Question, Feedback - ASUS Sale Rep on the floor

Hi guys,

:asus: Just hear to make a quick appearance as "Frank Wu" on the forums, although work for ASUS in the daytime. My sole focus at ASUS is Notebook Sales - Built-On although I dabber on the Ensemble side, and help push ASUS products wherever I go.

Anyways just wanted to stop by and see if there is any feedback/comments for ASUS Notebooks. There are a lot of really great new models out already, A3H, A3Ac, A6V, A6Vc, with more to come for the Built-On series and Ensemble series.

(I am not here to help with tech support, see http://support.asus.com or our top-notch resellers, or comment on upcoming models, rumors, and/or "reseller spats".)

In the end - we're all in this together for the same thing: really, really great notebooks. :asus: Thanks guys!

 

Thanks for being here, Frank. I'm sure many users of this forum will be glad to have your input here.

 

Welcome to the forum, Frank!

 

Welcome frank...Am smitten by the VAIO SZ, but let's see if you can sell me an ASUS

 

Not to be the d1ck, but it has to be asked - why are the future built-on models going downhill with quality/design? I mean, we shouldn't expect anything great like the Z70 (M6) or Z63A series, right?

 

I wanted to ask this too. Asus barebone models used to catch my eye. But the new built-on models are bland in comparison to what was released last year.

 

I have kind of a n00bish question, but does adding ram to an ensemble void the warranty? I love the design of the ensembles, but I've always preferred to max out the RAM (2GB on my Z71V) on any notebook I buy.

 

Nice to have you around Frank!

I'm going to sticky this and make this into a good informative thread!

Please note that we'll(The mods) will delete unnecessary posts, we want this to have as much information as possible

Thanks.

 

what can ASUS do for stolen laptops?

 

Regardiong the Sony VIAO SZ, I will see what I can do for you Seb - have you looked at our current 12"/14" offerings? I can think of some models that should provide a much better bang for the buck.

In regards to the future of the Built-On line of notebooks, I cannot comment but for ASUS to ignore the gaming, or hi-end enthusiast crowd is something we would never do (and rest assured actions are taking place so we don't lose you guys while helping meet mainstream demand as well).

Finally, Justin is completely correct in that right now I want to help promote the: Z83V, A3-series, and A6-series. For some, these notebooks have not received enugh online exposure, especially the new ASUS Ensemble lineup because the margin on these notebooks are not as high.

The benefit though?
End-users receive much more VALUE/FEATURES for their money.

A3H for example:
MSRP: $899, built-in 1.3MP web-cam, 8X DVDRW, 60GB, 512MB, all in a chassis that I dare say is comparable to any other Ensemble notebook in our product lineup. The same can be said of the A6V, A6Vc, and A3Ac.

 

I don't think many people here would believe that. Either way, I'll get off your case now...

 

Do you offer student discounts? Basically am looking for an ultraportable with 12-14 inch glossy lcd. The gfx needs to be nvidia 7400 or ati x1600 upwards. Long battery life (3hrs+) is a must. Weight should be less than 5lbs. Dual core is preferred. And it should have good looks. I would also like extended warranty and great aftersale service.

Oh i'll be buying that dream notebook in OZ (australia). What do you have for me? and how much cheaper can i get that notebook from ASUS?

 

Discounts would be given directly through the reseller (if they are offering it, of course). For a list of resellers in Australia, you can try these.

 

I suggest this thread become unstuck - because the questions that are going to be asked are going to continue to be a waste of a time.

 

i'll be doing that monday, thanks justin.

 

People dont scare the guy. Frank....I hope you are here to stay. You will find there are a few people here that will pick you appart. Learn to disregard them. You did not say it but i guess i ll say it for ya.
1. Frank is not tech support and does not deal with it
2. Frank cant give you anything more concrete then resellers
3. Frank unlike every reseller here (including my self and every other) does not have a cash incentive to remain here. He will not get paid more for being here and most likely will not see a raise becuase of it. Take this anyways you want but he is here becuase he the one and only sales rep in a forum out of all the major manufacturers. That in it self speaks volumes.
4. He will not sell anything to anyone directly. So stop pming him for deals.
5. Most importantly...He is here to listem more then contribute. If you want his attention make a thread and make your statement live.
Frank, I and most others here welcome you and hope you stay for the remainder of this forums life.

 

Welcome Frank from the Netherlands.

