Picking up A8Jm from Milestonepc Today (if they get them today)

I'll be picking up my A8J from MPC today after work. So like some other members I will post the pics etc.

I just wanted to ask
1) Should I format the machine and re-install xp?
2) What essential software should i install (not the AV and spyware stuff) but like fan control + temp monitoring stuff.
3) How can i get a proper measure of the battery life, so I can let all you people know
4) Anything else that comes to your mind, any tests you want me to run on this little beast.

Thanks

Zydus

 

Essential software : 3dmarks!!! To battery life measure you can use Notebook Hardware Control. But first off all : make 3dmark benchmarks!!

 

Please post your take on the A8Jm as soon as possible, if not a full review your first impressions. I'm really interested in the quality of the display and its build quality and looks. I am a complete noobie to Asus laptops but I need a new laptop now!

 

In the other forum, Danny mentioned that the PC's should be in this afternoon (May 16).

I'll be picking up mine tomorrow. It's gonna be a sleepless night tonight

 

Also if you guys could tell me how to partition the drive and what to install in which partition? I know these are a bunch of noob questions but being my first laptop wanna make sure i have a pleasant experience

 

I use magic partition to partition the drive (NTFS). usually just two partitions..
one small one for windows (usually 10 gb) and the other drive, everything else. after installing all the programs i really need. i use Deep Freeze to "freeze" that drive.. so if any software problem occurs, all i need to do is reboot and it goes back to the last frozen state. also good for removing ad/spyware and other ****.

I think you probably will have a hidden partition like most branded notebooks, which has all your recovery stuff.

 

I didn't know asus had started using the hidden partition thing. They better give a recovery disk too, unlike some of the other major oems who just give the OS on a partition.

Oh and does notebook hardware control work with core duo? or is the bundled Asus software just as good?

 

Goren,
A few questions...
1. Can you tell me a little bit more about deep freeze? Is it better/different than Miscrosofts Restore function in XP? Where did you get it?
2. I was under the impression that you should make your OS partition large enough to put all of you executible programs on and keep the data else where. That way if/when you have to reformat your HD, you will still have to reinstall all of the programs like Office, Photoshop etc. If you put all of your programs on the second partition, I thought you had problems running them after a reformat of the OS partition.

Thanks,
Shoe

 

It's here guys, pick it up in store. It's rainy weather heh, don't drive too fast

IIRC, they have a 2 disc recovery disc provided.

 

Oohh... 12 pm... the floodgates must have started

Coriolis : Have u seen it in person?

Dang... have to wait 1 more day...

 

No, but I might hop by. I live 5 minutes from the store....if not less

 

please do and fill us in.

 

lucky you! ive gotta drive over there from near STC. hopfully they won't run out by near-closing time.

 

I'm at the store right now haha

The laptop, IMO, looks VERY nice, its not as stylish but still a looker!

I also checked out the S96j, It's not bad, but the touchpad feels awfully cheap!

 

It is a completely different animal than Microsoft's System Restore function. Deep Freeze allows you to make pretty much any changes to the hard drive it has "frozen", however they're only temporary changes. A hard reboot (reset, power off etc) will set the system back to its pre-frozen state. This includes EVERYTHING - any new files created on the partition will be lost, any settings changes will be lost, any programs installed will be lost upon reboot.

Its really brilliant software for machines that you want to keep static. I've seen it used on internet kiosks, and other single-purpose systems and its bullet-proof (as far as I tested it at least).

I've tried using it for everyday use though, and its more hassle than its worth. One reboot from a Windows Update, for example, and all changes you've made since your last freeze point (which are all manual, by the way - I don't know of a way to automatically update your freeze point and its a fairly cumbersome process to do it manually which includes rebooting). I've also found that it tends to mess up some sound and video drivers for gaming, though that was a couple years ago and may have been a bug that was fixed.

 

How's it feel? Any excessive heat/noise you can notice at a glance?

 

It's running benchmarks ATM, and I feel no heat whatsoever on the top of the keyboard wristrest area.

As for noise, I don't notice any of it as of yet.

 

Sweet. Update us on 3DMark05 if that's one of the benchies.

 

What about the actual weight? Have a scale or something to measure with at the store?

Oh, and battery life. Definitely. And just to check, A8JM is the one with the geforce7300?

 

It has the 7600 Go @ 512mb video memory.

