A8Js vs. G1 exchange?

I am an A8Js owner, extremely happy with the performance of the A8Js.. however I made the purchase before the G1 was released. I prefer the G1 machine, however the smaller 14" screen of the A8Js is a big selling point for me.

So the point of my post -- is anyone interested in (possibly) exploring the option of a 1 for 1 machine exchange? There is absolutely no defect with my machine, and to go a step further 99.9% of its usage thus far has been docked (don't ask..) -- meaning the keyboard, touchpad and screen are essentially untouched.

Give me some feedback please, if this is an impossibility at least put this nagging thought to rest for me


PS -- I would consider simply returning the machine if the G1 becomes my end decision, however my vendor http://www.canadacomputers.com has a 15% restocking fee which I am definately not eager to pay.

 

ahhh 1 for 1 exchange...meaning just swapping them both straight? cause the G1 is more expensive, you might also find that a hard possibility at the moment. The G1 was just released, they aren't widely available yet from what iv seen.

 

Laptops like a used car! Once of the companies lot,,it drops the price atleast 15%! THat might be the restocking fee...Just pay the restocking fee or sell the laptop on ebay!
BUt i personally like the a8js over the G1!
They have the same graphics card.
The a8js is lighter, and goto your friends house to play lan games!
Why would you pay more for something thats heavier, Bigger, and more money for the same hardware inside?
If you dont like the looks of the a8js, buy a Skin for the front lid!
I think it might be a temporary fix for your brain!
goodluck

 

i like the 2gb and 160 gb hd in the g1

When you think about it, the g1 is cheaper. it just costs more initially.
They are competitive at least. I think the g1 is a better deal....

 

The Buy, Sell, Trade Forum would have been a more appropriate forum for this post.

The G1 comes with a better configuration (WSXGA+, 2 GB of RAM and 160 GB HD) and is more expensive, so I'm afraid you are unlikely to find an even-swap for your used A8Js.

 

no offense..but good luck finding a trader on this one. You'll have to throw in some cash to sweeten the deal. Might as well return it and pay the restocking fee to get a G1.

 

I agree with hkarthik - a brand new G1 is no way comparable to a used A8Js.

I am sorry to hear about your importune timing, but that is not to say that the A8Js is a poor laptop as it is obviously not. You'd have to throw in some serious incentives in order to sway someone to do that "swap" but that is incredibly unlikely and just simply at best wishful thinking.

Your best chances would be to either sell the laptop and hope your losses are not so bad, or just pay the 15% restocking fee. As others have already mentioned, the A8Js is $1599USD while the G1 is $1799USD so that already defies your wishful thinking of a simple trade.

Even if you pay the restocking fee (or choose to take a loss by reselling your laptop) and buy the G1, you would be paying nearly $500 to upgrade from the A8Js to the G1. Too costly in my opinion and not worth it.

 

Maybe the buy/sell forum would have been better, you're right. If a mod would like to move this I would not disagree.

As for balancing the difference in price -- it would not be an issue, it is only fair. This post is more of a troll for options than a hard written "MUST GET RID OF", as people have mentioned the performance of the A8Js is exceptional and identical to the G1.

 

I think you would have to find somebody who would be able to trust you then. But even still, who would want to buy a used A8Js (even though it may very well still be brand new but nonetheless it is 2nd-hand) over a brand-new A8Js?

 

I agree with stamar, the G1 is a better buy. The only thing I have with it, though to others and myself it doesn't have an expresscard. I know PCMCIA is more readily available. But, you never know when you will need it. As you can see I bolded "when" since you never know when you would or ever will need it.

Other than that, G1 is a nice machine and very well priced...

 

ASUS is going backwards with the PCMCIA CardBus (e.g. 54mm) instead of going with the PCMCIA ExpressCard (note PCMCIA is used for both, as PCMCIA is nothing but a form-factor - both interfaces are developed by PCMCIA).

