Notebook decision, advice.

[Tanus]

I've been reading a couple of threads and asking a few people for opinions, and have come up with the following notebooks that seem to suit my needs:

Acer Aspire 1694WLMi
ASUS V6V (this review has me almost sold on it http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2311).
ASUS W3V (smaller screen similar performance to above?)

I'm after a notebook to be used mostly for work, that I'll also be carrying around a lot and travelling with. My day to day apps are zend studio, VM Ware, MS Project, open office etc. I'm also going to be using it as a semi replacement desktop (I currently have a 2500+ with gf4200) until I get around to upgrading it, so it needs to be at least capable of playing games such as HL2 or live for speed for the next 6-12 months (I have a 4200, so lower resolutions aren't that big an issue).

I've been able to figure out that the P-M is a little better than a P4 chip due to its better energy usage, but loses out in raw bang for buck than an AMD chip, but I still don't really know what's best suited to what. I also don't how mobile video cards scale against each other or against their desktop equivalents (I'm linux based at the moment so running 3DMark05 isn't possible right now). Another thing I know nothing about is screen quality; I've read reviews of the v6v that say it has a decent viewing range even though it doesn't have that glossy whatever it is stuff (what is that by the way?), but other reviews say it's disappointing. Screen size isn't too much of a problem for me, less can sometimes be more, especially if I hook it up to an external monitor for a large part of the time.

I guess the other thing to consider is security (locking it down if it gets stolen) and warranty info. Is anyone able to make some recommendations about either of the above, or something else I should look at? (Absolute top price is $3000, 2500 is more like it)

Edit: The extras that come with the v6v are also appealing, if just because they look like they'd be useful instead of binned.

Also, where am I able to see an ASUS on a showroom floor in Syd? From what I can tell, most of them are all done through online retailers at the moment.

[Andres]

I think u need to plan exactly what u want from your laptop.

A portable workhorse, or a gaming machine substitute. Your gonna be hard pressed to find something smalll that will run half-life 2 well (and not $$$)

I'm pretty happy with my notebook,it runs most stuff well, but it could be more portable. But that said its my only computer, and i can watch dvds in widescreen nicely etc.

So yeah, maybe define what u really want to use it for! (and how it will be transported too... e.g. if its jsut gonna go on backseat of car, size doesn't matter, as opposed to riding a bike)

[beeker]

I got a W3V and love it to bits. Picked it over the V6 as it has a 14.1 in screen. The 15 was a touch too big for what I wanted. Otherwise, the specs are basically the same, so that is something to think about.

Acer also has a 14in one. The Aspire 5503 which is cheaper than the W3V but less specced and less warranty, but is pretty new.

I think Digitalstar has a lot of these models on show, but I can be wrong.

[sw1tch]

get a dell 9300 with a GeForce Go 6800

or if you want the ultimate desktop replacement laptop....wait a few more months for the Dell M170....has a GO G70 GTX

[Tanus]

I'm not really looking for a complete desktop replacement, as I plan on rebuilding my desktop for gaming in the next 6 months or so anyway. Just something to tide me over until then that can play something like hl2 as good / slightly better than my current 4200.

It'll mostly be a business machine that I can travel with (manual carrying), and have enough grunt to play games when I'm stuck overnight somewhere. I'm almost 100% decided on the w3v now due to its slightly smaller size. beeker: Do you find the heat output to be too much at all? I've read it can get hot with the exhaust blowing onto an external mouse hand, or on the palm rest. What specs did you go with?

[tonner78]

Originally Posted by Tanus

I'm not really looking for a complete desktop replacement, as I plan on rebuilding my desktop for gaming in the next 6 months or so anyway. Just something to tide me over until then that can play something like hl2 as good / slightly better than my current 4200.

It'll mostly be a business machine that I can travel with (manual carrying), and have enough grunt to play games when I'm stuck overnight somewhere. I'm almost 100% decided on the w3v now due to its slightly smaller size. beeker: Do you find the heat output to be too much at all? I've read it can get hot with the exhaust blowing onto an external mouse hand, or on the palm rest. What specs did you go with?

