Can we talk about build quality?

Yesterday, I saw some posts from Justin when he was helping someone out and he was talking about the differences between the various Asus series in terms of build quality (thanks by the way, that was helpful).

I wonder if it's possible to compare those to more widely known brands? Like is an Asus A series on the order of a Dell Business Series computer? I know a lot of this is opinion, but it might be interesting to see what different people think - especially since many can't see an Asus before buying.

Any ideas?

 

Id say ASUS is in a league of its own because the company does a GREAT deal of manufacturing for other larger companys for example, mac, which allows for a great deal of experience. ASUS is probably also in my opinion pays the mos attention to the enthusiast market. As a result, they have learned alot about how to make good machines (and not so good machines) and know what formulas work.

ASUS makes all the mac-book pros for the most part, as well as a couple other big names in the notebook industry and as a result they have taken on all sorts of business models. Cheap workhorses, expensive and eligant office trophys, and the few engineering marvouls that become some of the most liked notebooks in the industry, ASUS has done them all.

I've owned many ASUS products, notebooks, mobos, video cards, and even more products MADE by ASUS, I've heard my fair share of horrer stories but I have never had an issue with a product engineered by ASUS and very few issues with products assembuled by ASUS.

Its because of these factors that i think ASUS really cant be compared to the others because they really surpass all the competition with what they do. Experience, ingenuity, and a constant gaze ahead are all qualities that ASUS has and continues to incoperate into their products.

 

I could go on for days about this, but I'd like to break it down so it's easy to understand....... this is me talking, but I think it should make sense.

Let me give you an easy break down in a four step guide... 1 being the cheapest, 4 being the highest quality build, materials and details.

1.0 - Avertec, Emachines, some Dell's, Gateways..... add to that certainly anything under $700

2.0 - Most Dell's and HP's and older Imac's.... basically the generall run of the mill, average notebook... Asus A series falls in here and always has.

2.25 - I would place the new Z series... Z35 / Z62 / Z96

3.0 - A lot of names we don't see much in the US.. Sharp (made by Asus), some Fujitsu, Apple (a lot made by Asus), Sony (most made by Asus), Panasonic.....

3.5 - Asus' W5 / W7 would fit in here I would say...

4.0 - If anyone else can put any system on this level, I've yet to see them, but would certainly be interested in expanding what we carry....... but I'd consider the Asus W1 / W2 / W3 / V6 on this level.

 

i would concider the w series and v series asus to be of thinkpad quality. not durability but quality. as for dells d series they are actually built pretty well these days. dells are getting better. but asus level of fit and finish is higher.

 

I'm sorry, I don't know why the thinkpads didn't come to mind "quality" wise...... but I do know that there are other reasons I wouldn't put them on the same level as the W and V series of Asus'... mainly because Asus can build a solid system, yet make it look sexy and finish it with finer materials...

So, if thinkpads were a 4, my 4's would be 4.25/4.50..

 

Yeah that was my main reason for not buying a IBM they just look too business like, pity because they are great machines. Some of the high end HP Compaq’s I have seen get very good reviews. But now Lenovo had taken over IBM’s laptop range, maybe some nice design will sneak in, I was tempted by their Titanium lid model, but when you open it it still looks the same, pity they didn’t follow through.

Also the laptop magazine I subscribe to in the UK “What Laptop” rated Asus top for design and making good looking laptops.

 

Wow, thanks! This is helpful So I'm guessing that for level 2, it's the Dell and HP consumer lines while the business lines might be at the 3 and then Thinkpads at a 4? I know this isn't exactly scientific, but it's helpful for me, and hopefully for others as well!

 

well that LG s1 from that review a couple days ago looked beautiful. while not as thin and sleek as the v6 or w2 i'd say its finish and build quality looked outstanding.

 

Actually samsung make some quite nice looking thin laptops too

 

I have used a lot of laptops in my day - none feels to be on the same level as my V6j. It isn't even a question in my book.

 

I don't know, I sure seem to like the build of the HPs I've dealt with.

 

I'd add samsung into that "4" group as well, but they're one of the only companies I don't know who physically makes their products..... Samsung is all about screens... sort of like Sharp is...... and Asus makes all of Sharp's notebooks (I think mainly sold in Europe from what I've seen), but if you're talking ultra portable, that's been Samsungs money in the laptop world for almost ten years now. I'd actually believe it in an instant if I found out Asus made them for them.....

