Hello,
I posted something similar on the Compal forum but wanted feedback from the Asus owners on this one.
I am struggling to figure out which mobile computer is best for me. I am considering getting or building a HEL80 with the following specs:
* Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T7200, dual 2.0GHz cores, 2MB L2 Cache
* 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 7600
* 2048MB Corsair™ PC5300 DDR2 SODIMM memory
* 100GB Seagate® 7,200RPM hard drive, 8MB cache
* 8x Dual Layer DVD-RW
/CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo Drive
Price: $1,900 already built and 1700 if I build it.
I am comparing this to the Asus A8JS which looks to be a really super machine here are the specs for the Asus A8JS:
* Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 2GHz, FSB: 667MHz, 4MB L2 Cache
* nVidia Go7700 512MB Discrete Memory
* 1GB RAM, DDR2 667MHz (1x1GB)
* 100GB 5400RPM 2.5-inch SATA Harddrive
* 8x DVD-RW Dual Layer Drive
* Intel PRO 3945 Wireless 802.11a/b/g
* 8-in-1 Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS Pro/XD)
* Gigabit LAN, DVI, VGA, S-Video, Firewire, 5 USB ports, Infrared
* 19mm Full Size Keyboard
* 13.18” x 9.64” x 1.37”~1.46”, 5.25 lbs
Price: $1,598.99
I really like both systems. The A8JS seems to perform much better and has dedicated 512mb for graphics which is not the most important thing for me since I am a programmer. This computer will be used mostly for Java J2EE and Dot Net development not games. I would have to get another 1gb for the Asus if that is the system I choose which brings the price to around $1,740 and I would probably opt for a faster drive.
I do like the larger and higher resolution screen of (HEL80). I have no idea which is better matte or glossy but I think matte might be better since I don't plan on whatching DVDs however the HEL80 doesn't have a DVI-D output for my larger 23inch lcd monitor at home and the A8JS does. One thing is I absolutely hate glare and I will be looking at the screen for hours on end. Is there really a huge difference between matte and glossy and has anyone on this forum had a Compal with a matte screen to truly compare?
Does anyone have any ideas to break the tie I haven't used either the ASUS or Compal notebooks? I will say that I am a stickler for quality and as far as I am concerned that is a big deal for me but both systems seem to be around the same quality from reviews I have read. Also I am a bit concerned about the light leakage issues with the A8JS and I don't think this is an issue with the HEL80.
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there's a considerable size and weight difference between 15.4" and 14.1" so you'll have to really ponder on that. Although one thing I find that is overblown is the thickness of it.. side by side pictures have shown that it's the same thickness as the 96j series. It is just angled differently, exposing the entire thickness.
I personally do not like matte screens period, but fellow mod Chaz seems to think that it has one of the best matte screens.
I personally lean towards the A8js due to the smaller form factor and the DVI port for your external display. -
Thanks Goren. This is really a struggle whatever I buy has to last for at least 3 years. I wish there was a better way that I could compare the two screens and really get an idea if the 14inch is enough for me since the A8JS is a lot lighter however the other factor is the battery life which the HEL80 seems to win. Ugh I do wish the HEL80 had the DVI-D output I don't think this should be optional as it is pretty much how things are now a days I mean if you like a sharp screen it is the only way to go. This is going to be a tough decision. Does the the A8JS screen show a lot of glare? My wife's toshiba is a glossy and it isn't too bad but I will be working in radically different lighting situations so I need to be sure.
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All glossy screens have glare.
Personally, I prefer 14 inch screens. 13.3 inch laptops are kinda small, 15.4 inch starts to get big. 14 inch is right in the middle. Its good sized, and lightweight.
In other words, I support the A8Js -
I think everyone whos a regular on the asus forums will recommend the A8Js, and everyone on the compal forums would support the HEL-80.
As for me...I'd really go for the A8Js (obviously) because it does have quite a high resolution for a 14.1 inch notebook, and for me the video card was really important since I am a gamer. The difference between a 15.4 and a 14.1 is pretty big in terms of portability, and I think a 14.1 notebook is the perfect size. -
PROPortable Company Representative
Although it's easier to compare the A8 to a compal... you're comparing the worst build Asus has to the best system Compal has....... That should say enough right there.
