Asus UL30A & Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 13 CULV Notebooks

The Asus UL30A and Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 13 are modern 13.3″ CULV laptops similar in size and horsepower, but with distinctly disparate personalities. The UL30A has broad consumer appeal, while the Edge 13 upholds its workhorse legacy without the usual drab sobriety of the ThinkPad line.

March 9, 2010 by Lawrence Lee

Product	Asus UL30A	Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 13
Manufacturer	ASUSTeK	Lenovo
Street Price	US$700~$730	US$799~$899

Intel’s CULV (Consumer Ultra-Low Voltage) processors are low power chips that
help bridge the performance and battery life gap between netbooks and mainstream
laptops. Take the Core 2 Duo SU7300 as an example. While it runs at only 1.3GHz
(standard notebooks typically have CPUs clocked at 2GHz+), the SU7300 has a
thermal design power of only 10W. The mainstream T6000 series, now common in
most lower-priced notebooks, is much harder on battery life as it is rated for
35W. A machine running a SU7300 doesn’t need as big a battery, and its lower
power draw allows the cooling system and surrounding chassis to be smaller.
The only tradeoff is processing power, though even at 1.3GHz, it is much faster
than any Atom-based solution, fast enough not to bog during the tasks that most
notebook users perform routinely.

We previously reviewed the SU7300 powered Asus
UL80Vt which could switch between a discrete Nvidia video card and the
integrated Intel graphics, and we were greatly impressed by its slender profile
and ridiculously longbattery life. However, with a 14″ screen and a weight
of 4.4lb, it’s a heavyweight by today’s portability standards. This time around
we have a pair of SU7300 laptops from Asus and Lenovo with 13.3″ screens.
This is a size we consider to be in the sweet spot, a good balance between high
mobility and usable screen/keyboard size. Both are about one inch thick and
weigh in at approximately four pounds. They have the same functionality and
features as most larger notebooks, except they lack an optical drive, which
is becoming decreasingly important in the digital age.

The Asus UL30A.

The Asus UL30A is a sleek looking silver machine. Physically, it resembles
the UL80Vt, but smaller, and only the keys, screen and bezel are black. It also
has a solid brush aluminum cover behind the screen rather than plastic, so it’s
sturdier and less likely to get scratched and/or smudged. For those who would
prefer discrete/switchable graphics, Asus also offers themore expensive UL30Vt.

The Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 13.

The ThinkPad line from IBM/Lenovo is well known for their utilitarian appearance
and rigid construction. The Edge 13 is bit of a departure, as both the top cover
and screen are glossy, the corners are rounded, and the color scheme is a fetching
blend of black with silver trim — it actually looks attractive! Once the
screen is popped open, ThinkPad fans are greeted with a firm, but non-rubberized
matte finish palm rest, a big comfortable keyboard, and the familiar plain-looking
trackpad and signature red pointing stick.

Specifications
Model	Asus UL30A*	Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 13
Display	13.3″, 1366×768, glossy LED-backlit
CPU	Intel® Core™ 2 Duo SU7300 Processor (1.30GHz, 800MHz FSB, 3MB L2 cache, 10W)
Chipset	Intel GS45 Express
Graphics	Intel GMA 4500MHD
Memory	4GB DDR3 PC3-8500
Storage	320GB 5400RPM
Optical Drive	No
Networking	10/100 ethernet, 802.11n	Gigabit ethernet, 802.11n, WiMAX, WWAN + GPS
Bluetooth	No	Bluetooth Version 2.1 + EDR
Webcam	0.3 megapixel (640×480)
Card Reader	5-in-1
Trackpad	ELAN multi-gesture touchpad	Multi-gesture touchpad with TrackPoint
Battery	8-cell 5600 mAh 84Wh	6-cell 5600 mAh 63Wh
Physical Dimensions (measured)	32.1 x 23.0 x 1.9~2.4 cm (W x D x H) 1.80kg (4.0lb)	32.1 x 22.7 x 1.9~2.6 cm (W x D x H) 1.78kg (3.9lb)
Operating System	Windows 7 Home Premium 64*	Windows 7 Professional 64
Retail Price	~$699	~$899
*Our sample was a UL30A-A1 with Vista Home Premium; this model has now been replaced with the UL30A-A2, the exact same machine but with Windows 7. The UL30A was tested with Windows 7 to remove the operating system as a testing variable.