CardBus is inferior. It's wider and slower. CardBus PC cards must go through a CardBus Controller before any data is sent to the System Bus. ExpressCards do not have to pass through any controller. In addition to this, ExpressCards can be utilized to transfer information to the System Bus via PCI-express or USB 2.0 whereas CardBus uses a shared 1066 Mbit/s bandwidth. PCI-express bandwidth is a whopping 2.5 Gbit/s (USB 2.0 is 480 Mbit/s) dedicated for each slot.

PCMCIA ExpressCard is indubitably the way of the future. Hands down. Sorry, ASUS - no kudos for that blunder.

 

the only express card item that anyone in nbr owns is something that gives you a pcmia port

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...escription=expresscard&Submit=ENE&N=0&Ntk=all

You can get FireWire 1394b (800 Mbps), SATAII, serial port, wireless-N card, extra card reader(s)...basically everything the CardBus has to offer.

 

That killed it for me too -a really dumb move for Asus IMHO. The PCMCIA standard was never really solid, and using PCMCIA cards is a crap shoot -you don't know if it will work until you plug it in. With Express Card the interface is either PCI Express or USB 2.0 -both connection standards are very solid, so all Express Card peripherals should work on all laptops...

 

Your post is "terminology soup": The same group that developed PCMCIA developed Express Card, but they started over from scratch and didn't use anything from PCMCIA -not the form factor or the controler...

 

You know I stand corrected. The wireless n card I would buy. I will buy something like that someday

 

Wasn't the reason why the G1 uses the PCMCIA was due to it was built around an older chassis, the A6j, which doesn't have expresscard.

 

Yes

I think it will be a big selling point seeing as there are no pc express cards you can really get.

 

Well, I guess for gamers it can go both ways (for those truly hardcore), the laptop will only last "true hardcore" gamers 2 years max, then the hardware will be tremendously outdated. Second, gamers right now probably wouldn't mind the PCMCIA since they can get the soundcard, which expresscard doesn't have atm.

 

Why would you want to get a PC Card soundcard? Doesn't the laptop already include digital surround audio?

I'm using my current PC slot for a 802.11b wireless card and I can envision using the future PC slot for an N-wireless card as Wi-Fi is ridiculously slow in drafting a standard. MIMO is too good of an invention - whoever thought of that deserves a cookie.

To Dalantech - the ExpressCard is developed by PCMCIA - sure you can interchange PC/PCMCIA card slot with CardBus Slot but that's analogous to using "NVidia Card" for the 'G7700Go': http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Express_card

 

audophile bit perfect output might be the reason, or a high quality line out.

 

I don't know of any audiophile PCMIA sound cards, most of them seem to be external firewire cards.

I ended up getting a USB sound card and it ended up working better for me than a PCMIA card would have (not that my A8Jm has PCMIA, so it's a moot point), but I wish I'd gotten the Audigy NX instead of the Live! 5.1 since the latter uses USB 1.1 and ends up having bandwidth issues in surround sound modes. Ah well.

An important thing to note is that the output from Intel HDA isn't comparable to that of a proper sound card. I don't know what it is but it seems that it just clips the very high and very low frequencies-sounds that I expect just aren't there, even though the midrange sounds fine. Mind you, you need fairly decent speakers or headphones to tell the difference.

 

Here's a link to the Soundblaster PCMCIA sound card, many use this, plus Dell might have it for 50$ USD, since they usualy get good deals on it, otherwise it is roughly 70$+ USD.
http://www.soundblaster.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=204&product=10769

USB sound cards are also a great alternative, like Turtle Beach solutions and there are others.

Right now Express Card slots don't have many devices, but they will in the future, but right now PCMCIA is the way to go, if you have a slot.

 

Wow, this whole thread is shifted into something else. Oh sorry...as you were. I just had to say something.

 

Sorry to ask & off-topic again. What is the use for PCMCIA & Express Card Slot?