Built On vs. Ensemble?

Sorry if this has already been brought up before... I've only been here for 5 months or so.

Just wondering what you guys think is better. From what I've seen, the ensemble units are much nicer looking with 1 or 2 extra features you wouldn't see on the equivilant Built On Asus unit. However, extra "style" and sometimes useless features will cost you a premium.

Personally, without physically touching either of them, the ensemble units appears to be more solid which could easily translate into longevity. The added style points will also make it much easier to keep it for several years without feeling outdated. On the W3J, you get integrated bluetooth and a swappable ODD bay which I personally think will become very usefull over the period of time that I own the notebook.

Now I ask you... Which one is better and why?

 

Ensemble. This year's BoA just aren't too appealing.. looks wise.. although price wise they are nice.

Last year was different... there was a number of BoA models that were Ensemble like.. the Z33, Z70, and Z63.. which were very nice aesthetically and built well, especially compared to other whitebooks out there.

 

bto (built to order) aka built on asus
Dont get me wrong i love the ensembles but the fact that asus puts a premium of about 300-500$ over what it would cost to get the same from a dealer if these were sold as a boa just dont sit well. With that kind of profit they should offer business service and have a dedicated business division for people that need more then home level service. Dont get me wrong their home service is above and beyond dells home service but dell has a very good name in the business division. Asus should atleast meet that demand for better then home service if they want to offer prebuilt ensembles.

 

I vote built on Asus because the prices are more reasonable, and laptop barebones are awesome. I like to do things myself, so a preconfigured laptop just isn't for me. Especially when it costs a fortune.

 

Fair enough there is a significant price hike to get the ensemble unit, but the difference in matterials used, overall looks and added features seems so worth it to me...

 

How is the build quality of the built ons ? Do they have a metal casing/lid ?

 

The Built ons are usually ABS plastic, sometimes made from carbon fibre composite(In selected areas).

The ENSEMBLEs frequently use CF-Composite, brushed aluminum, magnesium-composite lids, etc. Note this is for the mid to high end machines, the lower to mid machines can also be ABS plastic.

 

I think in general ensembles look better, have more features, and are made of better materials that have less flex, etc. But then again, you get what you pay for, or you pay for what you get...

 

I suppose. But then again there are those of us with a small wallet, and who value performance and customization in a laptop and don't care about looks. And while build quality may be better on the Ensemble units than the BoA ones, the BoA build quality is generally much better than your average laptop. The build quality on my Z96 does just fine. It'll hold together in my backpack, and looks like it could survive a number of falls. I just don't see myself needing the extra durability of the Ensemble units; it's not like I'm going to throw it down the stairs or sit on it or something.

I think it really comes down to a matter of needs. If you need something with a little power, that looks nice and is rock-solid, as well as a little $$$, then the Ensemble units are for you. If you want max power, customization, the ability to buy a barebones and DIY, in a stable and relatively solid unit at a good price, then the BoA units are what you want.

 

The built-on ASUS has better price to performance ratio than the ensembles. However, ensembles are built-on to begin with. You can change the processor, memory, HDD, etc. via an accessible panel on the bottom of the notebook just like the built-ons. However, with ensembles, you will void your warranty if you do this.

 

I love the Ensemble's, but there's just so much to offer with the Built On models...
Looks are semi-boring with the VBI [verified by Intel] models [S/Z96 or S/Z62], but the sexy Z35F has very much to offer for the laptop user that does not plan to game.
Not to mention there are still a few sexy BTO's left in the game that are single core...
I think ASUS BTO's will make a comeback [look-wise].

 

That is why people buy BoA models instead. What is the point of spending lots of money to get a reliable system,(that looks nice) if you are just going to void the warranty? Plus, upgrades are more costly. If you want a T2600, you can't just buy a T2600 like you would with a BoA model. You buy the T2600, and you buy whatever cheap one was in the Ensemble unit.

If you want a custom laptop, the best way is really to get a barebones and select all the parts yourself. Here is what makes the BoA units popular. The build quality on a lot of other laptop barebones is poor. Not the case with Asus. So people who want a nice barebones unit on which to base their new custom notebook go with BoA.

