a8js questions before purchase

after filling out the what notebook should i buy faq, it seems like the a8js is the best fit for me


i have some questions before buying it though:
1. will this include a free vista upgrade?
2. should i upgrade to 2gigs of ram? i want to be able to run aero without problems (speed wise), but i do not want to lose my warranty
3. i remember reading earlier reviews (ie a8jm) that said the instanton button did not work, did they fix this? if not, can you customize it?
4. is this sturdy enough to be put in a notebook backpack with books? if so, any recommendations?
5. will this support my audigy 2 zs?
6. will this arrive before christmas?


thanks for your time

 

1. Yes
2. Your choice, Aero is also based on the GPU.
2a. Upgrading RAM/HD won't void as long as originals are still around to subsitute in if repair may need be.
3. Not working, has not worked, and may never. It's a BIOs command IIRC.
4. May want a sleeve.
5. No, since its ExpressSlot and not PCMCIA
6. Depends who you order it from.

 

Let me help you by listing the answers as you asked them:

1. yes - it's called the express upgrade.. you're eligible with any ensemble purchase after 10/26 with a full windows os.
2. Upgrade now or later... there will always be room if you feel you need more, but you don't need to do it now.... you'll keep your asus warranty.... especially if you take the stick out and it goes back to asus as a stock unit.
3. I'm not aware of this problem.. but certainly haven't heard anything more about it.. if it were a problem, we'd see it more on the forum.
4. I don't see why not, but i'd protect ANY computer you put in with your books..... pressure in the wrong area can and will break any notebook screen.. That's why they have backpacks made for notebooks.
5. Isn't the ZS USB 1.1 based?
6. Wednesday the 20th by 11:30am is out cutoff for 2day... the 21st for Overnight... some people are at max a day prior... but I think it would be hard to be anywhere after that, for obvious reasons.

 

thanks for the replies

PRO - the zs is pcmcia which apparently won't work on the a8js

are there any express cards that do the same thing?

 

Oh, I'm sorry.. yes the notebook version is pcmcia... They don't have an express card set up yet, but they will at some point in the near future. May I ask you what you're using it for anyway?

 

PRO - i have a 5.1 system from my desktop and it uses 3 cables (black, green & yellow), the zs lets me use these speakers through their included cable

 

OK, just checking..... My 5.1 klipsch pro media ultra's are the same way... The W2 actually allows you to output that way without that card.... but regardless.... The A8 won't and that pcmcia card won't work in it.

Mind me asking what speakers you're using?

 

PRO - i'm using the altec lansing ada-995 speakers that came with my dell 4 years ago...

 

1. yes
2. I bought a 2nd gb ram a month later. I think you will want 2 gb ram depending on your use. I use as much ram as it lets me.
3.No it doesnt work. I believe the audio dj chip in this line was so faulty they took it out. There is a model called a8f that it does something in, but it still doesnt work.
4. It comes with a reasonably nice case. Read what proportable said about your notebook and books. I see people do that with their notebooks, they even make laptop backpacks.
Its a real bad idea to do it like that. you should use the seperate case that comes with it and put it on your shoulder or carry it with your hand. There is no notebook made to be moved around like that. Even it were made of titanium if you hit it with a sharp weight you will crack the lcd screen.

5. It comes with soundmax integrated audio. Its very high fidelity when plugged into external speakers. I am not an audiophile but I feel the sound quality is not just a little better than an audigy its a lot better.
The reason they never made the pc express card audigy is because modern laptops come with a better sound chip integrated.
listen to it first. As a matter of fact just go to any best buy and bring headphones and an audio cd and listen to the middle range hp the 6000. or the toshiba p105. make sure you bring good headphones though the speakers might not be good

The speakers in the a8js are not good you wont like them I want to add.

 

Ok.. and you already have the ZS, right?

