Mythlogic vs Xotic vs Malibal - Need suggestions.

Ok, so this is a re-post from the other forum. They suggested I post my question here, so I'll just copy and paste what I wrote below:

So, before I continue, I'm looking at the Clevo P170HM to be used for everything from Gaming to Movies to School, Multitasking, with the following specs:

Screen - 17" Glossy, 1920x1080 resolution with 90%+ Colour Gamut preferably. I'm assuming this would be an IPS panel and they usually don't have the best ratings in the input lag department affecting fast paced gaming or am I incorrect?

CPU -Intel Core i7-2620M

GPU - Radeon 6990M

Optical - DVD-RW

Wireless - Bigfoot Networks KILLER Wireless-N 1102 or 1103. Are these even worth the extra cost and what are the differences between the two?

Hard Drive - None (have my own)

RAM - None (Have my own)

My main question though is: which would be the company to go with? Mythlogic claim to stand behind their products and offer all these warranties such as Free Dead Pixel coverage, pre-ship testing to ensure good unit working order, monitor colour calibration, IC Diamond Compound, etc, which intrigues me. Of course, they charge $100-200 extra over Xotic or Malibal that have the same unit and specs.

Is there any reason to take one over another (aside from the extra cost from Myth)? Taking into account I reside in Canada, so shipping and brokerage is one thing that can deter me from one or the other.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers!

 

can't go wrong with any of the 3. Pick the one who offers u the best deal.

 

Use our forum pm system and send each a pm

We restrict what the retailers can post here , so thats you best bet

http://forum.notebookreview.com/member.php?u=134879

http://forum.notebookreview.com/member.php?u=27368

http://forum.notebookreview.com/member.php?u=206620

Any of them would be a great choice ,they are all very active here

 

I want to say that I've read somewhere that Malibal offers servicing of your laptop (in the event of some kind of problem or maybe if you sent it in for an upgrade) in Canada instead of the U.S., so that could be more convenient for your needs.

You would want to double check that with them through a PM or their official site, though.

 

^Mythlogic also offers Canadian service. You can select the location in the warranty box.

I'm in the same boat as you man. I just can't decide. I'm leanin towards Mythlogic though. They seem to really check out your machine before its shipped. Free 1600mHz memory doesn't hurt either, especially if you're getting the 6990m.

Also, Mythlogic seems to have some "warranty" sale going on right now. Only option is lifetime labor + 3 yr parts + 3 year free 2 year shipping both ways.

 

Mythlogic does the same.

Also, I would go with Mythlogic just because of the fact they are built and tested in house. I loved my experience with them, plus it helps they are less than a 2 hour drive from me. I don't know about Malibal, but Mythlogic is actually just a little small business in Michigan you can actually go visit. So that made me feel even better about purchasing from them.

 

i went with intel 6300 network so i can use WiDi

 

For non-optimus models, you won't be able to use the WiDi as that feature requires the Intel iGPU to be available. (And in the non-optimus models, it's not hooked up or enabled).

 

Thats not a sale, thats a permanent thing, just all laptops from now on have a 3 year parts warranty on them. =)

 

Well, doesn't look like I'll be buying from Mythlogic. The system I had saved only a day or two ago went up in price well over $200 and the Free Game Deal has apparently ended too. I suppose that leaves Malibal and Xotic now...

 

Well, pricewise, you could try contacting Larry@LPC-digital.

I got my rig from him, and his prices were the best out of all the resellers..

Just a suggestion.

 

I wouldn't jump to conclusions so quickly. Perhaps they took off those deals in order to get ready for the upcoming season .

Also leaning towards mythlogic cause of their in-house testing and customisation options. The ICC profile, 1600MHZ RAM, and free thermal paste also makes me smile .

Seriously, the premium screens are useless without that ICC profile.

 

Are you sure? I was ready to order from Myth within 1 or 2 weeks, but the price went up to $2000+ for the same system specs that was sub-$1750, meanwhile the other 2 retailers are still selling the same system for around $1650 or so. Sure, things like IC Diamond Compound and the Dead Pixel Warranties are extra, they still end up costing quite a bit less even with them added on.

Perhaps a Mythlogic Rep will chime in here and explain what happend to the pricing =S.

 

I don't think there really is a single 'cheapest' reseller - it depends on exactly what configuration you want, and who is doing what kind of promotions at that moment. Realistically, you need to PM each of the major players and see what they can do for you, with the exact unit you want - right now. In 1-2 weeks you can assume things could be different.