I believe, it was 38xx for 3Dmark05.

 

Thanks for the updates man... mind asking Danny if he's figured out how complex it would be to install the internal Bluetooth chip? (Tell him it's a question from the annoying guy who keeps bugging him about bluetooth )

 

The bluetooth socket won't be easily accessed, at least I don't see it when I remove the keyboard and all the removable covers at the bottom.

A small change, the memory is 2x512M, not 1x1024M.

 

Danny would this be dual channel configured then 512X2

 

How's the screen?

 

It is dual channel.

The screen is very sharp and glossy, as glossy as Acer 5672 or V6J

 

What's the 3dm05 score?!?!?!?!?

 

Why couldn't Asus have included BT? It costs no more than $30 for them to do that. Now i have to buy a USB BT dongle that will stick out like a sore thumb.

More DETAILS!!!!!!!! Pictures!! Hi-Res! Sorry, too excited.

Oh, can can someone confirm the EXACT weight of the A8Jm (i'm praying it's < 6 lbs). Does it look bulky/thick? Or is it as thin as any other 14"?

 

Just spoke to Danny, picking it up this evening around 6 yayayayayayaya

 

Does it feel solid and durable? Any flexing of the keyboard? Also what is it made of, is it plastic or better materials? Thanks for answering these questions

 

Here you go:

 

Alright what's with the delay, post some pictures already!

 

::drool:: soon to be mine

 

I'm about to pre-order this from my local retailer in Edmonton and they tell me that it comes pre-configured with a 1x1gb @533 stick. It's funny that the ones you have are configured with 2x512.. do you think that ASUS messed up their spec? Also, what is with the 533 RAM speed? This chipset supports 667 so I wonder why they would cheap out on the RAM speed?

 

The default memory are 2x512M DDR2 533, I was told it is 1x1024M too, but it was wrong.

 

Danny the ram upgrade (to 2048 from 1024) you are providing is it 533 also or 667?

 

awesome, I am so happy that I waited fir this and pre ordered , thanks Danny

 

GAH! Terrible! I wanted to buy this laptop and upgrade to 2x1gb @667, and this is absolutely the worst pre-configuration possible. I'm going to call ASUS right now and attempt to get what I'm looking for. Somehow I doubt that will happen though..

 

Lol good luck man

 

We put in 2x1024 DDR2 667 Cosair, before we listed upgrade cost $110, but now since I got 2 pcs 512M 533 back(I thought 667 before we recieved them), I will change the upgrade cost from $110 to $120, but for these already pre-ordered, it will be still $110.

 

Wow Thanks a lot. Talk about excellent customer service. MilestonePC all the way!

 

YOu don't need to call them , we provide that upgrade on our website.
http://www.milestonepc.com/canada/product_info.php?cPath=187_87_82&products_id=728

 

Asus seems to love slapping me in the face with these darn changes. 553 isn't that bad i suppose. Not that greatest market value if we were to up it down the road.

 

Yeah no kidding, I REALLY wish my local retailer would do this for me but they only sell kingston ram and wouldn't be able to swap out (I'd have to buy 2 separate 1gb modules to get what I need)... is there any way I can order from you guys?

 

Oh I see you replied to that question already. Do you have any in stock that I can order right now? How long would it take to ship to edmonton?

Edit: I forgot to ask something about the warranty. Is the 1 year warranty which comes in the package a manufacturers warranty or is it a retailers warranty? Also, if I upgraded to get 2 extra years would that be manufacturers or retailers? Since I live in edmonton it would be ideal for it to be locally repaired, but unless ASUS would repair it locally it looks like that won't really be possible.

 

here, check it out

here, that is. Danny can confirm this, but im guessing they'll send it tmr, and you would get it the day after.

 

if we came back, say, 3 months later would we have to buy the ram off you at its retail price? or would you still offer the up?

 

Currently typing on the A8jm, its pretty nice. The touchpad is unusual, however, its easy to use.

Its 1 year international warranty, however, if you modify it(besides the usual RAM/HD) such as CPU, it voids the warranty, though some dealers may or may not pick it up.

edit: pardon the picture, it was taken on my cell phone

 

Still no one with the real weight of this laptop?

 

Argh.. meaning no internal BT possibility?

 

Well, picking it up, its a tad heavy, no scale here, but 5.1-5.3lbs~ would be reasonable