W5 / V6 update

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

 

ok - I measured all three keyboards from the centers of the Q to the CENTER of the } ..... the } key was the same size on all keyboards and it was the same size as the rest of the keys in the row...... if there was a difference than I would have said something because I would figure the numbers wouldn't work out right.....

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

 

by the way..... we rarely "trust" asus as all the numbers they give are often wacky.... Taiwanese Asus people are translating their site into english and I think much is lost in translation... although when they still use metric numbers, I just scratch my head and wonder how the heck they came up with some of the numbers.

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

 

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

 

well i think i can retake them all in one shot.... i can take the keyboards out of the machines and put them all together...


You know what.... the M5np keyboard is nicer to type on though..... there is something about that qwerty row though... the m5np has a larger tab button and that seems to be the only difference, which is enough to change that ratio. looking at the space between the keys it looks like the same too.. so i'm not sure where the difference is... what I can see is the m5np keys are flatter.. more like powerbook keys.... they have the same travel but the S5n and W5n keys look to be deeper and exactly the same...... but the numbers I gave you are correct and I even just double checked them... I'm not a master of key pitch... I just know a good keyboard when I use it. SO you tell me whats good... I'm guessing the W5 pitch was exactly what you wanted.... but far off from what asus says...... just knowing how other countries have keys in different places and that throws off the size of certain keys.... maybe their might be different pitch keyboards else where?? Either way, this is what we've got.

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

 

Well, the best part of IBMs are of course their keyboard... those keyboards are heaven for your fingers.
THose thinkpads are sturdy... for sure... but only half as sleek as any ASUS system.
If IBM priced their notebooks more competitively ... I might consider purchasing one. (I really do love the keyboard).
Until then, I'm an avid ASUS (fanboy...)[ ]

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

 

it's good to know that comparison..... Personally I spent a lot of time typing on an M5 and now and M5np... I do like the m5np keyboard better... I don't know why.

I think more people have ibms and it's why everyone thinks they are great. They are nice, don't get me wrong, but they are no more solid than an asus system.... for instance the x40 I think thats the 12"..... i mean.. the s5 looks more delicate because of it's design... but it's all carbon fiber and carbon fiber is lighter, stronger, and more durable than anything else..... the x40 isn't carbon fiber is it? If it is, thats fine.. but just the older look of the thinkpads puts this thing in peoples heads that they're more durable because they are dark and have the same lines as their computers of 5 years ago..... so it looks like it's holding up...... but say the s5 is light.. not white, but pearl... very sexy.... and the lines are rounded and sensual [ ]... but I'd put an S5 up to a stress test again an x40 any day.... it's all marketing.

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

 

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

 

you guys all read the news about 9 months ago saying that ibm contracted asus to design and build their new thinkpad line, right? Word has it that it was becasue they wanted something with a fresh look and something other than matte black.... surprisingly this was just after the S5 finally started to get some exposure.... like that May issue of laptop I showed you on our news page.... know how the s5 (becasue it's white) stuck out?> ... and even the M5... from the back stuck out against all the other computers..

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

 

Yeah... IBM products are great, but still overpriced; their price/performance ratio is horrible... although they have great service and quality.
M5/S5/W5 are all great systems... M5 being my favourite for no apparent reason [ ]
Go ASUS!

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

 

thats what i thought but didn't want to make a judgement without having ripped that system apart........ the best way to see the carbonfiber on the m5/s5 is to take a lid or chassis on a damaged system and just crack it in half... number one, it's almost impossible.. but the parts are thin as anything. Anyone who has an S5/M5 would not believe me when I say that the walls of the chassis' are 1/32" thick... if that.. I don't have anything smaller to measure with at this time....

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

 

It's a rumor on my side till I see a demo.... I'm not ruling out the chance that they may make a notebook that is widescreen that would fit into thats "series"..... a V something.. just like all of the W's.... But right now I don't see much in the way of information. a 15.4" with 128mb of vram would kill in the design of the V6....... but maybe thats why there are rumors... wishful thinking.