 

We integrated a 3 year warranty on all of our systems, from what we were seeing and projecting, it made more sense to include the 3 year warranty to insulate you guys against any issues down the road. Giving you guys piece of mind that you will be protected against the $400 motherboard or the $500 video card, or $200 dead screen. Even if one thing goes wrong in 3 years then you've already way more than paid for the small increase in price for the machine. Plus the 3 year warranty is transferable, which helps maintain the resale value of the laptop.

 

@ the OP

Don't forget nearly all sellers will pricematch and some offer extra warranty services.

 

Yeah I have seen that most resellers do infact price match, but I recall reading directly from the official Mythlogic site that they do not price match because they're not a reseller, but a truly "custom" laptop maker or something along those lines. The raised price makes it even harder as I would incur an outrageous import fee, alongside the what Im sure is at least a $100 shipping fee. As an example of import fees, I ordered a backrest (which of course was cheaper in the US than here in Canada) which was $49.99. The shipping charge for that was $30 and get this, the import fee was $40... for a $50 dollar product! I wouldn't want to even imagine what the fees would be on a $1,700 order.

 

If you are close to windsor or the like then you can always pick it up too =) What you do at the border with it is your business

 

Hi Zayne, there are no import duties on laptops shipping from the US to Canada... you just have to pay your local PST/GST/HST taxes once the laptop arrives.

In addition, if you select UPS Standard, you'll have to pay a brokerage fee around $100 - so it's best to use UPS Expedited / Express or USPS because with these services, there are no additional brokerage fees - so your total would be: laptop + shipping + PST/GST/HST.

 

Haha yeah, if only that would work. The customs agent would ask to see the laptop and they would run the info of it to see when I bought it and slap on the massive fee. Probably not worth the hassle =P.

Yeah, the HST is what gets us Canadians. That's why I rarely order internationally because the amount of taxes we pay is insane! I was also told that Malibal, Xotic and some other retailers offer Free shipping if it can be sent by Ground (and being a member of the NBR forums). That no longer the case?

As for the price matching - I guess I'll have to contact privately to get an answer?

Thanks again.

Cheers!

 

Hi, yes - you can get Free Shipping to Canada... and we have a low price guarantee as well - so please send us a PM - if you would like to discuss any further details. Thanks.

 

You would have no problem getting away with it. They can't really see when you bought it and where you bought it.

 

Malibal has been great so far working with me. I can give my recommendation for them, granted I don't have a ton of posts up yet as I've been mostly lurking/researching.

 

Of course, a lot of us are waiting to see what type of special deals these guys will be giving out during the holiday season .

That will definitely be the deal breaker for me. And yes, already contacted other resellers via email about any upcoming specials, deals, discounts, etc. No one wants to give out their secrets .

I just went to each reseller and compared the exact build of laptop. Meaning choosing similar options as close to each other as possible. I saw a price difference of $50-$70 between everyone. I did not see how mythlogic was $200 or so above everyone else.

Specifically, malibal and mythlogic has a price difference of $20 between similar chassis and exact component options.

 

So basically we'll have to wait until December to get these supposed deals? Knowing my luck, what I want will be sold oud and I won't get it in time for school.

 

I would wait and see what will happen on Black Friday. That's usually when everyone offers bonuses for people who are looking to buy for Christmas season in USA.

 

I'll wait like you suggested, hopefully the prices for what I'm looking for go down as well.

 

Don't forget Cyber Monday too! Hopefully there will be sales that entire weekend.

 

I'm unfamiliar with all these various US Sale days. I've heard of Black Friday, first time hearing anything related to Cyber Monday (unless that's specific to Xotic or something).

 

Cyber Monday is like the internet version of Black Friday. It's the Monday following Black Friday. Also, you might want to look for Price Protection Offers, so that even if you purchase now - you can still get the better deals that might come out during the holidays.

 

if it all comes down to 100 bucks, dont bother, go with whoever is nice to you, is responsive and makes you feel good. seriously the 100$ wont make the difference on a ~2k spec.

I went with Malibal and they were fantastic, very responsive, even on weekends. that mattered to me, and I can be annoying

but as everybody said, all are good and I suspect one guy in vegas owns all these guys together and is giving it his best evil laugh right now muahahaha

 

Straight out, depending on your configuration Mythlogic is quite competitive across the border. I know I was running the 13%, shipping, and currency exchange through my head all the time, working the numbers from different companies and comparing. The numbers on Myth's computers are going to be slightly higher, simple as, but I preferred to view it more as an insurance cost, if you will. Majority of the resellers, you buy it from them and they essentially have it shipped from Sager to you. Myth just about builds this thing from the ground up ensuring that you get a top of the line machine.

