The Zepto Nox A15

He wasn't talking about the shop ZeptoUSA, he really said the mainboard in the NOX doesn't support DDR3;

Edit; crap comment on DDR3 Dimm's removed

 

This Micron page indicates that DDR3 SODIMMs have 204 pins. Normal DDR2 SODIMMs have 200 pins. 240 pins may be for desktop DDR3.

The 17" notebooks might include both types of RAM slot so that purchasers have the choice of either affordable DDR2 or expensive DDR3. Until DDR3 RAM becomes much less expensive, many potential customers will not want to pay a big price premium for a small increase in performance. Much of the speed gain will be offset by the higher latencies and, for me, the main attraction of DDR3 is that the lower voltages should reduce the power consumption.

John

 

Really really weird =s

Don't think that a whole Montevina platform is changed
by Zepto to fit in only DDR2 modules =s

But we will see. The DDR3 memory modules are in stock
with Zeptoshop.nl, only they haven't got any Nox / Mythos.
That's because of the lack of Zepto with giving information and so on...

So if they have got them, they can test it.. We will see!

 

would be really fun now with some pictures of the nox in person now, because they probably will have some test nox for themselves I assume

22th or the 23th is the date when they have said they will recieve the motherboard, maybe I'll get mine next week if I'm lucky

 

Righty, I stand corrected!
(Btw, you are courteous in your corrections )

 

As far as i know they have moved the notch in the DDR3 modules, just like they did between the DDR1 and DDR2 RAM modules, so they do not fint in the same slot as the previous ones.

In the Centrino 2 platform there is support for both DDR2 and DDR3, so the manufacturer can choose themselves to either support one or the other, or both. Nox/Myhtos supports DDR2 only and Hydra supports DDR3 only, no mixes.
I don't see this as a bad choice as the support for DDR2 on the Nox/Mythos means much lower prices on the RAM modules.

 

is Zepto coming out with new 15.4 laptops, similar to the Nox/Mythos but with DDR3 ram support? If so, anyone have an idea of when they'll be coming out (before september?)?

 

If you want DDR3 RAM support... buy another laptop!?

And I can't say if the new 15,4" Zepto will support DDR3 memory..
I only know something about the new videocard and the resolution of the screen

 

I wonder if people are getting over excited about possible performance benefits of DDR3 system RAM. The nearest I can find to a comparative review is this article by Anandtech from last year. Until the latencies of DDR3 RAM come down then there is unlikely to be much speed benefit.

John

 

I agree, DDR3 won't give a huge improvement.

The reason that Zepto took DDR2 instead of DDR3 is that the costs (and the price) won't raise.

What about the FSB of 1066MHz?

1066MHz is quad-pumped so the FSB will be 266MHz. PC6400 can handle until 400MHz so it won't be a problem. The only fact is that you get a crappy mem divider but that wont' make such a difference.

 

True, also DDR2 so-dimms are CL4 and the DDR3 CL7... So DDR2 saves us some miliseconds.

 

Wheres that so-long-ago-promised review????????

...Must...know...more...about...this...LAPTOP!!!

 

If Zepto don't send any laptops.. I can't review them =s

(and tomorrow I'll go on a 3,5 week America-vacantion so...)

 

(((

hope someone else gets one to review before you get back lol

 

I probably get mine next week, what do you wan't to know and what do you want close up pictures of?

 

Let us start with a photo of each side, so people can see and count the ports. Also check the weight and dimensions.

Use CPU-z to check the details of the CPU and memory. Then maybe 3DMark06 so people get an idea of the graphics performance.

John

 

Well new date for receiving the Nox is august 6th. It has been delayed unfortunately.

 

I couldn't imagine delivery of new Zepto's
while they can't send any samples for reviewers

 

Can you name a source?
I bought one my self.
Does anybody know a nice tutorial for writing a good review?

 

Do you mean this? (Link on the reviews page). And read some of the existing reviews and see which ones you like (mine don't say much about gaming since I'm not a gaming person).

