EX model from Portable One

Does anyone own the EX model from Portable One? I contacted them about the Fujitsu S2110 and was told that its fan is extremely loud. The representative recommended the EX machine as being comparable. Does anyone own an EX model from Portable One? Care to share any comments? It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. I love the S2110 for the price and the Turion 64 processor, but I would really love a machine with a smaller (maybe 12 inch) screen. Thanks again.

 

there's a great review of the P1 EX in the review section, check it out!
other wise, you might want to head over the Asus section and look for threads on the Z63a as all of Portable One's custom line are based on Asus laptops.

from my personal experience, I find Asus keyboards to be much more tolerable than Fujitsus.. however the S2110 will be considerably lighter, and has a better integrated card. I also think the S2110 is a nice value for the money and quality.

 

Yeah, um I wrote a review about it and it was just posted, yay. Um the fan doesn't get too loud if under normal circumstances and can usually be blocked out by the CD drive or some background music. Size wise, okay it is always nice to go smaller but with a 14 inch widescreen you gain more horizontal area with little to none vertical area. Keyboard wise it is good, I am not too big of a fan of the touchpad buttons though.
The Fujitsu model does look nice exept for the hard drive speed, but it looks the EX's hard drive speed fell too. Hmm, it is a tough call, looking at it from your point of view.

 

Just to toss in another option. There is a new Asus model coming out soon. The Z35f, a 13" widescreen, with the new core duo intel, and lighter than the EX. I asked P1 if they were going to release a model based on it. The answer was yes, and it is expected end of march early april, but no price is set yet.

Personally I am waiting for that to see if the specs and price are what I am looking for, otherwise I will get the EX. The EX seems pretty good, my only complain is the heat on the wrist rest area, I am too picky about heat near my hands (they already sweat too much) but I guess I have to compromise.

As to why EX and not the lighter S2110. I feel the S2110 is a bit underpowered for the price range. If its price drops or they add a faster CPU by the time I buy, (preferably the second) I would consider it again.

 

qwester-

When speaking with P1 today it sounds like their impression is that the S2110 will be the very last of the current series to get any kind of upgrade (but perhaps the S6240 will get Core Duo soon?). So I don't think I'd hold out hope of seeing any kind of speed bump if you're planning to purchase in the near future.

 

I guess I am sticking with Z35f, or P1's version of it. I prefer to get a core duo.
Now I just have to wait for this thing to show up

 

The EX outperforms the S2110 it all facets and you can upgrade the HDD, RAM processor. It 's base config is designed to meet a more modest budget yet with the option to upgrade, and of course P1's excellent support. You should also check out the UX and the forthcoming SX:

SX: (config subject to change)
Ultra Portable Thin/Light Laptop Powerhouse!
Solid carbon fibre/magnesium alloy composite encasing
4lbs. w/internal 8X+/- Dual Layer Multi Drive
13inch Widescreen WXGA UVA Display
Intel (Core Duo) T2300 thru T2600 Processors
512MB-2GB DDR2 667MHz Memory
Shock Mounted 60GB thru 100GB HGST 7K100 Series 7200RPM Hard Drives Internal 56K & Gigabit LAN Internal 802.11a/b+g WiFi Internal Bluetooth Card Reader & PC Card Slots 3 USB Ports, Firewire & S Video TV-Out P1 Optimized XP Professional
VCOM System Suite 6 Professional

 

MMSILO, nice inside info This is the one based on the asus Z35f, right?

any ETA set yet?


.

 

Dang, that SX looks awesome, its to bad I enjoy my EX too much to give it up for a new model. If you possibly can, try and wait until the SX, since you seem to want a core duo and those specs look pretty nice.

 

Yes and forcasted anouncment would be late March eartly April. This MB will be among the first places the announcment will be made so keep an eye open.
-Patrick

 

Will do so. I am always around anyway

Do you have info on expected battery life of the standard one? Will there be an extended battery like with the UX?

Keep up the good work guys

 

Wow, that's outstanding. I have been highly anticipating the Asus release, and having P1 put their stamp on it can only be a positive thing. They really seem to make the effort to carry the top of line notebooks in each class.

 

New EX Series is launched: (a terrific machine & value for such a high-end spec)

http://laptopsinc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=EXZ62J&Category_Code=

 

Can someone post the link? I can't find the review anywhere.