P.S Keep an eye on the currency exchange rates as well. If you can cash in at just the right time, it will actually cost you less in American.

 

Oh really? I actually had my sights set on the same model you have in your signature (although with a slightly different configuration) from Mythlogic. Are you from Canada too? Do you know if they offer Free Shipping like the other big retailers do, what customs fees would be and if they price match as well? I know, as you pointed out, they will cost slightly more than the others, but if they price match as much as they can to help save me as much as possible, I'd be fine with that (I'm a student so every little bit helps).

 

I ordered mine from Xotic and I really could not complain about anything at all. Xotic will price match if you ask and there are definite benefits from what I could tell customer service wise. I don't know about how they will handle warranty work and service since you're in Canada but I can't imagine it will be a problem. Frankly, if you can't wait I'd just go with those who are the best with over email and about price. Seriously, an interested reseller is much easier to deal with if you ever have a problem with the laptop later. However, I did notice one thing about your specs that I take issue with and that is your choice on the Bigfoot network card. Reliability can be a serious issue for those cards and you aren't really increasing your performance over the Intel cards. I went with the 6230 because as a student, I figured I would want bluetooth and since I'm in a very VERY dense wireless environment, I didn't want to worry about my card failing on me. In any case, you can do what you like, but I can tell you now you'll be completely satisfied with your laptop, they're amazing machines.

 

Thanks for your purchase anthonyhm Just like before the sale we will take care of you after the sale if a issue were to arrise In the event you need anything we are one of the very few that offer 24/7 telephone support if you need any assistance.

 

If you're considering Malibal read this first http://forum.notebookreview.com/sager-clevo/620495-received-new-malibal-lotus-screen-dead.html

Talks a lot about how they do their testing, or the lack of it in this case.

 

As we stated in that thread, we test all of our laptops before shipping out - even orders without an Operating System. The customer in this thread purchased without an OS, but we still loaded an OS for testing and benchmarking. When we shipped the notebook, there were no issues - so something must have occurred in shipping. It could be something as simple as reseating the RAM.

As we also mentioned in this thread, we are going to overnight a Brand New notebook replacement as part of our 100% Quality Assurance Guarantee, which is outlined in my sig.

I do not know how any company can stand behind their products anymore than by overnighting a Brand New replacement, even if the laptop is damaged in shipping.

 

Yeah, I'm, approximately, an hour and a half outside of Toronto. What they will do for each customer depends on the situation. Figure out exactly what you want from them and sit down and have a chat with one of their representatives, I heartily recommend Eric for his professionalism and response speed, but don't have unrealistic expectations either. You want to save some money and they need to make some money, it has to work for both parties.
They will not price match. The other resellers will not offer the same level of Quality Control either as they basically don't see the laptop. Personally, I preferred to pay a small percentage more for a better product. Discounts on the other hand they will offer and it was enough to sway me over.
I completely understand where you are coming from in terms of taxes, duties, and such. Take a look at this topic if you haven't already.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/sager-clevo/548445-guide-buying-sager-canada.html
Here is who I had to pay and for what.
Myth(For laptop (minus discount and 3% cash), shipping)
Government (HST)
Bank (Felt more like monopoly when the bank gave me money back )
No Duties on laptops into Canada from America
No brokerage as I went with a level of shipping that incorporated the cost in.
What I got: Nyx 1711, Free Slappa sleeve with strap, free bluetooth dongle, and a whole lot of peace of mind. It gets tossed around as a cliche, but I'm serious. I paid for this right before I left for camping, I think the 6990m heat issues had just started, but it never once crossed my mind to be concerned. I'm not sure I could say the same if it was coming, essentially, from the Sager factory instead of from Myth's dedicated staff.
Find the company that will provide what you want at the price you want and go with it. I chatted with several resellers, but only one clicked for me. Find the one that clicks for you. Cheers

 

I don't know about know about Mythlogic but both Malibal and Xotic have been very quick to answer to my questions. I still am deciding on which one to choose.

 

I know Mythlogic isn't a 'reseller' but I can't get a P151 within 400$ of any configuration on MALIBAL / XOTIC.

