Convince me please.

To the Asus crowd:

For simple background information I am getting a new laptop after Christmas, and am leaning heavily to getting an A8J. This was my "what notebook should i buy" thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=92136

The G1 has also got my attention though. But so does *gasp* Dell and HP for different reasons. Let me explain.

I really want the A8J but then I think about how I will need to upgrade the memory to 2GB. Doing so will put the price up around the price of a G1, which already comes with the memory and a larger screen. So I ask myself why not just get the G1? Both are visually pleasing to me, but I like the sleek portability of the A8J slightly more than the flashy G1.

The only reason I would mention dell here is because I have some family discounts and stackable coupons that I can use that will make a fully loaded e1505 almost $500 cheaper than an Asus. Plus I am drawn to the free vista upgrade offered by dell and hp. I know that the quality isn't as good and that I am getting what I pay for with Asus, but as a poor college student I don't really have the money to pay for vista in teh future. i'm gonna break the bank with this purchase as it is. Are any of the main dealers of Asus offering the same upgrade?

Sorry for the semi-rant, but I need to be convinced. Thanks in advance.

 

Well, the GPU for the e1505 is nowhere near the 7700's, so that's a huge concern if you play games alot.

There is also a free Vista upgrade for all ASUS ENSEMBLE notebooks as well.

 

Well, if you are playing to play intensive or consider yourself a heavy gamer, I wouldn't recommend the 7700Go, if you are a moderate player I will. Just to point out that sometimes people may be mislead by the G1 "gaming notebook" and its performance.

 

The portability is an important factor. But try to figure out a dollar value to it.

I mean I own an a8js I really like it. I like its size I wouldnt be interested in making it larger lol.

But the g1p is a better deal. You will buy that extra gb ram and you might not buy the larger hd but the 60gb will come in handy.

 

Heck it sounds like you need to convince yourself. Asus notebooks offer great performance for their relatively low price. However, you mentioned that you have stackable coupons for Dell which would lower the price by $500. In this case you need to decide what's more important: the much lower priced Dell which would have a decidedly worse build quality and lower performance in games, or the much higher priced Asus which has much better build quality and great performance in games.

 

go with a dell e1705 which would be better for your gaming needs and use your "im a poor ass university student who needs a favour now and when i become rich afterwards i will think of dell instead of somebody else who will consider my offer" skills.

xD

 

Trust me, ASUS is better than DELL. Dell doesn't make their own notebooks, u know. it's made by compal...or w/e...

ASUS is the ODM. They make it themselves. The quality on the ASUS is also 2x better than dell's. dell = plastic build, asus g1 = aluminum w/ carbon fiber coating.

So really, for a 7700go, 2GB of ram, superior build quality, superior support, better mechanism in hardware, u're getting a lot.

 

well if I can upgrade to vista for free I'll decide between the A8J or the G1. The e1705, its a little big for my taste. I think I came off a bit whiny in the first post.

eh screw the money, i'll plan on buying Asus. I've got a month to think about it. >.<

 

I love threads like these.... If anything, we really need to convince you that you need to convince yourself and to have the self-confidence needed to make an important decision. You'll also have a much better sense of appreciation of a system you decided on. Since I've seen posts like these in the past, and since we get calls like this all the time, I think those who wan to be convinced, also want an out, or someone to blame if they don't like what was ultimately their choice to buy..... ie: "well YOU told ME this is what I should get and I don't like it"... That's a tough one, but some people can't deal with blaming themselves if they end up getting something that isn't 100% what they need/want.... I think we can all help give you advice based on your needs, funds, and what you already have picked out... but you'll feel better about yourself if you convince yourself you want what it is you're going to buy.

Now, before we blow the G1 into the stratosphere, talking it up and everything... It's a good notebook and worth it's price tag, but I don't want anyone thinking it's more than it is.