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

 

Just curious, I recall seeing somewher mentioned that the V6 series "might" be releasing another version. Similar to what they did with the M6.

But this will be 15.4" screen and x/600 with 128MB? Then again, it might be a rumor LoL!

Laptop: TBD
My Website: http://www.smilepak.com

 

Hey Justin, got some questions for you.

I guess I am the messenger since i visit so many forums. LoL!

1) If a person in UK buy Asus laptop in US, does Asus have international warranty which will cover it?

2) On the V6 series, it come standard with 2x256 modules, if the buyer replaced them, will that void their warranty?

Thanks!


Laptop: TBD
My Website: http://www.smilepak.com

 

1) If a person in UK buy Asus laptop in US, does Asus have international warranty which will cover it?

------------- No matter where in the world you buy one of Asus's complete units which have the global warranty... it is covered by any of asus's offices.

2) On the V6 series, it come standard with 2x256 modules, if the buyer replaced them, will that void their warranty?aw

-------------- good question and let me explain it becasue people ask me why its' more expensive to upgrade the v6 than something else... or somewhere else..... here it is. The original configuration needs to be in the notebook when sent in to asus for repair. If you don't, they won't fix it and they will tell you to send it back to whoever you bought it from, or if you upgrade the ram yourself... they will tell you to put the old ram back be before sending it in. This is where the upgrades on the complete asus notebooks hit home.. Up upgrade the V^ both ram sticks basically have to be pulled and replaced. If we "bought back" the sticks that were in there, we are doing you a disservice becasue now asus won't cover your notebook in the states.. .and certainly not over seas... you lose what I've figured to be about a $300 warranty... atleast. We'll still cover the warranty for you, just like other companies who will do the customizing for you..... but considering you are paying for that global warranty.. and they extra special card you are getting through asus.... even if you get the configuration that you want... you're still wasting money... you really are. So what we do is have you buy the package and although we'll install extra hard drives and ram... you need to keep the parts from the original configuration to keep your full warrantty with asus. I told them they need to clarify this on their site so we don't bump heads with other dealers, because everyone says something different..... and Asus doesn't care becasue they are making the warranty money either way, but they don't have to fix it if something goes wrong... Eventually they will list on their site that us, startech, and others can custom configure the notebooks, but they will state exactly what happens to the warranty under different situations. For instance.. doing what we are doing is going to cost more but you'll keep your warranty.... doing what startech is going (and I'm not busting them at all, will void the asus warranty and they will have their own warranty inplace of it.) Once Asus posts this, only those they say can customize them will be aloud to, and at that point we'll offer what we are now, plus most the way startech and others are going, and I'm sure they will continue to do what they are doing, but also for the warranty reasons, offer something like what we are.

That's a lot to take in.... I know... But this is the truth as easy or hard as it is to understand. I hope I broke it down and explained both sides enough.. I'm sort of sick of answering this, so I wanted to make it as complete as possible... Questions can be posed to me about it at any time.

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

 

There are 1 gig micro dimms out there which may work on the W5. I only know that they work in some sony laps.

http://www.laptopsinc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=GCEMUX-1&Category_Code=MEMUX&Product_Count=2
http://www.swissbit-shop.com/index.php?sec...n=shop&catId=17

 

The W5 doesn't take micro dimms...... we're using corsair ddr2 533 so dimms, they work very well.

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

 

The sony X505 is a magnesium chasis, and paper thin thats why its a thousand dollar more.(still slightly over priced, as are most sony products)

Im pretty sure the updated W1 will be the wide screen version of the V6.
W= Wide
V= standard aspect (4:5)

 

It is a typo on Asus's site. On the same page it mentions both PM & GM.

On this page: http://usa.asus.com/prog/spec.asp?m=V6000V%20Series&langs=09

Once in the quick specs up top and once in the full specs below it.

Thanks,
John F.
Media Specialist / Internet Sales Associate

25 Years of Technology & Service
All our Asus laptops can be custom built to your specifications.
724-962-0566 x106
www.starpcs.net
www.stipc.com
The Unofficial Asus Laptop Forum : http://startech.proboards24.com/index.cgi

 

Sorry if this question was posted before (I have not read the 8 pages of this forum).