 

Yes agreed. There is only one difference. He has no monetory incentive to be here unlike the resellers. Did you ever think that he is not just here to look after the end users but the resellers as well? He may not be your sales rep there but you are prolly the only one here that feels his presence to be an intrusion. Get over your self. Your not the only one who feeds asus good and bad things and you are not the only one the listen to you are just the only one who braggs about it. Tell the man you welcome him for goodness sakes becuase i for one want him to stay and listen becuase our (your mine theirs and everyone elses) complaints are not resonating so the feedback WE give them is worthless. Maybee a live sales rep from asus can make things happen even if he dont participate. Frank once again you are very welcome here. The mods the owners of the forum and every user here feels the same. :asus:

 

I can get up more images of the A3H, A3Ac later. They look very similiar, with the main external diff. being that the A3H does not feature Audio DJ. (media buttons).

Regarding being a Sale Rep. from a major notebook manufacturer, again I'm here on my own terms and will/can obviously have my own opinions that won't represent ASUS but at the same time will also try to expose our brand and new models if possible. Again, i don't want to be here to spam, or intrude on an already vibrant community so we'll see how it goes? Thanks guys!

 

You nutty guy....What you doing here on a saturday? Didnt know you work on sat...Your off to a good start. Posting here during your off time means you are posting on your own behalf. I think this is like the first post here about this laptop btw.

 

whoa that hinge looks WEIRD. its all asymmetrical. as to the comments on the new designs (or lack thereof) i'd have to agree that the design aspect is looking a little more generic but it's a price that probably has to be paid in order to give better performance. i have a question tho, would it be possible to do a refresh of the z70va with duo and maybe a x1600? or even a x700 would probably satisfy most graphics people who just want the processing power of dual cores. cuz this z70va chassis and build is really freakin awesome.

 

Yeah, I'm surprised that the A3 and A6 weren't more popular on this forum as of yet. I, myself think it's a perfect answer to many budget mainstreams. Think it's the only affordable line of systems with a built-in 1.3 mp camera on it, too.

 

.... The audience this forum has is not interested in the A3 or A6.... the price is great and you get a lot for that price, but the marketing whiz's over at Asus don't understand that's where the problem lies...... Everything we've done in all the years we've been importing these notebooks has been dedicated to performance and highquality builds and great designs and great battery life.

.... These notebooks are budget systems and they have to target them to people going into best buy..... not the higher-class, more advanced users that we see in this forum.

 

awsome! another person to post updates on asus!
although im already leaning towards the Z70va..

 

Granted alot of people here wont touch any notebook under 1500$ but that dont mean it wont peak their interests. Frank may be here to help his bottom line but so are you I and any other reseller. If Frank had a personal incentive here to sell sell sell he would be here and every other forum posting before and after hours just like you and I. Nobody is comparing him to you (ruler of notebookreview if such is the name you want to go by). Everyone knows he is but a sales rep with no incentive to be here unlike your self and I who have every incentive to be here at any time of day.

 

Actually you'd be surprised at how many people are really looking for affordable units. That's why many are going straight to the local Best Buy or purchasing the latest budget system from Dell. I can say that the people on this forum is high class, too, but I'm pretty sure that many are also looking for value. Either for themselves or their girlfriend, wife, kids...

I'm actually glad that Asus came out with such a line like the A3 and A6. These are the areas that Dell, HP/Compaq, and Toshiba has dominated in for a long time, affordability. You get a lot of bang for the buck on these, better build than many other mainstreams, excellent battery life, and a built-in 1.3 mp camera. Asus has finally covered all bases- From high end, to the mid range and now finally affordable computing. (well some AMD enthusiasts may not agree with all the bases... ).

 

I can say with fair certainty Justin that alot of people buy from you because they can expect to get the service they want, alot of it has to do with the product it self but alot of it is the service. Just cus affordable laptops is not up your alley dont mean people are not interested. Just like your self i would preffer to stick to orders above the 1500 mark but i am in the business of expanding the customer base, when the opportunity arises i am not going to pass it up.

 

Welcome to the forums Frank. We appreciate you taking time out to post on the forums.

As for all the other comments, I'm very disappointed in some of you and can't believe that some of our veterans are acting like this. Just because Frank is a sales rep, doesn't mean that he should be disrespected. He is a NBR member now, and should be treated with respect just like all other members.

 

Whatever floats your boat..... I've never made decisions based on a bottom line and have never sold a product I wouldn't use. Shoot me for have some sort of direction in life and actually conducting an ethical business.

 

I think those looking for the ultra-cheap notebooks will not be looking Asus' way. Why? Because they have no idea who Asus is or where to buy them. Asus owners, in America at least, seem to be the type that research things very in-depth. When I started looking for a notebook, the first place I looked was Dell, then Best Buy. Because I am a bit crazy in the head when it comes to over-researching, I found out about Asus and will never turn back. Sadly, most people stop at Dell or Best Buy. (thank you notebookreview.com and notebookforums.com!)

