Asus Model: Q501LA-BBI5T03

That listing on ebay says "WiDi Capable". Since WiDi requires an Intel Wireless Adapter, then you shouldn't worry about replacing an Atheros

 

Guys who purchased from Ebay the $480 Refurbished listing; did anyone recieved the shipment? How long it took to be delivered? Can you please post this information (when you get the laptop if you don't have it already).

There is one reseller selling this for $480 and there some comments about this reseller that he extremely delays the shipments, sometimes sell products that he doesn't have in stock so he needs to order them himself after a sales has been completed (which explains the delay in shipment) and impossible to communicate with him (which I can confirm myself). $480 is a great rate and I wanna order myself but I dont wanna wait 3-4 week time to get my hands on it.

Thanks...

 

Thanks everyone for all the useful info on this thread.:hi2:

I recently purchased this laptop (refurbished) Externally, it's like new with approximately 600 charging cycle on the 4-cell li-po battery. I'm guessing this is the older model which comes with an Atheros card and has the spare SSD slot. So far I really like it.

I didn't see any problem with the Atheros card but I still ordered the Intel 7260 card replacement. So far so good, plus I'm seeing a slightly lower power consumption with the Intel card.

I also took a chance with the SSD slot by ordering an 120GB mSATA drive. I knew the full length drive was too long but I just wanted to try it out. To my surprise it actually worked! The mSATA transfer process was pretty painless with Asus' Backtracker. I'm currently using the mechanical drive as backup/data storage.

Can't complain when I'm getting this in a sub $600 laptop...
:thumbsup:

Has anyone tried to install Linux on this model yet? Even with Windoze 8.1 installed, I still need Classic Shell to make things more manageable...!

Cheers

 

Is there any way to check the number of charging cycles? I am really interested if there is a way to do it, Thx

 

You can check health but not cycles.

 

It is the same thing I am wondering; how you can the charging cycle count of the battery?

 

Done a quick check in the thread to check if anyone has the same problem and i cant find anything, so apologies if I repeat anything.
Since updating to 8.1, my three finger swipe doesnt work. I use it frequently in chrome so being without it is literally painful.

Ive updated the ASUS smart gesture driver to the latest 8.1 version but its still not working. ANy solutions?

 

I used Batterymon to estimate the battery run time and check the charging cycle. I also use it to estimate the different power consumption rates between Atheros/Intel card.

A pretty handy tool for a quick unscientific check. I'm getting about 40 more cycles from just 2-3 weeks of light use so I guess this laptop was only slightly used :thumbsup:

 

You are best off just using the wear %.

 

Where's the wear %?

 

You can use AIDA64 ( AIDA64 | PC Benchmark | System Diagnostics | Stability Test .) to look for the battery information.
It will calculate the wear/tear % for you based on original capacity and current usage capacity.
This information is for reference only because the reporting number can be erred, if it shows 50% worn as 11000mAH out of 22000mAh original capacity it may be 5000mAh in reality.

 

Oh I see what you mean, thanks!

OK so I can also calculate that from the data I already have (design/full charge capacity) I"m still getting 97.17% capacity. Cool. :thumbsup:

 

You are welcome.

 

I just ordered one of these refurbs also, and am really curious as to how the mSATA slot works. Are you able to use the a regular full size card in the slot as a daily driver? I'm considering ordering on, but can't figure out how I would secure it in place.


Thanks!

 

Welcome ejo3,

Base on various info around this thread and other forums, I think if you have an Atheros card then you'll also have a SSD slot. If you want to get the correct size drive then you'll need to order a mini (or half size) mSATA drive. Similar to this drive on amazon. Keep in mind, half size mSATA drives are harder to find and more expensive.

I unknowingly ordered a full size mSATA card for mine and fortunately it does work as normal. The system will automatically recognize it as device 2 (the 5400 drive will be device 0) I won't recommend getting a full size mSATA drive, but I haven't got any problem using electrical tapes to secure it. Of course there's no guarantee this will work in the long run.

Good luck

 

Asus Model: Q501LA-BBI5T03-S

I got one of this and find out that the screen is non-touch screen. I chat with Asus with the s/n and be told that this configuration is non-touch screen. I did update all patch of win 8, and did have one of unknown device still in device manager with yellow mark, I don't know what is that hardware. I also use pcwizard that shows the screen is non-touch screen. I hope this is an accidental from Asus mount the wrong screen.