 

look for Asus Z63a.. although this EX model has been replaced now

 

So... there are no reviews for the P1 EX, and the P1 EX that this thread was started about is no longer available? Hmm. I can't find any reviews anywere on the net for the current model. Can anyone help out here?

 

it is the asus z62j. it is fairly new. in fact, it's not even available to other asus retailers yet.

 

5.5Lbs seems a little heavy for 13 incher, what is the battery life like?

 

It's 14.1" though....

 

Well, even though I can't find a review anywhere, I've heard so much good stuff about P1 here that I'm going to go ahead and get the EX from them. First I want to ask a few questions, including can I upgrade the graphics card (the only option listed on their site is the NVIDIA GeForce 7300, which is adequate if that's the only option available), and what brand and model is the 1GB memory stick?

 

Your right. i was thinking of the SX P1 is supposed to come out with>

 

I don't think they offer a video card upgrade, but your best resource is to call them or e-mail them directly. They are easy to reach and amazingly responsive; once you contact them, you'll know that they are the right company to deal with.

 

The more I look around, the more confused I get. I can't find any other place besides Portable One that offers anywhere near the bang-for-buck for a 14" laptop. Here are the specs that I'm considering, and the price is $1449.

Portable One EX

- Intel Core Duo T2400 1.83GHz 667MHz 2MB Cache
- 14.1" Ultra Viewing Angle (UVA) 160° WXGA+ LCD (1440x900)
- 1GB (1 x 1GB) Memory
- 80GB 7200RPM Shock Mounted SATA Hard Drive
- NVIDIA GeForce 7300 128MB Dedicated VRAM; 256MB w/TurboCache
- Super Dual Layer DVD±RW Optical Drive
- 4 USB 2.0 Ports & IEEE 1394 FireWire, TV Out (S-Video) & Port Replicator Port
- Integrated 4-in-1 Multi-Card Reader for SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO storage
- Integrated 10/100 Fast Ethernet LAN
- Integrated Intel Tri-Mode 802.11a+b/g Wireless LAN
- Integrated Bluetooth (PAN)
- Integrated Global 56K Fax/Data Modem
- Built-in Touchpad w/scroll & lock function
- High-Xchange efficiency copper molding heat sink with heat pipes and Arctic Silver 5

Anyplace that even comes close to that price has a weaker CPU, a slower hard drive, no Bluetooth, less memory, integrated graphics, no webcam, etc.

 

Yeah, and that is what makes the EX so great, is that is such a steal. DogBreath, just remember that you may need to order an operating system for it. I um, forgot to, or didn't see it. The thing that I hate about it though is that I got my EX before the update, and although I love my machine to death, technology will never be on your side.
Here is the review for the previous model of EX.
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2795

An update to my review would be that the previous generation of EX are very durable, mine just survived a minor car crash, where it slammed from the back seat to the back of the front seat while in hibernation, had a bit of rain on it, and was scratched up a little from broken glass, and still worked. And although it may seem like any notebook would have survived that, I at least give credit that it worked upon pushing the power button.

 

Thanks for the link to that great review, Tensa. When I tried searching here by using the Notebook Reviews tab at the top of this page, the only Portable One notebooks reviewed are the MX and UX models (and those reviews are a year to two years old; that's 14 years in dogs and computers). Maybe an Admin here can fix that and add your review under that Notebook Reviews tab? And hopefully I’ll be able to write a review to join yours soon. *fingers crossed*

I did notice on the P1 configuration page that “No OS” is an option, and I can see why you might have missed that. Most manufacturers seem to offer two or three options for the OS, but few actually give you the option of leaving it off completely. I think that’s a great idea for saving a hundred bucks (or two) for those who already have a spare OS disc or who want to use an open source OS.

I’m really happy to see the changes that P1 has made in the EX model since you got yours, such as adding a dedicated graphics card, more room for RAM upgrades, integrated Bluetooth, and bigger and faster hard drives, all while still keeping the price well below $1500 (or just barely below $1500 for my configuration!).

In your pictures it looks like your EX has a built-in camera, but you didn’t mention it in your review. Was it a 1.3 MP like the one they have now? Do you have anything about the camera or microphone that you’d like to add? I go to some conventions for one of my jobs, so sending back same-day video and doing video-conferencing will be a big bonus for me. Of course I carry my digi cam everywhere I go, but the built-in camera plus the built-in 4-in-1 media card reader are a couple of layers of redundancy that I truly appreciate. Using the lappy’s camera and hard drive, I can capture extremely long static-angle video, while using my camera at the same time to get still pics plus video from other angles.