Almost every bit of cool technology worth owning is designed or manufactured by Asus......... Heck, when you consider that more than 80 some percent of everything Sony and Apple sell is made by Asus... that alone accounts for most of those cool "must haves".

 

There are a lot of decent things in this world that people are happy with..... What must be understood is that there is better in the world and if you could use it, you'd probably be one of the happier ones. It's like having a top of the line Ford 500... I've heard it's a good car and I'm sure people are happy with them...... but an Audi A6 will make that Ford feel like a heap....

How's the saying goes that basically about being content with what you have because you don't know there's anything better? I can't think of it, but that's sort of what comes to mind. I know a lot of people who have dealt with dell and hp for the better part of the last decade and honestly think that they *need* a new computer every 18 months..... they stick with those companies and don't know that they're anything else better in life..

I have no doubt that someone could be happy with an hp..... I'm certainly not questioning that.... just letting you know that if you're happy with an HP, an Asus would be like a wild dream come true.

 

Well i have a w2jb and so far this thing is solid...i can prolly drop it a couple of time and it will still be fine...The palm rest is solid as a rock...Zero flex on the laptop screen...look good too =)

 

Well, it really depends on the choice of materials for a notebook. You can't generalize the build quality by the company alone.... classify build quality by the individual models of the products they are offering. ASUS is usually known for (in this forums at least and by my own experience) flimsy/loose keyboard but that can be fixed easily.

In my opinion higher end ASUS notebooks are worth cosidering if you are looking for great build quality.

 

Curses the w7j is only 3.5! Where would you place a Sony SZ at? The regular one, not the premium one with super carbon fiber, LED backlighting, etc. I don't know why people complain about the SZ price nowadays. The base unit at PortableOne is only $1500 for a complete system.

 

I'd personally place the regular sony sz pretty low, at the same level as dells and HPs. The only real appeal of a sony sz, to me at least, is the carbon fiber lid and the brushed aluminum palm rest, but the various problems that it has and the lack of good support from sony kind of turn me off. The high end sony sz's (like the $3000+ ones) are very nice but the lower end ones aren't anything special.

 

Yeah, I think you're right to a degree. But, we can probably come up with something general (like the HP home line etc). It's not a perfect science or anything, but more of a gauge.

 

if anything is a 5 it would be the toughbooks

 

Hey, SOAP, your movie comes out today!

 

Ignorance is bliss...

 

Hummm.. I wasn't thinking of that saying.. I was thinking of something that I remember being longer... but that actually works anyway.. probably better than what I was thinking about.

Now, the toughbooks are good.... in terms of holding up and taking abuse, but it doesn't mean the build quality is excellent. See, Asus can build a solid machine but it can also design it to be sexier than what most would consider a business class laptop..... but does it with finer materials and finer details.... I compare Asus' W and V series to Audi's all the time and I think this is really where they compare. Just because it can take abuse doesn't mean it's it's got a quality build..... it just means it's rugged.

 

So if we take the car analogy further, is a Toughbook like a pickup truck whereas an Asus W or V is more like an Audi sport sedan?

 

A toughbook would be more like a Hummer H1.... no, I'd say more like an actual Military Humvee.... just meant for duty.

Totally different uses, gaps in fenders and paint and seat material (ie: the fit and finish) aren't going to be "luxury" but the darn thing can take a pounding....
But the Asus systems can certainly take a pounding as well... they just look good doing it.. If you want to compare the physical pounding they could take and like my Humvee comparison of the toughbooks.... the Asus units would probably be Benz GL's....... serious luxury with serious capabilities...... and then Sony and Apple and would probably come in as Benz ML's..... If you get that comparison, great... if not, I don't want to get in it

 

Is your profit margin the same on all Asus notebooks?

 

Justin I thought that you live in States so why your S4 has German license plate??

 

I do get it - thanks! I hope this is useful for others too

 

I do... I was born and raised in Pennsylvania. That plate is purely aesthetic... those new grilles were designed with Euro plates in mind..... anyone who's seen any new Audi with a US front plate or just a plain filler bar would understand why that's there

Profit.... profit is what business is all about, but not so much selling hardware..... margins are in percentages.... single **** digit percentages... but that's how things go.... So, is there more to make on a $3k notebook than a $1k... of course, but sometimes the margins on the cheaper notebooks are actually higher than those of the more expensive ones..... so in a lot of ways it evens out. I'd say between a $1,400 and $2,200 system we probably end up making just abou the same on them... within $20 I'd bet.