As you can see the two laptops have very similar specifications, but the ThinkPad
configuration we received is top-of-the-line, placing emphasis on connectivity
with built-in gigabit ethernet (the Asus surprisingly only has 10/100 ethernet),
WiMAX, 3G with GPS, and Bluetooth, driving up the price to $900, $200 higher
than the UL30A. Lenovo sells a more comparable configuration to the UL30A for
$800 that includes gigabit ethernet, 802.11n, and Bluetooth only. AMD variants
of the Edge, powered by Neo X2 processors, start at $580, but they are slower
and less energy efficient compared to Intel’s CULV chips.

PHYSICAL DETAILS – Asus UL30A

The UL30A measures 32.1 x 23.0cm with an average thickness of 2.4cm not including
the feet. The entire machine weighs in at 1.80kg (3.96lb) with the battery weighing
440g alone.

The UL30A.

 

The main exhaust vent is located on the right side along with VGA and HDMI outputs as well as a single USB port. The majority of the machine is less than one inch (2.54cm) thick but the feet raise it up to 2.8cm at the center and 3.1cm at the thickest point near the hinges.

 

The left side is home to a 5-in-1 memory card reader, mic and line-out ports, two USB connectors, and the RJ45 and AC jacks.

A pair of moderately-sized speakers resides underneath the lip of the UL30A.

 

The memory and hard drive are accessible.

 

The UL30A ships with a long lasting 84Wh battery.

 

The AC adapter outputs 19V.

SCREEN & PERIPHERALS – Asus UL30A

The UL30A features a LED-backlit 13.3″ 1366×768 screen, 0.3 megapixel
webcam, and multi-gesture touchpad.

The UL30A has two large, sturdy hinges on the outside securing the screen, but they have limited rotation.

 

The LCD can be pushed back about 50 degrees past perpendicular.

 

The screen, surrounding bezel, palm rest, pretty much everything on the inside has a glossy finish except for the keys.

 

The UL series has a unique dimpled touchpad design and a single, long button.

 

The keyboard has an island style design. It has a small right shift to make way for large directional keys.

PHYSICAL DETAILS – Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 13

The Edge 13 measures 32.1 x 22.7cm, slightly less deep than the UL30A, but
its thicker overall at 2.6cm (except at the lip). It weighs in at 1.78kg (3.92lb)
with the battery weighing 350g on its own.

The Edge 13 resembles Apple’s Macbook as it is slightly over one inch thick, has rounded corners and a generally boxy appearance.

 

The left side is home to the main exhaust vent, a Kensington lock slot, and singular USB, RJ45, HDMI, and VGA connectors. The battery props up the machine, increasing the height at the very back to 3.8cm.

 

Located on the right side is the AC power connector, a pair of USB ports, a headphone jack and card reader.

 

The underside. Notice the very small speakers under the lip.

The interior.

 

Our sample shipped with a 63Wh battery.

 

The AC adapter is a 65W, 20V model.

SCREEN & PERIPHERALS – Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 13

The Edge 13 features a LED-backlit 13.3″ 1366×768 screen, 0.3
megapixel webcam, multi-gesture touchpad and trackpoint.

The Edge 13 has two power LEDs on the dots of the ‘I’ in the ThinkPad monograms located on the outside cover and right palm rest. They glow bright red when the system is on and blink when sleeping. There is no hard drive or WiFi status LED.

 

The hinges are small but sturdy.

 

The screen can be pushed back slightly beyond 180 degrees.

 

The screen is glossy, but the rest of the interior has a matte finish.

 

Like previous ThinkPads it has both a trackpad and an old school pointing stick.

 

The Edge 13’s keyboard also has an island style layout, but the gaps between the keys are kept to a minimum. The keys themselves are noticeably large for a laptop.