EDIT: If you click the Notebook Database tab, then Portable One > EX > Available Reviews, you get this message: "Sorry, no reviews available for the EX. If you know of reviews for the EX on the web, please submit it to us!"

And like I said, if you use the Notebook Review tab, you don't even get that. Admins? Help us poor shoppers out! If Tensa hadn't linked his review I never would have found it.

 

Yo, Dogbreath, my computer does not have a built in Web Camera, that is the new model, the top part is just a plastic sticky pad used for covering up the screws. And thanks for the feedback.

 

Varco says in this other thread (posted 22 June '06) that Portable One advertises that they include internal Bluetooth in the EX, but that they are "currently out of stock of the bluetooth modules and this service costs $50." Anyone know if this is true or how long they will be out? Or what they will do if I order an EX while they are out of they Bluetooth modules, like install them at a later date for free? Or what the $50 cost is for?

 

Different model. That other thread was about the MX (A8JM), not the EX (Z62J).

 

Right, but the quote was "Portableone ... are currently out of stock of the bluetooth modules..." so I assume that applies to all models. I'll give them a call if no one here knows.

 

Emailed them today. They're starting on my EX tomorrow. No mention of the bluetooth being unavailble for the EX. I believe Asus supplies the Z62J with bluetooth in the standard config, so if the shell is here, the bluetooth is here. The A8JM is supplied sans bluetooth in NA, and is a dealer-supplied option.

 

Excellent, thanks for the info. You have a one-day jump on me with your EX, as I'm ordering mine in the morning... depending on what my paycheck looks like tomorrow.

 

I just got my EX about 3 hours ago. I had already actually cancelled the order this week and bought something else, but we came to an agreement and they overnighted the EX to me for only $20 extra. I won't get into why I cancelled here.

Guess what? The website is wrong! The EX is not a Z62J, it is an S62J. The difference? From what I can tell, it's a different case (uses the VBI Kinko's panels), it's all black, WXGA instead of WXGA+ and no bluetooth.

They said that this is indeed the model they have been shipping as the new EX model, but they would explain my concern to the product manager and that they would take it back if I wish. I'm going to take the weekend to think about it and decide what to do. I'm pretty shocked I'm the first person to call them on the glaring differences between what they are selling and what they are shipping. So much for truth in advertising.

 

was the video card you got the Nvidia go 7400 or the 7300? the one on G2P's site lists it as the 7400 while the EX says 7300

 

7300 (10 character minimum)

 

What The Heck????????????? Everyone goes on and on about how great this company is. Could this really be true? I placed my order for an EX last Friday, and I'll be very disappointed if I don't get what took me months to decide on.

 

Call them Monday and check for yourself. They told me this is their new EX and the specs on the website must be innacurate. Oh well, they'll inform the product manager. I can return it if I want. Gee, thanks.

Here's the deal (I was PM'd for the whole scoop, so here it is):

I actually called them right after I got the machine because there was a warp or twist in the upper part of the keyboard and the panel above the keyboard. It turns out the CPU fan wasn't screwed in (no screws present). The keyboard also has a tremendous amount of rattle and flex, which may be because the CPU fan isn't screwed in. That may go away once the fan is properly secured (they're sending me screws). While I was troubleshooting this "bump" on the phone, I noticed that the sticker on the bottom said S62J... WTF??? OK, obviously I was suprised to see an all-black shell when I took it out of the box, but I figured 'Oh,the Z62J must be black and the other shots around the web are the Z62F'. Something like that. But there's also the well in the lid for the custom panel (=VBI). There's no internal bluetooth device that I can find. And the LCD resolution is 1280x800, no doubt about it. This is definitely not the Z62J. It is also not the Portable One EX, as currently listed on their website. False advertising? Fraud? Probably something far less nefarious, like miscommunication. Nevertheless, their attitude seemed rather cavalier about the misrepresentation.

Anyone want to offer an opinion... send it back and buy ???. Anybody ever do biz with DVNation.com?