There isn't really anything wrong with BoA's or Ensemble's. Like I've said before, it is really just a matter of what your needs are. The two are designed to fit different people. The Ensemble's are still very nice, and I wouldn't mind have a few lying around the house , but the BoA's fit my needs much more nicely, so I went with BoA.

 

Customizing the laptop is definitely a bonus on the BoAs... Especially for hard drives... But you have to admit, the ensemble's have a pretty stacked deck to begin with! Theres not much I'd even care to upgrade...

 

It is very difficult to say about this. We only depend on how a user's expectation. If a user doesn't know more about the laptop, and doesn't care about the brand name, specification and high performance or only for regular use for searching the Internet, documents and so on, probably they will choose Built on Asus model. At least, all of the ensemble models come with a Windows cd (recovery cd) with a license(unique product key). On the other hands, Build-on Asus models seem to be fit some users whose expectation is higher such as choosing specific brand name of hard drive, memory, speed of rpm, speed of cpu...

Cheers

 

How are the BoAs for flex, creeks etc?

 

Actually my answer is neither. It's a really frustrating thing about Asus laptops and the only reason why my first Wintel laptop back (from Apples) wasn't an Asus (it was a Toshiba), and why my next laptop won't be an Asus.

Built on Asus - as others have pointed out, lack MUCH of the design appeal, (and perhaps build quality), that is so nice about the Ensembles. Maybe it was different in years past, but today the BOAs look clunky to me. BTW, calling this option Build To Order is a joke. It won't be BTO up to par in this industry, until there are options for things such as screen resolution, and until there is warranty parity with the Ensembles. You're better off calling these whiteboxes, which is what they are. (Translated = "End user you're on your own...")

Ensemble - has the design and build quality I would want, but carries none of the flexibility in options that I need. When I switched from Mac Powerbooks back to Wintel platforms, it was Asus Ensemble laptop designs that told me that there ARE some very cool Wintel laptops. I only had to look at the hinge for the W3 (I think), and I realized that they were every bit as cool as the Apple laptops. And I wanted one. Until I found out I couldn't get one the way I wanted it.. (basically I order my laptops always at max specs)

I might ask why Asus would bring out Ensemble laptop model after model with variable specs, such as the upcoming F3Jm which has specs that says it's engineered to support Core Duos from T2300-T2600, screen resolutions from WXGA to WSXGA+, and other "options" such as built in bluetooth, when Asus America will basically decide what any US F3Jm user will get (T2400, WXGA, no BT, XP Home). And then I think about it and realize why. It's because the variable specs isn't for us end users....

I think it would definitely do Asus some good to develop a better solution to the natural conflict that exists between ODM and end user businesses. My suggestion would be to kill the BOA, (or offer them as unadvertised whiteboxes so that people who really want to actually build their own laptops can), and have a true BTO option for the Ensemble lines, which could be fulfilled through Asus dealers.

This is definitely IMO only.......

 

BoA definetly, Ensembles might look nicer, but you dont get as many options. z96 ftw!

 

The BoA models have amazing build quality. Maybe some of the materials aren't quite as tough as some of the Ensemble units, but the BoA units are incredibly solid. And they look pretty good as well.

If you buy computers based on looks, then you get what you pay for. Looks. Not hardware. If you want looks, go and get an apple or a sony. I don't know about you guys, but I don't like wasting $2000+ on a centerpiece for my kitchen table. Which is what half the population uses their apple laptops for. If you want a durable laptop with some amazing hardware, go with BoA.

In answer to Mikeoo17:

My Z96J is the most solid notebook I've ever handled. No creeks or flex whatsoever. And you won't believe how strong the screen casing is. Rock solid. Almost impossible to get the screen to ripple from the back. I think you could sit on it without damaging it. The only part of the notebook which flexes is the keyboard. It's not bad, but its there. I would have never noticed it except for the fact that I did a "flex test". I still don't notice it while I type. I just know it is there. Don't care, the keyboard is great. Comfortable, easy to use, and I can type quickly on it. Going to enjoy spending long nights coding on this thing. =)

 

Is there any chance of the BoA's and Ensembles merging into a built to order high quality product?

