NX90: AVADirect v XoticPC

I'm looking for a software development/portable theater laptop that can replace my desktop altogether, with the exception of my 24" flat panel. I'd like to stay within $3500 including all software and accessories (excluding flat panel which is ~$600).

So let's start comparing what these shops can do.

operating system:
Home Premium doesn't cut it. XoticPC is a little cheaper than AVADirect for Windows 7 Professional.
AVADirect will pre-load the laptop with a few desktop UNIX flavors, but the only one that could ever interest me, openSUSE, is not on the list.

Pixel warranty:
ASUS offers a 30 day warranty, XoticPC allows you to upgrade to 1 year.

processor:
upgrading costs too much, and the default processor is fine

thermal compound:
AVADirect offers Arctic Silver 5 and a bunch of overpriced junky looking alternatives.
XoticPC puts the thermal compound on both the CPU and the GPU and they offer a diamond based upgrade in addition to Arctic Silver 5. Given that notebooks don't have the cooling systems that desktops do, that may really make a difference.

memory:
AVADirect has the advantage here. You get to choose what brand you want and they have Corsair for a lower price than whatever XoticPC is using.

primary hard drive:
I want the 80 GB Intel mainstream drive. XoticPC is a bit cheaper.

secondary hard drive:
AVADirect offers a better selection, including Western Digital drives, including a 10000 rpm 2.5" drive. Didn't know it existed.

internal wireless adapters:
Both offer the Intel 6200-N for the same price. XoticPC offers the 6300-N which is the same thing with a 3rd antenna? Sounds like a gimmick to get you to spend money for no noticable increase in performance. Maybe if somebody can vouch for the 6300, I'll be interested.

mouse:
No need to buy this at the time of purchase. That being said, the Razer Orochi that AVADirect offers is the perfect laptop mouse.

warranty:
Both offer an upgrade of the ASUS warranty to 3 years. XoticPC offers their own upgrade of the accidental damage coverage to 3 years.

So in the end I guess I'm leaning towards XoticPC because I think the thermal grease thing is really important.

 

But aren't UNIX OSes easy to install by the end-user?

A third option would be to speak to the retailer (In this this case I hear more about Xotic, all positive; I, however, strongly recommend GenTechPC, because they're full of awesome) and see if you can just do it yourself. If problems arise they might be able to help you out. No promises, of course, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

RAM is RAM, assuming they have the same warranty. In all honestly, just go with whatever's the cheaper RAM.

It really depends if you have a 450 mbps router. If your router, like most of the performance N routers, only maxes at 300mbps throughput, the extra antenna won't give you a higher rate. Then again, when 450 mbps routers become more mainstream, you've futureproofed yourself.

Eh, you'll be happy with the 6200.




Anyway, bottom line is I recommend Xotic. An even bottomer (?) line would be to check out GenTechPC. You won't go wrong with either Xotic or GenTech, in any case.

 

I'm thinking that the GPU would be difficult, but yes, you are right.

I've had problems with a Dell computer only working with memory specifically designed for that particular product line (which Kingston continued to offer long after Dell no longer did).

I've put PNY memory in a brand new ASUS motherboard and had it do - nothing. Ordinarily, I would never have tried to use that brand but I wanted to get going fast, so then I FedEx'd memory from Corsair.

I've run a simulation on a computer for hours only to have it crash due to a faulty memory segment - that nobody else had ever encountered.

So I put a lot of stock in the brand name of memory.

I agree

GenTech didn't show up when I did a google search for custom ASUS. But they don't offer anything I haven't seen elsewhere.

Oh yeah. Does anyone know a sleeve big enough to fit the ears on this thing?