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Well what would be the best laptop Asus has to offer quality wise? Also is there any that have a similar matte screen? What is your opinion of the A8JS and is there anything specific that you disklike about Compal do you have experience with the HEL80?
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The A8Js is the worst asus has to offer? I didn't know that...
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Quality wise, I think the Asus W3J may be the best out there.
The A8Js is bad quality, for Asus, but better than Dell. I think it ties HP. -
PROPortable Company Representative
well... in the 14" range, it would be the W3 obviously.... all together.. I'd have to say the W2, only because it's got the most mass to work with..... but the W3 is certianly better physically in every way than the A8... from the materials (carbon fiber, magnetic latch, anodized brushed aluminum... bigger hinges....)........ The A8 is a great computer for a great price, but if the W3 has the same exact specs, it would be $500 more than it is now, which would be $2300........ compared for the under $1600 for the A8..... all in the chassis... and the quality of the screen. Although the screen is a higher res, the quality is lower on the A8.
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Thanks SmartSam11 and ProPortable you are both really helping. Those models do look mighty solid wish they were in my price range I wonder if I built my own system from barebones if I could get the price within the 2k range. I wish there was some way of actually using these machines for like an hour, I am sure it would be easy to pick one if I could use them. I think this might be a good idea for a company
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PROPortable Company Representative
You're in Maine or Mass?
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I am in Mass.
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4 if you count the VBI models.. versus a very wide range of Asus models (A8 series, W7, S96/Z96, W3, V6, W2, W5, etc). Compal seems intent on maintaining its relationship as an ODM by limiting the number of whitebooks they release (they are the 2nd largest ODM) while Asus is establishing a name for itself.
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I must say I doubt you will get an objective opinion on the asus forum.
I'm not an expert...
but I have less confidence in the compal brand because when I looked at some of the models they made for other manufacturers they had a lot of defects.
The seperate compal brand didnt have any data I could look up about it either because it was relatively new which also made me feel less confident.
When I was looking at the compal I think it was the hgl 30 which is like the a8jm in its stats and is also cheaper. I am not even that familiar with the hel 80 but it doesnt seem like the right comparison because asus has one like that called the s96j, and the asus one is cheaper.
compal makes some excellent computers though like the xps 1710 and the dell m90.
They are often the technology leaders on the us market by a large margin, I mean by introducing new technologies to the consumer in the models they make, like for instance even the cheapest compal has the instant dj features but almost none of the asus models have it maybe the small scale high end models do Im not sure.
Did you know compal models come only as whitebooks? This is their company marketing strategy and more consumers prefer this set up. I think this is an important difference too not dealing with the actual hardware itself....
You will notice the same strategy has to go over to the models they make for other companies. The compal ones like the inspiron are cheaper to alter than the models asus makes like the macbook, which they try to sell a specific way through boxed retail, and only alter at high cost through a central company order. -
Granted, the A8 series may be the "ugly duckling" compared to the W3. But I'd bet a pay check that all the brushed aluminum and carbon fiber won't keep a W3 from breaking if you drop it a meter or more onto a hard surface. So although it might sound like a W3 has better build quality, in reality it just looks better. Being a geek I don't really care how the machine looks -I need to get things done and performance is everything...
IMHO comparing the A8 and the W3 is like comparing apples and oranges. They both appeal to completely different types of people... -
I looked at the HEL80 and the HQL30 when I was shopping for a laptop. I don't like the port placement on the Compals and the A8Js has a faster video card and a higher resolution screen. I ended up buying the A8Js and should get it next week.