In fact, a guy sitting in front of me in an advanced investments class has an Asus Z61 and didn't even know it. It was branded by PC Laptops. I said "do you know you have an Asus notebook?" He said "who?" And this is obviously a bright guy. He didn't buy it because it was cheap. In fact, PC Laptops puts a $1,000 premium on their notebooks because they offer "free" lifetime service for everything, including viruses and user error. So, if Asus barebones go ultra-cheap, they will lose big, unless they can reach the uninformed mass market. Competing with Dell, HP, Acer, etc will be VERY hard on the low-end when the message isn’t getting to the consumer.

But, that's all my opinion.

 

I think people aren't buying them because they haven't had the coverage that many others have had here. The A3 is practically new on the market and the A6 hasn't been floating around that long either. It may not be a "money maker" for resellers like the built on's are, but I have to admit it's a good deal for the end user. As an Asus Forum, it shouldn't be discriminated against.

 

Discriminated against - no........ but there's a reason it's not being talked about. I'm not sure what planet everyone else is from, but the margins on all of the laptops vary to where there's as much (or as little) to be made on almost all of the systems...... this certainly is far from a money making issue - Greg hit it on the nose, even though I basically mentioned that earlier..... they're aiming for the wrong market. It'd be one thing if they cornered the high-end market and got a name to the point where those looking for lower-end systems would flock to a lower cost Asus offering.....

.... the sad thing about it all is there there are more people out there looking for lower cost items who could careless about performance or quality and that means in another year Asus buyers could double - but half of them think Asus makes a cheap computer and that's it.......... That's 5-6 years down the drain - I know it and so do a lot of people who matter at Asus - and if Frank would be honest since he's off the clock - he would agree me too... The biggest problem is now that Asus' notebook sales are growing everyone wants to be a part of them. A couple years ago they had to force Asus employees to basically work in notebooks. Now that everyone wants a piece, they have a whole lot of views that are now getting more attention and they are mainly from the influx of people who a couple years ago couldn't be paid enough to work in that division...... Some of those people are climbing the ranks because others realize they'll be overruled on decisions and they won't be able to get anything done.

It's been one of our biggest concerns over the last year and the decision to carry ANY of the A series in the Ensemble is and has been thought of as a mistake by a lot of people. Contrary to popular belief, this action really steps over the bounds of a lot of the custom dealers, even ourselves, as Asus actually hurts themselves in two areas with one blow.

1. These bring the overall expected quality of the Ensemble line - down.

2. While Asus wanted to seperate the custom and complete system lines by offering super high-end ensembles, they left the market for mainstream and affordable systems to be built by custom dealers. By making this move and combining that with the horrid custom offerings for this spring - Asus essentially boxes all of their dealers in. It's not that hard to see where this is eventually moving to....

 

I have to dissagree with you Justin just because something is cheap doesnt mean its junk. To me any pc that is well built that runs good and meets your needs is a good machine. I would use an A series whynot, just because i have a w2v does that mean im to good for something cheaper? Any if you are saying you arent in bussniess to make money then thats just dumb. You can have ethics and make money as well.

 

Did at any point I mention the work junk? I know cheap and low quality are terms I used, but we're talking about Asus...... it's like an A3 is a cheap Audi.... we're already on a different level.

For you, anything that gets the job done might be good enough...... frankly I doubt it because those are the types of people who buy a dell...... I've seen all the notebooks you've had and that's far from a likely story.

If I don't like the build quality and design - and in this case the configuration of the product and I have the ruling voice on the matter - no, we're not going to sell it. Far too many people in this forum have made comments like I'll say anything is good if it has Asus' name on it and/or we sell it. There is nothing more from the truth and this only goes to prove it. Who cares if I don't like it.... but if we sell anything we don't like, I don't care if you think that's fine - I don't. I guess at the end of the day if I can't live with myself, what's the point of everything?

 

I wouldnt recommend dell, They are cheap but they are not built well and to me thats the most important thing. I also have a compaq and an HP notebook that i got great deals on and i use them for certain things. they are built pretty well so i dont mind using them have great sceens. What i meant by my comment though is im guessing the asus A series that you dont carry are still good machines im sure they are solid and well performing. I thought you came off as if its not expensive i wont sell it its junk. i understand you dont want to sell a product you wouldnt use. But would you not use something because its low priced or only if its not a good machine. Even though the a series is low priced im guessing its far above dell and other machines in the price range. Not sure if im making any sence so ill just stop.

 

Come on guys, what the hell happened to this thread?

