Asus N751JX or Acer Aspire VN7-791G ?

Asus N751JX-T7009D

CPU: 2.6 GHz i7-4720HQ (Haswell)
RAM: 16GB DDR3 1600MHz
GPU: nVidia Geforce GTX950M 4GB
SSD: 256GB
HDD: 1TB @ 7200 rpm
DISPLAY: 17.3" 1080p IPS display
BAT: Li-Ion 6 cell

OTHER FEATURES:
Aluminium build
Bang & Olufsen audio
Free external sub-woofer

PRICE: $1,680

VS.

Acer Aspire VN7-791G-75LQ (V Nitro Black Edition)

CPU: 2.6 GHz i7-4720HQ (Haswell)
RAM: 16GB DDR3 1600MHz
GPU: nVidia GeForce GTX960M 2GB
SSD: 256GB
HDD: 1TB @ 5400 rpm
DISPLAY: 17.3" 1080p IPS display
BAT: Li-Ion 3 cell

OTHER FEATURES:
Dual cooling fans
Dolby Digital Plus Home Theater (4 speakers)

PRICE: $1,900

==================================================
"TO 'ASUS', OR NOT TO 'ASUS'? THAT IS THE QUESTION."

PERSONAL OPINION
ASUS
- not the prettiest laptop ever, but much better looking than the Acer
- there's a really big difference between the top aluminum design and the plastic bottom. The bottom really looks like it's from another (cheap) laptop compared to the top and lid. I would have appreciated more a full body aluminum build. Such a shame!
- I don't like that it's pretty thick
- although it's still laptop audio, I hope the B&O system lives up to it's name sufficiently
- I like the 'white' lighting of the keyboard
- I think Asus is a better laptop maker than Acer
- free sub-woofer included with laptop. Although given the perspective of mobility, I don't know how often I'll be using it

ACER
- I like the design, it makes it look slimmer than it actually is. The feel of the materials is not bad, no hyper-premiumness, but Okay
- I don't like the overall simple, dull, black look - opposite to it's kinky 'V Nitro Black Edition' name
- I don't like the red lighting of the keyboard (we're not all 14 y.o. gamers)
- the grey bits - hinges & surroundings - are NOT aluminum, they're only painted plastic (that was a disappointment! - tells a lot about Acer, IMO)
- I do like the dual fan cooling, although I heard it's really noisy! But I don't know how efficient it is or IF it's such big of a difference to the Asus's singe fan cooling. Reason for this: 1. Cooling is important to performance; 2. Comfort (I always have warm/hot & sweaty palms, summer or winter and I absolutely HATE a hot laptop)
- I like that it has the USB ports towards the back and not towards the front where ALMOST ALL stupid laptop manufacturers put them and they always stand JUST in the way of your hand cause that's exactly where your mouse & pad are going to be


BOTTOM LINE(S)
These two are pretty much the only options I could find at these prices, not counting the really ugly laptops which I have no interest in. I would pick the Asus because of it's looks even over a SLIGHTLY higher specced Acer. The problems my conscience is having are:
#1. I'm not satisfied with both of them entirely for various reasons, among the top of which would be the stupid, ugly, cheap looking, idiotically wide frame of the display on both models. I would have liked a glass-over from edge to edge like the Asus ZenBook has or the Acer Aspire Ethos for example. WHAT IS THE POINT of producing big, premium laptops and not throwing at them THE ABSOLUTE BEST you can?
#2. I care more for looks, design, materials & build quality than for performance. Although, if the performance difference is big, I MAY BE considering the slightly less prettier one
#3. Should I even spend this much? Or, go for a little lower specced model of the both around $1,200-$1,300. And HERE's where the tricky part is cause they vary sooo much! And it's random. For example: an Acer with an i7-4710mq, 16GB of RAM, a 2GB GTX 860M and an Asus that has an i7-4710hq, 12GB of RAM, a 4GB GTX 850M. The price tag on both is almost the same, the Acer JUST has the upper hand on the Asus, performance wise, but I like the look of the Asus better... uuugh! I can't take it anymore! See what I mean? (see #4)
#4. I don't quite do gaming, I'm only tech & performance ADDICTED and I like mobility (see #3)
#5. I don't care for upgrades/upgradeability. Only thing I would probably do within 1 year or so is upgrade to a M.2 cause I heard they're faster
#6. I will keep the laptop for maybe 4-5 years
#7. Deadline is around 2 weeks. Reason, I'VE HAD IT with my old laptop! We had a great time together! It has a good soul! But an old, old body... It sometimes can't keep up with me. The relationship is squabbling and it's time to move on.
And a final but NOT SO RELEVANT #8. Although I don't quite do gaming, although it would not really facilitate my living in ANY way, BUT ONLY because I'm tech & performance addicted, I would definitely buy an ABSOLUTE LATEST specced 17.3 or 18.4 $5,000-$7,000 Alienware. Despite the fact that the looks don't quite convince me, it's tooooo gaming orientated. I really do hope that SOME manufacturer one day builds a really powerful BUT REALLY BEAUTIFUL 17.3 or 18.4 laptop.

I will really appreciate ALL your opinions & comments! Thank you & release me from this pain!

 

The asus is going to be built better without having ever seen the two.

 

Get ASUS, but with better spec since you have such budget ($1900) available.

 

I didn't find another with better specs. And I don't like the ROG series. The design is too childish, too gaming orientated. I like something more stylish and good looking. Like the Asus N751JX (somewhat) or the Asus ZenBook or like the Acer Aspire Ethos (which I mentioned before). You know... beautifully built... aluminum... silver/black contrasts... etc.

 

I see, have you considered other brands such as HP, DELL, Lenovo, or MSI?

 

I'm open to any suggestions as long as the unit looks good. But, as tastes differ, it's tough.

 

I would also be interested in what other people think.

The ROG G551JW is the perfect laptop for me in terms of specs and price. The only problem is that it is not a laptop I will be able to bring comfortably into a professional environment.
I love the look of the ASUS N551JX, but the 950M GTX DDR3 is a dealbreaker vs. the 960M GTX DDR5 on the ROG above. Same price.

 

What about MSI WT60 workstation? Or Lenovo ThinkPad series?

 

I'd choose the Acer over the Asus but in this case the price difference is too much so the N751 gets my vote.

Have you looked into the ROG G771, it basically uses the same chassis as the N751 except looks more tough well gamer like but overall very thin and pretty light for ROG brand 17.3" laptop.

 

So you've already set your mind on a particular brand and model.

 

The ROG will also come with GDDR5 which helps.