TEST METHODOLOGY

Notebooks Compared:

Gateway EC1803h:

• Intel
  Core 2 Solo SU3500 processor – 1.40GHz, 3MB L2 cache, 45nm,
  5.5W
• DDR2 memory – 2GB+1GB DDR2-667
• Intel
  GS45 Express chipset – GMA 4500MHD graphics
• Hitachi
  Travelstar 5K320 notebook hard drive – 250GB, 5400 RPM, 8MB
  cache
• Microsoft
  Windows Vista Home Premium SP2 32-bit operating system

Asus UL80Vt:

• Intel
  Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor – 1.30GHz, 3MB L2 cache, 45nm,
  10W (overclocked to 1.73GHz)
• DDR3 memory – 2x2GB DDR3-1066
• Intel
  GS45 Express chipset – integrated GMA 4500MHD graphics
• Nvidia
  GeForce G210M GPU – 512MB
• Seagate Momentus 5400.6
  notebook hard drive – 320GB, 5400 RPM, 8MB cache
• Microsoft
  Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit operating system

Asus UL30A:

• Intel
  Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor – 1.30GHz, 3MB L2 cache, 45nm,
  10W (overclocked to 1.33GHz)
• DDR3 memory – 2x2GB DDR3-1066
• Intel
  GS45 Express chipset – integrated GMA 4500MHD graphics
• Seagate Momentus 5400.6
  notebook hard drive – 320GB, 5400 RPM, 8MB cache
• Microsoft
  Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit operating system

Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 13:

• Intel
  Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor – 1.30GHz, 3MB L2 cache, 45nm,
  10W
• DDR3 memory – 2x2GB DDR3-1066
• Intel
  GS45 Express chipset – integrated GMA 4500MHD graphics
• Fujitsu
  MJA2 BH notebook hard drive – 320GB, 5400 RPM, 8MB cache
• Microsoft
  Windows 7 Professional 64-bit operating system

Our UL30A sample shipped with a Seagate Momentus 5400.6 hard drive and Atheros ethernet (10/100 only) and 802.11n adapters.

 

Our ThinkPad Edge 13 sample shipped with a Fujitsu hard drive, a Realtek gigabit NIC, Intel WiMAX and 802.11n adapters, and a Qualcomm 3G card.

Measurement and Analysis Tools

• CPU-Z
  to monitor CPU frequency and voltage.
• CPUBurn
  processor stress software.
• Prime95
  processor stress software.
• FurMark
  stability test to stress the integrated GPU.
• Media Player
  Classic – Home Cinema to play x264/MKV video
• Cyberlink
  PowerDVD to play H264/VC1 video
• Mozilla
  Firefox and Adobe
  Flash Player to play Flash video
• Eset NOD32 as
  an anti-virus benchmark.
• WinRAR as an
  archiving benchmark.
• iTunes
  an audio encoding benchmark.
• TMPGEnc
  Xpress as a video encoding benchmark.
• PCMark05
  as a general system benchmark.
• 3DMark05
  as a general benchmark
• 3DMark06
  as a general benchmark
• Seasonic
  Power Angel AC power meter, used to measure the power consumption
  of the system

H.264/VC-1 Video Test Clips

H.264 and VC-1 are codecs commonly used in high definition movie videos on
the web (like Quicktime movie trailers and the like) and also in Blu-ray discs.
To play these clips, we use Cyberlink PowerDVD with hardware acceleration turned
on, naturally.

Real-world Benchmark Test Details

• Eset NOD32: In-depth virus scan of a folder containing 32 files of
  varying size, several of which are archives with many files within them..
• WinRAR: Archive creation with a folder containing 68 files of varying
  size (less than 50MB).
• iTunes: Conversion of an MP3 file to AAC (48KHz, 256kbps).
• TMPGEnc Xpress: Encoding a 1-minute long XVID AVI file to VC-1 (1280×720,
  30fps, 20mbps).

Our first test procedure is designed to determine the overall system power
consumption at various states (measured using a Seasonic Power Angel). To stress
CPUs we use either Prime95 (large FFTs setting) or CPUBurn depending on which
produces higher system power consumption. To stress the IGP, we use FurMark,
an OpenGL benchmarking and stability testing utility.

