. Huge improvement. Everything else increased immensely too. My cold boot time is around 13 sec. Microsoft Office Word 2010 opens in 1 sec. No exaggeration. Shutdown is between 3-5 sec. Everything else opens immediately, and I have a longer battery life.
Heat
The most important fact for determining notebook reliability, longevity, and build construction. This product is so well made that I RARELY HEAR THE FAN EVEN TURN ON. This means the computer doesn't get hot enough for it, although I am speaking after the SSD install. This is a sure sign of a solid build construction.
Overall
This is a quality computer with some of the best components on the market. Asus gives a 1 year accident warranty. Meaning you can drop it in the pool and get a new one. Hard to beat. You'll be hard pressed to find something of this caliber at this price, not to mention you'll stand out in the crowd. Just remember, sometimes, "It's what's on the inside that counts." ~proverb

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Inspired by Nature. Designed for Style. Drawing on the symbolism of bamboo as a durable renewable resource, the sophisticated U43Jc bamboo notebook with a 14-inch HD LED-backlit display combines distinguished aesthetics with premium technology. The stylish U43Jc-X1 bamboo shell reduces the use of plastic material by up to 15%, and enhances a brushed-aluminum interior. Sleek and user-friendly, this mobile phenom blends powerful yet energy-efficient technology to deliver an astounding 10 hours of battery life between charges.1 Its power-saving ability is due to the system-optimizing ASUS Super Hybrid Engine, and to NVIDIA Optimus Technology that switches between powerful discrete graphics and efficient embedded graphics, providing sufficient power for the task at hand. The U43Jc-X1 complements its power with convenience by incorporating SuperSpeed USB 3.0, for up to 10 times faster transfer speeds compared to USB 2.0.2 The U43Jc-X1 features the Intel Core i5 processor, 14-inch Slim-Type LED-backlit HD display, high-speed Wireless N connectivity, 4GB DDR3 system memory, 500GB hard drive, 2.0MP webcam with lens cover for added security, multi-touch trackpad, and Windows 7 Home Premium.

Key Features
Distinguished bamboo texture cover for a unique style and touch that uses 15% less plastic (Learn more)
Up to 10 hours of battery1 life for all-day unplugged freedom (Learn more)
14-inch Slim-Type LED-backlit HD display with 1366 x 768 resolution for high-quality visuals
Intel Core i5 processor with Intel Turbo boost Technology for smart multitasking performance (Learn more)
NVIDIA GeForce 310M graphics 1GB DDR3 VRAM for excellent HD-quality visuals for games, media, and more (Learn more)
NVIDIA Optimus Technology for automatic and seamless switching between powerful NVIDIA GeForce graphics and battery-saving integrated graphics engine (Learn more)
ASUS Super Hybrid Engine innovatively saves battery life and boosts performance (Learn more)
SuperSpeed USB 3.0 charges compatible devices faster and delivers up to 10 times faster transfer rates than previous generation USB 2.02 (Learn more)
Intel WiDi HD Wireless Display3 technology makes it easy to wirelessly stream HD content to your TV or external monitor (Learn more)

