W3 barebone

Just got an email this evening and nothing is finalized, but I have more information about the barebone. I think this is kind of up in the air, but as of right now, the barebone will look like this.

1. No color shine screen
2. No aluminum and carbon fiber - just carbon fiber (i think).. don't think it could be plastic and stay that small and light.
3. No bluetooth
and here is the kicker.
4. No dedicated graphics.

The barebone is going to be situated just above the price of the M5. It's still going to be a light, solid system..... a step up from the M5, but it's not going to be a system for everyone. The barebone is meant to be put in a different class - type of user - budget of user - than the complete models.

Like I said, this is sort of up in the air, but they do have to order a different notebook so that it doesn't compete with the high end complete model. From what I know now, the V6 may not come as a barebone at all, but the W1 and W2 will. The W1 and W2 may lose bluetooth and the color shine screen....... the color shine whats going on the new W1...... it'll most likely have the screen currently on the W1 on the barebone... lid and palmrest of the W1 and W2 barebones will be a carbonfiber, similar to the M6. These will be great barebones, but for those who like the look of the aluminum, you might have to special order some lids and palmrests from us down the road.... since the design is the same, the parts will fit, but won't be something that is standard.



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

 

Yeah, good thing I pre-ordered the pre-configured W3V. The missing elements are just too much for me.

[l]ikwid.[f]uzion

 

Darn, that really sucks. The carbon fiber and lack of blue tooth is kind of expected for the barebone... but NO dedicated graphics? [xx(]

Looks like I'm be saving up for the preconfiged W3V...

ASUS M6800Ne, P-M 1.5 Dothan, 512MB Ram, Toshiba Combo drive, Samsung Spinpoint M 40G HDD with 8M cache, Mobility Radeon 9700

 

When is the W3 barebone expected to be offered? Thank you.

 

A couple of points...

- Unless Asus' Color Shine "glare type" screen is much superior to every other manufacturer's "glare type" screen, it couldn't be more than $50 of an upgrade. I am disappointed that this isn't even an option, as it doesn't seem to be a very costly upgrade.

- Carbon fibre composite is more expensive to produce and lighter than aluminium. It has pretty good aesthetics as well. How's this a "bad" thing...

- Since I don't use any bluetooth devices, it's not much of a loss for me; however, the bluetooth mouse included with the W5 sounds like a great idea. If that's what the W3V comes with, I'd consider it a knock against the barebones model.

- Most manufacturer's don't even offer dedicated graphics on their 14" models, and for practical reasons. 14" is hardly the ideal size for gaming or graphics work. The W3V obviously surpasses other 14" models in this department and fulfills the niche of consumers desiring portability and some graphic muscle; however, integrated graphics will suit the needs of the majority of users looking for a 14" model.

I don't understand why the barebone's model is so much cheaper. Even factoring in a Color Shine option (even though it might not exist), an identical barebones setup couldn't cost more than $1800USD. Does Bluetooth and a dedicated GPU cost that much more?

I think I could live without the "glare type" display, considering that my Samsung LCD monitor is not "glare type" but still produces amazing image quality (How do laptop LCD's compare to desktop LCD's now anyway? For reference, I have a 712N monitor - 12ms, 300 cd/m2, 600:1 contrast ratio, 1280x1024). If the aesthetics of the W3 barebone are like the M3's, I'll take the barebones over the W3V for sure.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by miufahkiu

 

Justin, I'm curious when you mention special ordering lids and palmrests from proportable... I'm deciding between the V6V and the W3 right now and one of the things that's pushing me towards the W3 is really the holes in the palmrest on the V6V... I'm concerned about dust building up in there, though I do understand it's possibly there for heat dissipation as well as the location of the speakers. But since I use headphones with my notebook anyway the loss of speaker functionality isn't such a big deal for me... Anyhow, do you have access to getting custom palmrests that don't have the holes for the V6V? That'd be a major incentive for me...

 

You guys are all right....

Here is what I think it going on...... number one... the barebone is set up for people who either want to go with a really low spec or a maxed out spec..... becasue trust me, a 1.6ghz, 256mb, 30gb/4200rpm is going to cost way less in even the complete system... but if you change the screen, and take away a lot of those other things, you can get the system to be pretty checp.

Yes, carbon fiber is more exepnsive of a material, but it's not more expensive to produce. Asus is making just about all of their computers in carbonfiber, and for them, it's just easier to produce which is where the cost comes from... The aluminum is cheaper, but more intensive for them to make...... I don't want to question that part of what they are doing...... the difference between the two is probably minimal.... But where the difference between the barebone and complete system come in, just make be the features offered.

I've been saying this a lot...... the complete system has a 2 year global warranty...... we have a 2 year warranty, but everything needs to be fixed at our place in PA...... It's a great warranty, but nothing can compete with getting your computer fixed with the turn around time Asus usually has, or in a place in a country where you're on vacation... so the cost of the warranty is put into the complete units.... but not into the barebone, because we have to take care of the barebones....... get it?

At some point, we might see two w3 barebones... the name as it will be... I think will be something in the "z" series.... thats how they are going with the barebones. But the more I think about it, the more it makes sense...... the M3 had integrated video and it was a great system for the type of people who bought it..... so a smaller system would sell well that way too...... Figure you can drop about $175 - $200 on the price without dedicated video...... and this could be a great great contender for anyone...... when they say asus is too expensive.. But basically.. we were told there isn't going to be competition between the complete systems and the barebones...... I think offering the different shell was borderline, but to make the barebone mostly a W3a model, without video... the person looking at the W3v, won't be looking at the W3a and vice versa.. So it makes sense..... but who knows, I think that is the first one off the block, but if enough stir is made, maybe we can get it changed, or maybe we can get both to come over as a barebone.