Our second test procedure is to run the system through a video test suite featuring
a variety of high definition clips. During playback, a CPU usage graph is created
by the Windows Task Manger for analysis to determine the average CPU usage.
High CPU usage is indicative of poor video decoding ability. If the video (and/or
audio) skips or freezes, we conclude the IGP (in conjunction with the processor)
is inadequate to decompress the clip properly. Power consumption during playback
of high definition video is also recorded.

Lastly, we run a short series of performance benchmarks — a few real-world
applications as well as synthetic tests.

All nonessential pre-installed software is removed prior to testing, and certain
services and features like Superfetch and System Restore are disabled to prevent
them from affecting our results. Aero glass is left enabled if supported. All
tests are conducted with WiFi disabled (as well as other wireless connectivity
features) unless necessary, and screen brightness is set to a reasonable level
unless otherwise noted. We also make note if energy saving features like Cool’n’Quiet
and SpeedStep do not function properly.

TEST RESULTS

During testing the screens were adjusted to a suitable, equivalent brightness
level (7/16 for the UL30A, 11/16 for the Edge 13). Also note that the UL30A
was overclocked by 3% by default in the BIOS (5% maximum).

AC Power Draw

Test Results: System Power
Test State	UL30A	Edge 13	UL80Vt*
Sleep	1W	1W	1W
Idle (screen off)	6W	8W	6W
Idle (typ. brightness)	8W (7/16)	11W (11/16)	8W (7/16)
Idle (max. brightness)	11W	12W
CPU Load	23W	26W	34W
CPU + GPU Load	26W	29W	37W
*UL80Vt’s processor overclocked to 1.73GHz.

Running on AC power, the Edge 13 used about 2~3W more when idle and 3W more
on load than the UL30A. While the ThinkPad’s display was fairly dim and its
brightness had to be set higher compared to the UL30A, this wasn’t the cause
of the higher power draw as there was still a difference of 2W when both screens
were turned off. It is possible the extra hardware in the Edge 13, the WiMAX,
WWAN, and Bluetooth adapters were the root of the problem, though all the connectivity
options were disabled during testing.

According to CPU-Z, both machines idled with a core voltage of 0.875V, but
on load, the CPU on the UL30A only used 0.975V compared to 1.025V on the Edge
13. This alone could explain the difference in load power.

Video Playback

Test Results: Video Playback
Test State	UL30A		Edge 13
	Avg. CPU	System Power	Avg. CPU	System Power
Rush Hour (H.264 10mbps)	18%	14W	12%	14W
Coral Reef (WMV 8mbps)	31%	16W	30%	16W
Spaceship (x264 14mbps)	18%	16W	19%	17W
Crash (x264 22mbps)	22%	16W	20%	17W
Iron Man (Flash 2mbps)	22%	15W	25%	15W

During video playback, the power difference between the two systems dwindled
to 1W or less. As both laptops use Intel’s integrated GMA 4500MHD, they were
perfectly capable of rendering high definition material with ease. Some may
write off notebooks without discrete graphics, but as along as playing games
isn’t on the menu, the current incarnation from Intel is perfectly adequate.
As we found in our UL80Vt review, it’s also
the more power efficient choice. The UL80Vt, which has the ability to switch
between GMA 4500MHD and GeForce G210M graphics, used much less energy using
the Intel integrated video.

Performance

Test Results: Benchmarks
Model	Gateway EC1803h	ThinkPad Edge 13	Asus UL30A	Asus UL80Vt†
CPU	C2S 1.4GHz	C2D 1.3GHz	C2D 1.33GHz	C2D 1.73GHz
RAM	3GB DDR2	4GB DDR3	4GB DDR3	4GB DDR3
Boot-up	0:53*	1:25	0:57	1:13
NOD32	11:14	11:30	11:05	8:46
WinRAR	5:38	5:35	5:27	3:35
iTunes	8:46	8:04	8:02	6:13
TMPGEnc	20:01	10:47	10:22	8:10
PCMark05	2214	3196	3452	3656
3DMark05	979	1516	1396	1393
3DMark06	603	907	822	823
*EC1803h running Vista 32, boot-up time taken with Windows 7 32. †UL80Vt running on integrated graphics (switchable).