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Distinguished Bamboo Aesthetic, Comfortable Style
Optimize Your Visual Experience
Powered to Last
Enhanced Connectivity
The Most Reliable Windows OS
ASUS 360 – The Most Comprehensive Care Package
ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty (ADW)
F9 Key for Quick Recovery
What's in the Box The entire U43Jc-X1 package contains a warranty card, U43Jc-X1 Bamboo Notebook, and AC Adapter
U43Jc-X1 Bamboo Notebook
AC Adapter
Warranty Card
Specifications
Operating System: Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit)
Display: 14-inch Slim-Type LED-backlit HD display (1366 x 768)
CPU: Intel Core i5-450M processor 2.4GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.53GHz
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 310M 1GB DDR3 VRAM + Intel HD graphics
Memory: 4GB DDR3 1066MHz (up to 4GB)
Wireless Data Network: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz), Intel WiDi HD Wireless Display technology
LAN: 10/100/1000 RJ-45
Storage: 500GB 5400RPM hard drive
Optical drive: Super Multi
Camera: 2.0Mp
Input/ Output: 1 x HDMI port 2 x Audio jack 1 x RJ-45 1 x VGA port 2 x USB 2.0 port 1 x USB 3.0 port
Battery: 8-cell 5600mAh (up to 10 hours1)
Dimensions: 13.54 x 9.4 x 1.2–inches (W x D x H)
Weight: 5.15 lbs (with 8 cell battery)
Color: Brown
All specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers on selected models. Products may not be available in all markets. Product may not be exactly as shown in images. Products and corporate names appearing in this manual may or may not be registered trademarks or copyrights of their respective companies, and are used only for identification or explanation and to the owners' benefit, without intent to infringe. 1 Operation lifetime subject to product model, normal usage conditions and configurations. The estimated maximum battery life in Windows XP Home is measured with MobileMark 2007. 2 All figures theoretical values compared to USB 2.0 benchmarks for reference purposes. Actual speed depends on device and system status. 3 Intel Wireless Display requires a compatible laptop, TV adapter, and a TV with HDMI or composite A/V input. 4 Your portable ASUS products contain hazardous materials. While they pose no risk to you during normal use, they should never be disposed with other wastes. ASUS provides a free take-back service for recycling your ASUS products. Our electronics recycler will provide competitive bids for recycling non-ASUS products as well. If you have products for recycling, visit http://www.metechrecycling.com/asus-business.htm for more information on this program. 5 Rated number 1 Windows-based PC maker in PCMag.com's Service & Reliability Report 2009. Rate number 1 PC brand according to SquareTrade, the leading direct-to-consumer warranty company (for more information visit http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/laptop-reliability-1109 ). 6 For notebooks purchased on or after Sept. 10, 2007. The ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty covers "ASUS" brand notebooks only, and does NOT extend to: "Built on ASUS," "ASMobile," "Powered by ASUS," the Eee PC, or some other models. These retailers are currently among the companies that do NOT participate in the ASUS 360 Notebook Service Program and Accidental Damage Warranty: Best Buy, MicroCenter, and The Source by Circuit City in Canada. Limit of one claim per notebook for Accidental Damage Warranty. ASUS reserves the right to discontinue this program and to modify the terms and conditions thereof at any time. ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty Program starts from the date of your ASUS notebook purchase, when all the requirements are met. One incident covered per notebook.

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Auzentech AZT-XFHTHD X-Fi HomeTheater HD Sound Card Review

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(More customer reviews)If it wasn't for the annoying and harmful cracking and popping this card makes I would have definetely given this extraordinary card a 5 star revies. This is as close as an audiophile card you will find but the cracking and popping is present whenever you raise the volume, change to another song, open a internet browser or watch a movie. I learned to live with that incovenience because nothing in the market rivals that good sound I was getting until I bought my MM-1 speakers and used their own DAC. Anyway, it is a real shame and the guilt is not only on Auzentech side but it is a major fault from almost all X-FI sound cards made by Creative.

