You also need quite the confidence to bring out a notebook without a webcam in an era of social distancing, and with working or studying from home becoming more mainstream. Who buys an expensive laptop just for gaming?
Also, even just for gaming, some people like to stream, and not all streamers feel the need to use studio-level cameras just to show their face on the bottom corner of a screen.
I'm no gamerologist, but I'd bet gamers buy gaming laptops... for gaming. With the PC games. I'm also no market researchologist, but I bet the manufacturers hire one or two... and they've determined (with QUITE the confidence) there's room for gaming laptops without webcams. None of my gaming desktops have had one. If I were to buy a gaming laptop next time around, that wouldn't suddenly be a need.
It's all so very complicated. Suffice it to say, it's a big market, there's room for gaming laptops with AND without garbage built-in webcams.
People who buy a laptop for just gaming aren't really looking at laptops with this form factor. This is targeted at people who want a versatile machine.
who the heck wants to lug around yet an extra peripheral, and have a dangly wire taking up yet another usb port, and have to clip/unclip it every time you want to close the lid?
Maybe not "complicated" but sure is annoying, when every other laptop in the universe provides a rudimentary webcam that's extremely convenient.
It's still versatile in lots of other ways. And of course USB webcams exist (ASUS even make one themselves - with gamer aesthetics and all). It's not like you're going to be moving with one of these like you would with a phone or tablet.
Considering most built-in webcams are pretty mediocre, especially in gaming laptops (the Surface GO 2 has one of the best...), it's not that big of an emission.
Would it be nice to have one? Yes, along with Windows Hello IR cameras. But considering most people who will be video calling will be at home... they might as well use a better external quality webcam.
When I plug the notebook into a large screen, I have a separate webcam on top of this, so I'm not using the one in the notebook (it's usually placed to the side of the screen, so it's got the side of your head otherwise). If I take the notebook on the go, I don't always use the webcam. While I think it's a kind of dumb to omit it in this day and age, I don't think it's a deal breaker right now.
TB4 is hard now, It requires Intel's Virtualisation technology for security, AMD could work with intel on this but no word on it yet.
As for USB4, there's very few controllers in the market, one of them only started production in 20Q3, so it's up to the OEM to implement it or not. PS this is just USB 4.0 controller, it doesn't mean it has TB3 support which is optional in USB 4.0.
AMD is working on their own implementation of USB 4.0 which should be ready next year, it will be a native implementation (directly in the SoC/CPU). In theory you might get third party controller support before that from some OEM's, but this might not come this time as there's no USB 4.0 devices in the market.
Apple, was the first to have USB 4.0 because the TB 3.0 was developed in partner ship between them and Intel, so they have a big advantage in this regard and they got a big early head start. Not to mention that Apple might also be the first to implement TB4 on non-intel devices.
And OMG, they added back PgUp/PgDn/Home/End Fn key combos!
Looks like a real step up with Zen 3 and next gen of GPU and a 32GB-from-the-factory option. The kind of thing that makes you wish it wasn't so hard to justify upgrading after one year 🙃
Glad to see they fixed the unacceptable omission of the navigation keys from the last model, but without a webcam and with the giant areas of wasted space on the sides of the keyboard (I like my numpads on larger laptops) I would be more inclined to go with a competitor's model.
Yup, I happen to be one of those people that prefer a centered keyboard and touchpad, but a Numpad is not a deal-breaker, more of something I tolerate and convert to Macro keys. But I totally understand the lack of Numpad being a deal-breaker for a lot of people who use it.
Intel and Amd are playing a game behind curtain, this is not goog, amd w.o tb4 or usb4 , is an old device !! Usb4 is here why amd dont give us ??? Intel is still good for his tb4
So, does that mean Cezanne, or overhauled Renoir, or possibly either type CPU? Because I (and pretty much anyone else) will likely want Cezanne (Zen3 arch), unless the Renoirs are sold for a lot less. But, these laptops being more premium, that's unlikely.
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MattMe - Tuesday, January 12, 2021 - link
No ThunderBolt 4, no USB 4. Shame.Otherwise I might be interested in this.
ZoZo - Tuesday, January 12, 2021 - link
You also need quite the confidence to bring out a notebook without a webcam in an era of social distancing, and with working or studying from home becoming more mainstream.Who buys an expensive laptop just for gaming?
ZoZo - Tuesday, January 12, 2021 - link
Also, even just for gaming, some people like to stream, and not all streamers feel the need to use studio-level cameras just to show their face on the bottom corner of a screen.Alexvrb - Tuesday, January 12, 2021 - link
I'm no gamerologist, but I'd bet gamers buy gaming laptops... for gaming. With the PC games. I'm also no market researchologist, but I bet the manufacturers hire one or two... and they've determined (with QUITE the confidence) there's room for gaming laptops without webcams. None of my gaming desktops have had one. If I were to buy a gaming laptop next time around, that wouldn't suddenly be a need.It's all so very complicated. Suffice it to say, it's a big market, there's room for gaming laptops with AND without garbage built-in webcams.
Rookierookie - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - link
People who buy a laptop for just gaming aren't really looking at laptops with this form factor. This is targeted at people who want a versatile machine.forextor - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - link
Meh..., just buy a USB webcam if u need one..., isn't complicated.grant3 - Friday, January 15, 2021 - link
who the heck wants to lug around yet an extra peripheral, and have a dangly wire taking up yet another usb port, and have to clip/unclip it every time you want to close the lid?Maybe not "complicated" but sure is annoying, when every other laptop in the universe provides a rudimentary webcam that's extremely convenient.