Any suggestion?

 

Unknown devices can be anything, make sure you install all the drivers for things like SD card readers and the like. If your model comes without a touch screen it wont be a touch matrix.

 

Sorry for bringing up this subject again...
Guys who purchased this for $480 from Ebay, did your product at least have been shipped in a timely manner?

thx

 

People reported getting shipping notice.

 

Mine shipped yesterday and I should receive it tomorrow.

 

So your oversized mSATA is sitting on the fan chassis and being held in place w/ electrical tape !?!? It sounds like your full size mSATA works, but you had to mash it up against the fan!! Any pics or did you close up your laptop already. Don't open it on my account! ;-)

 

Got my laptop today. It came with the atheros wifi chip and does have the msata slot. I installed the SSD but my problem comes with installing windows.

The product key that comes with the laptop does not work with retail Windows 8.



Does anyone what ISO is needed for me to install Windows?

EDIT: Well the only way I fixed this was by putting back the original HDD and cloning the drive. I used EaseUS Todo Backup to do so.

Also, I installed a 4GB 1333 stick and it's running in 1600. So far things seem to be fine but I'm going to run some ram tests to be sure. It's weird that it didn't downclock to 1333, I'm assuming that this laptop only supports 1600.

 

Yes it's just as you described. I put tape on both sides for some additional insulation against sensitive components. I'm planning to remove the tape and put some thermal conductive pads between the drive and fan in the future.

 

mine arrived 2 dys ago

 

as far as i know, no longer are you getting recovery media you must buy it as they put it on the recovery partition

you can do a clone

 

i found out that i did not have chrome using disable dpi it has some issues apparently as do may other apps
now it looks crystalic

 

so these models support higher ram and not the advertised 8gb??

 

thats great news that it supports 8gb sticks

 

Picked one of these laptops up from the $480 refurb sale. However I cannot get the keyboard backlight to work whatsoever - it's never lit up once yet. The laptop came with the latest BIOS version already installed (209) and I updated all the other drivers from the asus site. FN+F3/F4 don't do anything. I uninstalled Power4Gear but that didn't help. Any other ideas? Don't really want to go through the trouble of an exchange if I don't have to, the rest of the machine works great.

 

Possibly a defective backlit on the keyboard, since you've already tried Fn+F3/F4 method then contact vendor for exchange.
Or check with ASUS directly to see if you can simply have the keyboard replaced without sending the entire computer.

 

Good luck with that, my spacebar key is messed up and instead of sending me a new key they insist on either me buying a keyboard from them for $80, or send it to them. All they have to do is send me a new key for the spacebar.

Also, I tried installing a full sized msata SSD, here's how it went.

msata - Imgur

I can feel it bulging against the back case however if I run my hand through it which makes me a bit uncomfortable so I'm going to return it.

 

Yea, reading comments in some other threads, ASUS's support doesn't sound all that great, and I can't do an exchange from where I bought it because they're out of them (only option is return which I don't want to do)

I may take off the keyboard to actually verify the backlight ribbon is plugged in correctly, as some people have mentioned that was their problem. Otherwise I may also reflash and reset the BIOS, or ultimately reinstall the entire OS and start fresh. The latter might be a bit difficult as the refurbs don't have the recovery partition, and apparently the windows 8 key it comes with doesn't work with the windows 8 retail install...

 

I do. I am buying an Intel wifi card myself.

 

Well no luck so far, outside of reinstalling Windows. However I don't think that would solve anything anyways...the backlight does not come on when the laptop firsts boots like it should (the capslock indicator briefly lights up though). This is pre-OS/driver level so I'm thinking this is either a BIOS or hardware issue, and unfortunately something I'm not going to be able to fix myself. Guess I'll try my luck contacting Asus...

 

Do you know what's wrong with the space bar? My space bar on my refurb model is messed up as well, massive deadzones on the sides and anything but a very firm press in the middle doesn't register. I want to pop it off but don't want to mess up the laptop in case I have to return it.

 

Can someone tell me which of the 3 USB slots are 3.0? I believe there are 2 USB slots right? I don't see any designation that says so. Usually they are blue right? But i just see 3 black slots.
Thanks!

