SX Questions & Review Request

Portable One SX series.

I had purchased my Fujitsu Lifebook from Portable One 3 years ago (one of the best online purchase experiences I have had). Of course when my 3 year-old son accidental pulled on the power cord, which brought the laptop to a CRASH on the floor (still works – but the front is smashed and the mouse buttons don’t work – need to use external mouse) – it was time for me to shop for a new lap top.

I was surprised to see that Fujitsu was no longer offered at Portable One, I was very happy with mine (an Ultra-portable P series). However, I have built my own desktops and have always been very happy with ASUS, so I started looking at ASUS.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that Portable One has done what I have been waiting for and that is making customizable laptops on a solid system (ASUS). My previous experience when shopping for laptops is that you always get caught between two systems like the ASUS W7 vs. F9, one offers something and vs. versa - choices - but you have to give up something for something else.

Then I visited the SX page and was able to pick my memory and CPU – in the form factor that suited my needs. So SX now looks to be my number one pick.

I don't want a heavy weight and have had an ultra-portable (but it was a little under-powered). I run a couple of financial applications and MS office on my current Fujitsu P series - but it is stressed to the limits. I don't play games on it. However going to a better graphics card may help with the graphic intense financial applications and yes I do want play WOW on my laptop (something I don't currently do). I don't play many games, but would like to have that an option - which is not an option with the P series Ultra-Portable.

However, there is some confusion and a couple of questions.

1. I read (in another thread on here) about the 8400m G graphics card being 256mg, but it didn’t seem clear that it was 256m or 128m. I have not seen a laptop with the 8400m G with 256, only 128.
Question: Is it 256 or 128? If it is 256 is it dedicated?
Question: Is the 8400m GS instead of the G version an option? (I know it may be less memory, but it is 16bit vs. 8bit)

2. I read (in another thread on here) that the laptop was white! On the website it shows a Black and Silver version. Is it Black or is it White? Or is color choice an option?

3. Vista, I see that Vista comes installed, is it possible that XP be installed instead of Vista?

4. REVIEW!!! So far I am unable to find any end-user reviews of the SX. I know it’s based on the ASUS platform, it looks great, and everything I want – but it would be nice to see a good end-user review (detailed).

5. 100GB 7200RPM seems like a viable upgrade - any suggestions or comments vs. the 120GB 5400?

6. 3 CPUs - which to choose from? I know I could always go for the highest priced version. However, the questions is cost vs. power. Is $100 more worth going from the T7250 to T7500? Is $200 worth going from the T7250 to the T7700? Is the bang for the buck that noticalbe?

I will probably give Portable One a call today – but just thought that these maybe questions that others are looking for.



Regards-
Lionfish42

 

Just got off the phone with Portable One.

Here is a couple of things I learned.

SX better? (the differences)

SX is slightly larger than the ASUS W7 and F9
SX also offers 1MB of turbo cache for faster load times
SX upgradable to 4MB Ram (W7 and F9 only 2.5MB)
SX upgradable to the T7700 (W7 T7500 / F9 T7300)
SX only offered in WHITE at this time - should have black by the end of Oct.

I am leaning towards the SX, but the back-orders and waiting for "hopefully" black - may push me towards the ASUS W7S. As I will be needing a laptop very soon.

Any thoughts?