Final decision Asus W3V, Sony S

Ok I've been on these forums for a couple of months now, gathering information on the Asus W3V and Sony S5M laptops.

I am going to purchase one of the two today or tomorrow, so I need some last minute advice first.

The differences

Weight: Asus W3V is 2.45Kg, Sony S5M is 2.0Kg
Screen: Asus W3V has 14" screen, Sony S5M has 13.3" screen
Processor: Asus W3V has 1.86Ghz, Sony S5M has 1.73Ghz
Bluetooth: Asus W3V has it, Sony S5M does not

I am a college attender who wants to use the laptop in lessons, including microsoft office applications, and also want to do gaming on it (games like Battlefield 2) not neccesarily on the HIGHest settings, but medium.

It needs to be portable so I can take it on the train, but is the Asus's extra weight really much of a difference?

What are the battery lives like on them?

Vote now and please expand on your answers!!!

 

I had the same comparison, you know u can buy a bluetooth thing and add it on to the notebook internally. I got the w3v but I wouldnt mind getting the sony if it was cheaper. They both perform really well and if your on the go all the time and u need to bring it around often get the sony because its lighter, if not get the w3v

 

have you tried the sony keyboard in person? when i was deciding between the two i checked it out and it felt a little cramped to me. might want to check taht out if youre gonna be writing papers. also the weight probably wont matter if its in a backpack... it isnt a huge weight difference.

 

Re battery life, I would expect the W3V to win by a clear margin. A significant part of the extra weight is in the battery. A year ago I had the Sony S2XP which was the first notebook I had used that could get to the end of a 2 hour DVD (at usable screen brightness) before the battery run out. Then I got my W3A and I was impressed that there was 20% remaining in the battery after a 2 1/2 hour DVD. In normal moderate usage the W3 will give you an extra hour and there is the optional media bay battery if you need really long battery life. Sony has a high capacity battery option, but it is very expensive and sticks out of the back like the hump on a camel.

What is the size of the PSU for the Sony? The W3's PSU is a reasonably compact 105mm x 43mm x 29mm.

And don't forget that the Asus warranty in the UK is still 2 years.

John

 

Get an asus w3v. Or for something cheaper a w3n, you can still find these (uk) through microanvika. You could also try ebay.

 

Asus!
Global warranty (though you may or may not use it), no need to carry dongles, and isn't heavy it all; sure it's heavier, but it's definitely light; keep in mind you can always use the traveler's drawer...
besides, the W3V has better battery life.

 

This is a no brainer for me. The Asus W3V is the better of the two. Not only is the Asus better quality, it has better battery life. If you wanted an additional battery, the W3 costs about 120 and the sony costs 300. While the Asus does weigh more, the difference is not that much. Not only that, you get more for your money with the Asus. Sony notebooks are overpriced.

If you are not a gamer, you could look at the Asus Z63a which is the W3 without the graphics card. In addition, the Z63a is customizable.

You will not regret getting the W3.

 

As a college student, I can vouch for the w3v. I haven't had much experience w/ sony's, but they're definitely well-made laptops.
If you are going to be taking the laptop to class, the w3v is extremely quiet, and the keys/touchpad are top-notch. Personally, the weight isn't that bad, I usually just stick it into a notebook sleeve and put it in my backpack. The screen is also the perfect size for doing school work, playing warcraft, and watching movies. I personally don't find the heat as an "issue".

As far as negatives go, this computer is possibly too sexy, it would definitely be a target for theft if you aren't careful. Good luck with whatever you choose!

 

Well thanks guys, I hope this praise for the W3V isnt just because i posted it in the asus forum , j/k, ah well thank you, my dads getting one for me and ill see it in a few days when i go up for christmas, i will then write a full review on it!

p.s. is the included carry case any good? or should i start looking for one?
also i want an extension power cord, but one that is in a small disc that sort of reels-out, if you know what i mean?

any links?!

 

The included carrying case is pretty good. Ive seen better looking bags but its free so I cant complain too much. I dont know if you like backpacks better because I prefer them over the regular notebook cases.

 

The carrying case is OK, but the W3...in.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=47636&doy=10m12

Alternatively, for something smaller and less expensive look at http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9827734.htm

John

 

While Asus notebooks are good lookers, the relative rarity might discourage thieves because the rarity will hinder easy disposal.

John

 

The carrying case imo wasn't in my taste. The function of it was pretty nice, aka compartments/pockets, padding; but the material it is made out of looks heinous. Would have been better if they just made it out of black nylon or something. However, it is free, so no complaints there.

 

Really? I kind of like the material... tweed, is it?
I think it's stylish and I use it weekly

 

But if the Sony have a better specifications than the Asus (5400rpm Hard drive and GeForce 6400 -- better than the X600) then how can the Asus be better?
True the Asus looks better, but doesn't the Sony?

The only reason I am driving myself crazy to choose is because I like the Asus's design, and for some reason that sticks out as an important factor in a laptop, the magnetic lid, the stylish power button and sleek design, the cool keyboard and touchpad, nice and black, but is that really worth losing 5400rpm's of hard drive power and only allowing 4200?

And is the Asus bigger and heavier than the Sony? I think of the Sony as a light feather, and the Asus as a much heavier and bigger thing, yet somehow unique and long-lasting.

This is really aimed at someone who has played on both of them! Please let me know everything! I'm going mad

 

The Asus is far from a heavier and bigger thing... and perhaps if you didn't drive yourself mad over this, you could have bought the older configuration of the W3V with a 60GB 5400RPM drive
I wouldn't say the Geforce Go 6400 is better than the X600...they're roughly equal; very comparable.
The only reason it is heavier because it is slightly larger... and because the battery lasts longer. I couldn't imagine having anything smaller...

 

Even though its heavier, the huge reason why I would get the Asus is becuase of the price of replacement batterys. For some odd reason a sony replacement battery costs $300, almost triple the price of the Asus battery.

As for the bag, I forgot that the new configuration of the W3 does not come with a bag.

As for the 4200 hd, the difference is not that much. In addition, a slower hd means less heat. With the 5400 rpm hd the S notebook becomes very hot whereas the W3 would be cooler.

 

In the end its your choice.

Because, don't blame us if you choose one of the two and end up not liking it

 

1. Good point about replacement battery costs. My W3A's battery has lost 16% capacity after 7 months.

2. A modern high capacity 4200RPM is not much slower than a 5400RPM HDD. The high data densities mean that data transfer rates are much higher than the HDDs made two or three years ago. For a comprehensive review of HDD performance visit http://www.laptoplogic.com/reviews/detail.php?id=92&PHPSESSID=7cdcce8732bdb854d9b59fac2eb142e7.

John

 

If you are purchasing the new config. W3V, note that you will be losing the carry bag.

I personally love the carry bag, it's simple, yet stylish and elegant. Most bags out there are bulky and all leather. Which dirt can show badly once they get dusty/dirty.

I too was contemplating on a Sony, but the Sony Bx series. It's there replacement to the Sony S somewhat because it has a built in camera and the 14in screen comes with a X700 256MB ATI card. The Sony site kept saying the X700 will be available mid-Nov. well I waited and they never got it (yet), so I opted for the W3V and made the right choice.

The Sony S series imo runs hotter than the W3V, has somewhat plasticy feel/look, but the screen is awesome.

Overall, go for the W3V. The build quality rivals that of the Panasonic Toughbook. Once you open the LCD lid, you will know what I mean.