Question:
Can't decide...battle of Asus notebooks...
I started a new thread because this is a new question. I can't decide betweeen the A8jm w3j w2j Z96j and S96j. My ideal size would be 15.4'' or 17'' (since gaming isn't as good on a 14'' screen). From a laptop owners point of view since ive never owned one before, is weight really a big deal?
Another thing ive heard people rave about the A8jm and V3j but 14'' seems tiny. But i dont know what quality/features I'll lose if i don't pick a 14''. How much battery life can i expect from those other than the w2j? (which being 17'' i'm sure the battery life would be terrible). Is it really worth it to get a bigger battery?
Answer:
Re: Can't decide...battle of Asus notebooks...
It all comes down to your personal use. Are you using the laptop for school, work, travelling... ? I want a sub 14" screen simply to shed weight and increase portability. I obviously don't intend to leave it on a desk all day where size and weight could be an asset. 15.1" is quite large for day to day useage. I thought sub 14" gaming would also be a comprimise, but reviews suggest otherwise.
What where and why do you want a laptop?
Answer:
Re: Can't decide...battle of Asus notebooks...
I carried around a 14" laptop for an entire semester at college, and I can safely say it's the maximum size I would lug around (I've actually "upgraded" to a 12" ultraportable because the 14" proved to be a bit of a PITA).
However, if your only looking for a desktop replacement with occasional trips here and there, a 15.4" or even a 17" should be a much better option than a 14" X1600/7600 (for which size comes at a price premium).
For gaming at a reasonable price, the ~$1250-ish E1705 is hard to pass up with its 7900GS on a 17" screen. Otherwise, the 15.4" with X1600 is good as well, although the 7900GS would be substantially faster. If you're really into games, the 7900GS would be a good call.
Answer:
Re: Can't decide...battle of Asus notebooks...
I'm in the business college where there are wireless hook-ups everywhere. So i could study/surf between classes. Being left-handed its harder to take notes due to smearing etc etc, plus i type much faster than i write so I'm sure ill take my notebook to lectures. The laptop will be carried around, but not ALL the time. I do plan to game but nothing SUPER-intensive so i doubt i need the 7900GS. I would like 3+ hours of battery life at least. Do some of the notebooks i listed offer a bay or something for a 2nd battery (sorry i dont know the terminology im new to laptops). At one time i considered the E1505 but Dell build quality is questionable..... What are the advantages/disadvantages to the Z96j vs. S96j or in the 14'' world the W3j vs. A8jm ( i know the A8jm doesn't offer BT but that's all i know, why is there such a large price gap?)
Answer:
Re: Can't decide...battle of Asus notebooks...
Well, I can summarize the differences for you:
W3J vs A8Jm:
W3J
- x1600 256Mb dedicated mem, 256 Hyper threading
- Extra Modular bay for extra battery, optical drive etc
- Better materials & looks
- 1280 x 768
- 3 USB ports
A8Jm
- Nvidia Go 7600 512 MB dedicated mem
- DVI
- Webcam
- 1280 x 800
- 5 USB ports
- No Bluetooth in North American versions
As for Z96J vs S96J, only screen res and BT:
- Z96J = 1650 x 1050 vs S96J = 1280 x 800
- Z96J = Bluetooth vs S96J = no BT
Answer:
Re: Can't decide...battle of Asus notebooks...
thanks for laying out the differences :). So what is the really expensive part i wanna know? the x1600 is that much better than the go7600? Can you get a better screen for the w3j?
Anyone have a really good site to order these from?
Answer:
Re: Can't decide...battle of Asus notebooks...
thanks for laying out the differences :). So what is the really expensive part i wanna know? the x1600 is that much better than the go7600? Can you get a better screen for the w3j?
Anyone have a really good site to order these from?
there's lots of sites, just check the asus section. The W3J is more expensive due to the materials used in its construction.
Answer:
Re: Can't decide...battle of Asus notebooks...
Yeah, it's only more expensive because of the materials I think. x1600 and Go7600 shouldn't make much difference as they're pretty much comparable in performance, the x1600 wins in 3dMark05, while the 7600 wins in 3dMark06. Don't think you'll notice a performance difference in real world apps.
Answer:
Re: Can't decide...battle of Asus notebooks...
what would you guys recommend for 15'' Ensemble models. (not Z96j or S96J). So i take it the Z or the S you need to put together yourself?
Answer:
Re: Can't decide...battle of Asus notebooks...
No, the built-on you can have assembled for you if you buy it through a reseller. You can purchase CPU, RAM, HDD, etc. from them and have them put it in like I did.