It's a plastic A6 chassis (hence the weight and dimensions), the ONLY piece of aluminum on the G1 is a 1.5" x say 14" piece which is what I consider the lower palmrest. The "carbon fiber" on the lid and upper palmrest is NOT carbon fiber - it's a simulated paintjob on purely plastic components. Don't get me wrong, it has a nice look to it from 3-4' away, but I know carbon fiber quite well, and this certainly isn't. The funny thing is the Logitech Mx518 optical mouse that comes with the G1 and G2 is simulated carbon fiber look as well, but the "weave" that it simulates is much better and could fool me at 18" away... It's nice to look at, but the system is certainly not aluminum with a carbon fiber coating.

 

If you admitted your were whiny, then you're not one of those people... it's the ones that can't see it that have the problem I mentioned above.

The main thing to remember is that it's very hard to compare 14 and 15.4" systems against each other.... one is not better or worse than the other and just because the prices might be similiar - weight and the overall footprint should be more important when looking at the two different sizes...... and one really needs to stick out as THE better size for you, based on what you want to do with it.... I hope that helps.

 

Awwww
*looks at post again*
Awwwwwwwww
Burst my bubble...

 

heh, I'll take full responsibility for this purchase. Guess I was testing the forum one last time for any reason not to get an A8J. That's the one that has had my attention, and the one I plan on buying in the future.

Thanks again for the help.

 

That's a good move by you - you used us - but good move.

 

You just HAD to burst my bubble, huh? The whole point of me getting the G1 over the A8Js is for the G1's build. A8Js is all-around plastic and I thought the G1 was all aluminum. Darn. GAHH!!! Oh well, I'm getting more paying an extra $100 ($100 off from geared2play preorder discount) for better LCD, 2GB ram, cooler looks, better webcam, bigger hard drive...

But the G1 should be nonetheless sturdy right? I mean, it has an EXTRA coating above the surface!

 

There's one thing that hurts me as a minimalist and that is anything fake... To me, the G1 would have been better if the panels were just a solid color, instead of having a design on them that they're purposely trying to pass of as another material (carbon fiber).... That just hits a bone. Now, if I could let that slide, because most people buying the system would say - for the same price, they'd rather it look more expensive than it wise - or - they simply wouldn't have the money for the added cost if it were real......

95% of people who buy a G1 will probabyl think it's the best thing since sliced bread.... if it were more like the quality of the W1, which you can feel when you touch and open it..... I could really get behind it... with that said, there was even a special edition W1 in Europe with a real carbon fiber lid, and it's hard to see in pictures, but in real life, you can fake a carbon fiber weave, but you can't fake the strength to weight ratio of carbon fiber...... nor can you fake the the depth of a quality of an exposed, polished piece.... In a lot of ways, it's like wood (and I know a lot of family members and professors that just dropped dead when I said that), but the depth of a good CF piece is only matched by very high end finishes on furniture grade hard wood pieces.... No, it's not as warm as wood, but it's certainly not as cold as aluminum either...... but enough with the rant..... the lid is a piece of plastic painted black, with little 1/16" silver dots painted all over - with a gloss finish. Yes, it's nicer than most, but in my book it's on the same level as those HP's with fake brushed aluminum..... which is plastic with silver hairline streaks of paint which looks like brushed aluminum...... that makes me sick when Asus has notebooks like the W2, with a nice thick 1/8" sheet of actual cold brushed aluminum with an anodized finish which can't be rubbed or scratched off. Call me crazy, but...

 

I have to agree with Justin. Its kinda funny, I'm sitting here with an Asus V6j, by far the nicest notebook I have seen or used (looks and style, not performance, though close in performance), and my roomate has a Dell, and I disassembled my brothers HP the other day. The funny thing is just the difference. You can feel how terrible the Dell's and HP are the moment you start dissasemble. Or when you place the screen on the HP and then it sinks back at least 15 degrees. The great build quality and just as important the materials make a huge difference. The speakers and palm rest are trashed on my brothers computer because they are just plastic. My laptop, which gets way more use, had no marks from my on the palm rests, because the Aluminum can just hold up. People complain that Asus is too expensive, but you just need to think about what you are buying. No one would buy a car that you could pull the bumper off of (unless they were going to rebuild it), so why buy a computer with a cheap build and complain about it, or complain about the price of quality? Doesn't make sense to me.