 

Don't think so. There is a reason that Asus has Ensemble units and BoA units instead of just "Asus" notbooks. BoA can be a built to order high quality product. But some people would agree that the Ensembles are even higher quality. But the Ensembles aren't BTO. I like to put all my computers together myself, so I would never go for anything like an Ensemble.

 

Back over the winter Justin provided a fair bit of discussion about Asus' moves this year to further separate their whitebox and branded lines - hence the shift away from essentially using Ensemble chassis' for the whitebox models (i.e. W3/Z63, W2/Z83) in the recent past. This is supposed to be an ongoing business decision from Asus corporate moving forward, and the lines will not be merged. BoA's are mass-market design, Ensemble are Asus' high-end; this is unlikely to change in the future.

 

I feel the exact opposite. The Ensemble units are the mass market units for the millions of people who buy prebuilt laptops. The BoA's are the high-end barebones for power users.

 

JPZ... look at the big picture! Yeah, it's true the BoA's can be used by power users who want to put the best of everything in their computers. At the same time, for the budget/ghetto users, they have the option of saving money with cheaper components. It's not like you can't customize the Ensembles either... it's just that you void the global warranty and have to depend on the resellers in house warranty.

 

OK. That's my point. You can do that with just about ANY notebook. You can buy a pre-built $500 POS from Bestbuy, pull it apart, and throw in $1500 of top of the line parts in it. That doesn't mean that it is a notebook designed for power users.

Like I said before, it is a matter of preference and needs. Neither is arguably "better" than the other. One is meant for people who want a rounded computer, that looks nice and is incredibly tough, who don't care about a price tag. The other is meant for people who don't have as much money, who don't care about looks, or that build quality is not top of the line. They only care about custom parts. Be it low end to fit their budget, or high end because they are a power user. Ultimately what it really comes down to is budget, and user knowledge. User knowledge determines whether or not the user can build their own custom notebook, and budget determines whether they can do this with an Ensemble or BoA.

Like I've said before, I don't really think either is greater than the other. I have just found the BoA's to better fit my needs than the Ensemble's. That is all.

 

Just to clarify, you all, my opinion was intended with regards to the industrial design of the chassis etc, and the materials used in construction.

I agree with JPZ, obviously the BoA models allow for greater flexibility for end-users to customize a unit to meet their individual *needs*, but that is at the consequence of having a chassis shell that is much more "generic" (although I hate to use that word, it is what was initially thrown around by forum members when the 06 BoA lineups were announced) and, in that sense, mass-market (i.e. Dell, Gateway, etc - super large scale production runs of basic design). The Ensemble line is Asus' in-house brand, built with better quality materials (carbon-fiber, IPS screens in the V6Va, etc) and generally better industrial design (thinner chassis, recessed hinges, etc).

This all is not to say that the BoA units aren't great (I have one, in fact), but to point out that the Ensemble line (not including the A series, which is generally their budget group - A8Jm somewhat exempted here) is generally more refined, and what I'm categorizing as high-end. It's like comparing a Mustang GT against Mercedes S-class or BMW 5-series.... both are nice autos with their perks, but one is much more designed for the masses.

 

What about components such as motherboard and screen ? Is it the same in BOA and ensembled ones ?

 

Yea, I wouldn't think it would be much of a difference, eg. Z63a -> W3v in the past.

 

The only "generic" looking BoA's are the Z96 and Z62 series notebooks [also includes Intel named S96 and S62] due to Intel's huge influence in these notebooks. The Z35 on the other hand is a more attractive looking BoA... so hopefully new BoA notebooks will follow that trend.

 

I love my Z33, but it is one of the 'last year' BOA that was closer in styling to some of the Ensembles.

If I bought again I think it would be a W7j or a W3. The W7j styling is very similar in a lot of ways to my Z33. The lack of customization is frustrating, though, because I do like to order things at usually the next-to-highest price point (since that last jump to the highest is usually way more then it is for what you get).

I do intend to buy another Asus for my next laptop... We'll see where the 13.3" lines go in the next year and a haf or son...