Upgrading Z33A to Z63A

I've been reading the ASUS section of this forums from top to bottom hoping to find an answer that will help my decision. Unfortunately, I haven't so I hope you'll be able to help me.

So, I have the Z33A and it's nice, very nice. But, I feel like I need more, and the Z63A is good as it costs almost the same in my country and it's possible to upgrade to this model.

Why would I want to upgrade? - Well, thing is the Z33A is great but it lacks DVD+-RW drive and it's impossible to find such a drive as it's 9.5mm thick (while usually laptops have 12.7mm thick ODDs). In fact, the only UltraPortable laptop by ASUS that has a DVD+-RW is the U5A and I have no idea what model it is (TSSTcorp most probably but that's all I know).

Anyway, the Z33A is less upgradeable then the Z63A (Memory, ODD) and the most important issue is that it's only 12.1" which seems too small for me. 14.1" like the Z63A has should be great and enough for me.

The only thing that bothers me is the weight thing. My Z33A has a 6-cell battery and weighs some 1.7-1.8kg. According to ASUS the average weight of the Z63A with 8-cell battery is 2.2kg with ODD. If that's correct than it's great as another 0.5kg won't be tto much for me, even when I travel.

Hope you can help me out with this though decision of upgrading to Z63A or staying with my Z33A. Thanks.

 

Well, you also have to factor in the other intangible - the glossy screen!
Which do you prefer?

If 12.1" is too small... but glossy is something you hate, then you're better off with the Z33A. But if you don't mind the glossy screen, then I think you should get the Z63A right now!
I have one and it's a great machine... not heavy by any means and should give you better battery life than your Z33A.
You'll definitely have more upgrade options with the Z63A...

I say upgrade!

 

Well, I had the chance to look at both Z33A and Z63A while working and I didn't notice something dramatical with the Z63A screen. However, I did see them in a dark room, I can see them in a more lighter room and check the difference. (TBH, I didn't manage to work too much with laptops in my life so maybe that is why I didn't notice much of a difference).

Another question that just rose. The Z33A CPU fan works almost all the time but it's so quiet you can hardly hear it. When the room is totally quiet I only hear the fan click as it changes speeds. - How is the Z63A in comperison? does it have more then one fan? is it almost the same as the Z33A, noise wise?

 

I don't have much experience with the Z33A... so I can't comment on its noise level.
As for the Z63A... it's hard to say. Noise level is such a subjective topic anyway... but I'd say it's quiet. By no means is it silent... because the fan is always running, but it's nothing to fret about.
I would assume it's only equal to the Z33A in terms of noise produced... it could be quieter, but it's just a slightly noticable "whirring" sound - by no means does the fan whine at all.
In an average environment, it's not noticable... in a silent room, you can hear it.

 

I thought the z33A was basically the same model as the old M5N? If so, there should be a 9.5mm DVD-rewriter drive that you could get, since my M5N certainly came with one (I think it's Mat****a UJ-812). I have no idea about what you can upgrade to, but just thought I'd let you know that there at least ARE drives of the right size around, if you decide to stick with the machine you've already got.

 

In the states you can now get a z33 with a dvdrw. You will not be able to use your ram from the z33 in the z63. Is it worth the upgrade? Not for me i am perfectly happy with my m5n 12" and see no reason to upgrade. Other then the larger screen there is no advantage to the z63 and for me the larger screen is not required infact i would settle with a 10 inch if asus had one

 

Well the issue there is that they already have the Z33 - and honestly since the V6 has been available - there has always been an option to use the dvd burner out of that machine........it's just expensive. If the screen is too small for everyday use - then that's the kicker right there. A 14" widescreen will give you the same height, but more width .... personally one reason I love that form factor... big enough for all day, everyday use... and small enough to fit on a tray in the tightest of airplanes seats...

If you upgrade.... are you going to use your hard drive and cpu from the Z33 and sell the barebone or..... something else?

 

If I upgrade I'm giving back my Z33A and getting the Z63A. I'm not keeping the HDD, ODD, RAM or any other hardware. This is why I asking for your advice with this issue.

I guess there are 9.5mm DVDRW drives as the U5A comes with one. But as it's was said here, it's expensive and mostly almost imossible to find one. So, it's actually to whole upgradability of the Z63A that I like, with SO-DIMM instead of uSO-DIMM, 12.7mm ODD instead of 9.5mm ODD, bigger LCD screen and others.

 

right...... but unless you can sell the z33 - it's not worth it... if you have someone lined up... then great. But you're looking at having a notebook that weighs in at another pound heavier... that's a lot considering the small difference between the systems... you have to consider that as well.

 

If we're talking about 0.5kg with the 8-cell battery then it's fine by me. The M5A currently weighs ~1.8kg with the 6-cell battery. I guess 2.2-2.3kg will be OK for me.

 

The Z63A weighs 2.55kg including the 8-cell battery and the optical drive according to my digital kitchen scales. Asus's headline weight of 2kg was with the 4-cell battery and no optical drive. The optical drive weighs 200g.

John

 

Hey John, Thank you very much for this usefull information.