 

Caleb,

What is obvious to you or to me even, is sometimes that last thing considered by average consumers... and even if it is, they don't understand it fully unless they got a chance to physically feel it before buying... but even then, it's more about how it feels and looks a year after purchase than during the first month. Yes, we both know you could see and tell the difference right away, but all systems should be able to at least hold their own for the first 6 months out of the box..... What's amazing about something like the W and V series is how great they are even with takin a beating, after a year or two...

 

Build quality is a very important factor in everybody's mind but I think the more pressing issue at hand is how much of a premium everybody (the general public/masses) is willing to pay for a certain 'upgrade' in build quality.

For example, let us take the A8Js and the G1, both of which have a similar chassis that is mainly some kind of plastic material. We can't say that the build quality is as poor as other competitors than say, Dell, but the majority would also agree that they are not as built as say, the V or W series from ASUS (or to some exten the ThinkPads).

I looked at the G1 and the V1JP and the price difference is almost a 10% premium (over the G1) - just for better build quality (among other things such as modular bay, biometric scanner, etc. - but those features perhaps cancel each other noting the drop in performance specs).

The other common thought most consumers have is that as long as the laptop is not built *poorly* they should be fine as long as they take care of the laptop. That's how I look at my future laptop purchase and hence I wouldn't spend the 10% premium for a better built laptop because I'm thinking hey, as long as the keys don't fall off or the panels just crack out of nowhere, I should be fine if I take good care of the laptop. Things for example such as the spill-proof feature of the V1 - that sounds good but I've never spilt anything within 5 feet from my laptop and from the forseeable future seems like I am on a roll and won't need such a feature.

PROPortable - what are your thoughts then regarding the durability of ASUS laptops if you take very good care of them and assuming no accidents ever take place?

 

I don't really know much about the A8JS or the G1 imho I much prefer the looks of my Z96JS (except for maybe the back panel - anything is better than what the Z/S96J is stuck with...) - but I have to say the MX518 is a great mouse - I have 3 of them and they're excellent gaming grade mice . Just make sure you get the special XML hacks for the SetPoint drivers to give you access to all the features .

Cat

 

You have to remember, the W, V, S, R series are simply better than the A,F,G series in terms of build... and that is much more thana 10% premium for the designs, materials and build quality...... They're really not meant to be cross compared because they're really for different people..... but in the end, a year or two down the road, that 10% premium or whatever it is (probably more like 20%), will seem cheap if you're looking for a quality piece... It's like comparing a Mitsu Evo and a BMW M3.... perhaps the same horsepower, but two different quality cars...... more bang for your buck on the cheaper EVO without a doubt, but not a car you're going to keep forever either... Same difference with the higher end Asus models.

 

Justin I agree with the notebook examples, but I gotta say all these high class German cars are absolutely horrible when it comes to longevity. You'll get problems ranging from misfiring electronics to engine failure in the M3, and at a rate of occurrence well above those for cheaper (Japanese) consumer cars. I'll bet the EVO would last longer on average than the M3 without intermittent repairs, and any repairs done would be much cheaper on the EVO.

 

Justin I feel offended by your comparison of the mitsu evo. It is a very solid car and most importantly, light. That's what sets it apart from its competitor. I drive the evo III and it is still as strong as ever. Jap cars are known or their durability.

