Other possibilities if your going refurbished is this http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11618161&whse=BC&Ne=5000135+4000000&eCat=BC|84&N=4047229 5000014 4294899853&Mo=9&No=0&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&topnav= for the same price a better computer plus 2 year warranty.

At least for my needs the HP is a better computer.

I shaved my legs for this?

Since it has WiMAX, I can hook it up to Sprint's network, I take it?

Wish it had the i7, otherwise pretty great stats for a prepackage laptop. Honestly, I paid for NVIDIA graphics over the Intel HD and I'm not that impressed.

In what is proving to be a rather surreal experience, I am using this exact laptop right now. I got it (also refurbed) for this same price too on a BJ's Wholesale Black Friday deal.

It's a very solid laptop, and handles games (with DIRECTX9) quite well. (It says it's compatible with DX11, but that's only true if you count 10 frames per second as "working properly).

Seriously though, this laptop is pretty amazing for the price.

The railroad tracks go on forever!!!!

jaredandsandy wrote:Other possibilities if your going refurbished is this http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11618161&whse=BC&Ne=5000135+4000000&eCat=BC|84&N=4047229 5000014 4294899853&Mo=9&No=0&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&topnav= for the same price a better computer plus 2 year warranty.

I wouldn't call that a better computer - inferior processor, no N/WiMAX, an HP, etc...

PC Magazine review:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2371432,00.asp

Consumer Reports:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/computers-internet/computers/laptop-ratings/models/overview/asus-u52f-bbl9-99040449.htm

Amazon-$1080, no review:
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-U52F-BBL9-Laptop-Notebook-Computer/dp/B0047G5ZYE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300511290&sr=8-1

Buy.com: $590 refurbished
http://www.buy.com/prod/intel-core-i5-460m-4gb-ddr3-640gb-15-6-hd-wimax-win7-hp-64bit-webcam-/q/loc/101/220366962.html

Froogled

Putting all this power in a laptop and adding a 5400rpm Harddrive? this will definitely slow you down on loading intensive applications, like games, etc ...

jaredandsandy wrote:Other possibilities if your going refurbished is this http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11618161&whse=BC&Ne=5000135+4000000&eCat=BC|84&N=4047229 5000014 4294899853&Mo=9&No=0&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&topnav= for the same price a better computer plus 2 year warranty.

That is a worse computer.

The processor is slower compared to the i5 in this one. Not to mention the screen is a gigantic 17.3", whereas this one is 15.6".

The only thing better I can see that is better is the screen size, the graphics and the hard drive.

Wife has this same one, same specs anyways. It doesn't get hot, quite peppy too, doesn't suck at all!

Now, I am wondering why they were refurb'ed and if I need to worry about hers...

$1079.95 new on Amazon.com


http://www.amazon.com/Asus-U52F-BBL9-Laptop-Notebook-Computer/dp/B0047G5ZYE

cvan911 wrote:Wife has this same one, same specs anyways. It doesn't get hot, quite peppy too, doesn't suck at all!

Now, I am wondering why they were refurb'ed and if I need to worry about hers...

Refurb is often buyer's remorse.

$649.99 Refurbed at BestBuy.com

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Laptop+/+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B+i5+Processor+/+15.6%22+Display+/+4GB+Memory+/+640GB+Hard+Drive+-+Dark+Navy/1257685.p?skuId=1257685&id=1218243754694

Where and how do you get wimax? I don't think it even exists, not around here anyway.

nunyadamnbizness wrote:$1079.95 new on Amazon.com


http://www.amazon.com/Asus-U52F-BBL9-Laptop-Notebook-Computer/dp/B0047G5ZYE

Now that Amazon owns woot, do you think they do this as a marketing ploy??

rlorenz89 wrote:Since it has WiMAX, I can hook it up to Sprint's network, I take it?

Answered my own question. Clear rents bandwidth to Sprint. Therefore, yes, you can hook this up to Sprint's network.

New Higher price at BestBuy

teddyrome wrote:Now that Amazon owns woot, do you think they do this as a marketing ploy??

I might add I have had 2 Asus net books I bought from woot and had no problems. I respect Asus They supply mother boards for big name PC's. I would buy this if I didn't already have one.

The specs look pretty good but the screen is only 15.6" yet it has a numeric keypad. The keys must be pretty cramped. That was a pretty bad design. They should have used a full size keyboard and let those who enter a lot of numeric data buy a USB keypad.

