Asus for graphics design / video editing

I've been doing some reading and I really like the look/quality of the Asus laptops and especially the fact that there is such a helpful & reputable distributer to deal with (PROPortable). Originally I was going to buy an Acer 8104, but have since been put off with lack of stock at stores.

With so many similar models to choose from, I was wondering which Asus model would be best suited for heavy duty graphics design and video editing. The bigger the screen the better, and I would prefer to stick with Intel. My budget is $2000ish. Thanks so much for any help.

 

Hey - What are you going graphic design / video editing wise? Programs? File sizes? ... Also, what are you coming from now?

Without even knowing that...... I'd suggest looking into 3-4 different models off the bat...

The W1 - $2300 -- but has a $150 rebate till the end of the month brings it to $2150... from a design background... it's a great minimalist notebook.

The V6 - $2200 -- It's capable for sure.. more than you're looking to spend but it's a great new system.

The M6 - either regular ratio or widescreen... it's still a good value for the dollar and looks good.

Better "value" with more bang for your buck (if you wanted to look at an a64 system that didn't look as sexy).. the Z80k... best performance you're going to get but looks so-so and the battery will be so-so as well.

If you can wait - The Z71v..... I'm hung up over the looks myself, but most people can't say anything other than thats a great value. If you can wait a few weeks it's really hot.


Overall I'd bet you'd be looking at the Z71v the closest.


Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Yeah, it really sounds like the Z71v is your best bet... if not, then the M6Ne/M6BNe since the V6V appears to be more expensive.

ASUS M6800Ne, P-M 1.5 Dothan, 512MB Ram, Toshiba Combo drive, Samsung Spinpoint M 40G HDD with 8M cache, Mobility Radeon 9700

 

<<< What are you going graphic design / video editing wise? Programs? File sizes? >>>

full Adobe suite, with primary focus on Photoshop & Premiere. I will not be using 3DSMax however. I deal with very large file sizes.

<<< Also, what are you coming from now? >>>
I've become quite happy with my RAID 0 setup on my desktop. But I'm willing to make slight speed sacrifices for the convenience of a laptop.

The W1 is absolutely beautiful! is there a Sonoma version coming out anytime soon? The Z71v looks promising, but I'm not a big fan of its look---looks very HP. But it is Sonoma...

thanks,
Dave

 

OK Dave - I'm an a graduate architect and use those three things on a daily basis..... Here is what you need to know. No matter what anyone tells you, you could easily run the programs you want to run on the base configuration on the W1...... being a mid-line pentium-m, a 5400rpm hard drive and a 64mb ATI 9600..... I've done it for a year and I've proved it to a few schools along the east coast that are using them for just that purpose.

Now.... step up the cpu a little more.... the hard drive to 7200... and the added speed of the ati 9700 chipset... and you're cooking. You don't need more than that, but if you wanted to... you could certainly go for more.

The M6 is probably your best bet. The Z71v isn't my cup of tea either design wise.... but it's certainly better than most of what's out there. The W1 will be upgrade to sonoma in a month..... but you'll lose that rebate for marginal performance increase.... The M6 will be converted to sonoma as well in the way of the Z70v... in about a month as well.

Really.. if you throw a 7200rpm hard drive in any of these systems... you're going to get better performance than a system with a 128mb ATI 9700 with a 5400rpm hard drive.... so keep that in mind too.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Your an architect Justin? Where did you go to school? I'm starting my masters program up at Cornell in the fall and am in a market for a laptop. I'm still looking at the W3V and V6V... i've had a few post on the forum but if you have any suggestions now that I know u understand my predicament a little better i would be interested in what you have to say. thanks!

 

Catholic in DC... both undergrad and grad.

I love my W3, but at the same time, I have whatever computer I need at the time for random other things and a desktop that still amazes me when I sit down at the thing.... I can do everything you could want to do on my W3..... I'm not about to say it's perfect for EVERYONE though.

I would say if you want small, you can't beat the W3. However, the new refreshed W1 and the brand new W2 might be appealing as I know how arch students love to carry around their 10 pound 17" notebooks and they think they've got the best system..... running a 4200rpm hard drive and a 17" WXGA screen......... ahhhhhh. Anyway....