Every time I try to convince myself 'but it's pretested! and 3 year warranty..." I can't help but adding a 320GB SSD drive into my configured system on one of those sites and still having the price come out cheaper.

Bottom line, Mythlogic sounds like they guarantee their stuff is the 'shiznit' but I think the 3 year warranty is really jacking up the system prices now. Looks like it's MALIBAL, XOTIC or LPC for me. (Considering Powernotebooks also)

 

You might want to checkout gentechpc.com as well.

 

I didnt read all the pages of this thread, so Im sorry if I didn't tell you anything new.

But anyways, why not order from EUROCOM? As far as I know they are situated in Canada! When I first googled and found out about Clevo, it was trough EUROCOM's site early this year. You can save cash from import taxes and shipping ought to be cheaper too!

Eurocom Racer is the P150HM, I think price-wise and customizations are good!

 

Eurocom is one of the companies that has been badmouthed on this forum because of a few bad experiences. Look at this link: Click Me

Mr. Mysterious

 

Thats awful.......well, Im glad I found out about this. Its a similar story to the german reseller NotebookGuru, where Mr. Sailer puts in factory sample CPU's and tells you nothing about it.

 

That's strange, if I would know how to insert tables, I would post my configs side by side.

Did you choose the exact options? It's pretty important that you do.

Actually, Malibal ends up being more expensive if you pick their 3 year warranty to be on par with Mythlogic.

But yes, I agree, makes me feel iffy that a 3 year warranty is being forced on me .

Anyway, here's my config from Mythlogic:


Mobile Chassis MYTHLOGIC Pollux 1511 Chassis (Clevo P15XHM)
Mobile Display 15.6" Full HD (1920x1080) Matte 95% NTSC Color Gamut LED Backlit LCD
Dead Pixel Guarantee MYTH Pixel Perfect Guarantee
Monitor Calibration Free MYTH Professional Monitor Color Calibration
CPU Intel Core i7-2760QM 2.40GHz, 1600MHz DDR3, 6MB Cache, Socket G1 Mobile Processor
Thermal Compound Free IC Diamond Thermal Compound
System Memory 16GB (4 x 4GB) , PC3-12800, 1600MHz SODIMM (Patriot) Quad-core processors ONLY!
Video Adapter NVIDIA GTX 560M 1536MB GDDR5 DX11 Compliant Video Card
Optical Notebook Black 8X DVD+RW/CDRW Combo Drive
External Optical Drive None
Hard Drive 1 Intel 120GB 510 Series SATA III 6Gb/s Solid State Drive
Hard Drive 2 None
Headset None
Mouse None
Webcam Integrated 2M Webcam
Fingerprint Reader Integrated Fingerprint Reader
Network Card Onboard Gigabit (10/100/1000 Mbits/sec) LAN subsystem
Wireless Card Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1030 - 802.11B/G/N Wireless LAN Module 300MB Total Bandwidth
Bluetooth Integrated Bluetooth 3.0+EDR Only With Intel 1030/6230 Wireless
Operating System No OS, format drive only.
Anti-Virus Software Microsoft Security Essentials
Productivity None
Extra Battery None
Extra AC Adapter None
Laptop Sleeve | MYTHLOGIC Recommends SLAPPA Gear None
Laptop Case | MYTHLOGIC Recommends SLAPPA Gear None
Notebook Cooler None
Laptop Soundbar None
MYTHLOGIC Assurance MYTH Lifetime Assurance with Lifetime Labor + 3 Years Parts Warranty, 3 Yrs Free 2-Way Shipping Cont
Phoenix Upgrade Plan Lifetime Phoenix Upgrade Plan
Total Price:$1,954.18

Notice the "Clevo P15XHM". You have to ask yourself, is this 150, or 151?

Try to apply the exact same options to Malibal's 150HM

 

If you are only getting the 560M Graphics and do not plan to upgrade, then there isn't much reason to get the P150HM over the P151HM1, considering how much less the P151HM1 costs.

 

Yes, which is why I am asking if the Clevo in the above config is 150 or 151... If it's 151, then we have a problem .

Perhaps the 15XHM means some sort of custom Chassis? The "1" missing from the "HM" makes me think it is 150HM, but there's no option to upgrade the GPU so that makes me lean towards the 150HM1.

 

Boukyaku: Read the FAQ in my signature.

Mr. Mysterious

 

I'm quietly closing this thread. I prefer not to see these type of vs. threads comparing various vendors as they usually do not end up in a nice place. I'm closing this one to prevent future trouble.