W7S, why so little discussion?

I am trying to find information about the W7S but am having a hard time digging for any info about this laptop from this forum or from Google or anywhere else. It seems only one or two forum members who post actually own one and they don't seem to be saying much about them. Haven't found a single review either. Is this laptop underwhelming to the point where no one cares about it? I was previously looking at the W7J but the W7S looks far better to me and has slightly smaller dimensions and newer technologies under the hood. I want to know about heat, about any screen improvements from the W7J or how it compares to its competitor the Sony SZ, how the build and plastic feel, keyboard, etc. etc. etc. I hope someone who owns this lappy can give me an unequivocal run-down of what they think of its different aspects.

 

It came out recently, but without much of a 'bang', it was more slid under the carpet into the market. Because of that, there isn't much hype nor talk of it, since most users don't know it exists

 

Not many people bought the W7J I think, so this probably did not generate that much interest.

The battery life really killed the W7. Between the hybrid graphics of the SZ and the extended battery of the M1210, the 2.5hr life really killed this one.

 

So is battery life the only issue? That doesn't really concern me too much right now. However, I've read a few posts a bout heat issues but this was only from a couple of posters. Hardly substantiated. But I guess one can look at the w7j for referrence. Was the heat pretty bad on that one? I'm trying to get a relatively cool and quiet running laptop. I currently have a v6va and the fan basically never turns on but the aluminum palm rests keeps my hands toasty. It's a little furnace sometimes, albeit its only like this in an 90 F room )

 

Just bought last week. I think the only cons are the heat problem(i don't really concern about battery life) and on-board 512MB RAM. Well, just avoid placing your hand beside the air vent, u won't feel it at all. For the palm rest, it's just warm, hard to consider it hot. In the other hand, as there's no 2GB notebook RAM available in my country, i can only upgrade the to 1.5GB RAM For the rest, i think the W7J review here explain it quite well...

 

I'm also very interest at this notebook, and I found 3 reviews of this notebook, but unfortunately they are in Chinese, however there are many pics, and many info that you can understand without understanding Chinese ( like weight, benchmarks, I/O, design) the only thing they don't say is the battery life...

hope they help u...

http://www.beareyes.com.cn/2/lib/200706/12/20070612016.htm
http://www.pcicp.com/notebook/review/notebook/13inches/2007-05-24/1179978397d27272.html
http://digi.163.com/07/0607/10/3GCKGUC60016192R.html

 

I've been looking at the W7S too, but since it's so new, I don't expect a lot of reviews for awhile. Instead, I've read most of the W7J reviews, since it's essentially the same chassis.

I actually walked into a computer store and they had a really old (and still overpriced) W7J on display, so I fiddled around with it. Good solid laptop, though I found that the keyboard is placed pretty low, so if you have big hands like I do, your wrists will have no support. Then again, proper keyboarding technique recommends no wrist support.

 

nice find, the reviews are nice. You can use Google to translate it, then it's easy to read.

 

I am interested in the W7S and also noticed the lack of interest on these boards.

Josh

 

I can help translate, too if there is any particularly part you are interested..

And I just bought a W7J (my 3rd time to buy a W7J....I just love it)....I would have bought W7S, for just $100 more but since it does not have an official set XP drivers, and I don't feel like using Vista yet.......maybe when SP1 is out I will switch to W7S.

 

This laptop does interest me also because of the size and the fact that it offers dedicated graphics and a decent processor. There are only a few models out there of this size that do and that is the SZ and the Dell 12.1 XPS.
Asus also offer a 2 year global warranty which is ideal for me. I could pick this up in the USA next month and make some saving instead of buying it from the UK.

I could probably pick this up in America for £750 this model is selling for £1,400 on the Micro Anvika website. This model is quite a bit cheaper than the Sony as well that also does interest me.


I was wondering do you get the Vista restore disks with this laptop? Lastly i just wondering about the mouse that you get how is it?

Excaliber PC are selling these for the cheapest that i have seen.

 

I am trying to decide between the W7S and the Sony SZ. It is pretty hard to find information about the W7S, so a head to head comparison between these two competing notebooks would be pretty much non-existent. Crossing my fingers that someone actually has experience with both and can give me some useful info. I don't see how the SZ is overpriced. Yes they are over $2k+ at the SonyStle site but some of those are also the Premium model which really isn't necessary. Check out this link:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...Description=sony%20sz&bop=And&Order=PRICE

I can get a low spec'ed but decent Sony SZ for $1150. I can get an equilvalently spec'ed SZ for about $1400-1500 with cheap Newegg shipping so the difference between the SZ and the $1400-ish W7S is pretty negligible. Core 2 Duo (t5xxx or t7xxx), 100+GB hard drive, 1 GB RAM, not much appreciable difference.

