W5A

Hey Guys,

I plan on picking up the ASUS W5A (Too bad they black/graphite model isn't available in Canada).

Would this be a great alternative to the Fujitsu P7000? Any faults that would turn me off it (that you guys would like to share with me)?

Thanks,
NM

 

The W5 is the most feature rich 12" system you're going to find and at a pretty good price. I can't see any faults in the system..... except maybe if you want black and can't get it.

If you want, you could weigh the cost of importing a black one from the US...... you'll still be covered by Asus' global warranty.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

I'd have to agree that it's a very nice system.

I just don't understand why the US version came so close to PERFECT without actually attaining perfection. I think US notebook users are just as demanding (if not moreso) as overseas users, so it's a shame to see overseas ASUS customers get all the bells and whistles.

PERFECT would be a larger hard drive (60GB or 80GB) and the DVD+/-RW drive. There would not be one single flaw with that system. You'd be hard-pressed to argue that a better, more feature-packed 12.1" WXGA notebook existed. Especially if the price was still reasonable.

 

Your version of "perfection" and the people selling them's version of it are two different things.

The model we have now is the best selling version... that's why we have it. Yes, some people rather a larger hard drive and a dvd burner, but that increases the price and puts it out of reach for the majority of the people who would buy it.

Customers can put a V6v's dvd burner in the W5 and reaplce the faceplate and you have the same dvd burner that is available overseas....... want a bigger hard drive.. .you can put it in there. We're not talking about not having bluetooth of RF.... these things are replaceable...

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by PROPortable
If you want, you could weigh the cost of importing a black one from the US...... you'll still be covered by Asus' global warranty.
<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'></font id='quote'></blockquote id='quote'>

Ya i considered that already, but i think the cost might be too high. A local reseller is posting the W5A at just under 2K CDN, while importing one with the exchange rate, shipping, and tariffs (or whatever FedEx, etc charge on top of shipping) will put it up a few hundred extra. (From which i could use to upgrade the RAM and HDD)...

-NM

 

"Perfection" is always understood to be relative to one's own opinion.

Don't take my opinion to be "gospel". It's just an unbiased opinion.

PROPortable:
What speed is the DVD burner in the V6V, and how much does it cost including the faceplate?

Also if one were to install a new HDD, would all software be bundled with the purchase so as to restore the new HDD to the image of the old one out of the box?

Thanks for your expertise.

lover of none, informed of all. that i care to be informed of. that is.

 

Actually, you're probably not 100% right on that.... I don't know what the exchange rate is right now, but the dollar sucks and I've been told by many canadians it's been insane not to import at this point.

But from my understanding, the only thing you're paying besides shipping is the tax that you would normally pay if you picked it up down the street........

So I don't know, but I think you might be over anylzing it.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Oh hey quickie question.

Didn't see it in the specs .. So assuming there isn't one.

But does the W5A have a volume control dial? or is it via Windows?

Thanks

 

It' has a physical volume control in the front part of the righthand side of the laptop.. You can hardly see it in this picture but it is the little black thing below the input and output jacks on the right side....

http://www.proportable.com/images/w5a/W5-w-Right-open1.jpg

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Here's a pic from another site:



Jean

 

I should have linked to this:



Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Man those overclockzone pics are nice... I wonder if the prices for the W5A will go down when Intel releases their new chip on July 24th. And Casio is coming out with a SWEET digicam in white that would look good next to a W5A in white... makes me rethink PROPortable's limited edition black stock...

Why do I have to be so color coordinated with tech? [ ]

 

Prices won't change..... eventually when Asus' stock goes down, the next models will be brought over with say a 1.7 ghz cpu...... but probably not until august.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Don't the current W5As come with 1.7GHz already?

 

Yes... I meant, if the prices drop on the cpu's a teir... then the next round of models that are build AFTER the drop with be the next cpu.. like a 1.86..... but you're looking at a month after the drop before they are build, shipped, and stocked that way...

difference in performance is hardly anything.... if anything just worse battery life....... but waiting a couple months means you get a 1.86 cpu, then so be it.... but it's not something that's actually worth the wait.... and the difference between the cpus is about $40... so even if the price dropped, it would be $40... but I think for once Asus' system are pretty rock bottom as is with their new agressive pricing... I know these systems could sell for more if asus didn't set the price.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

What a dirty move! PROPortable posted black W5A pics... now how can we resist???

Question: White vs. Black

Closeups of the black reveal a textured finish. Is the white version a glossy finish (easily prone to scratches and fingerprints/smudges)?

 

I'm dirty... and you're the one asking what's better: black or white? Why can't they both be equal.

Both finishes are the same...... not just these but all of our systems. It's not a "texture" as much as it's just a deeper finish. It's still smooth to the touch, but it's not "glossy" like say an Apple ibook.

I set all of our "big" pictures to be 800 pixels wide..... why? Because, well for one, seeing the whole picture on the screen is certainly important... but two, because if you saw the W5 in real life, to see the system as close as it looks in that black shot.... you'd have to be ... no kidding... probably 3" from it.... so that "texture" you see really isn't THAT evident.. but there are speckles of silver in all of the systems paint.

Like... think about it like this... you see the silver lip on the lid side of the black picture? It's right above where there is that gap between the top and bottom of the system. That silver part is EXACTLY the same color on the black model as it is on the white model. Now look at the white picture and see how that silver looks... On the white model that silver is actually also used on the bottom to help break up all of that WHITE..... where as the black model is black on the bottom.

It's a tough call... which one's better for me?... but it's something that adults have to do some times [ ]

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]