Two versions of the ASUS UX32VD have hit retail channels in Europe. The ASUS Zenbook UX32VD-R4002V and R3001VV offer exactly the same 500/24GB drive, GeForce GT620M and 4GB RAM with either Core i5 or Core i7 Ivy Bridge platforms. Starting price 999€ including local taxes – about $1054
Hands-up who’s interested?
Click for the ASUS Zenbook UX32VD information page.
The UX31E was a great Ultrabook but lacked something in the keyboard area. I bought one myself but took it back just days later after having problems with the keyboard. The UX32VD offers an improved keyboard, along with a much better screen. The 1920×1024 wide-viewing angles is getting great reviews.
In one of the biggest European price comparison engines the two devices are showing the following pre order prices.
ASUS Zenbook UX32VD-R4002V (Core i5-3317U 1.7Ghz) Cheapest (pre tax) €839,50, Amazon.de €839,50 ($1054)
ASUS Zenbook UX32VD-R3001V (Core i7-3517U 1.9Ghz) Cheapest (pre-tax) €894.20, Amazon.de €923.53 ($1160)
Availability. Ranges from ‘immediately available’ through 2-4 days and out to 4 weeks for the entry level model.
Outstanding questions
How is the Hybrid HDD implemented? There are good and bad Hybrid HDDs. Does it come with a low-cost Windows 8 upgrade? I think many of you would also like to know US pricing and availability too right? Expect $999 entry level and a similar availability windows. i.e. before end of June 2012
Alternative
You want an Ultrabook with a high-end graphics card and hi-res screen? You can also consider the Gigabyte U2442V or U2442N offer a GT640M although we haven’t seen prices and availability yet.
So how many of you are looking for high-end graphics? Or is the HD4000 enough for you?
ASUS is packing quite a punch with these laptops, and it’s great that they tried to make the keyboard better. The keyboard wAs by far the most common target of complaints with the ux31e. I just wish they changed the actual layout when they were at it. The ones I see when I google the picture has the same layout as my ASUS: no Fn-Lock, and the Fn-key is down on the left side while the volume off/down/up are way up right at F10, F11 and F12 making it impossible to press without using both hands. It might sound petty, but you get tired of it after a year or so.
On a semi-related note: does anyone use Caps Lock? It’s usually twice the size of a normal key and I don’t think I’ve used it the last ten years or so. Why the waste of key-estate? Am I missing something?
Im definitely going to wait it out for the Gigabyte, hope the price inst much more than the ASUS UX32VD because of the better graphics card…
how much different is that from the prime and when is the prime comming available in europe?:)
Take this same model and add a GT640M (or better) graphics card and a full SSD and it would be exactly what I’m looking for.
I’ll take the UX31a :)
I prefer SSD than dedicated graphics..
What about the UX31A ? :(
Already got mine today (actually typing from it right now ;))
No pre-orders did not go live in Europe. Pre-Orders went live in Germany. The rest of Europe cannot pre-order.
You can pre order from Amazon.de
Amazon de delivers internationally AFAIK
http://www.amazon.de/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200171000
Yes, you are correct one can order from Amazon.de, but you may well end up with a German keyboard, which is great you are German, but I prefer QWERTY keyboards.
I tried to find a link on the Amazon.de seller web site in order to contact the seller and ask whether it has a US local QWERTY keyboard or German QWERTZ, but did not see the contact link :(
If it is released in the Netherlands then it’ll come with US local qwerty as this is the standard on used in Holland.
I would also like one with the QWERTY, I hate AZERTY, I work in Germay (QWERTZ) but still QWERTY is what I want..
John did you find a source in Europe that has the QWERTY available?
Thanks
ruben