Where's an Asus 15.4 WSXGA+ nVidia Laptop?

I almost pulled the trigger on the A8JM but the smaller resolution/screen size is keeping me from doing it. At the same time I hear of the imminent arrivel of the Z96J which has the specs I want except that I want it with an nVidia GPU. I've read about a model called the A8T which has the larger screen and resolution (I think), but with the AMD CPU and not the Intel (not a showstopper). Word on these forums is that it won't be available to US purchasers but a similar model, the Z92T, will be. Does anyone know if Asus will be providing a laptop, purchasable by US consumers, with the following specs;

Intel Duo Core or AMD (I just need the fastest one of either brand. So being able to upgrade the CPU is important)
nVidia GPU (I would prefer the 7600 with at least 256mb of dedicated RAM)
15.4" WSXGA+ (1680x1050) Glossy
SATA HD

Also DVI out and around 6lbs would be IDEAL...

TIA

 

Well, the Z96J has an ATI Graphics card, the best you can get on a notebook (x1600), so why not get that. Why do you need the Nvidia card? the ATI is just as good, so you might aswell get the Z96J. It has everything else you want, and while it isn't Nividia, (which isn't a bad thing), the Graphics card is top of the line. the difference between ATI and Nividia is minimal, so unless you are set on getting Nividia, The Z96J is for you. I don't know of any models with the specs you need, as well as te Nvidia card.

 

I hope they will come out with a WXGA+ on a 13.3".

 

i sincerely doubt that as wxga+ isn't even available on most 14inchers

 

word is that the z96j is going to be out much later so as to not compete with the s96j and the whole verified by intel thing

 

Umm you may be saying the x1600 is the best you can get in an ASUS (which would be correct), but the crème de le crème of mobile graphics cards are the ATI's Radeon X1800XT and Nvidia's Go7900GTX as of right now.

See: Chaz's Guide

 

This is a requirement for me because of nVidia's Linux support. So if anyone else knows an answer to the original question posed, it would be big help. Otherwise I'm starting to seriously look at the Compal HEL-80..

Please don't turn this thread into an ATI vs. nVidia thread.. (there's plenty of space on the forums for one of those..)

 

id like to see this as well, also a linux user here

 

I think he meant to say the X1600 is the best you can get in a portable notebook, smaller than 17".


BTW, Compal HEL80 is WXGA, just like the S96J.

 

I should have made clearer that I do not think that the ATI GPUs are worse than nVidia's. It's clear from the raging debates here on these forums, that they have some excellent graphics subsystems, with great performance for hard core gamers. My requirement for nVidia is simply their current and past record for support in Linux. It's just better. (That could certainly change with time..) Lastly..

They have both a WXGA and a WXGA+ screen option. (You can see it at XoticPC, Agearnotebooks, and Powernotebooks) As a matter of fact I can find 4 - 15" laptops with high res screens as options (supposedly), with nVidia GPUs;

Compal HEL80
Toshiba Tecra A7
LG M1 Dual Express
Samsung R65

For each there's a problem for me, (Compal weight, Tecra GPU and their customer support issues, LG and R65 can't find them with that option for sale into the US..), and in looking really closely at the Compal weight, thinking that 6.95 lbs. would probably be about the same as my current Tecra S3, only to find out my Tecra is actually what the spec sheet says it is, 6.3 lbs, and a little on the heavy side for me now..

The reason I was asking if Asus would follow up the Z96J with an nVidia version, is that I trust their build and design quality. But with the weight issue, I'm wavering BACK to the A8JM. Since I travel so much, over time and airports, the weight does add up.. I just need higher screen res for the work that I do.. Perhaps the A8JM will do.. <sigh>

 

Well, the glossy screen is WXGA. There is also a matte WSXGA+ available. See PowerNotebooks.com's PowerPro L 8:15 and Crown P 15:2.

 

I hear ATI is now agressively pursuing unix users --- to the tune of realising monthly updates for linux drivers on their website, thus linux support might not be much of an issue now.

 

Quite correct, I think ATI has finally realised that not everyone requiring accelerated driver for linux is using them for Quake and they may lose the race in the 3D workstation market (especially since DX10 breaks OpenGL).

From what I understand, the current drivers are a lot more stable than when I last tried them a few years back, but they're still only getting ~50% of the equivalent Windows performance, versus 90%+ for nVidia.

 

Like I said previously, because of nVidia's current and past Linux support, even in spite of ATI's recent turnaround on Linux support, nVidia is a requirement for me. I'm assuming that since this thread has not received an answer yet, that currently a 15.4 Dual Core nVidia WSXGA+ Asus laptop is not waiting in the wings.. <sigh> oh well..