Our timed benchmarks favored the UL30A slightly as by default it is overclocked
by 3%. The synthetics were a mixed bag with ThinkPad winning in 3DMark but losing
in PCMark. The UL80Vt overclocked to 1.73GHz was substantially faster, and larger
mainstream notebooks have 2GHz+ processors, so both the UL30A or Edge 13 are
lackluster in the speed department. Going with a CULV processor means sacrificing
performance for a thinner, lighter notebook with long battery life. Luckily
most of the tasks performed by the majority of users don’t require a lot of
horsepower, so the difference may not be perceptible on a day-to-day basis.

The UL30A we received shipped with Vista and it had a boot time of 1:12 which
improved to 0:58 once we removed most of the nonessential pre-installed software.
On a clean Windows 7 install, it booted up one second faster. The Edge 13 booted
up in 1:25 and its time did not improve with software removal.

Battery Life

To test battery life, we ran a series of tests to simulate real life web surfing
and movie watching. The critical and low battery actions were disabled, so the
system would simply shut down once the battery was exhausted as far as Windows
7 would allow (1%). WiFi was enabled obviously for the web browsing test.

For the web browsing test we loaded three websites into Firefox
on separate tabs: Google News, Yahoo News, and CNN International. Using the
ReloadEvery
add-on, we set each tab to do a staggered reload every minute. This is essentially
one page reload every 20 seconds.

For video playback we used an XVID encoded AVI (1324kbps video, 448kbps AC3
audio) played with VLC Player and a x264 encoded MKV (720p, 7mbps video, 640kbps
AC3 audio) played with Media Player Classic Home Cinema (DXVA enabled) in a
loop.

Test Results: Battery Life
Activity	Gateway EC1803h*	ThinkPad Edge 13	Asus UL80Vt†	Asus UL30A
Web Browsing	6:09	6:22	9:11	9:44
Xvid Playback	4:24	5:50	7:19	6:52
x264 Playback	3:31	4:35	5:24	5:52
*EC1803h running Vista 32, other systems running Windows 7 64. †UL80Vt running on integrated graphics (switchable).

The Edge 13 can run untethered longer than most mainstream notebooks, lasting
more than six hours when web browsing, just under six hours playing Xvid, and
four and half hours playing high definition x264. With a lower idle power draw
and a bigger battery than the Edge 13, the UL30A delivers the most impressive
battery life we’ve seen in a laptop. The UL30A lasted 15 minutes shy of 10 hours
web browsing, 8 minutes short of 7 hours playing Xvid and almost 6 hours rendering
x264.

The UL series combines high efficiency with high capacity batteries so that
they can last an entire work day of internet use. The occasional Flash video
may cut into that time, but it could be made up by enabling power saving features
like having the screen dim/turn off after a certain amount of idle time or going
to sleep completely, etc.

Thermals & Acoustics

Internal temperature were recorded using SpeedFan while external temperatures
were taken with an IR thermometer on the hottest point on both the topside and
underside of each laptop. On both machines, the hottest point was located near
the center of the left side.

Asus UL30A
Activity	System Temperatures				SPL @0.6m
	CPU	HDD	Topside	Underside
Idle	33°C	29°C	28°C	34°C	21 dBA
x264 Playback	43°C	30°C	30°C	37°C	21~22 dBA
CPU Load	47°C	29°C	30°C	37°C	24 dBA
CPU + GPU Load	49°C	29°C	31°C	39°C	24 dBA
Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 13
Idle	41°C	32°C	30°C	33°C	18~19 dBA
x264 Playback	44°C	30°C	31°C	35°C	19 dBA
CPU Load	58°C	30°C	31°C	38°C	28 dBA
CPU + GPU Load	60°C	31°C	33°C	39°C	28 dBA
Ambient temperature: 20°C.

The Edge 13 had a slightly warmer exterior during testing, but both machines
ran fairly cool by modern standards. The Lenovo had noticeably higher CPU temperatures,
even on load when its fan was more aggressive. The UL30A operates with a core
voltage 0.50V lower than the ThinkPad which explains why the fan spins so much
faster on the ThinkPad.

