S5N Upgrades?

Hi all, I've been monitoring this forum for some time now and I finally decided to register, everything in here is really helpful. I'm really interested in buying an S5N, I realize this model isn't offered as an upgradeable "barebones" model...so why is it that this site is able to offer upgrades to the S5N's Processor, Hard drive, as well as memory when no one else can or will???

http://pc11.flashecom.com/startech/config_system.asp?config_id=S5N

I really want an S5N, and I'd ideally want the 1.8Ghz (745 Dothan) processor, along with the 60GB 7,200 RPM hard drive and the maximum amount of memory (768 MB)which all seem to be available from this company. I live in Canada and I'm debating on ordering from these guys because I don't seem to have any other choice? I just don't understand why one company can offer these upgrades on this model, when nowhere else that I can find can or will...I mean it can either be done or it can't be in my opinion, so what's the deal here?

I've also considered the M5N, but because of all the fan issues I'm a little hesistant, especially with all the higher end upgrades I'm interested in. If more places offered the S5N with my desired upgrades, I'd already own one. Anyone who can shed some light on this for me would be of great help.

Thanks in advance![ ]

 

If you want to do it that way, you lose your warranty through Asus and you're not going to get your rebates either.... but I'm sure they will do it. They've been customizing the W1 for a while now and ignoring the fact that the "global warranty" through Asus is voided. Not to get down on anyone, but customizing the laptop isn't hard and we do all the time...... the only thing that bothers me is that they will tell you your warranty isn't void... it's just through them. Well, that is fine and dandy, but if you lose the warranty through Asus, you are losing a lot. One of the reasons the pre-built systems cost a couple hundred more is because of the great warranty package. If you customize a pre-configured unit, you're paying for a warrany service that won't be granted directly through Asus.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

This website can upgrade s5n :

http://store.agearnotebooks.com/asuss5nprice.html

I am not sure the warranty, but it seems with asus 2year global.

 

Again, no one can offer it...... Let me tell you exactly what you're doing here.

1. Asus' 2 year global warranty covers the system in almost any country you're in.........

2. If you change anything Asus's office will only supply parts to the dealer, which means your computer has to go back to the dealer, not asus. Asus you can certainly trust will be around, and has tons of international offices.

3. If the company wants to tell you that you'll still have the global warranty, you're going to be caught with your pants down when you have a problem.

Am I making this clear or should I try to explain it better? Basically... we build our custom systems from the motherboard up... we also sell Asus' complete systems and to do that, we have to carry stock of all of the systems. It's not like these are just drop shipped or anything. So, if we can build a system out, and we have the S5's lying around, why wouldn't we configure them if we weren't doing the customer an injustice? We had the black S5's for almost 10 months and configured those everyday.... If it weren't for the warranty issues, we'd do them. Asus should even tell you that the warranty isn't "voided", but you can't come to them with the problems, which make it the responsiblity of the dealer. It's complicated, but in the end you pay dearly for Asus' awesome warranty and the truth of the matter is, you'll lose it unless the same configuration Asus sells goes back to them. For instance, if you want to use another hard drive, you have to keep the original and ship it back with the computer if there is ever a problem.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Thank you Justin, now it's clear.

1 more question. If i bought the 256mb s5n, and I add a ram to slot1 later by myself, will it void the ASUS global warranty?

 

No.

Dealers can add it, you can add it, that is fine.

It's just when you swap out the cpu and/or hard drive you'll run into a problem. You can do anything you want, but to send it back to Asus, if you want to be able to send it directly to them, it has to go back with the cpu and hard drive originally spec'd in the Asus system... thats all.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Coma,
The reason we offer the item configured, is because people would rather get what they want then buy a machine that is not to their specs. We have sold many of the S5N's, and 98% have been configured.

We do carry our own 2 Year warranty, and that is what you will get if you configure the machine. The only difference is that we are not global.

We have been in the computer business for over 25 years, so believe me, we will continue to be here for our customers.

Also, REBATES ARE VALID ON CONFIGURED MACHINES.

Hope that clears things up.

Providing the Building Blocks for the Digital World Since 1980

 

thats correct, you pay dearly for Asus' Global Warranty when buying the S5 and you lose it we any of us swap out the cpu.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

I've been away, thank you all for your responses...they're all much appreciated.

Justin (PROPortable), just so It's clear...does this mean you'll currently still configure an S5N system purchased from you with my desired upgrades If I understand my International warranty with ASUS is void? (Or any non-barebone Asus notebook for that matter that you offer?) If so, what direct warranty does PROPortable offer Its customers in these situations?

Once again, thanks in advance.

 

We do this usually for local customers and large orders. It's really a disservice to lose the global warranty because if you have a problem now you're crossing boarders because you wanted a cpu upgrade, but yes our 2 year warranty is valid on all of our systems, whether you configured them or not... if you want us to service them we are more than capable.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Is it possible to throw in an ATI/Nvida card in S5N or M5N?

I'm currently eyeing on Vaio S360 because it has a Radeon M9700 in it. If S5N is able to carry a faster graphic card I would happly ditch Sony away.

 

No... you can't "throw them in"...... the graphics chips are built into the motherboard.. even on that sony... if you're looking at that sony, why don't you consider the W3?

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

I was just reading this discussion, and past couple of weeks have been looking to buy a laptop. I want something like an ibook but a windows machine. The Asus S5N really comes close (although I have only seen it in pictures)

The only other upgrade I would like to see on this laptop is a backlit keyboard, is it possible ?

Also are there other laptop brands that are similar to this one ?

Thanks,

 

creek,

Someone was asking me that in another forum and I told them I it's not an option, but it's something I tried last year...... For a promo M6, we made a string of tiny blue leds and run them under the keyboard and powered them by a switch working off the power button. It was cool, but a real pain and not something we'd do again. There isn't something that's made that would really work because all of these notebooks have very specific keyboards.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]