 

Those ports are all USB 3.0 ports, not sure why they aren't using the blue ports.

 

Same here, I was feeling uneasy at first but I got used to it. Considering SSD is less prone to mechanical failures I think it'll be OK. So far I haven't been gentle with my laptop and it hasn't skip a beat.

 

Yeah I already have a 2.5" SSD and I feel I really don't need the storage space. After watching TV shows or movies I'm just going to put them in an external drive. I'd also rather not waste battery life with an extra HDD, even if it doesn't affect it much.

 

if it doesnt turn on for a brief moment at boot then is defective
mine did that and would not work in windows till i updated driver

 

i had this issue with my vivobook but my 2nd unit was fine, and this model has registering issues with keys
it almost makes me want to return this garbage even though its a top of the line model
i did order another model and hopefully it doesnt have the same issue

 

It wouldn't clip on correctly after I popped it off to try and fix the squeakiness. It turns out though that there's this metal tab on the laptop itself that got bent and the metal rod on the spacebar key couldn't go through it. I bent it back up and now it's somewhat fine, doesn't look like the missing notches had any effect.


Also, does anyone know how to turn off the LED lights. Mainly for the power and wifi buttons, but also the front power led notification. I have to use electrical tape when watching a movie in the dark because of this.

 

the Q501LA comes with windows 8.1 right? if so, that's why the key doesn't activate original windows 8. so just get a win 8.1 iso next time.

 

What do you think about Toshiba Satellite P55-A5312?
Toshiba Satellite P55-A5312 Laptop

While I was thinking the Asus was the best features for the buck, I had problems to make my budget fast enough. Then there was a refurbished sale at Ebay for $480 but I scared to order because of the reseller's bad reputation I read online (which was a mistake). Now that rate isnt available anymore for the Asus. The lowest refurbished I can find is for $530.

While I was ready to spend the $530 for Asus, I have found this Toshiba P55-A5312. Very very similar features and only $460 for a refurbished unit.

The main differences are....
Toshiba:
No touch screen. Which I do not need.
Screen is not IPS. I am not sure how much a difference it would make. One review says it is a problem with viewing angles and one user says not much of a difference.
Has CD/DVD writer. Nice to have one.
Heavier: While heavier, still portable enough.
Cheaper.

Asus:
Screen is IPS.
No CD/DVD Writer.
Touch screen. Which I dont care.

What do you think?

PS: Maybe I should start another thread for this.
PSS: I have crossed posted this in a new thread not to hi-jack this one.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/toshiba/746816-satellite-p55-a5312.html

 

Doesn't seem too bad. Battery seems worse. The screen is probably still pretty, if it's the AUO screen then it is highly favored around here I believe. You can also get a HDD caddy and remove the DVD drive if you like.

At $460 vs $530 it's a tough choice, if it was $460 vs $480 like how most of us paid for this would definitely get the ASUS.

 

Same here, I'd take the $480 Asus if it comes up again. I'm still kind of beating myself for jumping in earlier at the higher price. However, it's still worth it in my opinion.

As for the lack of DVD drive, I got a $15 ext. slim drive for the 3-4 times/year I needed to pop in a DVD

 

my new unit came with intel 7260

 

I noticed a problem with the screen today while watching a movie. Had the lights dimmed. Basically when the scene is really dark and the room is also dark on the left side is shaded lighter than the rest of the screen. Basically a vertical stripe that's 1 inch wide that starts from the left and is whiter than the rest of this screen.

To test this get a completely black image and display it full screen, turn off the lights, and if you have the problem you'll notice it. Make sure to move your head at different angles since it's more noticeable at some versus others. Is anyone else's display like mine? I can't capture it with a photo.

I've watched a couple of movies in the dark with this laptop so far but I just noticed it today, not sure if it showed up today or was there before but I didn't notice it. I guess I now have to actually send it back to Asus, sigh.

EDIT:

I managed to get a picture of the issue by turning the brightness all the way up in a well lit room and viewing it from an angle.

http://imgur.com/rFb0I0P

 

Hi,

I am wondering if anyone successfully re-installed to window 7 or even window 8?

 

Looks like the $480 deal is back on BuyDig's ebay