Both notebooks were very quiet when idling, producing just a soft whooshing
sound that was rather inconspicuous though the Edge 13 measured 2~3 dBA lower.
On x264 playback, the noise level increased just slightly as neither machine
really required much in the way of extra cooling. On full load, the UL30A was
probably the best-sounding laptop we’ve ever used, beating the ThinkPad by 4
dBA while retaining a smooth, benign character. The Edge 13’s fan was much louder
and more whiny when the CPU was pressed into heavy action.

UL30A idling at 0.6m.

Edge 13 idling at 0.6m.

Pre-installed Software (Draw)

Both laptops shipped with an equivalent amount of utilities from the manufacturer,
mostly of dubious value. The UL30A had more consumer software pre-installed
like Adobe Air, Cyberlink LabelPrint and Cyber2Go, Google Toolbar, Norton Internet
Security and Skype. The ThinkPad was more business-oriented in this area, with
lots of pre-loaded updates for Visual C++, SQL Server, and Office, and extra
utilities related to its WiMAX, WWAN and GPS capabilities including activation
programs for AT&T and Verizon’s respective mobile internet services.

Build Quality (Winner: Lenovo)

The build quality of both machines is better than you would expect for the
$700~$900 range. The UL30A has a nice aluminum cover, but overall we would say
the ThinkPad is more sturdy. The palm rest on the right side of the keyboard
on the Asus is noticeably weak, as is the keyboard in general. In addition,the
battery isn’t quite secure; we found if you shake the UL30A slightly from back
to front, you can hear the battery rattle. The Edge 13 feels more solid all
the way around, the best we’ve seen in a sub-$1000 laptop. The construction
is not quite as durable as previous incarnations of the ThinkPad line though.
It looks like a few corners were cut to get the price down.

Screen (Winner: Asus)

The Edge 13’s screen is slightly less reflective than the UL30A, and its viewing
angles are a bit better as well. However, it is fairly dark so the brightness
level has to be set quite high even for indoor use. It also has worse contrast,
producing gray looking blacks, and colors in general look a bit hazy and washed
out. The UL30A screen is the opposite, very bright with rich blacks and colors
that pop, perhaps a little over-saturated, but more pleasing to the eye. It’s
perfect for watching movies, etc.

Webcam (Winner: Lenovo)

Both laptops are equipped with low resolution 0.3 megapixel webcams, but the
Lenovo’s has a distinct advantages. Compared to most integrated webcams, it
picks up light very well and is significantly less grainy and blurry, particularly
in low light. The webcam on the UL30A is more typical, that is to say, lousy.
It seems like Asus didn’t put any thought into this particular feature, just
throwing one on there because it’s standard.

Speakers (Winner: Asus)

The UL30A’s speakers are much bigger and sound substantially better. The sound
they produce is a little muffled, but otherwise well-balanced. The ThinkPad
sounds terribly tinny, making high notes break up and degrade into loud static.
The Edge 13 may have the worst speakers we’ve ever heard on a laptop.

Trackpad (Winner: Lenovo)

The Edge 13 offers the trackpoint option and its touchpad is smoother and more
comfortable. The separated buttons are also easier to press. The UL30A’s dimpled
touchpad offers a little bit too much resistance, and the single button is a
little lower than we’d like, resulting in difficulty when trying to engage if
with the side of the thumb.

Keyboard (Winner: Lenovo)

The UL30A keyboard is slightly bigger, but the keys are smaller because they
have placed the Delete, Home/End, PgUp/Dn in the last column on the right, and
have spaced the keys further apart. On the ThinkPad, the Delete and Home/End
keys are on the small top row next to the function keys, and the PgUp/Dn keys
are on either side of the Up directional key, all of which are very small. This
isn’t ideal if you use these keys frequently.

If you ignore the layout, the ThinkPad has the clear edge as it more closely
approximates a desktop keyboard. The keys are bigger, less shallow, and spring
up with more force, giving far superior tactile feedback. The whole keyboard
feels stronger and has almost no flex. Keyboard flex on the UL30A is significant;
when you press down on it, particularly on the left side or the bottom row (except
the space bar) all the keys in the area sink in.