 

My brand new acura tl is not so silent anymore. It creaks and pops while driving particularly in the doors and windows. I wonder if there is some kind of oil for this?. I use to laugh at people who complained about their creaking palm rests. Granted a laptop is not a car but now it starts to annoy the crap out of me. It does not do it all the time. One day it will be silent and sealed another day i will hear all the roadnoise and creaking. It took 30k miles to break it in however i didnt expect this atleast until 80k miles. My apologies to all the people i called picky who complained about their creaking laptop. To sum up i am fairly unhappy with my 33k piece of equipment. I expected better after break in

 

Hmm... Interesting thread. Justin, you have shattered and shreaded my G1 dream! I too had considered the laptop to be aluminum/cf. My question to you is this: Is the G1 build better than that of the A8js? Though I still am purchasing the G1, it would be nice to know that "one" of the main reasons for purchasing the G1 (better quality in build than A8js) is true. Now, my only experiance with a laptop has been a pvHP and it has been a great disappointment. I am sure that the experiance with the G1 will be an improvement.

 

Well Eddie, I think you got a Lemon Try calling the dealer since its brand new?

 

OK now Im frustrated. The only reason why I'm waiting for G1 is for its build. I want the specs of the G1, but the build of the W and V series. As long as I get atleast a X1600 256mb, a SATA hard drive w/ either 160GB 5400rpm or 100GB 7200rpm, dvi port, glossy lcd (DARN, would have gotten a thinkpad), high resolution, widescreen, at least a C2D T7200, solid sturdy build, and 15.4" or below.

Darn, I guess no perfect notebook exists. The Macbook Pro would have been ideal, but its X1600 is only 128mb for the T7200 version. Only way I can get the fully loaded X1600 is w/ the T7600 customization, which is $2800 including tax.

I'll just get a G1, no other choice.

 

Well, no one ever said the G1 was going to be built great... anyone who thought that put themselves in that position for let down. It's great for the price, but anyone who remembers my original comments on the machine, I said for the production units to be carbon fiber based, would boost the cost of the units over at least $2,200.... I was thinking closer to $2,800 if the video card was perhaps a 7900 and they happened to go with a 7200rpm HDD. They didn't, and that means the build is as good as the A6 series.... Anyone with an A6 or Z92 can comment on the long term quality of their systems, but for $1,800 it honestly can't be beat.

Now, if this model cost another $500, I'd probably reject it altogether and consider not having us carry it.... but again, it's not.. and for what it is, it's a very good unit. Asus' systems seem to grow in value with every release... if you see that also, it's not your imagination. The more we sell, the more that are brought in... and the more that are brought in, the cheaper they cost.... So more is being put into them, and they're costing less. So in other words, each Asus offering becomes a better buy with each and every release. IT doesn't mean it's going to be perfect in everyone's eyes, but something ALWAYS... and I mean ALWAYS isn't going to be perfect.

To get the best performance, best build, best design, best materials, lowest weight, etc.... the price has to high..... To get the best price, performance, design..... the weight, build, and materials need to suffer... To get the best price, build, materials, lowest weight... the performance needs to suffer. There will ALWAYS be one thing that had to justify the rest. I've seen it in all of my years with Asus' systems and it's impossible to NOT follow that rule. The only time you can get EVERYTHING is actually on a system that follows the rules above and is therefore very expensive... and either buy that model a year after it was released... or buy it used from someone (either way, you could say it's then not the latest in performance or it's already been used and beat up by someone else)...... Never perfect, but take that advice above and you'll see it applies with basically everything.

 

Very true, Justin, very true. It comes down to you get what you pay. Anyway, does anyone know the built of a Sony Vaio FS Series? This is my current notebook, and I just want to compare what will be differences.

To stay on topic, how heavy is the G1 with battery and adapter? I have seen some place say ~7lbs and some say ~9lbs.

<edit> fixed some horrible gramma.

 

I got an idea. maybe goin' with LG's S1 or W1! I really don't mind stepping down from 7700go to X1600...

 

I'd actually say the Sony FS is about the same quality to be honest.. it's not the best sony out there either.