Thanks for all the good info.

whatsamattaU wrote:PC Magazine review:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2371432,00.asp

Consumer Reports:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/computers-internet/computers/laptop-ratings/models/overview/asus-u52f-bbl9-99040449.htm

Amazon-$1080, no review:
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-U52F-BBL9-Laptop-Notebook-Computer/dp/B0047G5ZYE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300511290&sr=8-1

Buy.com: $590 refurbished
http://www.buy.com/prod/intel-core-i5-460m-4gb-ddr3-640gb-15-6-hd-wimax-win7-hp-64bit-webcam-/q/loc/101/220366962.html

Froogled

rlorenz89 wrote:Answered my own question. Clear rents bandwidth to Sprint. Therefore, yes, you can hook this up to Sprint's network.

No you can't. Clear is only available in a few areas and Sprint doesn't have wimax.

nunyadamnbizness wrote:$649.99 Refurbed at BestBuy.com

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Laptop+/+Intel%26%23174%3B+Core%26%23153%3B+i5+Processor+/+15.6%22+Display+/+4GB+Memory+/+640GB+Hard+Drive+-+Dark+Navy/1257685.p?skuId=1257685&id=1218243754694

Correction, I believe that it is new for that price!!!

Just a few observations why not.

First, da RAMz ~

System Memory (RAM): 4GB
System Memory (RAM) Expandable To: 8GB

If that means it's got one 4GB DIMM and room for another, that's sweet. If it means it's got 2 x 2GB and you gotta fully replace to upgrade, that's lousy.

Can't tell for sure but based on their wording I'd be miffed if it wasn't the former. Though by no means surprised if it's the latter. Did a quick Gwaggle, came up with bubkiss.

Next, da power ~

Battery Type: 8-Cell
Battery Life: Up to 6 hours and 33 minutes

Ha, 6.5 hours my Aunt Fanny. (Sorry to use your name in vain Aunt Fanny.) Not with a 2.53 proc, a 15.6" LCD and a spinnin' HDD. If you're going to actually do anything on it I'd count on considerably less time. 8-cells is pretty big but it's a honkin' laptop.

Speaking of which, 5.5lbs = Ultraportable?? Not exactly an industry standard term now is it.

And while we're on the subject of being a husky young refurb, 1366 x 768 rez is a deal breaker for me (on a 15.6" LCD). Even on a 14.1" I say 1440 x 900 is what's good. Different pixels for different folks.

No offense to teh Wootz. It's a capable machine, that's for sure, definitely my kinda unit from a power stand point. My lappie spends most of its time on my desktop hooked up to a bunch of distinctly desktop peripherals.

Wish I had the coin to pick up one of these. Would like to see a 7200 RPM hard drive, but otherwise the specifications on this machine are impressive overall. This computer is not for you if you are looking to do heavy duty gaming.

PC World Ranks Asus Notebook Laptops very high right at the top for Reliability & Service.

PC World Laptop Reliability & Service Nov. 28th 2010

borntohunt wrote:Thanks for all the good info.

1. You're welcome.

2. The support page does not allow for easy linking, so if you want to see it:
http://support.asus.com/download/Download.aspx?SLanguage=en-usp

Then, to your left under "Windows 7 Supported Product Models", click "Notebook"

Then scroll down to the "U52 Series" section and click the "U52F" java link.

Then you will see the drivers and manuals.

Hope that helps.

Pulled the trigger on two for teachers at a small preschool. Keeping fingers crossed that they are worry-free.

About 2 years ago, had bought 3 Acer refurbs laptoops from Woot; they are going strong too.

Thanks Woot!!!

Man I swear I'm not trying to be a threadcrapper up in here, but at the near certainty of being seen as one for comparing a $500 r0x0rz! to a brand new $880 unit, this (Sandy Bridge based) Dell absolutely smokes the Asus if 15.6" is your cup of LCD:

• 2nd generation Intel Core i7-2630QM 2GHz
  
• 15.6" FHD B+RGLED TL Display (1920x1080)
  
• NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M 1GB graphics with Optimus
  
• 6GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 Memory
  
• 640GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive
  
• Skype-Certified 2.0MP HD Webcam
  
• 8X Tray Load CD/DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)
  
• Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1030 & Bluetooth 3.0
  
• 6-cell Lithium Ion Battery
  
• Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit
  

[quote="dustyrogers"]1366 x 768 rez is a deal breaker for me (on a 15.6" LCD). Even on a 14.1" I say 1440 x 900 is what's good. Different pixels for different folks.[/quote]

Seriously dude? A dealbreaker? Thats pretty standard 15" laptop resolution. I doubt anybody with actual interest is going to be broken by that. Decent price on this if someone is in the market.

dustyrogers wrote:Just a few observations why not.