I can say that, but based on projects we've gone up against dell and hp where they needed to itemize everything so others could quote on the same parts..... They make more on their cheaper systems than they do on their more expensive ones and they're one of the few companies who manage to actually make money on cheap desktops which in todays market there's more physical labor going into them than profit.. and actually I shouldn't call it profit...

In hardware sales, you'd be lucky if you could make 10% on a product before 3-4% credit card fees.... and that's not physically paying for the labor you'd paying someone to build it. So, you're looking at $100 on $1,000....... $30-40 of that going to Visa/MC/AMEX -- (I think Discover takes 5.5% which is why we don't use them anymore)..... but that's $70 coming from that system and it would take two hours to build and get it started in the testing process.....

Let's not get into this..... the value of an Asus notebook is exceptional and if it weren't, we wouldn't still be in business because it's certainly not because the money is good.

 

How do the A8Jm and F3Jm rate on the build quality and durability scale?

Thanx.
Sammy

 

How about a scale rating for some Toshiba notebooks? they weren't mentioned anywhere. i'm just curious since i owned 2 toshibas and now switching over to Asus. the toshibas i owned would definitely score between 3-3.5 in my expierience, just would like to see some other ppl's feedback on this issue; comparing Asus to Toshiba

 

Thanks - I thought this was very interesting!

 

I have both and I have owned many laptops... A few Toshiba. I would rate them somewhere in the middle. Their Satellite & Sat Pro range are average. Their business range such as the Tecra is above average which I would rate about 3.

IBM T Series & some Asus are tops on my list.

 

I want to know what model people think is the best, I mean pure aesthetics materials and looks, regardless of performance.

From the models I have physically seen, I think the V6 is right up there, seroiusly thin and brushed aluminim palmrest, so that and the Lambo Lid would have to make the VX1 my top choice.

Although the W2J is also extremely well designed, and the W1 Carbon fiber model is also one I rate very highly.

 

Apple, more class, less bling i.e LEDs allover the place.

 

The W7/W3/V6 are what I would associate with my S4

'cause they're more likely to have problems?

 

How old are your Toshiba notebooks. The older Toshiba models weren't that bad. My sister sits and stacks books on her Toshiba Satellite all the time. I wouldn't say the same for the silver/black ones they have on display nowadays however. Those things are pretty flexy.

 

I was thinking of just Asus models, but yes you are right, my friend has a 15'' MBP and it is very styled not as much "bling" and undeneath it has a very stylish battery meter, which Asus laptops dont even have.. and the backlit keyboard.....and all metal casing, you can just buff out scratches...

 

Woohoo reviving build quality thread.

I need some opinions about the z70va build quality versus the whole range of A8 models out there, considering they should all have the same chassis. Justin (ProPortable) said that the A models fit under the Dell/HP group which isn't too reassuring but I can live with that. However, to get an impression, how would you gauge it to last years top z70va in build quality?

 

I pray to higher powers that Asus do NOT make laptops of the same quality as Audi makes cars. That is the worst piece of advertising I've seen in a long time, Justin. In the latest JD Power dependability survey Audi was ranked tenth... from the bottom...!

After I tested a W3J I thought of it more like a Lexus. A nice little red i350...!

 

What about Volvo? S60 yaaah

 

LOL Audi/VW are terrible....the best defect that makes me laugh...."my window fell out!" honestly...its just bad...i dont know why anyone would buy an audi/vw...there are far better choices.....

if i lived in the states i'd get an EVO....too bad they don't have 'em in canada.

 

Okay, so here's Asus - the company that builds the world's greatest laptop - yet, they also make models considered sub-par for the field. My question is: why is it so expensive to make a sturdy laptop? Why don't they just apply the same techniques to the low-level models that they do to the high-end stuff? I know you're thinking the answer is materials, but I don't think a laptop-worth of aluminum is so much more than a comparable amount of plastic. I mean, they practically give it away free for soda cans.

 

Sounds like your a Jap car kinda guy.

 

Looking wise, Asus better, solid wise, Asus cannot compare with thinkpad at all.
The other day I was in a notebook meeting, all makes were bragging how nice / solid their notebooks are, Asus rep could only say: one day he trapped the power cord and his V6V dropped onto the floor and now he is still using it for the demonstration now without any damage. but the IBM guy held his thinkpad and threw it to 5 feet away on the floor and then stepped his both feet on the thinkpad and started to jump on it 4 times with his whole weight, the notebook was still working, I don't believe I can do that on my Asus, Justin, do you want to try yours?