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ProPortable I talked with your brother duude he is still at work at 11pm you should give him a raise. He answered a ton of questions for me and I feel very good about the conversation very nice person spent a ton of time with me. I like the W3 line a lot, my wife probably would not let me spend that much but it is nice knowing there is a very high build quality in a companies lineup. I do think that overall the Asus is probably a better fit I don't think there is anything wrong with the HEL80 it is also a great machine and it would cost around 1700 for me to build from barebones with Windows XP but for just a little more than that I can get the Asus A8js configured with 2gb and a 7200 rpm Seagate drive. And I will get the DVI and it will be lighter I only wish I could see the screens of each of these computers because ultimately that is what I will be using the most. Still not completely decided could still go either way but your brother did show me the light with the W3 model which is mighty impressive indeed. At this point if I had $500 extra to spend I would immediately purchase an Asus W3 without hesitation or struggle and that is an impressive thing to say.
Dalantech I do see your point but my wife has a Toshiba it works and was very cheap and for her needs it is perfect however it is also nice to sometimes be able to have a well built solid device. And yes I am sure it will ultimately be breakable but if it can be rugged then it is more of a pleasure to use and for someone who uses computer for sometimes days on end that is just a nice thing to have.
I think this decision will be totally decided by the screens, the cost and the integration with my monitor and not much else I need to weigh each of these things. The HEL80 has a better screen that is pretty clear and hard to argue based on issues with the A8 screen. The A8 has a DVI output which is a big deal for me. The HEL80 is cheaper if I build it myself but not that much cheaper than simply buying an already built Asus and enhancing it.
I wouldn't expect to get an objective opinion from the Asus forum or the HEL80 forum but people are bringing up very good points and that is what I wanted, obviously if a bunch of Asus owners said they hated their systems or likewise for the HEL80 forum then I would be happy that my decision became easier but I didn't expect such a thing. -
I do agree that the 15.4" wide screen LCDs seem to look better than smaller screens... -
I was more meaning that the way the screen was attached to the case and the look of the machine since I can't actually hold one and check it out seem to be of better quality I can only assume that if someone tells me that the machine is better and stronger that it is until I can get my hands on one to try. It would be the thickness of the plastic that would matter more than if it was Carbon Fiber actually in either case if it is poorly manufactured the case could be brittle. But I get your point like I said my wifes Toshiba feels cheaper than her Gateway but we dropped the Gateway and it broke instantly while the Toshiba has been dropped twice without issue and from a lot higher. Here is where it becomes nice to be able to actually handle each machine because the HEL80 has gotten raves about its case quality and strengh just a few issues around the keyboard but extremely minor and this is also the case for the screen quality for the matte 1680x1050 screen which is supposedly fantastic.
Dalantech when is the quad core coming out for laptops -
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Well, seeing as I'm just up the road from you in Medfield, I'll chime in
I have an A8JS on the way, also a software developer by trade. I don't think I'll ever get a matte LCD again. Just go to a store and look at matte vs. glossy side-by-side. The contrast and colors are so much better on a glossy screen.
I have basically had all teh range of laptops you can imagine over the past 6 years, almost to hte point of insanity. In 2000 I bought a 13.3 Compaq, then a 15" Toshiba. Got my first widescreen in 2003, Compaq 15.4 widescreen and loved it. Went from there to a Dell XPS Gen 2 17", lugging that back and forth to work. Got a 12" Dell 700m (currently my main PC) and amd now getting the 14".
15.4 isn't bad a to lug around if the machine is around 6.5 pounds. It's actually a pretty good size. But I'm a big guy, so maybe it's different for people of smaller sizes. Since I've gotten used to 12" though, I've become enamored with portability, and am looking for that perfect balance between power, screen real estate, and ease of transport. The 12" is great, but 1280x800 is just a little low on the resolution side for development work. VS.NET requires quite a bit of resolution if want to use it effectively (IMO).
The A8Js seems to fit the bill because of the extra resolution you get, good portability, high-end performance, and gaming. If you don't care about gaming you could look at the HP Dv2000 series. I hear they are excellent, but the Asus is about the same money and you get a great video card too.
-Ryan -
so how many whitebook models does Asus offer?
I'm in Australia and unfortunetly the only Asus barebone I can seem to find here is the Z96J Model.
So to be comparing the Compal EL80 or 30 model, (both available in aus) the compal's look much better. -
Ryan,
I would be very interested to get a review from you on the Asus A8JS. If it would be possible to meet at the Dunkin Donuts in Medway or something, if you have any time, that would be great I would love to see the screen if possible. I plan on buying or building very soon probably a week or two max and I am still undecided I am leaning towards the A8JS.
