In love with W3J from afar - am I crazy?

Hi, I beg your forgivness: I have not yet read ALL w3j related threads here (but I'm working on it!), but I just have to post anyway...

I need a new laptop (first was a hp OB 6050xt - started dying on me after about two years, probably cracked motherboard from too many falls, current is a hp/compaq nc4000, getting small and slow and badly needs an internal cleaning), and it's a total jungle out there.

For some reason I stumbled upon a slightly used W3J at an auction site (didn't get it), which led me to several reviews of this machine.

It seems incredibly cool - discrete graphics AND less than 2.5 kg! And I haven't read a bad review anywhere yet (please point me to one!).

The problems I'm having is that
1. It is totally impossible for me to get my hands on one - I'm in Finland, and I don't think this model has ever been imported here.
2. It seems really hard to find generally (EOL issues?), I slogged through lots of German sites and ebay.de (the €uro makes it easy to buy from Germany, and many German companies even offer Scandinvian keyboards as an option) before, mostly by chance finding it for sale (and in stock) at laptopdirect.co.uk.

Am I crazy to pine for this laptop? Especially since the only version I can find available is only core duo T2400. (Have anyone ever even seen a w3j with a core 2 duo processor? Asus' site(s) lists them, but....)

My tendency before when buying computers have been to prioritize ergonomics (according to my own quirks) above power. But now I'm starting to play around with my digital camera a bit more, and playing with photoshop or even gimp on a machine designed for emailing and writing is no fun.

I seldom travel with my notebook (eh, I seldom travel - but when I do I often take my 1.6 kg nc4000), so one would think a "desktop replacement" would be the thing for me.
BUT: I actually use my laptop on my lap 99.9% of the time. So heat & weight are definitely important factors for me.

The w3j from laptopsdirect.co.uk isn't cheap, especially not for those specs. (Anyone know the speed of the HD? It doesn't say, and I pray it is not 4,200 rpm...)
But then I know I won't be happy with a laptop from a cheap line - I already think my nc4000 (which is a business ultra portable) is a bit on the flimsy side.

Finally (I do know I tend to be a bit wordy), a few questions for anyone who has a uk (or eu in general I quess) -bought w3j:
1. The touchpad? Is it Synaptics? I've had 2 Synaptics touchpads so far, and I'm very very compatible with them (if it was possible I'd buy one as an external "mouse" to use with desktops).
2. Does the W3J come with a "weightsaver module"? (The flimsy piece of plastic you swap for the OD)
3. Are extra batteries expensive, and where do I find them? I see references to a smaller 4 cell-battery, is this strictly an add-on? Or can I ditch the larger battery for even less weight?

 

You have 2 options.
W3J - It does come with Core 2 Duo, and yes it is extremely hard to fidn because they were such great notebooks. EOL mean end of line, it was an expensive notebook to produce, but still offered alot.

It is technically getting replaced by the Asus V2JE, Click Here for the Review.

Just to let you know the W3J is 5.5lbs whereas the V2JE is roughly 5.1lbs.

Will you be gaming? Do you really need the power of the X1600 or can you do with the X1450?

The W3J does have a multi-bay in which you can take out the optical drive and place a weight saving tray, hard drive or modular bay battery in it.

 

Thanks, I know what EOL means, I just though it weird that the ones still left on the market are the ones with an older processor.
Any hints on where (within the EU) to look for C2D models?

Thanks, I'll check it out.
Though, with the ****ty availability of asus in Finland, it really doesn't change that much for me - I'd still have to buy it unseen, relying on reviews.

I'd probably be fine with either.
I'm just so sick of my earlier faiblesse for "sensible" and "work" laptops that I was even considering the Asus G1...

 

I was in love with that model too, I almost purchased the newer model (core 2 duo, faster HDD) from Milestones shop in the USA but then read about all of the import taxes and stuff so stayed away.

I believe the model at laptopsdirect.co.uk comes with the 4200rpm HDD but am not sure, I have come close to buying it several times but have firmed up my resolve from reading about it being best to wait if you dont need to buy now.

I have now decided to wait for the new model Zepto laptops (Danish comany i think) with DX10 graphics cards, i think they will be coming out in next 3 months or so. The current models are not as nice looking or solidly built as the W3J and suffer form some heat issues (see forum about 6214 overheating), but they are sooo much cheaper, still look nice and have better specs.

If you buy the W3J i will be jealous, but i have decided to wait and get better value for money.

 

Ooh, now you are just encouraging me...
Because I *don't* want to wait for anything: I'm afraid I don't have the time before my HP nc4000 dies of overwork, and secondly: I really don't want to run Vista and don't care for anything DX10 => what exactly would newer hardware gain me?

Maybe I should email laptopsdirect.co.uk and ask about the HD...

I'm getting a bit interested in the Zeptos too, and maybe the Copal HEL80, and I just discovered Clevo/Alienware, hmm - better keep that thing about heat and noise being important firmly in mind and not becoma entranced by the nice chassis...

 

I had a Compal HGL30 (it's the 14.1 instead of the 15.4 HEL80.) I honestly was not happy with it - it's screen was nowhere near as bright as my A8Jp, and that's saying a lot if you read what's posted about the A8Jp screen. And on top of that, the 7600 just didn't feel all that great to me, where as the x1700 is doing nicely.