WHICH Notebook to Buy? <-------------------------------

Hello,
I am currently looking for a notebook to buy and need help on choosing which one i should buy. I have between $1600-$1900 to spend on a new notebook, and am very interested in the Asus range, please post your thoughts on which of these two i should buy or any better ones within my price range.
Price: $1600-$1900 AUD

---ASUS F3SV-AK136G----$1730AUD
Processor: CORE2DUO T7500 2.20GHZ, FSB: 800MHZ, 4MB L2 CACHE
Memory: DDR2 667MHZ SDRAM, 2 x 1GB RAM (UP TO 4GB UPGRADE)
Display: 15.4 inch WSXGA+ COLOURSHINE LCD (1680 x 1050)
OS: Genuine Windows® Vista™ Ultimate
HD: 200GB SATA (4200 RPM)
Graphics: NVIDIA GEFORCE GO 8600M G, EXT DDR2 256MB VRAM
Ports: 1x VGA port/Mini D-sub 15-pin for external monitor, 4x USB 2.0 ports , 2x Audio jack : Head phone (SPIDIF) and Mic-in, 1x LAN RJ-45 and 1x Phone RJ-11 jack, 1x 1394 Type jack; 1x TV-Out (S-video), 1 x TV RF in (Optional)
Power: LI-ION 6 CELL: 4800mAh
Network: 802.11ABGN 10/100/1000+ BluetoothV2
Chipset: Mobile Intel® PM965 Express Chipset + ICH8M
Dimensions: 365 x 269.5 x 28-40.5 mm
These are the 2 laptops i have chosen plz post your thoughts and reasons on whihc one i should buy or recommend a diferent notebook TYVM! DD

---ASUS F3SG F3SG-AS005C----$1799

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Intel Core2 Duo T8300 2.4GHz Processor
Mobile Intel 965PM Express Chipset
nVidia GeForce 9300M GS 256MB
2GB DDR2 667MHz Memory
250GB 5400rpm Hard Drive
DVD Rewriter Double Layer
Hybrid Digital TV Tuner
15.4" WXGA+ Colourshine (1440x900)
DVI, VGA, S-Video Output
1.3 Mega Pixel Camera
Battery Life: Upto 2.0hrs
Weight: from 2.95kg

PLZ post your thoughts, also reccomendations on different and better laptops greatly appreciated whihc is within my price range

 

Personally, I would go for the F3SG because (a) the Penryn CPU is a little faster and cooler and (b) WSXGA+ is too small for my eyes. I can't comment on the GPUs.

John

 

Also, if the OP wants non-ASUS recommendations as well she/he should fill in the FAQ.

 

the 2nd one is the newer version of the first one.

I dont know if the NV9300 is better than the NV8600 , I doubt it though.

But I am sure the T8300 is a bit faster than the T7500.

So get the second one since the price is alsmot same.

 

but the first one has the WXGA + , so if I were you , I 'd get the first one.
penryn is not much better than meroms on Santarosa , but it is a bit faster , less than 7 percent I think.

 

By the way is the 8600 gT the equivalent (more or less) to the 9500Gs and the 9300 the equivalent to the 8400g(t/s?) so if you have use for a stronger graphics card, get the first one, if battery life is much more important, get the second one

 

That's tough....I'd probably go for the second one, but it's tough...the resolution is good on the eyes but not bad for gaming on the second one. You'll appreciate that big HD too if you want to dual boot it.

 

Thx for the advice much appreciated. I found a toshiba tecra A9 just interested in comparison to the F3sg which one is better?

 

Before you buy an F3, you should read through this thread.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=212031

There seems to be a production or design flaw that's causing the cases to crack.

 

That indeed. And like I said, if you want a brand-unbiased comparison you should fill in the FAQ.

 

i filled in a faq in the which notebook to buy section thnx for the advice

 

Hi, I just thought that it may be the worst time to buy a new laptop , since Intel announced new Penryns and Montevina chip sets.

http://www.trustedreviews.com/cpu-m.../Intel-Centrino-2-Mobile-Platform-Detailed/p1

I am very very glad I did not buy any Penryn yet.

I thought it would be like the first generation C2D series CPUs (T5300,T5500, T5600) are all now out dated , the current Penryn CPUs T8100, T8300, T9300 T9500 will soon be outdated.......

Now , I dont beleive in spending lots of money on a laptop and keep it for a long time.

I will spend only as much as 800 or less for a laptop and change it up as often as possible.

Also,I am waiting nVidia to announce the detail of its new GPUs.

Before that , how can I spend more than a grand ?

So I think we better wait a couple of months or so, to see Cebit 2008 in Taipei.

 

Note the hard drive RPM carefully. That number will be important for overall system performance. I would not purchase the first option you listed just because the hard drive is a 4200 RPM model (unless you plan on swapping out the drive for something faster).

Jeremy