I don't know anyone who would give the weight of a notebook with the ac adapter anymore... notebooks have decent batteries for a reason. If the battery life was still 30-45 minutes, you'd need it with you all the time, but the weights are typically given for the unit itself. The system is a hair under 7lbs .. it's like 6lbs 13oz or something but itself with the battery.

 

Thanks, Justin. This should be no problem; my current notebook is quite durable, and it has been used for a year and 65 cents.

It should not be a problem, for sure. Anyway, do you know if the Sony Vaio FS is made out of plastic, too? Up until now, I never heard of carbon fiber...

 

I don't know..... I do know that Sony pushes carbon chassis' whenever they care though..... and since you're new here, Asus makes the Sony Viao's.... not saying they're all fantastic, but there are a lot of similiarities... they basically end where the bottom line becomes a factor. Asus will put on the little extra even if it means a dollar of two here and here - if it makes the system exactly what they want. Sony on the other hand would look at how much would be lost over 10,000 systems...... and axe that little add-on.... like most big companies. Asus produces the closest to concept products in the world... Since they're the ODM, they have complete control over what they end up producing..

 

Interesting. I knew ASUS was an ODm, but I did not not know ASUS produces SONY's VAIO. Thanks.

 

Well, this thread has done me in!!! After reading this and several similar threads about the V1Jp and also talking to Sean from ProPortable, I have decided to let go of the G1 and buy the V1Jp! In my eyes, the only thing I am loosing is the 7700. I already have 2 gigs of DDR2 667mhz laying around, so an upgrade in ram won't cost me anything. I can always upgrade the Hard drive, so that is not a porblem either. And I just love the modular bay in the V1Jp. Thanks to all NBR members for helping me finally decide. I realized that I did not really need the 7700 as I will mainly use the lappy for school, though occasionally I will game.

 

As I mentioned earlier, I don't think many of us would be concerned about build quality as long as it's above the norm (e.g. will last us through years and won't just crack on us out of nowhere).

In regard to analogies, I feel like most of you guys are arguing about getting either a Ferrari or a Lamborghini in terms of build. It's not like comparing a Ford Pinto to a Ferrari. Unless, of course, you guys are saying that the G1 (or the non-W,S, R, V series) are poor build quality then I might have to reconsider purchasing ASUS altogether and go with a Sony (from which my R505 has already endured over 5 years of beating and there's not a slightest crack on it or a loose key or creakiness or loss of brightness in screen). That's where I hold my standard.

 

Well, concerned is one thing....... it depends on what you want. I for one like german engineering in something like a car.... when the door locks are so perfect that a two year old could close them, that's quality.... The car analogy isn't perfect....... However, I could put it into a perspective I think everyone can understand...... If the W and V series are $200k automobiles..... the G1 would in the high 30's, low 40's.... Better than anything dell, hp, or toshiba have, but not close to what you're getting with the other ones. Now, with Sony, I wouldn't go that far to judge them on a whole and put them above the G1, but if you're looking in the 15.4" range, what sony has to offer would be more comparable to the V1jp or the MBP.... so to skip the G1 because you want something of a better build would be ok, but I'd totally suggest you look at the V1 before you jump ship.

Again.. the G1 is a gamers system... made for everything gamers are about - period. If you're not a gamer, you shouldn't be buying this system.

 

Probably my biggest peeve about my last notebook were the hinges. they wobbled around like crazy. Now I have my z63a (same chassis as W3,) and man, this notebook is pure sex for my purposes. I've had it for just over a year now, and the only thing that is even close to wrong with it is that the keys and palmrest/touchpad are getting shined up.

I personally would always go for the extra cost associated with getting the better-built chassis even if you take a bit of a performance hit, IF you're actually going to be using the notebook as a notebook and carrying it around. My way of thinking is that it's better to not have to worry so much about every potential bump, that way you can enjoy it more.

