Some up to the minute Asus info.......

OK, it's almost 3am, but just got off a 3 hour phone call with Asus' notebook product manager.... a lot of great things were talked about, for the time being, I want to focus on a couple quick things that are important to you guys.

1.) The next Z70 model:

--a. The next Z70 model will most likely be renamed the Z70va - the "a" is for x700 apparently.... but "v" is for dedicated graphics and both models will be sticking around for a while.... 128mb x700 is confirmed (will not be 64mb)

--b. NO DVI - That will be a 4th Quarter option on the next model.

--c. Bluetooth was ordered in the units, it's unconfirmed as to if it'll show up with it.

--d. Pricing will be closer to $200 more than the current model, $150 if bluetooth isn't installed.

--e. No optional bluetooth module for the current models... we tested and they are fine, and we have the initial units sold...... but Asus doesn't want to bring them in, they say it'll compete with this next model.... so that is dead for the time being

--f. ETA --- supposed to hit port early in the first week of August... when it clears, gets to Asus, gets off to dealers, get build, get to the customer..... that is unknown.... this should be able to be in customers hands, certainly, before the end of the month as long as everything goes as planned.

2.) Z81s - supposed 17" P4 / 256mb Nvidia 6800 go model:

--a. It's confirmed this model is true as far as video card and cpu but it's only a 15.4" - NOT 17"....... which explains why it wasn't the 17" I heard of and the chassis looked familiar but wouldn't be something they could use for 17".

--b. ETA Begining of August

3.) W1 refresh:

--a. Well it's official, it's not coming as an ensemble but we tossed around the idea of it coming in as a barebone and we're going to work with that..... the barebone would basically be the same thing, but we're looking into different lid and palmrest materials..... There has been a W1 that has gone around china for promotional purposes that was done up in carbon fiber.... done the way you'd see it on a car, where it's in a clear resin and you see the fabic weave. That honestly would need a polish every once and a while, but we're looking into how we can make that possible...... it'd be the coolest barebone in the world... I guarentee that.


I've got some other news, but I think I'll save that for tomorrow. Just wanted to pass that information along as it's of interest to many of you.

 

Thanks Justin,
This is some great news, once again you deliver !
a

 

Yeah Justin thanks a lot for getting out the information so quickly, really shows how dedicated you are to your customers. Thanks again

 

Cool stuff Justin!

Hey.. if the W1 Refresh is coming as a barebone, will it mean that you can customize the dedicated graphics?

 

Dont think you can customized any dedicated graphics on that.

 

If the W1 refresh were to occur is there any timetable on when it may come stateside? I'm guessing it would take a fair amount of time correct? Also I was wondering if there is any news on any asus models with dedicated graphics and the turion processor. Thanks for the info. -Rob

 

Nice...

Where is Z71V refresh? LoL!

 

Regarding the possibility of a W1 barebone is apparently still in the early stages......... The thing is, the motherboard is ready, so getting these here won't take more than a few weeks once we agree on everything. We're probably not going to see something that we've going to have an option as to what graphics card goes in the unit, but as I remember with the W1, it did have a seperate card, but I don't know if it would on this new version....... but it would be 128mb x700 and that's all we'd be able to offer for now. This may be something that takes at least a month anyway..... but we can't tell and certainly nothing is a done deal, but we talked about it and it's on the table.

Give me till this afternoon and I can do some confirming on some other stuff.... just want to get some work done first.

 

WOW, exposed cf weave....

sexy.

 

just when you thought ASUS laptops couldnt get any more beautiful...

 

This is something I'm going to work to get, but it's going to make it a bit more expensive. Right now, both I and Asus' product manager thing it's awesome but Asus never made these panels in production.... they made 1 (just one) unit that's been going around for promos in China..... we're going to see if it would be possible to get them made up for us that way. As much as I love the brushed aluminum look.... we've basically had the same W1 form for over a year now and all of the other notebooks are basically brushed aluminum... so we thought a change would be cool.

 

The brushed Alumnium is still SEXY.

Valsmere

 

Justin heres my million dollar question:

any of the z-model or w1 refreshes getting colorshine?


dont tell me that if i want colorshine AND a 128mb gpu i have to buy the w2 :budget:

 

I really wish the refreshed W1 would get here today. Its my first choice with the N3511 being the second. I was hoping it was going to available this month. The 15.4" screen is a idea size to have, not to large and not too small. Please keep us updated, Justin. Thanks.

 

Yeah, well I'll tell you that now..... the only other option would be if we could get in a w1 refresh....... here's the problem though.... for us to do it, we might be the only ones in the world who order it...... so we need to be able to order a lot...... apparently the rest of the world thinks a w1 refresh would eat up potential w2 orders.... but I don't think like that.

 

I agree with you Justin. The W2 is defintiely in the DTR category but the W1 falls in between that and the ultraportable (13 < size screen), its the medium between the large and small. From your personal read, do you think the W1 will not make it here anytime soon (like in the next couple of months)? TIA

 

What is good about the W1 refresh?

Does it have a better video card, etc...?

I don't hear much about this refresh model. I have heard much about the z70v "refresh" or rather the z70va and its specs but I don't know much about what is anticipated with the W1 "refresh" model.

 

It doesn't really matter because it's not going to happen. It *was* basically going to have the specs of the W2 but in the same 15.4" form factor.

 

Seems french guy was right.

 

Let me just make sure I understand this correctly. The Z70va will reach the customer's hands around the end of August?

 

slickp = french guy

 

That would be the best conservative guess....... you might get it before...... I honestly can't speak for anyone other than ourselves because we have a fixed amount of time we spend on testing and burning-in ......... some people just ship.

 

Guaranteed, Probrably around there...


Or Early to Mid August if you want to push your hopes up ^^