In addition, the Lenovo allows you to swap the Fn and Ctrl keys on the left
side in the BIOS depending on which layout you’re more used to. If you rarely
use the function keys, you can also make the top row act as direct shortcuts
for adjusting brightness, volume, etc. by default without having to use the
Fn key. Oh, and did we mention the Lenovo keyboard is spill-proof?

Keyboards compared, scaled to 20 pixels per centimeter: Asus UL30A. ThinkPad Edge 13. Gateway EC1803h (11.6″ screen). Red text indicates Canadian keyboard layout differences.

Audio Recordings

• Asus UL30A
  at 0.6m
  — idle (21 dBA)
  — CPU load, CPU + GPU load (24 dBA)

• Lenovo
  ThinkPad Edge 13 at 0.6m
  — idle (18~19 dBA)
  — CPU load, CPU + GPU load (28 dBA)

Comparable System sound files:

• Asus
  UL80Vt (integrated graphics) at 0.6m
  — idle/Xvid playback (20~21 dBA)
  — x264 playback (21 dBA)
  — CPU load, CPU + GPU load (29 dBA)

• Asus
  UL80Vt (discrete graphics) at 0.6m
  — idle/Xvid playback (20~21 dBA)
  — x264 playback (23 dBA)
  — CPU load (29 dBA)
  — CPU + GPU load (35 dBA)

• Gateway
  EC1803h running on AC at 0.6m
  — fan off (18 dBA)
  — fan set to low (20 dBA)
  — idle (24 dBA)
  — during Xvid playback (26 dBA)
  — during x264 playback & full load (29 dBA)

• Gateway
  EC1803h running on battery at 0.6m
  — fan off (18 dBA)
  — idle (20 dBA)
  — during Xvid playback (24 dBA)
  — during x264 playback (27 dBA)
  — full load (29 dBA)

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Asus UL30A and Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 13 both have a glossy LED-backlit
screen, a Core 2 Duo processor running at 1.3GHz, integrated Intel graphics
with HDMI out, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB 5400 RPM hard drive, and 802.11n. The physical
dimensions too are almost identical with only slight variations in thickness
and weight. Yet despite all the similarities on the inside and out, these two
laptops have distinct, almost polar personalities.

The UL30A has broader appeal. The keyboard, trackpad, and webcam are subpar
compared to the Edge 13, but its speakers and screen are heads and shoulders
above the Lenovo; it’s a far superior choice for movies, music, etc. Its energy
efficiency and large battery allow it to last an entire business day without
recharging. It also runs cooler than the Edge 13 and is much quieter on load
thanks to a lower CPU operating voltage. The biggest drawback is the keyboard
with its shallow, weak keys and high degree of flex.

Our Edge 13 sample was a top-of-the line model with Bluetooth, WiMAX, 3G, and
GPS support, but even without these features, you can easily tell that it’s
a business-oriented laptop at heart. It has a decent webcam, comfortable trackpad
and a superb keyboard. Everything that stands out about the Edge 13 is about
getting stuff done efficiently. The updated aesthetics makes it the first ThinkPad
that doesn’t look completely Spartan, but thanks to its high build quality,
it stays true to the ThinkPad’s workhorse reputation. The one area we feel should
be improved is the LCD which looks pale, almost sickly compared to most other
notebooks. We also wouldn’t mind a little extra battery life as it would compliment
the extra mobile wireless connectivity.

The UL30A can be found for $700, while the reviewed Edge 13 configuration retails
for $900. Lenovo offers a more comparable Edge 13 with Bluetooth and gigabit
ethernet only (no WiMAX or 3G) for about $800. The UL30A may give you a better
media experience and longer untethered run time, but if you need more of a business
workhorse with great keyboard, strong construction and Windows 7 Pro, the Edge
13 may be worth the extra money, even with the inferior screen and battery life.

Our thanks to ASUSTeK
and Lenovo for UL30A
and ThinkPad Edge 13 samples.

* * *

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Asus UL80Vt: A CULV Laptop with Hybrid
Graphics
Asus EeeBox EB1501 ION Mini-PC
Lenovo IdeaCentre Q110: Tiny ION Nettop
Gateway EC1803h: Netbook
or Ultra-portable?
Asus Eee PC Seashell 1005HA netbook

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