Narrowed it down to two, ASUS A8SC-A1 or ASUS W7S-A1W

So after all my research, and so-so budget so have almost settled on something.

I am looking for the pros and cons vs these two.

Heat, noise, battery and screen are my biggest concerns.

 

My new W7S-A1B arrived on Friday and so I've had the weekend with it. I'm very, very happy with my purchase. I needed a new laptop immediately, as my old one's motherboard was about to go. I know a lot of people on here are waiting for the M1330 to come out, but I needed something immediately...I'm also not a big fan of Dell (though I know XPS generally have better build quality). But still, when adding in additional options on the Dell, the price quickly approaches $2000. I paid $1375 for my W7S, which, when considering the excellent build quality and features, is really a steal.

Pros:

1. Amazing build quality...absolutely no flex or ability to cause ripples on the screen; the whole laptop feels incredibly solid yet lightweight
2. Beautiful yet understated design (pics don't do it justice)
3. Excellent keyboard (one of the best I've typed on)
4. Gorgeous bright screen
5. All the latest tech bundled into one affordable package (santa rosa, 8 in 1 card reader, bluetooth, n-draft wireless, dvd-rw, etc.)
6. While this shouldn't be a deal breaker for anyone, the included accessories are great (bluetooth mouse, sleeve that fits the laptop perfectly, and a nice nylon laptop bag)
7. Quiet operation, despite the heat (see below)

Cons:

1. Battery life could be better (I haven't tested it yet, but I'm guessing 3 hours would be maximum on the 6 cell while watching a DVD...but can always upgrade to 9 cell)
2. Wish it came with 2gb standard (it comes with 512mb in one slot, and another 512mb soldered onto the motherboard; I plan on buying a 2gb card and putting it into the one available slot, bring the total ram to 2.5gb)
3. Runs warm when running lots of programs (the warmest spot, as reported elsewhere, is the right palm...the bottom generally stays cool. For me it is tolerable though...I don't think it's too bad, but everyone has a personal preference to how much heat they can stand. The fan vent sure pumps out a lot of heat though...but at least it does so quietly )

All in all, I think the pros far outweigh the cons. Again, the build quality on this laptop is amazing, and it just seems that ASUS includes high quality components in every aspect of the design.

 

which vendor did you use?

 

excaliberpc.com

They were very nice to deal with, and with the expedited shipping option ($10) it shipped on the same day I ordered so I was able to get it before the weekend.

 

if you don't mind me asking, what are you using it for? is it something that travels with you daily? i am looking at this for b-school. i think i just need reassurance that the quality is good enough that it will last at least the first year and i have have good warranty protection just in case. having used an IBM X60 for the past year for work, i guess the bar has been set kinda high.

 

I use my laptop mostly at home now...I work on it (basic stuff in excel, word, powerpoint, etc) and use adobe photoshop quite often (digital photography hobby).

The quality is definitely good enough to travel with everyday. All of the casing seems to be a combination of high quality, durable plastic, and plastic mixed with carbon fiber or something similar. The screen in particular is very tough...pressing on the back or trying to twist it doesn't produce any ripples. There is no flex on the rest of the body though either...again, the whole thing just feels incredibly solid.

My last laptop was a real ****ter with poor build quality (Acer), and even it was able to travel extensively with me for over a year while I was still a student and commuting regularly between two continents (North America and Africa). If my old Acer could do it then the W7S should have absolutely no problems...the two aren't even remotely comparable in terms of build quality.

 

I'd really suggest the A8sc, if it not were the Cntl & Fn buttons being switched. Hopefully that isn't a problem for you? It's a great machines otherwise, I bet.

 

I had the same dilemma. I finally settled on the W7s, though, for the following reasons:

1. Build quality. The A series is supposedly the "consumer-line" of Asus notebooks: while still above average, the W series is better.

2. Ctrl + Fn switch. As a gamer, it's important. Just me being nit-picky, though.

3. Aesthetics. Call me shallow, but that white colour looks awesome compared to the A8's plainer look. Plus, a 1.3MP webcam vs. the A8's 0.3MP.

The battery's not an issue for me, since I'll be near outlets almost all the time. Heat, noise, and screen aren't deal-breakers for me.

I guess the big things are what akfin said: limited RAM, low battery life, and heat.