The thing is, besides the IPS screen on the V6VA, I don't think any of the other Asus screens are anything above beyond just average. I've played with the SZ before and it is definitely one of the brighter and crisper of the bunch with decent viewing angles. The W7J sounds like it just has an average screen and I don't see the W7S being an exception since most manufacturers don't really care about placing better screens if their product can sell with a more subpar one. I haven't been notebook browsing in a while so I went to Office Depot the other day to look at their newer line of notebooks. Nice spec's with Santa Rosa already and Vista. Sadly after over a year the screens haven't changed and still look dark and muddy with bad angles for all models on display. Haha kind of a lame justification for saying that the W7S screen isn't good. I hope someone can prove me wrong.

 

Yes, the package did include Vista Restore Disk. And the bluetooth mouse works just fine. Though it will take 1-2 minutes to connect.

For the screen, if u set the brightness to maximum it is as bright as the Sony SZ I've seen at the Sony store(As I'd considered Sony SZ before buying W7S).

Hope this helps.

 

I don't have a W7S but the W7J I just received comes with a BT mouse (with 2 AAA recharge batteries and a USB charging cable..)..and judging from its outlook, it's the same mouse that comes with the W7S..
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220188

And Silver, not sure if it helps but I owned a number of small size laptops before (not at the same time but just kept switching from this to that..). I went from SZ120 -> W7J -> M1210 -> W7J (2) -> V6Va -> C240 - > W7J (3). And I don't think W7J's screen is really that bad. If you ask me to rank them all, the order will be something like this:

V6Va (way ahead) > SZ120 (somewhat over) > W7J (3) (somewhat over) > W7J (1)&(2) > M1210 > C240 <--(this one is totally crap....even a $500 gateway has better screen than this thing..)

The W7J I received today was manufactured in March/07, so I think there is a really good chance that the new W7S will be using the similar batch of screen. And about the screen, I don't know if it's because of the C240 but I think this W7J screen looks pretty good, better than the previous two I have seen. Really bright, color is good, horizontal view angle is good, the vertical view angle is ok but nothing really can touch the IPS..

It has been a year since I sold my SZ120, so I can't really say I can make a really precise comparison, but I think this W7J screen is pretty good, if not up there with the SZ series.

 

At first I also was looking for Sony SZ and Asus W7S, hence I did some research on it and what I feel the both laptops as follows,

What is W7S better than SZ?
-Spec (Santa Rosa 2.0 with 4MB L2/ Cache)
-160 GB Harddisk
- Better graphic card
- Web cam is 1.3 M pix
- SVideo output
- 3 yrs warranty
- Free additional 6-cell battery
-Vista Ultimate (some package only)
- free ext. 80GB harddisk(some package only)

What is SZ better?
- Slim and design (W7s definitely is thicker)
- Better battery life (5.5hrs with stamina mode - plp comments only 2.5)
- won't have heat problem ( I went to shop and eyes on the W7S, it is very HOT even i compared it with other laptops on display, btw W7J don't have this problem so don't use it to compare)
- 2GB RAM (SONY MAX is 4GB but W7S only 1 RAM slot up to 2.5GB since 500mb is soldered on board)

If you don't keen on spec, your task don't really can feel the speed, and want to bring out for more convenience (slim), then SONY SZ is better choice.

If you really care about spec and warranty, SONY, is prizey and not worth for spec. Then go for Asus since the spare part is cheaper than Sony.

It really depends on what you want... for heat problem, I don't know whether the laptop cooler can overcome this problem or not. I will comments it when I got my W7S next week. ( Evercool Fairy can re-direct the heat to back but don't know how much it helps)

 

I'm really falling in love with the white W7s. I think its what I will end up getting, it looks really very nice, the keyboard layout is identical to the one on the Sony FJ I had, and it has a dedicated graphics card. Plus, it costs $1400.

 

deep:

SZ won't last 5.5 hours with the standard battery that comes with the laptop even in stamina mode with everything except the screen turn off...2-4 hrs is what people getting mostly..

BTW, you live in the states? Which shop you went to check that W7S out?

 

Some more pics from an end user here
http://www.mobile01.com/topicdetail.php?f=233&t=346721&last=3019210
press that "載入圖片" icon if you cant see the pics..

That guy also says W7S runs kind of hot..Idling, CPU goes 65-75C and GPU goes 71-73C in an air-conditioned room...

 

Ok, thanks to correct me. Coz my fren using SZ and he can last up to 4hrs.

I am staying in Singapore, the shop I went at an IT-Mall in Sing. I tried to find out the heat issue compare most laptops display by most of the shop there, my conclusion is W7S is the hottest laptop. the only way you can redirect the heat is getting a evercool cooler (Magic or Fairy), it can reduce about 4C and redirect the heat to the back.

Can't you check out the W7S in states? I heard it is a model common sales in states recently?

