<p>anyway, i decided that the Mac is just way too expensive for me. so my eyes are now on the asus. i just want a decent computer that can perform college oriented tasks and play starcraft 2 when i feel like it. it dosnt need to have a super graphics card so it would run sc2 in ultra settings, i just want it to be smooth.</p>
<p>anyone have any suggestions on what laptop to buy?</p>
<p>I’ve heard good things about those laptops, but aren’t they priced in MacBook Pro territory, or nearly so? If OP needs cheaper, those probably aren’t the best options.</p>
<p>I’m not really sure what a non-engineering, non-video artist student will ever need a stronger CPU. A 1.3 GHz CULV Core 2 Duo is more than enough for multitasking, watching videos, and even Photoshopping.</p>
<p>Not sure what you mean here. Do you mean if it’ll be fast enough for that CPU?</p>
<p>If so, then definitely. I run Windows 7 64-bit Professional on the same laptop (UL30A), and it runs perfectly.</p>
<p>People vastly overestimate hardware requirements or underestimate the power of CPUs. The Core 2 Duos, despite being the “older” generation of CPUs, are still extremely powerful. Like I said, most students don’t even need an i3 at all.</p>
<p>I know most students don’t need a Core i3, or even a Core 2. But this isn’t a standard Core 2, it is a very low-clocked, low-voltage model tuned for battery life rather than speed. The SU7300 got a Passmark score of 977, the same as the 2.16 GHz Core Duo from 2006. The current 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo gets a 1610, or more than 50% faster, and a 2.4 GHz Core i5 gets a 2522.</p>
<p>Does it work well today? You say it does, and I honestly don’t know. My concern is four years from now.</p>
<p>Be it as it may, like I said, I’m still able to multitask, watch videos, and photoshop on my laptop. It does everything but gaming for me.</p>
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<p>I am 100% confident other UL30 users will tell you the same thing I did.</p>
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<p>I’d consider my usage above that of a normal college student, and like I said, the CPU works fine for me. Program-wise, I don’t see anything that would cripple the CPU. OS-wise, Windows 7 works perfectly well on it. I even managed to get Windows 7 running on an old e2180, a far cry below the SU7300. As for future OS, obviously I can’t give a sure answer, but seeing the trend from Vista to Windows 7, I’m fairly confident that Microsoft has now realized that compatibility with older hardware is crucial for a successful OS.</p>
<p>Fair enough. I just thought it was important to point out that it wasn’t a standard Core 2, which is why I included “just FYI.” I agree that computers today are far more powerful that people really need, but setting that aside, it’s important to know what you’re buying. Ya know? :-)</p>
<p>Specs look pretty good. If you can find it in a retail store (a long shot), I’d check it out before you buy. It’d be good to get a sense of how solid the casing is, how the keyboard and trackpad are, etc. Those things can make a big difference in a laptop.</p>