The W1 is 15.4" widescreen .. the new one will have a glaretype screen like the W3 and a 128mb x700 graphics card. 7 pounds

The W2 is 17" widescreen.. it will have a glaretype screen like the W3 and a 128mb x700 graphics card as well. 7.25 pounds

You MIGHT like one of those better if it's going to be your only computer day in and day out for a few years. Drop me a line.



Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Ah, its a good school. I am mostly concerned about the screen and how well these things hold up. As you know we pretty much live in studio so I'll need something that is relatively durable for the endless walks back and forth from studio to wherever. I just read something on laptop logic talking about the disparity in color rendition etc for the V6V... is this a common issue with the Asus notebooks? If I were laying out a project at home I would like it to come out the way it looks on the screen. Lastly is the heat... im only paranoid because my current laptop (VPR Matrix) pretty much melted the power adapter thingy... so i would like something that runs relatively cool. I have only been looking at the w3V and V6V because so many on here seem to like it but if you have other recommendations I'll appreciate it.

 

For your uses you're most likely going to enjoy a glaretype screen due to the better color reproduction.. The V6 has a great screen for what it is... 15.1" SXGA+ ..... its thin, big... and pretty much the best 15.1" SXGA+ matte type display out there... but 15.1" SXGA+ matte displays are limited in certain ways.

Coming from where I come from, we do still have a lot of accounts with arch schools and obviously people I went to school with that are still in there or where ever. They really like the W1 and the new W1 is going to going to be that much better for the things you'll be doing.... Now..... with that said, they've been using a W1 for a year now is technologically behind the W3 and the V6... and they haven't pushed these to the limit yet either.

So, really you can't go wrong. The guys at laptop logic bought a V6 and reviewed it for us.... but it's my impression that they've never seen a 15.1" SXGA+ screen before... because if they have they would know that it has a limited vertical viewing angle...... and that is common place to that particular type of screen....

I don't know... the V6 is certainly thin and has the power....... many people love the M6 (z70v) and use it in arch schools.... the V6 is basically everything the Z70v's have but thinner....

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

wow, those z70 and z71's look good on your website. im sure there have been comparisons but could you give me a quick run through about what is the advantage of one over the other?

 

If you're like me, you're not going to want the Z71v..... from a design standpoint and the color reproduction of the screen.... it's not there. That's a great bang for your buck system with great graphics. I'll tell you right now that you can get away with a 64mb x600 easily and would enjoy the Z70v much better as it's a better all around system with a nicer screen.

Z71v.. automatic brightness settings w/ light sensor, 128mb 6600 graphics

Z70v.. lighter, better design, port bar 3 option, carbon fiber chassis, better screen

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

hmm i think im going to have to agree with you about the z70v, that does look like a good system. i went to try and price it with the options I want on your website and couldnt get it to work... maybe ill try again later. Is the carrying bag actually a bag or a notebook sleeve? I think I would prefer a sleeve so I can just pop it into my bag. are you aware of any comprohensive reviews of the z70v system? I had a hard time locating one.

 

All of the bags are bags..... all of the systems except the A6u come with one.

"sleeves" are only included in the W5a/V6v/S5a.

The Z70v is still too new for magazine reviews.... Since it is just an upgrade M6, you could look at one of our reviews from last year...

http://www.proportable.com/news.htm

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

is there a reason why the asus website dosnt have the z70v listed or have any information about it? its quite difficult to find anything about this notebook. thanks!

 

oh i suppose its still listed under the m6... thats kinda weird

 

If you're into multimedia, widescreen aspect ratio is almost a must.

[l]ikwid.[f]uzion

 

Keep this in mind......... a 17" widescreen is basically a 15" regular ratio (like the V6) but wider...... if you're looking for the height of a 15" but would like more room for menu bars and the like... a 17" widescreen might be something to consider... But for what you're choosing between a 15.4" WSXGA+ is probably a good balance.. a Z70v (M6v) would be ideal, while a new W1 may be more enticing.... from a design standpoint, you'll love the W1 is you're into minimalism.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]