I was hoping it would gather more fans of ASUS since a rep from ASUS, on his own time and accord joined the community, that it would be a positive quality to this already popular and populated forum. It's a pity that it might need to be deleted.

Oh, and I hope Frank's still here

 

Sorry i have a habit of making threads veer off course. I welcome and hope he sticks around.

 

Dude this wasnt an ethics comparison. What does ethics have to do with acting like this is "myspace". Theres no need for that. Noone here wants to crap on your playground.

 

I went to the Asian American Expo last weekend and the A3 and A6 was there and it look and felt pretty good. Video camera was good too. And I own a W3V, the others were very sturdy. I don't play that many games, if this was around back then, I might've gotten that instead. But the W3 is still beautiful... But I could've bought 2 of the others.

 

Yeah. Maybe a bit of cleaning the thread is needed.

Frank, you were looking for feedback and I went about it the wrong way. I was really, really bummed that the built-on line is not being held to the same high standards it was before (or so it appears). You were the first guy I could really yell at. My apologies.

 

Eddie was that toward me. I wasnt the one that brought ethics up it was justin, I was just responding.

 

Where DID this thread go........... I'm simply worried about certain models Asus now wants to push and where that's going to take the product and that eventually affects me and all of you.

There's just a fine line between what those in this forum expect - and what these two new low end models produce..... I guess in the end no one is going to be complaining to me about them, but you have to put them in their place....... P4 designed, plastic chassis - heavier, not as strong - chassis parts are going to need to be replaced within three years..... Anyone can say a brand new system looks and feels good, but a lot of the A series has a bit of a history and that's really only one people will see over time..... and that's far too far away to argue with now. People people like to hear my opinion and I guess you have it.

On a side note - Steve - what are you doing with those tech guru guys? You want to do some media center reviews or something?

 

Technologygurus is me and my friends company. We do Home theatre installations. Smart home AMX, crestron. Structured wiring for homes. Small office networks that kind of thing. Its my side company. That and i have a bagelshop interesting mix right.

 

I thought were down in DC........ but maybe that was someone else.... Are you just covering the Conn area or more of new england?

 

Its a new company only about a year old. Right now we are just in CT also do work in NY. Who knows maybe there is another technologygurus you are thinking of. Give it time hopefully ill be getting jobs throughout New England.

 

... no, I may have mentioned the name like I heard of them, but I was simply being inquisitive.... I think I mentioned to you that I was in the process of having some media center designs I've made pupt into production and the site you've got just looked interesting.

 

You did mention it in the past. Whenever you have them ready i would like to see what they offer. I have to be honest it really is hard pushing these expensive media centers to even people with lots of money they just dont understand the benefit they can get from them. Still new technology you know. Its funny though they will spend 30 40 grand on an AMX system but you mention Home theatre Computer media center and they are like HUH???? All i know is to really intergrate them MCE really needs to start supporting cable cards which they say is coming soon we will see i guess.
.

 

If geek squad and best buy can charge a minimum of 500$ or 200$ an hour per person to hook up their hi def plasmas....Your in a unique biz and its hard to find customers but one of the reasons is becuase there is no commercials for this stuff. You are servicing mostly people who dont know a thing about technology i presume. You cant expect them to search the net and find you. I think a commercial on cnn or fox would be a good start. ofcourse it requires an investment but custom made home theater centers has an audience just no exposure. I ve never seen any of the pics you got on your website for the custom living rooms on a tv commercial.....Shoot if i knew an outfitter who can hook up my living room to look like any of the pictures you got on the site i would book mark the site atleast...

 

Hi guys,

Just in is absolutely correct in stating that ASUS would never go down to the low price points of an another A*** brand notebook company. This is a global-wide company policy and culture.

That said however, there is no reason for ASUS to consistently sell $1800+ notebooks when we can design and manufacture much higher quality machines at a great price to consumers than other companies. (personal opinion)

Finally, on the topic of MCE, have you guys seen Shuttle's offerings? Man, these those guys charge a HIGH-END premium that makes the W2V look dirt-cheap.

 

The people we do work for Are exposed to technology. They have want Multi room audio. structured wiring throughout the house. Music servers. Smart home control from amx panels that can browse the web and control your house security and heating cooling. But Bringing true pcs into the living room is new. as for setting up rooms like the pics there are lots of companys that do including ours. You just dont see adervertising its more word of mouth. This kinda stuff doesnt come cheap we definatly charge a premium 120-180 an hour not including profits from equipment sales and programing for smart panels. Hard long hours to set this stuff up.

And when i mean exposed they see it in their friends houses then call us and are like so and so has this we want something like it. But they never use half the features and dont have a true understanding how it works.