Equivilent laptop to a Asus A8JP

[FatBoyNotSoSlim]

I've spent the last few weeks researching a laptop and the Asus A8JP wins hands down. Rather cheap, powerer video card, cvi out, large hard drive and a C2D.
The only thing is, I need to buy a laptop via Harvey Norman (Auburn if it matters) to get a large saving on it, and Hardly Normals don't sell Asus
So I'm trying to find an equivilent laptop with similar specs of...

Core 2 Duo (atleast the 5500)
1gb ram
80gb hard drive
Dvd burner
DVI out (would be nice, I spose)
ATI x1700 or Nvidia 7600
802.11G and Bluetooth

I looked around Auburn HN for almost an hour looking at their models, and of the ones with atelast a 7400 or x1600 video card, the prices were aproaching $2500 or $3k, with the other specs of the laptop quite pathetic.

Also, I won't need this laptop for a few more months untill UNI starts, so should I wait and get the Asus on special for the same price i would of gotten it for with the saving, or look to see whats good in a few months and start this process again? I know its a catch 22, especially with notebooks, buy now or wait for it to be cheaper, only to be superseeded with something better...

[razza]

I hate to say this but there is nothing that comes close to A8JP price/spec wise. The only laptop that sort of came close was the Sony Vaio C series. Otherwise you will have to look at Core Duos only.

[Protagonist]

The on that comes to my mind is the Sony VAIO FE35GP, which is around $2,199. Doesnt have DVI though, but has the rest.

[josh81]

Have you asked them if they can order the Asus in?

[bAbY_RoG3R]

if i remember correctly, Auburn HN stocks in loads of HP and Toshiba laptops. So you'd definitely be looking for a HP equiv which i doubt there will be .

ASUS laptops are very good for their price

[cklaseboy]

Originally Posted by bAbY_RoG3R

if i remember correctly, Auburn HN stocks in loads of HP and Toshiba laptops. So you'd definitely be looking for a HP equiv which i doubt there will be .

ASUS laptops are very good for their price

I recently purchased the Sony C series, it has the above except it has the Geforce 7400 (tho im not sure what the diff wit 7600 is as i am not a gamer). I upped the memory to 1.5gb (from 512 standard) and it is pretty much what u want. does not have DVI out though. All up came in around 2.1k with memory upgrade.

its a 13.3" widescreen too so its quite small

[FatBoyNotSoSlim]

Thanks for all the advice and recomendations.
I've still yet to try a few things that might work in my favour.
*See if my fathers work's salery sacrifice program for laptops is similar to my cousins one, and what stipulations on what brands you can do. As it may allow for any laptop purchased from anywhere.
*I'm going to visit my local Harvey Norman(s) down here in Victoria and see if they can get an Asus in.
*Compare the competions equivilents Too many different varieties to sift through though.
**The AUD$ is on its way up and Asus have an international warrenty, I might check out the newegg price and get it sent here/pick it when relatives visit USA later this year.

Thanks for the recomendations, time to go look at the Vaio's website.

[jughead13]

Take a look at the Asus F3JP.

Its about $1750 and its the same specs as you mentioned.

[Diesmile]

be careful, f3 series laptop suffers a major screen problem, some ppl call it grainy picture.

search for it, it seems asus is trying to patch it up, but not worked yet.

[jughead13]

That is interesting you say that.
I notice mine has a grainy appearance when you look at lighter colours, probably most notable on great backgrounds. It doesnt really bother me as i thought it was just a characteristic of new screens as i saw a toshiba laptop without the colourshine screen have the same graininess to it.

[CustomX]

f3 series is flawless..

sold many of them, and none of them have come back, i own an f3jv with 2gb of ram and the screen is crisp and clean.

Might of been a bad batch but i am yet to see one with an issue

[josh81]

Originally Posted by jughead13

Take a look at the Asus F3JP.

Its about $1750 and its the same specs as you mentioned.

Except the A8JP is a 2.4kg 14" model, and that one is a 3kg 15.4".

Are you considering 15.4" models FatBoyNotSoSlim, or only portable?

[FatBoyNotSoSlim]

Originally Posted by josh81

Except the A8JP is a 2.4kg 14" model, and that one is a 3kg 15.4".

Are you considering 15.4" models FatBoyNotSoSlim, or only portable?

To be honest, size of screen/portability isnt important to me.
I have a car and large backpacks, so weight won't annoy me.

My only concern/thought is that with the 14" models, if it has a better video card then its a lower res so more fps, but a larger res screen with a lower end video card = lower fps.
I know that makes me sound like a total gamer.... which is a bit wrong.
I watch a crapload of Tv shows, so aslong as its 720p (atleast 1280x700) it wont mind me. Although i did see some HP (i think) laptops with full 1080i screens (1920x1080 in a laptop :O) and I think they had crap graphics, good luck gaming on that

[josh81]

Originally Posted by cklaseboy

I recently purchased the Sony C series, it has the above except it has the Geforce 7400 (tho im not sure what the diff wit 7600 is as i am not a gamer).

Much better, probably close to twice the 3DMark05 score. X1700 even better still.

[FatBoyNotSoSlim]

Originally Posted by josh81

Much better, probably close to twice the 3DMark05 score. X1700 even better still.

Your saying the 7400 is better then the 7600