John

 

Jep
Thx!

I called zepto shop (NL), they are expecting the NOX/MYTHOS to arrive from DE today or tomorrow...

Groeten

 

Look what I found:
ftp://ftp.zepto.dk/Notebooks/Nox_A15/
Drivers! So now we know what hardware is used (exactly)

Sorry for the craplike English..

 

If you have the patience to download each zipfile and inspect the contents. I see they have both 32 and 64 bit Vista drivers but only one set of XP drivers (presumably 32 bit, but better than nothing).

There's still no sign of a User Guide.

John

 

I wonder what ZeptoMobileUtilities is, since thats the only thing that I can see Vista has, that the XP drivers don't.

 

I saw that. Maybe we'll learn more when someone receives one of these notebooks.

John

 

So when are these supposed to ship?
I'm thinking of ordering one, but... when would I get it?
(I'd also like to see reviews... not too sure about the weight / battery life. Otherwise it looks great.)

 

they're supposed to start shipping 6th of august

 

The day after my birthday! Good to hear, lol

 

Yeah, unlike with a new Dell XPS Line, the waiting time does get shorter with Zepto (or so it seems). lol

 

I heard that the 9 cell batteries are delayed, and the cutomers who ordered them will receive free 6 cell batteries to use while they're wating for the 9 cells.

 

I guess that's why they couldn't be configured with anything but a 6-cell...

But the 9-cell batteries are on the way?
That would be nice A 6-cell for a laptop that size is lousy...

 

Got this mail from my Zepto guy:

 

That is positive news. We now know that Zepto has got some stock. The Nox on the UK site is still showing that the 6 cell battery is 9 days away.

** Edit ** @ 31 July: The Zepto UK website is now showing that the Nox batteries (both 6 and 9 cell) are 32 days away. Perhaps they have enough batteries for the people who pre-ordered but this delay must be frustrating.

John

 

The german Zepto website says 34 Days, config-indipendent i think.

Im a disappointed - when they announced that you can order the Nox about 5-6 weeks ago, I thought it should be possible to wait for a review and still get an exemplar by before august is over.

:'(

 

I expect that Zepto people will be very annoyed with this battery problem. They must have a lot of money tied up in the new stock which is waiting for these batteries.

John

 

according to a swedish zepto represant the 6cell batteries come with the NOX shippings to Denmark, and that they will recieve another shipment of NOX's next week, so the 6cell batteries shouldn't be a problem if I got that right, the 9cell batteries though will be sent on a later date with a option to buy out the 6cell battery or to return it

 

have been following the discussion here for a while as I am about to order a NOX myself.
Today I called the Danish Zepto Support to ask a couple of questions. Thought that I might share it here with you:

heres my Q/A:
Q: Is the 32day delivery time the best possible?
A: no zepto expects that this number will improve within the next 10-14days.

Q: will I be able to use the docking station with a NOX I order today?
A: No there is no connector for the Docking station in the first delivery of NOX. You have to wait until October in order to get one that can use the Dock (which will also be released around there).

Q: can I get an integrated TV tuner (pref. dvb-t) for nox?
A: No

Q: is the 9cell battery larger (e.g. sticking out on the back)?
A: sales guy didn't know the answer but his gut-feeling was that it would not be larger.

Q: Do you get a free 6cell battery if you order the 9cell battery?
A: No this have not been considered as an option.
(it did not sound as if the battery was the problem causing the delivery delay).

 

Q: can I get an integrated TV tuner (pref. dvb-t) for nox?
A: No
Addition to this: There is currently no TV tuner, but testing has begun so it will be available later on.

Q: is the 9cell battery larger (e.g. sticking out on the back)?
A: sales guy didn't know the answer but his gut-feeling was that it would not be larger.
Addition to this: The 9-cell battery sticks out 1.5cm in the back of the machine. I was told this already when the pre-orders began in mid july.
Also customers buying the machine with a 9 cell battery will at first receive the machine with a 6 cell battery. When the 9 cell arrives in stock the customer can choose to either buy the 6 cell battery or send it back to Zepto.