First, da RAMz ~

System Memory (RAM): 4GB
System Memory (RAM) Expandable To: 8GB

If that means it's got one 4GB DIMM and room for another, that's sweet. If it means it's got 2 x 2GB and you gotta fully replace to upgrade, that's lousy.

Can't tell for sure but based on their wording I'd be miffed if it wasn't the former. Though by no means surprised if it's the latter. Did a quick Gwaggle, came up with bubkiss.

Next, da power ~

Battery Type: 8-Cell
Battery Life: Up to 6 hours and 33 minutes

Ha, 6.5 hours my Aunt Fanny. (Sorry to use your name in vain Aunt Fanny.) Not with a 2.53 proc, a 15.6" LCD and a spinnin' HDD. If you're going to actually do anything on it I'd count on considerably less time. 8-cells is pretty big but it's a honkin' laptop.

Speaking of which, 5.5lbs = Ultraportable?? Not exactly an industry standard term now is it.

And while we're on the subject of being a husky young refurb, 1366 x 768 rez is a deal breaker for me (on a 15.6" LCD). Even on a 14.1" I say 1440 x 900 is what's good. Different pixels for different folks.

No offense to teh Wootz. It's a capable machine, that's for sure, definitely my kinda unit from a power stand point. My lappie spends most of its time on my desktop hooked up to a bunch of distinctly desktop peripherals.

I would say it is most likely 2x2GB, at least that's how my laptop is and most that I've seen are this way as well.

Battery life is also reasonable. My laptop (Inspiron N4010) gets about 5 hours of battery life and has a similar processor.

So ASUS is all that and then some?

borntohunt wrote:PC World Ranks Asus Notebook Laptops very high right at the top for Reliability & Service.

PC World Laptop Reliability & Service Nov. 28th 2010

Thanks, saved me the work of getting the PC World link from last fall. I usually post that and the PC Magazine survey from last summer, ASUS and Apple tops it as well:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2368149,00.asp
and chart:
http://www.pcmag.com/image_popup/0,1871,iid=267328,00.asp

For those who care, Geekbench results for a very similar, if not exactly the same laptop.

s/usege/usage/

stevec5000 wrote:No you can't. Clear is only available in a few areas and Sprint doesn't have wimax.

Sprint's 4G is WiMax.
https://developer.sprint.com/site/global/home/4g/4gwimax.jsp

retropetro wrote:Seriously dude? A dealbreaker? Thats pretty standard 15" laptop resolution. I doubt anybody with actual interest is going to be broken by that. Decent price on this if someone is in the market.

Jah mon. Like I said, for me it is. Hell mostly I use a 24" monitor in portrait at 1200 x 1920. Better for drawin' posters and I've grown to like it for web dev too. Anyhow I'm getting side-tracked -- Of course this is a decent price for someone in the market.

It's TEH WOOT MON! I've yet to see a legitimately bad deal, market value-wise, on (the real deal genuine) Woot since I started my daily midnite hit in 2004. Well unless it was some joke. And I've actually had terrible Big o' Cosmos. luck. I'm getting side tracked again.

hackman2007 wrote:I would say it is most likely 2x2GB, at least that's how my laptop is and most that I've seen are this way as well.

Battery life is also reasonable. My laptop (Inspiron N4010) gets about 5 hours of battery life and has a similar processor.

Yeah I hate to be a pessimist but yer probably right about the RAM. That's a bummer the way they say it. I guess it's not THAT misleading but I betcha most people who read that and don't give it much thought aren't thinking that they gotta get rid of 2x2GB to make room for two pricey DIMMs. And those two-gig sticks ain't gonna fetch much in the after market, far as I know that's been the sweet spot for a while pricepointwise.

Re: battery life... it's just so dang arbitrary ya know. Like, 5 hours of what? Not of multiple HD clown porno streams whilst burning off a DVD of Junior's Bar Mitzvah (at which no clowns were present thankyouverymuch).

I guess I'm a power user.

I LOVE ASUS

drewcp wrote:Sprint's 4G is WiMax.

Quoted for truth