 

Hello again, Justin - I am taken by surprise by how you consider the G1 to be in the high 30's and low 40's while the W and V are in the 200k! That gets me to seriously consider the quality of the G1 especially if you say Sony's Quanta-made laptops are comparable to the V1JP (thus implying Sony's better 15.4" laptops are analogous to 200k as well). Which 15.4" Sony laptop were you thinking of that can compete against the V1 build-wise?

I also understand your appreciation for German engineering in the analogies of cars as I went from a Honda Civic to an Audi A4! I have to admit, however, that the Germans are lightyears behind their Japanese counterparts in regards to technological advances such as navigation systems, sound systems, active noise cancellers, etc.

EDIT: BigV - your comment regarding using a notebook as a notebook only if build quality is great is completely true. Every other laptop I've seen so far (the older ones) have cracked hinges, loose/wobbly hinges and lcd screens, keys that broke off, keyboards that have gone loose, parts of the chassis that split off or cracked, screens losing brightness, ports failing one day, lcd latches breaking off, etc.

 

First all - just remember that once you hit thw $100k plateau, you go from 100k, to 150k, to 200k really quick... there aren't that many car inbetween.

I think those models are up on the level of exotics..... while the G1 is probably the closest thing to an EVO that I've ever seen... I mean, I love it out some kids want to put something like the W3 on that level of the EVO, but you need to live life and have some experiences to really know what good is.

Basically, I'm saying that the G1 is a **** good machine... worth every penny for it's purpose. I know people with EVO's and you get a lot for what you're paying for

First of all, Sony makes 90% of the Vaios, and I don't think 90% of what they make come close to the quality of the V or W series....... there have only been a handful of Sony notebooks over the last 5-6 years that I would consider on the consistent level Asus has made the V, W and even S series over the last 3 years.... The Quanta made Vaios happen to be the ones that suck the most and give Sony a bad reputation.... Remember the F series?

I think right now, the only thing that can compare to the V1 is really the MacBook Pro..... and I really don't think that can compare perfectly, but it's the closet thing out there.

I've got an S4.... so we're at least at a level of understanding when it comes to just knowing the quality difference of even the smallest things. I used to compare the V and W series to Audi's.... but it didn't click with everyone.... Really, I would compare a W3 to my S4, while comparing the A8 to an EVO..... that made no sense to some people and then they went off on a tangent about how great japansese cars are, blah blah.... it didn't resonate... Better to put them off in a category of exotics because you'll never see one in public.. and if you do, you won't believe it.... Most people seem to think they're out of their price range... right down the line.

Your comments about all those "little things" breaking... that's where I think it'll show.....

 

Haha

That is the best analogy for the G1.

G1 is a purpose built EVO, its fast, and all the things to make it fast for 30~35k is there. But you cant expect it to be fast, and be pretty and comfortable.

But then again, its not as shabby as an EVO, plastics on the G1 dont feel cheap, all the knobs and dial work.

Look at it this way. I like EVO's ans STI, as they are beatable, and relativly cheap to beat about. Fact is gaming machines are short lived; newer games, newer bid cards etc... I'd much rather enjoy(beat the crap out of) G1 for year or two, then get the next one.

 

Thanks for the info, Justin. Would you say from what you've seen thus far of the G1 that little problems like those I've mentioned with a couple plus years?

I am one of those people who thinks spending $2,000 should be an investment - e.g. should last me 5 years or more otherwise why would I keep spending $2,000 every couple years just to have a laptop that works? If what you say is true then it's going to be incredibly hard to pass up the V1 for say, the G1, noting that I'll be using these notebooks just as that: notebooks to be carried around and used on a daily basis.

EDIT: I've come to truly appreciate the power and handling of German cars - my A4 3.0 Quattro only slipped on me when pushing it hard over 6" of snow...using A/S tires! I can't imagine how it's going to be with Blizzaks on!