 

How long until we can expect some reviews?

(Sorry, I'm new to this, and not sure how long these things take...)

 

The ones who ordered first should have their laptop in a day or two, so a few days to do the review as well? I am basing this on, that Zepto said they would ship the first laptops the 6th (yesterday).

 

They said that by the 6th they'd have sent out the last preordered laptops, or did i miss anything?

Zepto guy on 2nd, saturday.

 

IARI:
I just got a reply from the Zepto representative that said that, and that was the information he had when he made the post. He was on vacation at the time of the post which he is until this coming monday.
If it is not correct then there's nothing much we as end-users can do about it, than contacting Zepto to ask for updated information.

He also informed me that according to plans the last should have been sent by the 6th of August, but he has not been in contact with Zepto since the 31st of July where Zepto should have received the first shipment of the Nox A15, so he has no information about moved shipping dates or moved dates for getting new stock.

I basically don't blame him for not keeping up while on vacation. I don't know many people that contact their workplace while on vacation to give a status update But hopefully we will get new updates when needed. I know customers that have already ordered get updates via email if the shipment date changes.
I feel with people that are waiting for their machines, but basically these delays are what happens with completely new technology. No matter how much you can try and calculate expected changes into the whole overview and multiple changed delivery dates from the supplier can't always be predicted.

 

In case someone is actually relying on this thread rather than picking up the phone and calling them; Talked to Zepto Denmark yesterday and they said the high-res screens were coming in on Friday and that they would be working overtime during the weekend to send out the orders.

All orders made before 30/7 should be sent out by 13/8 according to the website (Swedish and Danish).

I'm hoping (not really, I lost hope weeks ago ) to get my Nox ordered on 15/7 on Monday latest.

 

I talked to Zepto today, I got the same answer that "tagg" got. They have 200 Noxs assembled and tested and will most likely ship them out today.

The current date for the arrival of the 9 cell battery is the 29th. They're working on speeding up the delivery.

Edit: I found a short test of the Nox, it's in Danish, but I've linked to a Google translation of it:

http://epn.dk/teknologi/gadgets/article1396788.ece

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fepn.dk%2Fteknologi%2Fgadgets%2Farticle1396788.ece&hl=en&ie=UTF8&sl=da&tl=en

 

It's rather a presentation than a test...

 

Interesting translation. The Kroners became dollars so it looks like an expensive notebook.

Anyway, we need feedback from the people who have bought them. Zepto still haven't put a User Guide on the FTP site. That's the first document I always look for.

John

 

I agree, the users manual is the best source of in depth information.

I found some pictures I haven't seen before:





I also found some very good high res. ones, but the server went down before I could save them. I did get a good look at them though, there's nothing at all on the front side, the rear has got the battery and a kensington slot. The left side has the fan exhaust, HDMI, 2x USB, volume control, headphone and microphone plug, memorycard reader and the expresscard slot. I can't remember what's on the right side, but I'll post the pictures when the server gets back up.

 

Wow, I like those pictures. Sleek looking piece of computerlove.

 

Yeah, it does look very nice when you can actually see it, I wonder why Zepto don't put larger pictures on their site.

Here's the high res pictures I was talking about:

http://81.167.161.164/mythos+nox_01.jpg
http://81.167.161.164/mythos+nox_02.jpg
http://81.167.161.164/nox_01.jpg
http://81.167.161.164/nox_02.jpg
http://81.167.161.164/nox_x2.jpg

For some reason you can't click on the links, you have to right click and then save as. When downloaded, you can zoom in and check out the details.

On the pic with the Nox and Mythos side by side you can see what's on the right side of the Mythos, I can't make out everything, but there's obviously the ODD and a USB port. What's the thing between them?

 

Thanks for the links. Clicking on them works for me.

There looks to be a hardware wireless switch just to the right of the optical drive. There should be a network port and power socket somewhere.

John