 

Sounds like my Nextel cell phone

 

that I am....nothing but jap imports please...if the EVO MR ever comes to canada....that is my dream car....it would easily handle a Lambo Murcielago...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9y6lIaGZA4w&mode=related&search=

except that is the UK FQ-400....but I'd love to mod it just like the FQ400.

Euro cars just aren't what I'm looking for....

back on build quality of asus...

i can vouch that thinkpad's are definitely tougher than the W3 series

 

Wow, this thread is still going and people still haven't gotten the jist of it.

First of all, unless someone else owns an S, I wouldn't expect you to understand. If you read JD power's rankings on a yearly basis and know what they represent - we could have a concersation about that. I don't want to get into cars on a computer forum, but quality of build, quality of materials and attention to detail and pure design aren't ranked by the bs jd power rankings and have nothing to do with them. Audi's win for most beautiful car, highest class interiors... things of this nature. Dependability is an entirely different ball game and owning an audi myself and having many more of them in my family over the years.... and knowing how that jd power ranking works.... it's based on visits to the dealership for any kind of work and the cost assocaited with it.... across every model. It's well known that you really don't want to own a german car after the warranty is out.. It's not because you're going to have tons of problems (although some do), it's because the cost of the parts you're going to break are a small fortune. The fact about Audi is one person could have every problem in the world with their car and 5 other people never see the dealership after they drive it off the lot It's ridiculous to get into this in particular any deeper because with out understanding where I was coming from to start with, it's a waste of time to get into the detail I suppose.....

But if you want to talk dependability, an Asus motherboard is like a japanese car....... period... but we certainly can't talk quality of build and materials on any W or V series notebook and not compare them to Audi's high end models... it's clear cut and although I wouldn't expect everyone to see that, I'd certainly expect they've been in or own both the notebook and the car to be able to compare.


Now, to another question someone asked........ I think the original W1 was and still is the cleanest, minimalistic notebook ever produced...... It tips it's hat at the powerbook which it was certainly modeled after and makes it close to perfect. Now other W models have improved much upon the W1, especially little things that most people wouldn't notice on say a W2.... but I think the W2 just has too much of a footprint to fill.....

Now...... build of the Z70 series.... that's the M6 series and that was around for 3 years... the M6n came out in November of 2003. It was the first carbon fiber composite notebook that Asus made and it's held up very well. The only thing that I can say could use improvement from that design is the hinge set up.... and actually it's not the hinges themselves so much... it's the connections of the barbs that hold the screws to the back of the lid. Those come lose and people can really screw up their lid. It's one huge reason I prefer the hinges designs of the W3 / V6 / W1 / W2... and the hinge itself on the W7...... they're all designed with the M6 series in mind..... what happened to that won't happen to those. Now, on the other hand, the lessons learned on the M6 series are basically ignored on the A and Z series.... This is why when people ask me if we're carrying this or that and I say right now we're not, if ever because of quality issues..... It has more to do with the overall than just one thing, but after seening how the screens are attached on the inside, and knowing the materials they're in, I know what to expect. At the very least, the hinges will be come an issue for probably 75% of customers within the first two years. Everyone is extremely happy when they first get any new notebook and they're quick to dismiss my comments, but they have zero experience in more than the one model and over the course of a couple years...... not to mention seeing whats occuring in other peoples systems.

On a whole the Z70 series is great... the chassis itself is wonderful and I haven't seen more than a couple cases of physical damage and they've been caused by a great deal of dropping. Outside of that, it's been great... but I still wouldn't put it before ANY W or V series model.

 

Justin, how do the w3j and the v1j stand against each other in terms of build quality?

 

Doesn't take much to get Justin going...!

No need to get into a huge car discussion, but trust me, I know my cars, and the comparison with Audi, in my opinion, is a poor one. Audi has amazing INITIAL build quality (especially the interior), and there are few brands out there that can beat their styling. However, ALL major independent automotive studies show that they have poor long-term reliability, even falling behind most so-called domestic brands.

So, I wonder, should we have an image of the W and V Asus models as pretty, sturdy, and powerful out of the box, but with the expectation that as soon as the warranty runs out, they will be more likely to fall apart and require expensive repairs? That would sure make me rethink my decision to buy one!

Perhaps it's better to just stick to a simple 1-4 scale...

 

wow 25 and an s4...you live well..haha and I believe in another thread you were thinking about picking up the rs4...ok but to get back on topic..what milestone said about thinkpads is something definitely to consider..i mean to be able to toss is THEN jump on it and still function thats just amazing