 

Um... can't really comment on the G1 specifically, obviously.. We've gotten a handful in and those customers haven't even had them in their hands for a week yet. My testing shows the physical quality of the chassis is no better than the A6 that it's built on, it just looks different..... and although we don't hear a lot about chassis' "falling a part", they are certainly built of different materials and designs than the other series. I have not seen a single W or V series model with some age on it that really feels or looks (other than maybe dust and dirt and normal keyboard wear) like it isn't new....... I know the A series will feel at least like a system that is a year old - when it's a year old..... Better than everything else out there, just not as good as the other models.

OK, if you want an investment, by property...... They say a car is a bad investment, a computer is worse... bottom line, end of story. If you want a road warrior, I'd expect you to go with a W or V series model.... they're going to take the abuse better than anything outside of semi-rugged or rugged notebooks that weight a ton and look like boxes.

 

By investment I obviously didn't mean to imply a potential return in income, if any. By investment I mean making a smart choice in a purchase vs a bad one - e.g. buying a $2000 laptop that will "probably" last 2 years is a stupid decision.

But, it certainly is quite sad to hear you say that a 1-year old ASUS (non-W/V) will feel 1-year old.

 

Um... Let me put it this way.... Every system that will sell will hold up better than anything else on the market. Asus has made some models that we refuse to sell...... as they try to gain ground in that sub $1000 market.... and there are even models that Taiwan wants the US to purchase and the US office simply says they'd change peoples perception of Asus in the US....... The G1..... along with models like the A series and F series are meant to attract those typical dell buyers... granted, they're much better systems, that's simply not "top of the line". It shouldn't be "sad to hear"... but even the worst quality, lowest end Asus is still going to feel and look better after a year than any dell or anything else you could buy.

you have to realize, I've been spoiled for the last close to six years........ I've physically owned nearly 60 different Asus models (I eventually may start some sort of Asus notebook museum or something), I've personally probably hand built a couple thousand customer notebooks when I have the time, I've done custom mods and repair work on hundreds of systems and I've treated my own systems like red-headed step children. Asus actually respects my opinion on they systems because I have more stored data than most of their own employees and the network of dealers they have combined....... without tooting my own horn, facts are facts and I've got to live with that ... In my world, the A6 chassis is bottom of the barrel..... I wouldn't own one. THe G1 is built on that chassis, but it is better and as a computer, it's made with some better internals and a better screen - so it has it's advantages.. it's not the lowest of the low by any means. However, I lose track of reality, because some people who own an A6 think they're the best things in the world and they're the best notebook they've ever owned. Perhaps if we sold other stuff... inferior products... then perhaps I'd have a new found appreciation for even the lower end models Asus makes..... It's just in my world of Asus, if I don't distingush a high and low end, I'd go crazy... everyone here would go crazy.... We're in a little niche and in our niche, you have to magnify the products 20x and have a low and high end.....

That's all....... Don't take my comments as after a year the G1 should feel like a 1 year old Dell.... I don't thin it will, but it won't feel like a 1 year old W or V series, that's without a doubt.

 

"it's good, better than 'brand x', just not as good as a high-end ASUS"

there's a summary.

 

Yeah, that sums it up...... There's a certain feeling when you open and close say a W1/W2/W3/V6/S6.... It's unlike any other notebook in the world.. You can grab just the one corner and there's basically zero torque on the lid..... that is simply unheard of.. It may seem "overbuilt", because it's not commont to even other models, but it's just unreal.... it's a sense of quality that no one really expects out of a notebook, but everyone can appreciate.... and like I said, it's just not on the smaller systems which may seem more likely to work in this way, but the 15.4" W1 and 17" W2 all have that solid feel that just let's you know it's a darn good piece of work. I was just playing around with the screen on my brothers old W1 tonight.... that has a solid 2 1/2 years of daily abuse on it... and I opened and closed that lid and still felt the same secure quality we saw when the model was new.... If I didn't already tell you the notebook was more than 2 years old, I'd bet a good amount of money that if you held it and looked closely, you'd never guess it was even 6 months old.......

