Need input on Z33A

I am well versed on these forums and other websites about the Z33A's and its pluses and minus. I had had a chance to use a S5n in person today (which has the same keyboard as the Z33A) and the keyboard was a little small but something I could get used to. On a side note I used a Z63A and I was surprised how small it was overall. Id get an 14" Asus (W3), but their over my budget. ($1800)

I read on a thread here that the W5A is officially limited to 768MB DDR2, but people have said it works with more. I know the W5A is so-dimm and the Z33A is micro-dimm, but why couldn't the Z33A work with more? The Sonoma 915M supports up to 2gbs, so I'm guessing the only limiting factor would be that 512mb DDR2 Micro-dimm are the largest available.
It kills me that for the same price of a Z33A I could get a Z71V..but I guess one has to sacrifice a lot for saving space. I'd consider a 14", but 15" is too big.

 

The Z33 can't work with more because they don't make microdimms with more than 512mb on them..... that and there is only one open slot, like the S5 and W5.... and 256mb onboard.....

I don't know what systems you're comparing, but a Z33a would be about $200 less than a Z71v similiarly configured...

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

yeah, I thought so.

Well my local comp shop sells 'built by asus' and their base Z71A goes for $1268 and the base Z33A is $1,198.

Both are configured with:
1.6ghz P-M 735
256mb DDR2
40GB HD

There isnt a 14" 'Built by Asus' notebook that has dedicated graphics is there (Something Similar to the W3)? Will they refresh their M3Np and M2N anytime soon?

 

Even if they do refresh the M2 or M3, it still won't have dedicated graphics... as far as I know, no 14" Built on Asus solution has ever had or will ever have dedicated graphics.

But yes... the M3Np refresh (Z61A I believe) should be coming very soon.

If I were you, I'd wait for the M3 refresh...it should be cheaper than the Z63A

ASUS M6800Ne, P-M 715 (Dothan 1.5), 512MB Ram, Toshiba Combo drive, Samsung Spinpoint M 40G HDD with 8M cache, Mobility Radeon 9700

 

hey,

I too want the z33a, but right now im trying to decide between the z33a and the z63a. I think i'm gonna end up go with the z63a because i can save like 100-200 bucks.

Asus z33a
Intel Pentium M 740
768 MB DDR2-400
Seagate 80 GB 5400 RPM 8MB Cache
9-Cell Batt,
Extended Warranty

z63a
Intel Pentium M 740
1 GB DDR2- 533 (1 x 1Gb)
Seagate 80 GB 5400 RPM 8MB Cache
Extended Warranty

Rixo out!

 

Wow thats cool i see more and more of these local guys selling asus and whitebooks. I have 2 other stores within 2 mile sof me that sell them too. Makes me miss the good ol days when no competition was around. On the other hand all it means is that dell will one day not dominate the notebook industry. On the subject.. Go for the z33a.

Eddie
www.Geared2Play.com
Tech Spot
4422 Ave. N
Brooklyn, NY, 11234

 

Ye
z33 is cheaper and better. Integrated combodrive, same size basically just a bit heavier becuase of the drive. W5a is great but i dont need the integrated camera and its pricey! I use the m5n now so i may be a little slanted in my view

Eddie
www.Geared2Play.com
Tech Spot
4422 Ave. N
Brooklyn, NY, 11234

 

any particular reasons?

Rixo out!

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Rixomatrx

 

ah i might be wrong then. Well i assumed the z63 is cheaper because the cost of the z33's 512mb microdim ddr2 and 9-cell are around 150 per in canada.

if the z33 is infact cheaper, im gonna get it for sure. I was worried aobut the keyboard's keys being too squashed together, but i checked out the w5 on sunday, and it was fine.

Man I can't wait!

Rixo out!

 

Well, if you're going for an extra 512mb and a 9 cell battery... there really isn't a good way to even everything out... unless you consider the cost of say 1gb of ram in the z63a and an optical bay battery...

I don't know... depends on what you need I guess.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Yeah that is what I’m thinking now, however I have yet to use both in person. (I thought I used a Z63A at the store, but it was actually an M3N)

Compared to the Z33A..

Z63A
+larger/better screen (widescreen and glossy type)
+larger keyboard
+better battery life (6cell vs 3cell on Z33A)
+uses less-expensive so-dimms

Only thing you really sacrifice is size..and the screen is the same size vertically when compared to the Z33A.

How are the internal speakers on each?
The W3A produces a lot of heat, but is the Z63A any better with its lack of dedicated gfx?

And one more question [ ]
If the Z63A is the same as the W3A under the hood, couldn't it be upgraded with a X600 Mobility (Axiom card)?


Anyone have any further recommendations?

 

yea thats true. Hey where are the speakers on teh z33a. I couldn't see them in the pics on ur page Justin

Rixo out!

 

Make sure you guys get the lappy that fits your needs. I may be stating the obvious here but it seems like the deciding factor has drifted to cost. I understand that cost is very important (it is for me) but the Z33a and Z63a are different machines. If you need an ultraportable, the Z33a is the ticket. If not, then maybe the Z63a will do.

I went through a similar decision last week. I kept thinking I could get more features and screen area on the Z63a for about the same cost as the Z33a. But my needs pointed me to an ultraportable so the Z63a would not work. My Z33a should be here this week.