 

haOkepa and dcp thanks for your help. I think that i will definitely get this laptop. I am also keen on the white one as well. I will put my Bluetooth wireless Microsoft 8000 mouse up for sale as it is pointless in me keeping it now.

I have read as well the Sony battery life without the extended battery lasts for about 2-2 1/2 hours. I have not read anything about the Asus battery life.

I am not certain if the Sony can go up to 4GB of ram either. Sony state that it goes up to 2GB on their website but i have seen people use 3GB in their SZ notebooks i don't know if it would handle 4GB. The Asus can go up to 2.5GB which should be fine for the majority of people. The Sony also uses 533 DDR 2 memory and the Asus uses 667 2 DDR memory.

If there is a issue with heat maybe Asus will bring out a fix for this? I have read complaints about the Sony SZ being quite noisy as well.

The Asus is better value for money plus you get the Santa Rosa chip as well and a better GPU .The Asus costs me £680 in the US which a 2 year global warranty and £750 with the 3 year global warranty and the Sony would cost me £1,200 with CompUSA international 2 year warranty. Sony also only offer as well a 1 year limited warranty as standard.

The premium Sony weighs 1.69kg and the standard one weighs 1.85kg and the Asus weighs 1.95kg so there is a very slight difference in weight but there is not that much of a difference.

In terms of design the Sony just eclipses it slightly but the Asus still has a very good design.

 

rachuk: "If there is a issue with heat maybe Asus will bring out a fix for this?" I don't think so because it is due to the powerful of CPU and GPU, it generated the heat, that's why W7J don't have such issue. Unless you want to lower down your performance? whappen if Asus don't fix the heat issue after you bought the laptop? what can you do?
The only solution I can think of is buy external cooler (Then you got to consider the battery use for cooler and bring more stuff along)

I agreed Asus is better value for money plus because of spec and warranty. However, we can't denied that SONY SZ is slimmer than W7S. (Slim of course it looks better)

Well, if plp who want a 13" WXGA and less than 2kg laptop with just odinary office work. I will recommend SZ.

 

I hope its a good computer. I just ordered one.

ExcaliberPC has them for 1375 shipped.

They processed my order extremely fast.

 

Hi deepblueKM,

I'm at SG too. Please let me know if laptop cooler can help reducing the heat. And is Magic or Fairy the name of the brand? Where to buy and how much does it cost? Thanks...

Most welcome Rachuk~

 

haOkepa,

According to some W7s users, they lift up the bottom CPU will reduce 4-5C and GPU will reduce about 3C. Meant the cooling pad will help.

Well, what I suggest is to use 2 types of cooling equipment.

For cooling pad, Vantec LapCool 4 or 5 ( http://laptoplogic.com/reviews/detail.php?id=105), it is foldable so can bring it along all the time. Maybe You can check it out from Sim Lim. (It should be cost about SGD 90) Coz I got one similar (OEM) at PC show and it cost SGD 28 but the speed only up to 1500.

For the side heat, it highly recommends EverCool Magic( 2 speed options) / EverCool Fairy. Heard plp can get it from Sim Lim at the shop sell Silver Stone near Best Bargain about SGD 25. ( http://www.evercool.com.tw/products/nb_ma1.htm)

Hope it helps.

 

Some people have noticed that the W7J runs pretty hot. Considering the W7S is more powerful with the same chassis, I'd expect an even hotter laptop.

I couldn't decide between white or black, but Canadians get a $70 rebate on the white one... I guess that decided it for me. Now, if only they would get stock...

 

I would be a little more interested in the SZ if it was on the Santa Rosa platform.

Josh

 

santa rosa is more powerful but its supposed to have better powermanagement and things of that sort. so it shouldnt be much difference.

 

Rachuk, where in the US are you thinking of buying the Asus?

 

This is the site
https://www.excaliberpc.com

 

Well I am definitely considering the Sony SZ over the W7S more at this moment, reason being:

1. Better screen. At least one guaranteed to be better.
2. Thinner profile.
3. Hybrid graphics allows for the onboard GMA to be used. Much cooler running. I'll be d*mned if I have to use a laptop cooler for my laptop.
4. No 512MB soldered onto it (I think). I can buy a base $1150 one and upgrade the RAM and HD myself. You can get 2GB for $75 at Newegg with a nice 7200RPM Seagate for $90. I can use the old SZ HD and put it in my V6VA since the drive inside is god-awfully slow.
5. I have no use for Santa Rosa. I've onyl heard bad things about it. More heat. More noise. At best equal to the previous platform in performance. Drains more battery.
6. Am assuming the SZ has slightly better battery life than the W7S.
7. Has Windows XP Pro preinstalled (depending on the model). Not ready to make the Vista jump. Still an immature and unsupported OS. Aero is a wash. I can do that in WindowBlinds.
8. The SZ has been out for a while with generation 5 and 6 coming out. Most of the kinks have been worked out or any significant problems have been already noted. The W7S is still in hiding or at least most of the people who own it are still in hiding.