Mate, I have a W3V and I love it to bits!! The screen is heeeeaps nice, and its really light and compact. Top quality lappie i say!

The palm rest can get a little hot at times, but nothing much.

Specs are in sig - note i put an extra 512mb in myself, came with 512 standard.

All up definitely recommend the lappie, it'll play BF2 pretty good so thats a good indicator too

[PogiPinoy]

i wanna swap my M6N for a 14" lappy...hate this big ass 15.4" widescreen laptop..not very mobile at all!!

i'd prolly swap it for a tablet pc

have u considered a tablet pc?

[beeker]

The specs of my notebook is basically the same as tonner78's (except my video card is the 64Mb one. I also went with the 100Gb HDD (but mine is a 4200RPM one. Hopefully this will prolong my battery life) Even added the extra 512Mb myself like tonner78 If you want a faster HDD, the 80Gb one is a 5400RPM I believe

The exhaust that comes out is warm, but I would not consider it HOT. It was very nice for winter to keep the mouse hand warm though. I do use the Power4Gear stuff to reduce the performance when I am working, and only put it up to full when I'm playing a game. The only time the heat annoyed me was when I was gaming for a relatively long time. I just put a folded piece of cardboard to vent the warm air to the back. (Not really necessary most of the time though for me)

When gaming, the underneath of the base can get quite hot, but I've cut one of those hard back folders in half and used it as a base, giving it some circulation underneath. I like how you can disable the touchpad when not in use. When the palm rest gets warm, it is under the right hand, so it doesn't matter too much when gaming

Mine came with a Logitech wireless portable optical mouse (wish it was bluetooth) and a bag. I've even used the CD player several times without turning the notebook on.

Very happy with the unit all together, as it also came with a 2 year global warranty. Even comes with a card with contract numbers globally. I slipped it into the base sleeve.

Several minor things that I can live with but would have wished for more.
1. USB based RF wireless mouse instead of using the built in bluetooth. (Already have a Bluetake bluetooth mouse from my old Powerbook)
2. Region free DVDRW (Can't have everything)
3. 4pin Firewire. (6pin with power would be great for my ipod mini, but now using the USB cable)
4. No DVI connector but just VGA (Understandable)
5. 14.1in widescreen, wish it was a 13.3in widescreen for better portability (Was looking at the Sony S360 but it was too expensive)
6. Difficulty getting fitting ready made sleeves for now. (Still looking, some powerbook sleeves seem to fit OK. Using an iskin for a 15in Powerbook atm)

But really, I'm just whinging because I can. I can live with all this. It has been the most comfortable and enjoyable notebook I have owned, including the Powerbooks, most Compaqs, and Sonys. I do like the idea of the Toshibas, but the bang for buck was not there.

Hope this helps...

[Tanus]

I'm sold. Now just to find somewhere to get it from

[beeker]

I forgot 1 last thing

7. For some reason, it takes a while to start up. (Reason I forgot was because I rarely need to start it up from scratch. Usually I hibernate it or suspend to RAM)

I ended buying mine from cwsydney in Tempe in early July. Very happy with the whole experience. You might want to check staticice and see what you can get.

Best of luck!!

[Tanus]

Originally Posted by beeker

I forgot 1 last thing

I ended buying mine from cwsydney in Tempe in early July. Very happy with the whole experience. You might want to check staticice and see what you can get.

That's what I've been doing, but I can't seem to get a price on the 770 (the 533mhz chip?). Will be calling around tomorrow, but how much more am I looking at paying over the $2700 or so that the 750, 64 VRAM model has?

Edit to clarify: I can't find a price on a W3V with 533FSB and the 128MB X600, everything so far has been the 400mhz / 64MB model.

[beeker]

Originally Posted by Tanus

That's what I've been doing, but I can't seem to get a price on the 770 (the 533mhz chip?). Will be calling around tomorrow, but how much more am I looking at paying over the $2700 or so that the 750, 64 VRAM model has?

Not too sure, but calling them would be best. When I called CWS, they actually checked with Asus while I was on the line to see how long deliver would be.

Note that if you are going up in CPU rating, more heat would be generated.