 

Gah, more confusion. I just reread my confirmation email, and here's what it says:

"EX Z62J"
"14.1-inch UVA WXGA +"
"56K 10/100 WiFi BT"

So they specifically say in the confirmation email that I'm getting the Z62J, with WXGA+ and Bluetooth. How can they then say that "the specs on the website must be inaccurate"? If Ivan doesn't respond here this weekend then I'll definitely give them a call Monday morning.

I’m really hoping that this is just a big misunderstanding. Sorry about what you’re dealing with.

 

Here's the text copied and pasted from my order status page on their website:
EXZ62J
Portable One EX
(T2400 1.83GHz /14.1"UVA WXGA+/ 512MB / 60GB7K / DVD±RW /56K 10/100 WiFi BT)
I upgraded the RAM, HD, warranty and got the PortBar 3, so those are the base config specs. Again, that's what they say they shipped me, but the computer is obviously an S62J. They then said that the computer I received is what they are shipping as the EX.

How can they say that? I got the impression that the gentleman I spoke with was unaware of the fact that their website lists specs for the Z62J as the baseline for their EX model, when in fact they are using S62Js to build them. He possibly was unaware that Asus has two such models. When I pointed out these facts, that was the best response he could come up with on the spot. Human nature, I suppose. Not exactly the pinnacle of customer service, but not rude either. The issue for me really is the fact that they're shipping a different model as their EX than is spec'd out on their website. So my choice is send it back or suck it up. As long as they offer a full refund including shipping, I will chalk it up to a miscommunication and simple bad luck. I know it will cost them a few bucks for the round-trip shipping, but given the fact that they've shipped a different product than I agreed to purchase, I can't imagine they woull argue the shipping charges with me. I still may keep it, as it is a nice machine (assuming the keyboard stabilizes after the CPU fan is screwed in). We'll see.

FWIW, I wasn't speaking with Ivan.

 

Heard that Z62J is not yet in US

 

If anybody's interested, here's the Z96J data sheet
http://www.notebookforum.ca/phpbb2/d...0Datasheet.pdf

It does say WXGA+

 

1. Link doesn't work.
2. Is the Z96J the same as the Z62J (which we're discussing)?

The question isn't so much about the specs of the Z62J so much as it is "what product is P1 actually shipping?"

 

Not the same. Z96J is 15.4" screen.

 

So because the EX is a s62j instead of a z62j, the screen is going to have a lower resolution and it won't come with Bluetooth?

That's unfortunate. It's still a great value in my opinion, but I would have really liked Bluetooth to be included. Question: if we order the laptop with Windows XP Professional, is the CD shipped with the computer in case I'd need to reformat?

 

Yes. You get the orginal Windows XP Pro disk and a recovery disk. I highly recommend using the recovery disk, but that is personal choice.

 

Sorry, meant Z62J:
http://www.notebookforum.ca/phpbb2/docs/Z62J Datasheet.pdf

I know.. just posted that if anybody wanted to see what Z62J was supposed to be like.

 

It would seem there's been some kind of mix-up with Asus NA and P1. P1 is on the case, call tagging my unit and apparently have pulled the EX off the website for now. Ivan emailed me to apologize and promises to make this right. I feel confident that they'll do whatever it takes to make me happy. Everybody makes mistakes, but the real test is how you handle yourself once a mistake has been made. Even though this has been a mess, I still feel I picked the right vendor.

UPDATE: It is now very clear to me that Ivan, Victor and the gang at Portable One will go to any length neccessary to ensure customer satisfaction. I look forward to working with them again on future purchases and recommend anybody shopping around to give them a call.

 

Hopefully they can get the z62j, but I feel that it being the s62j was a big reason the price was so great...

 

I hope so. I ordered my EX on June 30, and now it's July 10 and still no word about it being shipped. At least a note to let me know what's up would be nice.

EDIT: Open mouth, insert foot. Right after I posted this I checked my email, and sure enough there was a note from Ivan assuring me that he would get to the bottom of this and get everything straightened out. Plus I placed my order right before a holiday weekend, so a delay of some sort was probably inevitable.

 

We were forced to replace the EX Series from Asus with another machine altogether because of the terrible mixup at Asus and our engineers chose the HGL30 as the new base for it, actually much better spec too and we did not change the price because of the issue, thanks for all of your understanding.

http://laptopsinc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=EXHGL30&Category_Code=