Justin..
Is the "Asus V6V w/ Intel 915PM Chipset" statement on your website a typo??? The Asus Website has the specs for the V6V as "Intel Centrino Mobile Technology with Intel 915GM Chipset"..

 

Thanks Startech... It may seems like I am splitting hairs... but I will take a 915PM over the 915GM anytime...

[ ]

 

Yeah, the V6/W3 are PM ... W5 is GM ..

PM has dedicated graphics and GM has integrated... So, just so you know, if it says GM and it has dedicated graphics... it's an impossibility.

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

 

Thanks Justin..

When I started doing my research on laptops.. the V6 caught my attention.. but I took it out of my final list on account of the 915GM chipset... needles to say that when I looked around the PROPortable's website.. I thought my eyes tricked me. I assume PROPortable had the typo since I would expect ASUS to know what kind of chipset they are putting in their own laptops.

 

lol.. don't be so sure... I don't know the last time we just copied what Asus listed, without going over the machine ourselves with a fine-tooth comb. Their site is always riddled with bad translations and typos.... No biggie though.

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

 

I had attended Asus showcase in Vancouver today. Asus representative showed the latest W5N and V6V models and announced the release day of two notebooks. Those two models will be here in Canada by the end of April. The wholesell price has not been announced yet.

 

Where was this ASUS showcase? I didn't hear about one...[:0]

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

 

The show took place at one of the largest PC vendors in Richmond, BC. It was not open to the public. There were about 20 persons attended. However they still had refreshment and prizes to give away.

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

 

Asus' next V6/W5 shipment arrives at Asus in California on about the 20th of April. That shipment is larger than the first US shipment and is probably the shipment that has stock for Canadian resellers. So, I'm not sure how long it takes to get the stuff to Canada, but it's a safe bet that you'll have them available (somewhere up there) by the end of the month.

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

 

Proportable,

What kind of optical drive will the W5 have? On your website, it just say super slim drive so I wasn't sure. CD-Burner/DVD-ROM or DVD Burner?


I'm also tempted by the V6/W3 [^] Damn you Asus.....I just got my S5N only 10 months ago....grrr!

 

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

 

You're welcome.....

No, our site says "super slim combo drive"........ combo drive has been an industry standard term for 3 years now... meaning dvd player / cd writer.

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

 

Finally Asus representative announced the MSRP of W5A in Canada. It is CAD$1999. It comes with Centrino 1.7, 512MB DDR2, 40GB 4200rpm, 1.3MP Built-in Webcam and DVD Writer. It is quite expensive.

 

If that's true..... it'll have a dvd writer... which my point below has nothing to do with this....... but you guys get what the US brings in... so you should have a combo drive, not a dvd writer.

Regardless... converting that price to USD -- it equals $1,610.00 -- or $140 cheaper than here in the US..... To be at least the same price we have here... your price would be $2,172 CAD...... You sure that wasn't a dealers price or something? Because that'd even be low for a dealers cost.

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

 

Justin,

Thanks for all the info and great photos of V6V on your site. I'm almost ready to buy, but I'm still confused about REAL battery life. Tom's Hardware gave it only 2.40 min
http://www6.tomshardware.com/mobile/20050119/sonoma_alviso-24.html

is that 4 cell or 8 cell ?

Same, Andrew Baxter (http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2311) gave it only 3hrs.

3hrs seems a little bit disappointing on 8 cell battery, doesn't it ?

Thanks a lot,

dlogic

 

But given the conditions in which abaxter used the V6V (half screen brightness, I'm assuming with dynamic switching CPU), it's quite reasonable.

If you put the screen down to about 25% (which is very usable), I'm sure 3.5-4 hours is reasonable.
Also, if you turn off uneeded devices (LAN, Bluetooth, Infrared, IEEE, etc...), you could probably squeeze 4+ out of it, depending on your usage.

The lower than average battery life is most likely caused by the 2x256 RAM sticks.. if it was 1x512, that may improve battery life.

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