New Asus V6Va - Why Only 4200 RPM HD ?

The V6Va looks very nice - except for the price why on earth did Asus install a 4200RPM HD ? Is this because Asus believes the chassis has a heat problem.

Also - why is Asus so strict on it's global warrany? I called Asus directly an spoke to a tech support guy. He said that user upgrades of HD or memory voids the warranty. He said the memory upgrade can sometime be overlooked.

Called Lenovo with same questions and was told similar upgrades by end user does not void the warranty.

Please no flame from any re-sellers. I like the look of this notebook- and just trying to sort the issues out.

 

Some resellers will let you customize it, voiding the Asus waranty but they will give their own. I had them put in a 100 gb 7200 RPM HD in mine

www.agearnotebooks.com
and
http://www.stipc.com/

both these resellers allow customization

 

Yes it is a great unit, but I see the 100gb 4200 as a cheaper solution and it also generates less heat. I think Asus threw in the larger HD just because more people wanted it. Not a lot of people used the original V6v for gaming, but now with an x700 card under the hood, I'm sure there will be much more gamers flocking towards it now.
As for user upgrades, you can always install your own, but if there was a problem in the future that you had to send it in, you can always swap it back out before you do. There's no tamper proof mechanism on the unit.

 

So , no way Asus could tell that you changed the memory or the HD as long as you re-installed the oem parts? I mean , no tape, or anything?

Also- for $1,999 seem like Asus could have at least supplied a 5,400RPM HD uit- 4,200 RPM in antiquated by any standard. Perhaps the reason is a known heat problem- based on what's been reported on the V6V??

 

Also, I believe that it was stated, it was either 100gb 4200rpm or 80gb 5400rpm, as the prices were similiar but the 80gb 5400rpm was having a shortage, so they went with the 4200rpm.

 

This is going to be far from a flame, so don't take it that way.

1. Asus has put 4200rpm hard drives in all of their units nows (I'm trying to stop them on the w2, but I'm not sure if I can)....... It's size of speed and basically you can thank all customers who came before you for the change. Their market study and some questionaire they used with end-users gave them the bright idea to increase size and lower speed. They said it was amazing that a majority of people with the unit said they'd prefer larger drives like other companies use (most of the systems they were talking about do come with 4200rpm drives - but that is beyond the point to me)....... the other thing was, the only people to report on "heat" where people who thought they ran warm and those people seriously *****ed while people who thought it was normal didn't say a word. So, 4200rpm creates less heat... and there you go.

2. I don't think "asus knows their computers are hot" ..... but I do think that they paid attention to comments made, including diagrams I made for them to show them exactly what's going on... on the v6v and w3v, heat was transferring through the side of the touchpad (as that was the thinnest part of the palmrest and ALL aluminum).... thermal tape near that area on the new v6 and w3 show they listened to people who thought it was "uncomfortable", but it doesn't cover the entire hard drive bay because it would reflect heat back onto the hard drive and that's going to lower the lifespan and performance of the drive.

3. There are no stickers on the hard drive or ram (only the cpu and wireless card) and therefore as long as you have the original parts, and you reinstall them..... Asus isn't going to void your warranty.


I don't think they made the right move and I for one have made that clear to them. I told them any system with dedicated graphics and above 12" without a doubt needs at least a 5400rpm hard drive.......... on their end a 7200rpm will never happen because they have to sell this to the masses...... I'm not sure what's up with them, but if someone doesn't buy the best laptop on the market because of a hard drive which you could put the best 100gb/7200rpm drive in for like $300..... and obviously any 5400 for a lot less.... then they don't buy it, but they're missing a wicked system.

Now, one last thing.... Asus did say that they would not order more with 4200rpm hard drives......... but they said that the next V6 order probably won't (95% chance) have the IPS screen (because it's in limited supply and very expensive)....... so just a regular colorshine will be used. On top of that, we're looking at the end of March, early April before a yonah version of the V6 is available........ so tno matter what they do, I'm afraid nothing is going to be perfect at the perfect time.

 

In terms of "cost" .... that's really what pushed that particular one given the reasons I mentioned above..... that's no excuse to me, but given that and the reasons they told me.... I do at least understand their maddness.

 

I got a w2v with a 4200rpm drive, no comments!