Will there be a W2 refresh for North America?

Not that I would be buying the next one, but the W2 concept is the most likely existing ASUS concept to attract me in the future, so I am interested to see it survive, and morph nicely if any.

 

This post is simply to bump this thread to the top.

 

The W2 is the only remaining W/V series from a couple of years ago, and is likely (as Asus tends to only let their models run 2-3 years) to go EOL sometime in the next 12-18 months.

It's possible that there might be a Penryn update sometime in the 2nd quarter, but I wouldn't hold out for much beyond that. Asus seems to be aiming for the lower market and not concentrating on 17" media models anymore, even though the W2 is one sweet specimen of a system. Their newer models are all in the smaller form factors and what could be considered more budget-oriented systems, although the U series remains nicer (the V1/2 have too many problems to keep them from becoming breakout models like the V6/W3, I think).

 

Thanks for your reply.

I hope ASUS continues to offer a WUXGA model with brushed aluminum palmrest casing and scratch-resistant parts elsewhere; I am totally spoiled by my V6Va. I would also want the notebook to have two hard drives with RAID 1, for instant cloning.

 

Since I last posted on this thread, I have found out, from this forum, that the W2W is the latest W2 refresh, and that it will not be released in North America, but of course that some North Americans order it from elsewhere.

I mourn for the decrease of prevalence of excellent anodized-aluminum palmrests (and for the demise of excellent IPS 4:3 SXGA+ screens, for that matter).

 

Well unfortunately you were misinformed on that. The W2W A-1 was released in North America I purchased mine from Gentech Back on Oct. 16 2007 but they have since run out of stock. There are a few retailers that still have them but as to their reputations I cannot attest to. It would be a shame to have this series die but Asus does seem to be going another way. Hopefully the keep some of the case style with other newer models. I am very pleased with this notebook the only changes I’ve made to it was adding more ram and setting it up for triple boot. Its build quality is superb to say the least. It's still fun when I take with me on lans and watch the heads turn and that’s before I open it and turn it on. The only problem I have with it is its miserable 2 to 2 1/2 hour battery time, easily fixed with and external battery that gives me and extra 5 to 6 hours on the go. But it means carrying around an extra pound and a half but if you willing to carry 8 pounds already the extra 2 won't be noticed as much.

 

Dutch545, thanks for that correction. It is good to know that the W2W has been in the North American market a little.

Reading about the extremely poor plastic used for the F3 causing frequent cracks in the same spot under apparently the most careful of use makes me not inclined to make my next computer even a G2. I WANT THE W2 TO SURVIVE. Yes, I was shouting.