Thanks -
Sure thing, I think I get the computer at the end of the week. We can touch base then.
Keep in mind, if I wasn't into playing games I don't think I would go for this machine. Aside from the resolution, many other brands have good widescreen 14" notebooks for less money. That video card will eat battery life too. Modern processors and 2 gig of RAM will eat up just about anything you need to do with it.
-Ryan -
For me, since I also want to be able to use my laptop for 3-4 years, I am not even considering a laptop unless it has a DVI port, 64 bit processor, and reasonably decent graphics card (if, for no other reason, than running Aero if I should ever decide to poison my laptop with Vista, though I mostly intend to run Linux).
For me the big tossup has been between the A8Js (mostly due to resolution at that screen size and the video card) and the Acer Travelmate 8210 (the one without the blu-ray and 2.13 GHz processor). Here is a link:
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=265309
Despite what they indicate, they just took the specs from the one with the blu-ray and 2.13GHz processor. As stated in the description, the only difference is the 2.0 GHz processor and standard super-multi drive. But all that for just under 2K... and it looks pretty! (Sorry, can't help it.) -
As an A8Js owner and a Toshiba Satellite(matte finish) owner I'll give an opinion.
A8Js Pros
Light Weight
Bright Display
Vivid Colors
Good port placement(I really like the two side USBs)
Fast Performance
Very nice Graphics engine
Cons
GLARE!!!! If glare bothers you don't have a light source coming from behind you when you are using this. I am a software developer and if I used this for development the glare would drive me crazy.
1440 X 900 is a good resolution for games and DVDs but for text editing or web browsing I prefer the 1280 X 1024 resolutution on my desktop.
You really need to decide which features are most important to you before you buy.
The ASUS is a great machine for my use but I'm not sure if that is what I would buy if I did text editing all day.
dave -
See, for me it is the 1440x900 that I like for development/text. I do some web development and am a technical writer, so I am always working on documents. Since I don't work with ANY program at full screen (never understood people who do), I really like the fact that it is a good resolution for working on two documents side-by-side or working with, say, HTML-Kit on one side, and an explorer window, browser, and text editor on the other side, or something. It drives me nuts having to use a computer limited to 1280x1024 at work...
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1440 x900 is great
but honestly its too short vertically. The ideal is 1680 x 1050 -
True, but 1680x1050 is too small on a screen below 15.4 for most people.
-Ryan -
Actually, 1440 x 900 compared to 1680 x 1050 yields the exact same pixel:screen ratio. That is, text between those two screen sizes is identical in size, you just get more screen space to work with.
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"but honestly its too short vertically".
That IS the issue with 1440 x 900.
dave -
Peekaboom,
The ratio is the same, but the text will be smaller on the higher resolution. The way to determine how it looks is to figure out the ratio to the SIZE of the screen you will be viewing it on. 1680x1050 will look a lot different than 1440x900 on a 14" screen, and I'm betting too small for most people, hence my original post about probably not being able to put it on anything smaller than a 15.4" screen.
-Ryan -
1440*900 on a 14.1'' is perfect for me. The text is not too small, and I am pretty badly near-eye-sighted.
I used to go to stores and look at display models. 15''s look quite a bit bigger than 14''s, and I think they have 30% more viewing area. I was a bit concerned when ordering my A8Js, but when I finally got it and tested it, the screen size is more than enough for me. -
Hello not to drive everyone insane and I probably should post this into another thread but how is the ASUS Z96J computer is that maybe the answer to my problem. It appears to have the screen and resolution I want and still has 256mb dedicated X1600 graphics card with 256mb hypermemory. Not exactly the A8JS but I was wondering if anyone had some opinion about this model. It is more expensive but maybe a good alternative I can get it for around $1900 already built. It is just an idea a stupid one maybe but an idea none the less. Again this model also doesn't have a DVI out port that one thing is driving me crazy.
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Asus A8JS versus Compal Hel80
Discussion in 'Asus' started by PieceOfChum, Nov 3, 2006.