Right now, we're looking into late april for the barebones, atleast.

About care parts....... I don't know what we're going to be able to do. I know we can get them, but then on say a barebone of ours... if we install them, we would warrrant the work, which means even if you have them installed montsh down the road... we're not going to void our own warranty or anything.

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

 

The W3 barebone will be called the Z63a - 100% confirmed it will be an integrated graphics version...... and on a side note it's going to be a pearl type color which matches more the new W5 than the white S5..... so..... it's white basically.

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

 

So as of right now, would the W3 barebone still have the DVD burner? When do you think it would actually be available?

I personally think all CF would be nice. I'm starting to wonder if this is what I should hold out for [ ]

Jean

 

The barebone would most likely have the option of a combo drive or a dvd burner.

Things that are confirmed:

-It will be all white, like the W5, as I said before.

-No bluetooth

-No Color Shine screen

-No aluminum

-No dedicated graphics

---When you think of carbon fiber, basically... it's the same chassis the W5 is in..... It's not everyone's cup of tea.... but it'll put the barebone model just a step above the M5 barebone.... It's in an entirely different ballgame from the W3v.... price wise, looks wise, performance wise.

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

 

Is there any confirmation on whether or not the Z63A will have SPDIF output? If it doesn't, I most likely won't get it.

 

Yeah, you missed something...... there is no RF on the W3 or V6.....there is bluetooth.. but bluetooth don't be on the barebone.

yeah, considering you can configure it how you want... say with a combo drive...... the Z63a should be cheaper than a W5 if configured the same.

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

 

Also, would the Z63a have a wireless mouse too? I'm assuming it's RF like the W5, but your page on the W3V doesn't say that it's RF either (or did I miss it)?

And you said pricing would be slightly above the M5? Do you think it would be cheaper than the W5? I like almost all the features of the W5; I'm just a little concerned about the screen size and wish I could swap in a DVD burner...

Jean

 

Cool, thanks for the info. And don't worry, I WILL eventually buy a notebook from you. Just takes me a while to decide [ ]

Jean

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by PROPortable

 

The W3 & barebone derivatives will have a static dimension of 13" x 9.7" x 1.18-1.28"

[l]ikwid.[f]uzion

 

right... footprint and design of the W3v, but entirely in the material and color of the W5.

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

 

Any update on the date of availability for this unit? Pictures would be nice too.

This model is looking like a better prospect to me than the W3V every day.

 

I've seen some pictures of the W3A and W3V. The W3V im sure everyone has seen. The W3A has a whitish colour unlike the W3V, will the barbone W3 share the same shell as the W3A? Will post the pictures up later.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by orangeguy

 

Sounds like a total turd to me...

Looks like I waited for nothing. Here I come LG.

Kai

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by BBQmyNUTZ

 

... dip them in acid.... no THAT, is something I can honestly say only a real die hard would say...... I mean integrated graphics aren't going to kill you ... especially since NORMAL people want that tiny computer for doing normal little stuff... and most of the people who THINK they need performance, end up with a 17" widescreen HP with 128mb graphics or 256...........

It's only the real connoisseurs who can really appreciate the balance of size/weight/battery life and high end performance..... Hence, all the people interested in the W3v.

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

 

You should have an LG or Samsung in escrow...

Does Asus know (or even care) that the majority of the customers out there who would be looking towards a configurable notebook are enthusiasts, who would just as soon dip their testicles (or whatever else might be sticking out if you don't have any) in acid before buying a laptop or anything else with integrated graphics?

It's bad enough that they're strapping their customers with an outdated video card in the ensemble models... now this crap? If I wanted a "stylish" but underpowered and overpriced lap heater, I can pick one up a VAIO at Best Buy and at least get to oogle the hot mexican chick that works there while she's ringing me up.

Kai

 

No, integrated graphics won't kill me... but they'll certainly kill any chance of Asus getting over 2 grand of my money.

They put a removeable card in the ensemble version, which would void your warranty if you remove it. Then they eliminate the dedicated graphics option from the configurable version. Anyone else thinking that there's a river of heroine flowing through Asus' corporate lounge? That's the only logical explanation I can think of for implementing such a boneheaded concept.

Kai

 

That's good news. It seems quite similar in spec to the M5 as well... except with a bigger screen.
I think the W3 barebone will still be a popular model..

ASUS M6800Ne, P-M 1.5 Dothan, 512MB Ram, Toshiba Combo drive, Samsung Spinpoint M 40G HDD with 8M cache, Mobility Radeon 9700

 

The barebone model is going to be priced near an M5, to the best of my knowledge....... it's meant for a very different group of people. I would say.. it may be marginally higher than an M5... but pretty close... I'd say within $100.

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

 

Oh, most certainly.... maybe even more popular..... When I consider the popularity of the M5 over the last year, this is a larger system.. but it's still smaller than the M3 was... so it fits between the M3/M5.... and a LOT of people thought the M5 was too small, but the M3 was still too big.

Like I said.. it's going to be for a different crowd... most of us will love the W3v, but the barebone model is going to be targeted towards a person who doesn't need all the extra stuff the W3v has.... plus obviously.. a different price range.... so people looking at that, aren't looking at the w3v, simply because of price.

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