I think people have an idea of how things should last from poor examples... and therefore they justify their going to replace that new thing they're buying today in no more than 2 years..... If your software needs don't really change, as long as the system works and holds up.... it should be a productive piece of equiptment for years and years to come...... Even if you want to replace it for just something new in a couple years - we always like to say that it would be a nice gift to a friend or family member at some point... so you'll appreciate it holding up, even if you choose to get rid of it after a while because you're simply sick of staring at everyday for 2-3 years...

 

Yeah, the "bamboo hinge" on my w3, even after a year, has less than an 1/8th" of give in either direction, but it springs back to the center.

I've only ever seen one other person with an ASUS up at school, and he had a w2v. Man that thing was sexy. Anyway, you get what you pay for, it's just that ASUS starts a notch above the rest, IMHO.

 

The asus g1 is very similar to the dell xps 1710, obviously it is made to look like that model

Only its a little nicer and much cheaper.

 

Thank you all for the extensive information - it is truly helpful.

Buying an ASUS is a tough move for me - there is no ASUS reseller close around and on top of that, no B&M holds ASUS in-house. At least within a day's worth of driving. So it would be a gamble to buy an ASUS only to have my worst fears come true - which is that the ASUS fanboys have bloated up the hype behind ASUS laptops, making them only seem better than they actually are especially build-wise. Heck, I find it very hard to distinguish comments made by ASUS fanboys from strictly objective ones.

 

Yeah, well I take that as an insult in a lot of ways... You've found the best Asus forum on the web and you're getting first hand information from owners and people who are around them 24/7 since the start of the millenium.... If you can't distingush fact from BS, try to read other posts by the same people you're questioning their comments.

For instance, those that know me typically value my opinion because I have and work with all of these systems......... New members who don't agree with me will give me the "well your company sells them" BS........ but if you look at my posts, you'll see that my opinion is based on experience.... and if I criticize something a model we sell or even decide not to sell..... it shouldn't take any trust to believe me. I know how the systems are designed and I know what works well over time and what doesn't. There is no hype when it comes to Asus notebooks, but I personally have a problem with people who lump them all together because then someone would but this $1,000 notebook and assume it'll have the quality of a $2,500 W2 or something...... They shouldn't assume, but the problem is that most people don't own an Asus system........ that's obvious.... People in this forum typically want or will be getting an Asus.... at most, have had 1 Asus for a couple months maybe...... It'll be the best system they've ever owned...... but at the same time, people love the A8 and so forth, and yet I wouldn't own one...... I press on about something like the W3 as the entire series is better designed and built........ and will hold up better. People think I'm crazy at times for saying that, but it's like you don't know any better.. Let's put it this way, plenty of people own Dells and love them and think they're build fantastic - I'd love to know they're coming from. There are people who do reviews based on pictures... and you have to watch out for those people.... You also have to take with a grain of salt, the comments by someone who just got their new notebook a couple days ago..... it's hard for a new computer to suck.......... What I find the most helpful for the end user would be performance numbers on new systems........ but a quality report afer 6, 12, 18 months........ That's obviously hard to do with a completely new design, but it's helpful because we lot of them are based in ways off of other models.... so lids could be similar to this model, hinges based on that, palrests based on something else... and we can take the data from the older models and plug it into an educated guess of how this brand new one will hold up.......

You can't blame someone for getting into any new toy that they want...... but I certainly blame them when they want to start giving advice because they have been researching them for a whole week...... It is hard to distigush, but on a forum like this there are really good ways to do so...... and there are three ways that you can give extra weight to comments:

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They actually can tell you a lot.. not the full story of course, but they do help...


Oh and by the way, we're actually the closest place to you - but we are about 3-4 hours south