 

Good way to put it... I try to explain that, but some people don't grasp the two pound difference and how much difference a computer is regardless if they are close to the same price.

The speakers on the Z33 on almost under the system... one is an inch of so in from the left side and the right one is almost right on the corner, half under and half kicking out the side......

Don't expect killer sound on an ultraportable..... it's enough to hear the sounds and that's all you can really expect.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Well, I would rule both out if you risk being uncomfortable with heat.... because if you're going to use the same hard drive in either system, they both have about a 1/32 of an inch between you and the hard drive.... This heat thing is way overstated.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

ah alright thanks.

Well right now money is kinda a deciding factor considering both laptops suit my needs.

I am buying this for university, and I basically need it to be lightweight, good sized keyboard, doesn't get really hot under palm rest since i'll be tping a lot and a great battery life.

If I get the z33a, its lighter by like a pound or 2, but i would need to get the 9-cell. In addition, I'd need to get extra 512 mb micro sodimm, which is more expensive than regular ddr2 sodimms.

If I get the z63a, I risk being uncomfortable with it, because it might have a hot heat palm rest to me, i'm pretty sure its not gonna be a problem for me, but it might be risky. If I do do a little light gaming, itd be fine with a 14-incher compared to the 12.1.

So I don't know. I'll decide soon..


Rixo out!

 

Just remember...this is the fun part (deciding), right? [ ]

I kept reminding myself how great it will be to have such a lightweight notebook. It will beg to be taken everywhere because it won't be a burdon. That was the deciding factor for me.

Also remember: you can make a small laptop bigger, but you can't make a big laptop smaller. I plan to have an external monitor for extended use at a desk or office.

I guess you need to decide how important gaming will be for you. That is the real reason for the integrated graphics. If you need it, then it pretty much rules out the Z33a (unless you play non-intensive graphic games).

Good luck!

 

alrighty.

Thanks a lot guys, esp. Justin,

You've all been a lot of help [ ]

Rixo out!

 

True....... I don't know if the fun part is deciding... You can't go wrong with an Asus and the only problem is, is trying to pick which one is BEST for you.... all of them will be great machines and you'll love everyone of them, but what's going to be your PERFECT system... it's very hard to narrow it down some times.. But what you need to do is just what you're saying basically..

Figure out the top 5-6 things that are important to you (weight, screen size, graphics, battery life, performance, price) .... put them in order and I promise you that you'll narrow yourself down to one single computer... promise.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

You're welcome.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Okay I took your advice..my needs point to the Z33A, but the final decision still remains. Tomorrow i'll be able to see the Z33A for sure and maybe the Z63A (not sure if they will have it in). Heck I even took the dimensions of both and outlined them on some poster board to get a visual. The Z33A is a lot smaller and carrying the unit seems like it will be less of a hassle.

 

Good move... thats what those dimensions are meant for.... most people read them and say... "so, what's that do for me?" .... Glad that helped you out at least.

 

Hey do u guys think that if i get an extra 256, so a total of 512, would be enough for like office applications, and other stuff like maybe photoshop? Because I'm worried that since the GMA 900 draws memory from the RAM, that it won't be enough.

 

I've got 512 in my M5N (it just came that way, so I didn't really choose it because I needed it). I can use photoshop as well as office applications with that. I haven't done much with it, so I don't know how fast it is or how much you can have open at one time, but it'll certainly run at a basic level.

 

You should be good....... The reason we don't offer say an extra 256mb (we don't offer any ram in a stick under 512) is becasue that's the limit of your expansion. If you wanted to later go to 768 ... you'll have to chuck that and get a 512 stick.

IF you're heavy into PS or more graphics intense programs.... you're certainly going to want they 768 because 256 itself is basically REQUIRED just to run windows itself...... the more ram you get the more ram you'll have allocated towards graphics (as it's based on a percentage of system ram) ....... I'd just just consider the difference in cost and what you MAY want to do with the system down the road. If there two upgradable slots, I'd probably say do whatever you want as long as you had another slot to just add to down the road........ but you don't.

 

Okay, I looked at the Z33A and Z63A today. I am sold on the Z33A..it is a great deal lighter and smaller as I expected. I’m used to using a powerbook 12" and this thing beats that by more than a pound with the standard 3cell.

Unfortunately, the Z33A onboard 256mb is soldered to the board so theirs no chance of ever having 533mhz DDR2 because the memory will always default to the onboard DDR2 mem speed of 400mhz.

The speakers sounded fine while playing a DVD, then again I was not expecting very much. I didn't hear any distortion and the sound was at a pretty audible level.

The keyboard is small but I typed fine on it, only missed once and I am not used to having a Function key to the left of the Ctrl key, but that is something that I can get used to easily.

The screen looked great and the viewing angles looked decent.

The build quality of the notebook looks excellent and it looks like it could withstand some abuse without a problem.

Overall I am very impressed. I just need to go back again and buy it.

I checked the Asus website and they don’t cover negligence and nor does the systems integrator I’m buying it from.

Does anyone know if there is a way I can get a warranty on this notebook that covers accidental damage, I know dell offers this on their line of notebooks for an extra $95

I know some credit cards like AMEX Blue will offer extended warranties, but Is there something else that’s out there?