The only downside I see right now is installing a clean OS on the SZ as I've heard its a pain. Once you get the right setup, however, you can image that and it becomes a non-issue.

 

I should assume that upgrading the ram should be ok on a Sony SZ. I have read though that upgrading the HD will void your warranty so if you want to do that the best to take it to a service centre and have them do it for you.

 

Is there some kind of sticker or anything that tells them? I mean, my Asus says the same thing but the HD is very easily taken out and replaced without any sign of tampering.

 

Sony are quite like Apple in their design of some laptops and getting to some parts is harder than it would be in some other laptops.
It was discussed in this thread about their being some sticker that could indicate to Sony that your laptop has been opened if it had been moved.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=45646

I wouldn't do it myself if it was under warranty.

 

Here is a link for W7S review. I know a lot of you here dont like CNET review, but it's good read

http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/notebooks/0,39050489,40616221p,00.htm

 

According to the CNet review, it would seem like the battery life issues have been addressed? Almost 3 hours viewing a DVD seems very good with the 6-cell.

 

Sigh.. CNET review didn't mentioned the heat problem of this machine.

Anyway, it's a good sharing. Thanks!!!

 

the resolution should be 1280 * 800 instead of 1024 * 800... CNET has got it wrong...

 

Hi deepblueKM,

just for your reference that KINGSTON 2GB DDR2 667mhz available at SimLim at SGD 199

http://sls.vr-zone.com/pricelist/vendorupload/bliss/worksheet.pdf

 

Cnet has always got something wrong.

I like the fact that they have gotten it to give much better battery life than before.

 

ehmm...Bliss.. heard after sales service is not good... Also, heard the ram price is keep increasing since last week, should wait..

 

Ok... thanks ^ ^

 

Why W7S Vista mark only 3.0? the 8400 G has lower mark than the Integrated Intel GMA3100 (has 3.1)?
8400G is too weak.

 

check this http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=2061859#post2061859

 

Well, i see that the W7S has alot of discussion now

 

Rachuk,

Why did you go for the W7S over the Dell M1330? I assume that you excluded the SZ for warranty reasons?

Nik

 

I looked at the Dell but didn't really consider the Dell because from what i have read over the years about Dell they haven't really got a good reputation. People have complained about their build quality and them using cheaper parts and their computers breaking down. Maybe their marketing has had an impact on some potential customers as well.

I have never used a Dell so i cannot personally give a judgment on them. I would have thought though that their higher premium models would have been of a high quality but because of the reputation that the Dell has it does put me of a bit.
I will consider the Dell again though do they offer international warranty do you know?

I have both of my computers up for sale on Ebay at the moment so i definitely need to decide on something soon. I will be going to America on the 13th of July and if i do not get the Sony below i will order the Asus before i go and get it sent onto me.
Somebody in the UK has offered their Sony to me for a good price it is this model and it includes the 3 year warranty and accidental cover as well for £1,250.
https://www.sonystyle.co.uk/SonySty...2BC29B8545B73C2C0E34009B000000002BC29B71)/.do
I am interested in their offer and the also the Asus as well still. If this offer falls through then i will definetly get the Asus.

Getting a Sony from the US is not an option for me really because of the warranty issues. I was going backwards and forwards on the Sony and Asus the day before yesterday.

 

The XPS line is Dell's high-end consumer model line, so it's a much better build quality than the Inspirons. Also, XPS warranty is better than "standard" Dell warranty.

I have an Inspiron 6000 that's 2 years old: still works fine. Not the best build quality (considerable flex, a piece of plastic chipped off the lid), but I take good care of it and it hasn't failed me yet. I got what I paid for.

 

The Dell M1330 does look nice and a possible competitor against the W7S, along with the Sony SZ. They will have an LED backlight option and I am hoping the actual LCD will be good too. I haven't heard very many complaints about heating among Dells or excessive noise and moreso have read about them having lower than average temperatures in many of their models. You will hear the most complaints towards Dells because they are the most marketed and almost everyone seems to have a Dell these days. Go to any college campus (or even fishing piers near my home) and you will see the familiar and strikingly ugly white bumpers of a Dell Inspiron. They're like rabbits...

As far as the CNET review, I do agree with the whole webcam ruining the look.

 

I don't think it ruins the look, but I agree it isn't that nice looking. However, it serves its purpose: when opening the laptop, the webcam serves as a handle. So I think it is fine. It would have been nicer if they had made it body coloured, but its not too noticeable on the white one. Plus, it goes nicely with the rest of the silver accents.

 

Maybe if somebody has got ones of these they can do a review and take some pictures? It is ok seeing the pictures on the website but i prefer seeing users non professional photos. I am particularly interested in seeing pictures of the white one.