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looking notebooks with USB 3.0 in a 14" frame

post #1 of 15
4/6/10 at 4:48pm
Thread Starter 
I'm currently in the market looking for a notebook that has USB 3.0 capability, as well as a small portable size. Most of the ones out now are in a 15" display or larger and after five years with my 17" Dell notebook, I'm done with anything that size. I'm currently interested in the ASUS N82 series notebook, 14" with USB 3.0 and at least a i5 processor. Unfortunately information on this notebook in regards to pricing and release date have been scarce so I was wondering if there are any other alternatives out there that are available now?
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post #2 of 15
4/7/10 at 12:00am
Not yet that I know of?
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post #3 of 15
4/7/10 at 12:15pm
What is it about the USB3 you need?
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post #4 of 15
4/7/10 at 12:56pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GNandGS View Post
What is it about the USB3 you need?
Mainly want it to run an external HD off of it.
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post #5 of 15
4/7/10 at 1:15pm
large files, video edits? I found HL2 quite playable years ago on an external drive with XPSGen1 lappy. Initial loads were longer but game play was good.

What I'm suggesting is that unless you have been annoyed with how slow USB2 is, the gains may not be worth it considering your limited choices. If not in a hurry you could wait a while for other models to start carried.
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post #6 of 15
4/7/10 at 1:31pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GNandGS View Post
large files, video edits? I found HL2 quite playable years ago on an external drive with XPSGen1 lappy. Initial loads were longer but game play was good.

What I'm suggesting is that unless you have been annoyed with how slow USB2 is, the gains may not be worth it considering your limited choices. If not in a hurry you could wait a while for other models to start carried.
Actually my main use of an external HD would be to run at least two operating systems off it using VMWare, one Linux and one Windows. I know this would require more CPU and RAM vs faster HD, I have noticed USB 2.0 to be insufficient at times.
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post #7 of 15
4/7/10 at 4:56pm
USB 3.0 performance is very much on "paper" at the moment. I have yet seen or read one that comes direct from a notebook standpoint.

cheers ...
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post #8 of 15
4/8/10 at 3:50am
What about an e-SATA drive, a lot of noteboks come with an e-SATA port....
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post #9 of 15
4/8/10 at 4:32am
Even firewire would work... a large capacity fast external drive will use TWO USB ports usually so Firewire is an option and keeps your slots free.
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post #10 of 15
4/8/10 at 3:53pm
As I recall, one of the benefits of USB 3.0 is that it provides more power to devices, which would allow devices that need 2 connections with USB 2.0 would only need one with USB 3.0.
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post #11 of 15
4/8/10 at 5:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Djembe View Post
As I recall, one of the benefits of USB 3.0 is that it provides more power to devices, which would allow devices that need 2 connections with USB 2.0 would only need one with USB 3.0.
From what I read "USB 3.0 bus power spec has been increased so that a unit load is 150 mA (+50% over minimum using USB 2.0). An un-configured device can still draw only one unit load, but a configured device can draw up to six unit loads (900 mA, an 80% increase over USB 2.0 at a registered maximum of 500 mA). Minimum device operating voltage is dropped from 4.4 V to 4 V."

Does this mean that USB2.0 devices that currently needs 2 ports for power still need 2 ports for power unless it is re-worked to take advantage of the new USB3.0 power bus in order to use only one port?

cheers ...
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post #12 of 15
4/8/10 at 6:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by qhn View Post
From what I read "USB 3.0 bus power spec has been increased so that a unit load is 150 mA (+50% over minimum using USB 2.0). An un-configured device can still draw only one unit load, but a configured device can draw up to six unit loads (900 mA, an 80% increase over USB 2.0 at a registered maximum of 500 mA). Minimum device operating voltage is dropped from 4.4 V to 4 V."

Does this mean that USB2.0 devices that currently needs 2 ports for power still need 2 ports for power unless it is re-worked to take advantage of the new USB3.0 power bus in order to use only one port?

cheers ...
Probably. However, you can test it out to see when you have a computer with USB 3.0 and a USB 2.0 external drive with dual connections to find out.
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post #13 of 15
4/8/10 at 6:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Djembe View Post
Probably. However, you can test it out to see when you have a computer with USB 3.0 and a USB 2.0 external drive with dual connections to find out.
On my list to do when I can get a hand on a notebook with USB3.0

cheers ...
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post #14 of 15
4/8/10 at 6:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by qhn View Post
On my list to do when I can get a hand on a notebook with USB3.0

cheers ...
I'll probably be reviewing some this summer. Ken from GenTech seems amenable to letting me review some of the new Asus models when they're released. Remind me to test that when I'm doing the reviews.
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post #15 of 15
4/8/10 at 7:06pm
You got it! I am gonna bug the heck out of you

cheers ...
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