For those of you torn between the HEL80 and Z96J

Whoa, that Asus isn't exactly a beauty.

 

Haha. I could say the same about the compal. I'm sure this applies to the compal as well, but the Asus Z96J looks MUCH better in person. I've had nothing but compliments. And that's from people who insulted my old notebook because it wasn't as pretty as their macbook.

 

I read somewhere that the Z96J uses 1.5w speakers where the HEL80 uses 2.0w so maybe that is the difference since the sound is the same Intel chip in both. Something else I wish we could MOD on laptops.

So any rellers out there have an opinion on the comparison of glossy screens between the two?

I read the review of the HEL80's WXGA seems he wasn't too impressed with the viewing angle and he says, "approximately 30 degrees off center the colors and contrast begin to skew, with 60 degrees from center creating a large loss in color integrity.

We show a lot of movies to small groups of people out in the "boonies" so the sound and viewing angles are important.

How frustrating to find one has good sound and the other the good viewing angle and clear picture.

 

Why not just get the WSXGA+ (1680x1050 res)? It's a great screen

 

I agree on the WSXGA+ being a great screen. Also, if you're showing movies to groups, I would recommend you get a set of small external speakers. Laptop speakers are not meant to be entertainment-center-quality.

 

Probably, but on these pics the Compal is definitaly is nicer.

 

So I guess MODing the speakers is out of the question huh? hehe

Do you have any suggestions for external speakers without need of a power source that are actually any good? I bought a set once but it ended up that my laptop speakers where actually better. So now I'm kinda leary of them.