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Nikon Coolpix S52 9MP Digital Camera Zoom with 3x Optical Vibration Reduction Zoom (Midnight Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)
The Nikon Coolpix S52 9MP Digital Camera (Midnight Black)is a great all-around point and shoot camera. The performance is impressive and the value is best in class. Canon seems to get all the attention in this space, but I like the Coolpix family of cameras best out of point and shoot models in this price range. For $200, you get a great camera with quality pictures and an awesome interface.
The screen on this camera is Truly AWESOME, 3 inches of clear and durable optical lens quality glass. This camera has the nicest screen out of a point and shoot out there. I mean it is BIG. If you're anal like me, you'll want to get a screen protector. But careful handling of my S50 has proven to me that the glass is very durable and not easily scratched.
Functions And Features
There are some interesting functions, included red-eye correction and image cropping. Once again, most people will be loading their pics on their computers and then dealing with those edits. Still, it's nice to be able to do them.
The control wheel lets you scroll through your photos when displaying them on the screen for review. It only takes one button to delete a picture. It's also easy to access all the menu functions. Switching between camera mode and video recorder mode is just as easy, and reviewing your pictures via play mode is accomplished with one button as well.
The zoom on this camera is internal as with all S50 and S51 models. That means no waiting for the lense to zoom in and out, and no worries about the mechanical issues with those external lens extension cameras. This is a huge plus for this camera, and helps to maintain the slim profile. It also makes this camera MUCH thinner than some of those super-slim ones when they are turned on and the lenses are sticking out.
There are thinner cameras, but none of them are as affordable and as packed with features as this one.
Picture taking is good, and if you get a faster memory card it will be faster. The Auto settings are good enough for most basic uses. But low light and nighttime situations just don't perform as well with auto. So the short answer is, if you have to shoot in low light, set the ISO manually! There's also a "High ISO" option that seems to work ok, but setting it to 1600 seemed to speed up my shooting time.
For those that want increased digital zoom, I would caution you that that feature is usually a gimmick. The 3X optical zoom is more than enough for point and shoot use and yields clear pictures even at full zoom. Digital zoom just uses software to zoom in to the already captured image, but technically it doesn't zoom at all. So with that in mind, I can live with 3X optical zoom. Always compare cameras to each other with the optical zoom in mind.
This unit also comes in other colors such as green and red. If you must have the newer wireless features, you are going to want to get the Nikon Coolpix S52c 9MP Digital Camera Zoom with Wi-Fi (Vibrant Black), which has a wireless network card inside it and can upload pictures without hooking up to your computer. I've gotten to test this wireless model and it does perform well, but in general I don't think this feature is a critical one for me and I would still choose this basic model.
This is an update to the S50 and S51 versions and adds more megapixels (9M!) so that you can produce prints up to 16X20. Just keep in mind, almost nobody buying this camera is trying to produce prints that large! But more megapixels never hurt anybody. :)
The video recording features are pretty much the same as the S50 and S51 models. The video quality is great, but obviously you have to be somewhat forgiving on the sound quality. The quality of your recordings absolutely depend on your memory card quality and speed. And rest assured, this card is SDHC compatible so choose a nice class 6 card till a faster class hits the consumer market. And also keep in mind that your computer probably isn't SDHC compliant (unless it's very new) so get a set with and SDHC reader included or transfer pics from your camera and not from the card.
Comparing The S52 To The Competition
The body of the camera is nice and thin. When you consider that the lens is internal and does not protrude, this guy is thinner than almost everything out there, including the Casio Exislim.
When choosing between this camera and other options, you need to be aware of a few points. The Sony Cybershot T300 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom (Black) is a nice camera that also performs well and perhaps has a better responding auto-detection mode for low light situations. But I tested the S52 by setting the ISO manually to 1600. The results were somewhat surprising and produced better quality pictures in low light than Sony's auto setting. Obviously you can also manually set the T300's ISO, but the differences are negligible at that point.
Other things to consider is that you must use Sony's proprietary Memory Pro / Duo, which is more expensive with fewer speed options available. The T300 has a thin body, but the sliding lens cover adds considerable thickness and I personally find it annoying. In addition, the T300 is much more expensive and not even close to the S52 in terms of value.
The Nikon Coolpix S600 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Zoom (Slate Black) has a widescreen capability that may appeal to some and 1 megapixel more for a total of 10. When you add in the greater zoom magnification, that camera is a great option for many people. Just keep in mind that the S600 does have an externally articulating lens, so it's much less compact than the S52 when actually in use. I am just too hooked on this internal lens to use the S600 often.
The only real cons you should be aware of is that your battery will need to be recharged after a few full days of use. That is pretty normal, but it did annoy me at first that I didn't have a spare battery. So get yourself a spare battery and keep it charged. Probably good advice for any camera. The other con is that you have to buy a little case for this camera, which seems like something that should be included.
Review your options with a mind towards the kind of shooting you need to do. Bottom line, get yourself this camera if you want to have a nice camera for everyday general use. This camera is durable, easy to use and loaded with features.
Enjoy.


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NIKON COOLPIX S52 BLACK DIGITAL

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