Thinking hard about the M5a/Z33a

I recently fell in love with the Z33a and yet I have a few questions yet unanswered that I'd like to address before taking the plunge. Can anyone help?

1) The 915GM chipset, according to Intel http://www.intel.com/products/chipsets/915GM/index.htm , can support a SATA drive. I've never seen a notebook with an SATA drive. Can I assume that the Z33a still takes PATA?
2) The 12.1" LCD only supports a 1024 x 768 resolution. Other ultraportables or thin and lights with simmilarly sized screens support higher resolutions. The graphics engine, the Intel GMA 900, on this mb reports impressive frame rates and supports many of the directX 9 additional features. (see x-bit review:
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/mobile/display/asus-m5a.html )
Is the limitation solely based on the LCD?
3) I've thought about puchasing and upgrading with my existing 7200rpm hd, yet I've read in this forum that this upgrade might significanly decrease battery performance, increase noise and heat, and may even cause an overall performance decrease. This hasn't been my experience. Comments for or against?
4) I'm a Linux junkie. I've seen that Intel supports an open source driver for their graphics core:
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df-external/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=1764
and I've read that the wireless, ipw2200, should be supported in the current 2.6 kernel, at least with Fedora Core 3 or ndiswrapper. Are there any other Linux geeks with experiences?

Thanks for your replies.

P.S. Justin- I am shopping the ProPortable site and don't see an option for extended life 9 cell batteries. I figured I might find you here and hoped that you might be one to reply to my post, knowing your experience.

 

First...... http://www.proportable.com/detail.aspx?ID=57 -- if you scroll down on the Z33a page, all of the accessories for it are there: http://www.proportable.com/detail.aspx?ID=5

ok.

1. This is pata

2. What screen that's a 12" regular ratio uses a higher res? For a 12", that's a very high, yet usable res....... The newest intel integrated graphics are really nice.... I used to say they are at least good enough to play dvds well.... but this is even better. For this size system, you can't expect more, but it's pretty darn good anyway... I was satisfied with the 855 graphics in the M5n/np.. for that size system, you're not going to be playing many games.

3. Heat and battery life in an S5/M5 with a 7200rpm drive is like 45 minutes......and darn hot.. With a 5400rpm seagate you can get about 2 hours of normal use out of it..... but if you already have another drive, it might be interesting to use as a drive when you NEED that extra power.... but not for everyday use.

4. A friend of PROPortable took it upon himself last year to start a forum for linux users on Asus systems. He has an M6bn himself, but if he can't help you with your linux questions, one of the people who frequent his site will. You wouldn't believe how many people from around the world who want to use linux contact us strictly because he's put so much time into that site.

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

 

Thanks Justin, you're making this process easier.
I looked around and, yes, the 12" standard ratio seems to be set at xga. I've looked at wxga, which can have a slightly higher resolution. Never owning a wide screen anything, I can't say which I prefer. I'll admit greater understanding of hardware than lcd quality. Which leads me to my next question:
* What is the quality of the Z33a lcd? I have seen terms XBRITE, Crystal View, and Bright View, read the definitions, but admit to ignorance in actuall experience. How they apply, at least in this case? Since I have not acutally seen this laptop, how might this compare to a Sony of the S series? Or my old Dell 5150?
* How does this model compare to the W5a, which I like but hate the color and camera. Yeah, a lot is about under the hood, but you have to like the look of what you are gonna lug around for the next couple years.
* What has been the overall durability experience of Asus notebooks in relationship to the more mainstream models? I admit to frequently purchasing Asus mb and video cards and trust them as a company but this is the first I have heard of their laptop line. Technologically, I am impressed, but can it stay out of the shop?

 

The Z33a's don't have the color shine screens like the W5/W3/Z63a.... it's a matte type display. Very nice in my own opinion... never heard a complaint about the screens on the S5/M5 in a year and a half...

Well, you could get the limit edition black W5a....... in my own opinion, the camera "looks" flashy on the white model, but in person it's really not bad and is actually not really an issue. The black model is really nice too, becasue the camera, as I mentioned the other day is darker and that just makes it blend in more.... really sweet if you want that package. Basically the same system.. but the W5 has a smaller screen..... but the W5 has bluetooth, RF, the camera and s-video out...... for someone who types a lot though, the regular ratio 12" would be much nicer.

I'm not hard on my systems but I'm I don't baby them either (except for some of my show pieces... like my white M5 thats in my car), but I have always had my pick of what I want to use and if parts get screwed up, I can always replace them as we have basically every part in stock to repair them....... The funny thing is, you can be pretty rough on them and the carbon fiber systems hold up..... even cometically it's hard to make them look bad, but only rarely have I seen physical damage from anything but people dropping or stepping on them..... With something like a notebook, you have to depend on the lcd screen and the motherboard. Asus' boards speak for themselves and they use the best screens out there....... aside from that you're talking about a carbon fiber shell which is nicer than 90% of everything else out there on the market....... holds up better than aluminum (powerbooks warp under high heat); it's lighter and stronger than aluminum or plastic......

I think that about covers it.

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

 

Again, you've given me a lot of good information. Very helpful.
Another important question, though: what is the footprint of the power brick? Weight, dimensions, that sorta thing. To add insult to injury with the weight of my Dell 5150, the transformer is enormous, almost the size and burden of a tiny laptop to itself. I'm hoping ot avoid that position ever again.
I hope I am not wringing you dry, Justin. And I hope others can find this useful as well.

 

well the brick is like... about 4" x 1.5" x 1"...... max

but yeah.. you're wringing me dry... [ ]

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

 

If the power brick for the Z33/M5 is the size of the one for the S5, I can tell you it's very manageable and I was suprised how small it is. I had an old Dell too and the power brick was a beast, but I have no trouble chucking my S5's power brick in with it when I take it anywhere, it's not large at all.

 

Yeah, it's the same one Sencha.

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

 

Thanks, Justin. THat's good to know. For future reference.

 

That it is... it's small and that's attractive to a lot of people and something other just over look.

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