The speakers are worth about $50 now.. and the ZS is about $70. My suggestion to you would be not to waste you money on a possible ZS express card update - which that'll probably be $100-125.

Just as food for though.... I don't have either of these sets below, but we do have the Klipsch GMX's - they're not as good as the promedia ultras, but they're cheap in comparison and they have the dolby digital pod..... they're being phased out, but for the money I'd guarentee they would be the best thing's you've ever heard... They're like sub $300 now - used to be $600.

Fore $200 or less you can get the Logitech Z-5300e's which will do the same thing for you... the klipsch are just better speakers....... but before you sink any more money into that setup, you should consider the options. I know money doesn't grow on trees, but when you consider what you might spend to make what you have work, you need to know all the possibilities.

 

thanks for the replies

PRO - so would either of these speaker systems be compatible with an a8js through the use of the s/pdif (not really sure how that works or what it is)

 

Yes, through a miniTOS to TOS fiber optic cable, you can directly output the digital source to the say the pod on those klipsch gmx's and that will decode them... one cable - and I promise you, on heard of sound quality and bass response...... Like I said, the ones I have are better (used to shake glasses in my neighbors apartment in college), but if you're looking for a better place to put your money and you want great sound, that is what I'd suggest.

 

So I have the Altec Lansing ADA speakers, promedia 2.1, and audigy zs. I am currently using the zs with the ADA system. I am considering getting the A8Js, so what would be my options other than getting a USB sound card. Thanks

 

I'm fairly certain your options aren't going to be any different than those I mentioned above. The promedia 2.1's are good, but you can just use the headphone jack for those..... for 2.1's - they're basically top end... and you know a wee little bit of how good klipsch can be..... if you wanted to go 5.1 and klipsch, I'd see if you could still get your hands on the 5.1 gmx's while some people still have them, and you just need to plug them in with a miniTOS cable.

 

sleepy - http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=29296&doy=13m12&C=SEO&U=strat15

PRO - thanks for your help

 

You're most welcome.

 

Sounds like USB is the only option now. Thanks.

 

Yeah, if you're not planning on buying new speakers...... but if you're going to be buying something, you have to take into consideration the cost of the usb speakers.... or the creative card...... so regardless of what you do, simply new speakers has to be an option - so I'd have to tell you that usb is not you only option.

 

5.1 didn't work for me with some dvds I tried :/ The soundmax integrated soundcard is pretty crappy in my opinion.

 

Well, anyone who can research the soundmax chip that is in most of our new notebooks will find it's anything but crappy. If anything, it's the player you're using. I've always used nVidia's NV-DVD as it's the only player that every gave me TRUE Dolby 5.1 to put THROUGH the s/pdif passthrough....... the software decoder is 100% required. I'm not saying nothing else will do it, but I've only had luck 100% of the time with that program. I don't think nVidia still puts it out, but I believe it's at least a plug-in now for media player or something.

The keys are:
The sound chip can handle 7.1 I believe.
The DVD has probably 5.1, 4.1, 2.1 onboard.
Need software to send the correct stuff to the soundchip and out of the system.

What I often say was other problems were unable to keep 5.1 selected and would jump back down to 4.1 or 2.1 as their output...

 

My understanding was the PCI Express (and ExpressCard too, I guess, since that is PCI Express 1x) X-Fi was delayed due to latency issues with the PCI Express bus. This was announced in July 2005, when the PCI X-Fi came out and everyone was asking Creative where the PCI Express version was and why they weren't supporting the new bus..

Creative said it was going to take a complete redesign... It's been a year and a half and no word. Personally, I'm not too optimistic about seeing a PCI-Express sound card anytime soon..

You might seen an ExpressCard solution using the USB connection that the ExpressCard spec also has, though.

 

Wow, that is interesting. I should try that.

 

So all that nice audio on the A8Js is wasted, or can we somehow get it out through one of the ports? (the svideo on the back, pardon my ignorance, can we use that to get 5.1?)