Purchase laptop (W3V) or wait for dual core?

I'm in need of a laptop and have been leaning toward the W3V for quite some time now, and will ultimately make a decision toward the end of this month.

But the question is..

is it worth waiting for dual core, which is slated from AMD in mid October '05 or wait for Intels (early 2006)? Or just purchase the W3V now. (Possibly z70va, for extra gaming).

Thanks.

 

There will always be something new on the horizon. While dual core is a bit bigger jump than Sonoma, you will probably be waiting nearly a year for it. Even though AMD and Intel are both forcasting early 2006 for the shipping date on the chips, there will be a large gap before many companies ship their own computers (I would guess summer for many). I would just say go with the W2V now - it's a good computer, and while dual core will be nice, it could be a year before a comprable model to the W3V goes dual core.

 

I agree... and when dual core comes out, something new will be just on the horizon that will make you want to wait even longer...

Go for the W3v. It's a great machine and you'll be happy with it for years to come...

 

I kinda figured that... but I had read an article somewhere that stated AMD will be releasing there dual core chip mid october '05 in europe initially, as the laptop market is much larger there.. i'll look for the link.

 

Probbaly only worth it if you are a heavy multi tasker. Some of the wattage settings on the Yonah Ms were quite high, some as high as 49W.

 

It think I've read that article too...but it wasn't October 05, it was Octoberish 06...quite unfortunate really, a dual core turion would rock. Another thing to remember is that dual core yonah is still only 32bit in its early release (January or February 06), and will most likely produce more heat/use more power. Dual core is kind of pointless for users who are only using the computer for the internet and general applications- it will only be really helpful for intense gaming, video/image editing and mp3 encoding, the really intense stuff. A pentium M is already a very fast processor, debatebly the best in its class at the moment. You would surely be happy with the W3v for another couple of years.

Hope that helps.
Steve

 

No matter what you do, if you wait, you're going to want to wait for the next thing and the next thing.... right now you're at least 3 1/2 months away from a dual-core W3..... I don't know what you do now but the current model is much more than 99% of people are going to need over the next couple years.. This time table is based on something that could certainly slip too.... Personally I'm not anticipating anything till March, just because I've got a funny feeling about intel's release and if that slips, Asus' certainly will to.

Do what you feel is right - but please don't be the type of person who posts once every couple weeks and asks this same question..

 

It's amazing how there are so many people, including myself, thinking the same thing about wether to buy the W3V now or wait just a tiny bit longer and get a laptop that stretches a little more future proof than the W3V.
I'm very close to the target price (been savin') and I'm still doubting it, but why I ask myself, it's a great machine.

I think without a doubt it is the best laptop for a student-gamer who wants a juiced up machine that packs enough power for a days use.

 

I still think the V6V is a little better... but I can see how the wide glaretype screen appeal to most people. The W3v is certainly better than Sony's 14" widescreen notebooks... and hell of a lot better than most other 14" widescreen notebooks from other manufacturers.

 

It's the best laptop currently around.

 

When will Asus release a W3V type model with a better graphics card? Except for the (to me) outdated graphics card in this machine it is the perfect laptop. However, I will wait until Asus or someone else releases a machine with the same specs and at least an X700 graphics card. Maybe I'm too picky, but I have time to wait, and whichever manufacturer gets it right first will get my money!

 

Is there a small laptop with a better card?

 

There certainly is not, well theres the Sony VGN S4XP which is a little smaller and has the SAME graphics card (Geforce Go 6400 - equiv to X600)

 

That is the Yonah Extreme Edition. The normal T models still have a Thermal Design Power of 31Watt.

This is the next big thing and they should be volume shipping in December or January. I say well worth the wait for the increased computational power. Stronger FPU and support for a wider range of features like SSE3. Not to mention it will be 65nm, which if the gods almighty will alow us, most likely will run at lower than their rated voltage

I was going to buy a laptop now but think I am gonna wait. If not, the prices on current notebooks should fall as to make way for the new models.

 

.... that's "intel's shipping date"...... consider how long it took for Asus and other companies to get out new models after the sonoma chipset came out.

 

I could have sworn that went pretty quick. It is not as if the chips suddenly bump into the doors at Asus and other manufacturers. It's a matter of dumping inventory before they release the new models though.

They have had samples for 6 months now, shouldn't be a problem.

I am pretty sure brands as Dell and Alienware can ship Yonah systems when the chip is officially announced. Of course, I can't comment on Asus' time table on new products to market.

Edit: If I recall correctly, Yonah has gone into mass production.

 

I'm not talking about that at all....... we're talking about one very specific notebook here and when that'll get swapped to dual-core is still up in the air. The first models to get dual-core will no doubt be totally new models with refreshed models coming afterwards (hopefully soon)....... Asus will have yonah models available at or soon after launch, but I can't speak for the W3.

After the 533mhz Dothan release ... Asus put out the Z71a in about January of last year........ other new models didn't come till March (z71v) and then the majority of them till the end of March and into April.

 

Don't worry Justin, I won't repost.. haven't done so yet and see no need to, seeing all the replies I've gotten to this thread.

As far as dual core goes your right, the launch will be 1st quarter '06, but implementation into ASUS line will certainly launch immediately in Europe and probably take atleast 6 months for ASUS to get them in the states. Even then, the costs for the machines will be very high, as were the first PM chips that were released.

Probably not worth the wait, if all you'll be doing is programming, word processing, internet, and some gaming.

 

how can anyone really enjoy playing games like doom 3 on a w3v isnt the screen to small.

 

Havent posted in a while so thought I would chime in, I doubt dual core will be of any value to gamers, games are single thread programs, and the current desktop duals do nothing to improve performance. Thus the only reason for dual core is multi-tasking, If you like doing, or need to have multipule applications going at the same time, eg running a virus scan, while playing with photoshop filters, and listening to some Mp3 on itunes, with email running in the background, then dual core will help, if not then dont bother with it. I personally am going to wait, but thats because I the above situation applies to me and I have an M2n (and an M6Ne) so the W3 although very nice just isnt a big enough step forward from the M2 to justify the expense. If i didnt have a laptop and needed one now, then the best thing u can do is to stop reading about whats going to happen next year, and focus on the now.
a

 

Good insight, UPM... welcome back.

I agree... if you do indeed need a laptop now, go get one now. Dual core won't be "big" until at least...early 2007.

I mean, think about Sonoma... most of the big stores still sell lots and lots of older Centrino platforms