Orderin A8Js tomorrow, last minute comments?

Asus Notebook A8Js-4S023P with Bluetooth, 14.1" WXGA ( 1400x900 ) Core2Duo T-7200/GeForce 7700 512 MB/1GB DDR2 667/100 GB HD/DVDRW/XP Pro

- Upgrade 1024M to 2048M DDR2 667 ( Corsair / OCZ)
- Upgrade 100G 5400 SATA HD to 100G 7200 SATA HD

Anything else I shoud look at or get? Will be my first laptop. Thanks a ton for all the knowledge and help guys!

 

I would buy the hd myself seperately.


I think youll be very happy with it.

If you have to buy everything at once then go for it I dont know your particular circumstance.

In general i would say just buy it as is and decide if you want to upgrade it in your own time.

I already got the 2nd gb though i think thats safe.

Im going to buy the 7200 rpm hd too but im going to keep the 100 gb 5400 to use as an external.

I think Im waiting for a 7200 rpm hd thats larger as well, like 160 gb one should be out soon.

 

So dont upgrade the HD as I can upgrade that later, but upgrade the RAM or no?

 

Buy the RAM yourself too, usually less expensive.

 

Too true. With margins on notebooks being as tight as they are, the dealer you buy from is unable to match the price you can get for RAM or HDDs if you shop separately.

That being said, I'll probably buy through my dealer just to say thanks for the good service. There's nothing like having the dealer on-side if you have problems down the track.

 

theres nothing wrong with buying it like you decided I agree. It will be a performance machine out of the box.

 

Do not look back. This laptop is amazing.
Bob

 

beware if the HDD is SATA , because the SATA box for 2.5" HDD are not out there yet. Only avail for 3.5" but i don't know the power/plugs of 3.5" SATA works with 2.5" SATA or not. If they works , so it's not an issue.

I'd rather buy HDD on other store than upgrade. If the ram cost more than Usual, buy it in other store then.

 

there are many enclosures for sata 2.5 inch drives


they are more expensive than ide ones though but there are a few of them

check newegg. there are usb and ext sata ones

Youre right though in one sense because theres no such thing yet as a firewire sata enclosure for 2.5 inch.

Thats what im looking for Im sure there will be one in the near future. or i will end up getting an external sata one AND a express card with ext sata interface.

 

So I think Ill just get the 2gb of RAM w/the comp. and wait on the hard drive as I can add that later, no use making the 100 faster if I really need more on down the line?

 

And the 100 HD that comes in it is SATA, is that okay?

 

Does the upgrade from a 5400 to 7200 really warrant losing the manufacturer's warranty and having to purchase a reseller warranty?

What would happen if you purchased the manufacturer's warranty then added the HD later on and there was some problem with another part in the computer - would Asus know you used a different HD that would supposedly void your warranty if you changed it back to the stock HD before shipping it to service?

 

if you purchased it later

and returned the orignal hd with your laptop when you mailed it to asus

you would keep your global warranty

 

what is the global warranty? I am in the US. So you saying I should just order it as is and then upgrade later to keep my warranty?

 

yes ....

your warranty with Asus.

 

Thanks a ton for the help! Can't wait to order the laptop tonight! And then soon Ill order the 2gb RAM. Under RAM it says 1024M DDR2 667 MHz DRAM, 2x SO-DIMM socket expandable to 2GB. So what do I need to make it 2gb's? Another 1024?

 

If I were you, I'd read through all of the Asus a8j owner's lounge thread first. Consider yourself warned.

 

The thread obvioulsy has a lot of complaints but it doesn't mean that the A8Js is not a good buy.

 

Changing RAM, or hard drive, (or changing your CPU, or adding internal Bluetooth), on an Asus Ensemble laptop does NOT invalidate your Asus warranty. Period. Even if you leave the upgraded component in when you send it to the Asus service center, it doesn't invalidate the warranty. You just;

1) Don't get warranty coverage on the upgraded components
2) If the Asus tech determines the upgraded component CAUSED the failure, your request for warranty service can be denied
3) It can delay the service process

So if you upgrade the components yourself, it's best to swap them back before sending them off to Asus for service, they're not covered anyway and there's no way for an Asus tech to tell you've changed RAM or HDD.

I think that it's much better to have your reseller do all the upgrades for you when you buy it (provided the economics make sense), and then get the warranty you want through THEM. That way whether it's an upgraded component, or a standard component, they can handle both kinds of warranty issues, and you never have to send it off to Asus yourself. (That's what I did..)

You can read my complete Asus (US service center) warranty research and response here. I got my information after I contacted Asus North America directly and asked them. If you want an accurate answer directly, you are encouraged to contact your local Asus service center.

 

Works great I guess if you're always in the US. Elsewise, have fun swapping out your pc parts whenever you need serviced, by the end you'll probably be an experience technician yourself and won't need to send away.

 

Well thanks guys for the words. Still deciding if just upgrade the RAM when I buy it or wait. And I will be in the US forever, so no worries there, lol.