Tams80 - Thursday, January 14, 2021 - link
It's still versatile in lots of other ways. And of course USB webcams exist (ASUS even make one themselves - with gamer aesthetics and all). It's not like you're going to be moving with one of these like you would with a phone or tablet.Spunjji - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - link
Does nobody have an external webcam? They're cheap, better quality, and you can choose the positioning.Tams80 - Thursday, January 14, 2021 - link
Considering most built-in webcams are pretty mediocre, especially in gaming laptops (the Surface GO 2 has one of the best...), it's not that big of an emission.Would it be nice to have one? Yes, along with Windows Hello IR cameras. But considering most people who will be video calling will be at home... they might as well use a better external quality webcam.
ZorroWinter - Friday, January 29, 2021 - link
When I plug the notebook into a large screen, I have a separate webcam on top of this, so I'm not using the one in the notebook (it's usually placed to the side of the screen, so it's got the side of your head otherwise). If I take the notebook on the go, I don't always use the webcam. While I think it's a kind of dumb to omit it in this day and age, I don't think it's a deal breaker right now.Valantar - Tuesday, January 12, 2021 - link
Thunderbolt 4 is proprietary to Intel. Beyond that I agree though, it's about time AMD laptops start showing up with USB4.yeeeeman - Tuesday, January 12, 2021 - link
Intel sells TB4 standalone chips.vladx - Tuesday, January 12, 2021 - link
Yeah but USB4 is the open standard for which neither ASUS or AMD have any excuses for not including it.Tams80 - Thursday, January 14, 2021 - link
Only fairly recently and it's still an external (and expensive) card.USB 4 is coming with Zen 4,which is only a year away, so stop your whining.
vladx - Thursday, January 14, 2021 - link
It's not all expensive, as there's no license costs unlike with Thunderbolt.Xajel - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - link
Yeah but they require intel CPU as they currently require Intel VT-D virtualisation. For now, I think AMD might be working on it.Prestissimo - Monday, January 18, 2021 - link
AMD is definitely working on mobile USB 4 implementation. Might have to wait until 2022 though.Timeslides - Tuesday, January 12, 2021 - link
If you want those features check out the TUF Dash F15 they also announced today, basically the same design with an Intel CPU.Alexvrb - Tuesday, January 12, 2021 - link
You get +3.75 FPS for every TB port amirite?Xajel - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - link
TB4 is hard now, It requires Intel's Virtualisation technology for security, AMD could work with intel on this but no word on it yet.As for USB4, there's very few controllers in the market, one of them only started production in 20Q3, so it's up to the OEM to implement it or not. PS this is just USB 4.0 controller, it doesn't mean it has TB3 support which is optional in USB 4.0.
AMD is working on their own implementation of USB 4.0 which should be ready next year, it will be a native implementation (directly in the SoC/CPU). In theory you might get third party controller support before that from some OEM's, but this might not come this time as there's no USB 4.0 devices in the market.
Apple, was the first to have USB 4.0 because the TB 3.0 was developed in partner ship between them and Intel, so they have a big advantage in this regard and they got a big early head start. Not to mention that Apple might also be the first to implement TB4 on non-intel devices.
twotwotwo - Tuesday, January 12, 2021 - link
And OMG, they added back PgUp/PgDn/Home/End Fn key combos!Looks like a real step up with Zen 3 and next gen of GPU and a 32GB-from-the-factory option. The kind of thing that makes you wish it wasn't so hard to justify upgrading after one year 🙃
JustAnotherPCEnthusiast - Tuesday, January 12, 2021 - link
Glad to see they fixed the unacceptable omission of the navigation keys from the last model, but without a webcam and with the giant areas of wasted space on the sides of the keyboard (I like my numpads on larger laptops) I would be more inclined to go with a competitor's model.brucethemoose - Tuesday, January 12, 2021 - link
Yeah, the lack of a webcam in particular is really strange.Spunjji - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - link
People seem to vary on the numpad question. I know many people who refuse to use a laptop with one because the keyboard is off-centre.Good to have choices, I guess?
Prestissimo - Monday, January 18, 2021 - link
Yup, I happen to be one of those people that prefer a centered keyboard and touchpad, but a Numpad is not a deal-breaker, more of something I tolerate and convert to Macro keys. But I totally understand the lack of Numpad being a deal-breaker for a lot of people who use it.bobdesnos - Tuesday, January 12, 2021 - link
Intel and Amd are playing a game behind curtain, this is not goog, amd w.o tb4 or usb4 , is an old device !! Usb4 is here why amd dont give us ??? Intel is still good for his tb4Tams80 - Thursday, January 14, 2021 - link
What.eastcoast_pete - Tuesday, January 12, 2021 - link
So, does that mean Cezanne, or overhauled Renoir, or possibly either type CPU? Because I (and pretty much anyone else) will likely want Cezanne (Zen3 arch), unless the Renoirs are sold for a lot less. But, these laptops being more premium, that's unlikely.Spunjji - Wednesday, January 13, 2021 - link
Overhauled Renoir is only in the U series. The H series are all Cezanne.Tams80 - Thursday, January 14, 2021 - link
All Zen 3 in these.