X505-q8100

Oh, just to let you guys know .... I returned the Qosmio to my local Walmart this morning.

The woman behind the counter had a real attitude! You know, one of those attitudes that you can see and feel more because they don't really say too much to you just give you ugly stares? I got the impression she thought I was trying to rip Walmart off or pull a scam. She even said something under her breath to the manager about "we don't even sell these." but in the end I got my refund back. I don't think I'm buying anything else from Walmart.com though. Their stores don't seem to want to honor their own return policies governing online purchases.

 

When I returned mine, the woman behind the counter wasn't very happy about taking a return for their online side, but the guy behind the counter was completely understanding. More importantly, he had some actual technical knowledge, so when I told him the specifics of why I was returning it, he understood the difference between resolutions (whereas she clearly didn't). I probably didn't get an overall hassle because that guy was there.

I'd love to get an Alienware, but the cost is so high. Default 320gb hard drive is unacceptably small (for me, may be different for you). by the time I get done tinkering with the options, I wind up in excess of $1800. And that doesn't count increasing the RAM above the default 4GB (only because I already have 2 4GB sticks ready to go in whatever I buy).

I keep going back to Alienware and trying to tinker it down from there, but I can't seem to do it.

Anyone know anything about Malibal? I can configure a pretty solid laptop from them in the $1500-range. They appear to have good reviews at Reseller Ratings and an "A" on the BBB.

 

I can't get the Alienware to configure under $1824. It needs a bigger hard drive than the default 320GB (next option is 750GB at +$150). The screen defaults to 1600x900. If that's good for you, you can get it under $1800. I prefer 1920x1080, which is +$150. My goal was to keep it under or around $1600.

Again, if you don't want 1080p, you can do it.

 

Hmmm .... So tempting.

1080p would be nice, especially for movies and streaming video but I hesitate to call it an absolute necessity. On the one hand I DO use my comp extensively for video and music with occasional gaming session, but on the other hand my gaming isn't cutting edge graphics either and I have a dedicated player and TV for serious movie watching.

Decisions ... Decisions.

How are the speakers on an Alienware?

 

Well let me ask you this ... what if you took the stock hard drive and then added an external at a later time? Wouldn't that help you out with price? Or do you require one massive single hard drive? I still have 3 external usb driven hard drives from about 3 years ago and they still run like a charm. Just throwing that suggestion out there to you.

 

I've got 3 500GB external drives that act as a back-up array (contents of first drive are mirrored onto the other two).
I could probably make due with 320gb, but I keep looking at the size of the things I've downloaded, in particular MMORPGS that have to be installed to be used. Adobe's full photo suite, more than a dozen MMOs (which vary from 2 to 10 gigs each), full Office -- my current HDX16T has a 260gb hard drive, and, even with saving all my documents and music to the external drive and not to the laptop drive, the 260gb drive is pretty much full. I can't help but think the 320gb drive would almost certainly end up filled up fairly quickly. If like so many others Alienware's default was a 500GB drive (not even an option), I'd go with that.
Ooh, interesting rumor: Klipsch will be providing the speakers for Alienware. Does anyone know if that's true about the Alienwares being sold right now, or is it a future thing (and how far into the future)??

 

Wow! That sounds really bad! Makes me even happier that I buy my electronics from Costco! Great CS!

But seriously, Walmart needs to lighten up. If you had the receipt, they can look up the purchase. I would have called her out! Saying in front of you, "We don't sell these"; that would me off.

 

Malibal sells CLEVOs (the same computers as SAGER). Can probably get a good deal from Malibal, but consider this:
if you ever have to send it in for repair, all CLEVO based laptops in the USA goto SAGER for repair (and they prioritize SAGER branded laptops over others).


As for the ASUS, might want to try buying from Best Buy. I heard they do not charge a Restocking Fee any more (want might to confirm before purchasing). This way you can check if your laptop has the "keyboard" issues and can take it back if it does.


Good luck and keep us posted

 

why did u return ur qosmio. i bought qosmio last month as well, unfortunately i ha to return it coz by mistake i was sold a non-pristine unit by pc world which i managed to return last week without any fuss. pc world in uk cn be quite funny about their returns. i really miss my qosmio as that was an ideal machine and now im desperately waiting for one with sandy bridge. theres no way i will go for alienware (too expensive for what they offer), asus (bland design with too many complains), envy (not offering geforce 460) or any other machine. i guess qosmio is ideal in anyway. build quality, decent screen and fairly reasonable price with stunning look. i sopke to toshiba rep in uk few days ago and he told me that would be available by end of april or start of may. i m really dsperate for a machine now but i guess i can wait for couple of more months.

 

The US has a large retailer called Costco. They give a 90 day, no questions-no restocking fee return policy. Anyways, I bought a 894 Qosmio with the first gen-i7 chip and etc... About 3 weeks after my purchase, Costco got the UPGRADED Qosmios for only $100 more than what I paid (2nd-gen i7, 640 HD vs 500 HD, 6 GB 1333 ram vs 4 GB 1066 ram; Bluetooth 3.0 [expanded range + faster transfer rates].) The ram upgrade for my 894 would alone cost almost $100 [not too bad of a deal]

Thus, at the time I thought I was simply exchanging my 894 for a Sandy Bridge 8102. However, the day I got my new QOsmio delivered to me (THE EXACT SAME DAY), Intel issued a recalled of their new chips. Didn't even open the box, I immediatly returned it.

Again, I didn't return my 894 because they was something wrong, I returned it because I got greedy and wanted the latest specs.

 

Hardcore, perhaps you know someone in the States?

Toshibadirect.com has the only confirmed "fixed" SB Qosmio. [x500-q930 X, I asked online Rep, they said fixed]. They actually changed the model number from the pre-recalled model [q930 X vs q930 S]. I'm starting to think that Toshiba would change the model number to differentiate between the pre-recalled model and fixed models.

However, the q930X going for a large amount of money $1800 [has windows 7 pro, 1 TB HDD, 1080p screen]

http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/pdet.to?poid=515364

Good luck

 

Best Buy dropped their restocking fee late last year. They encourage returns to the store for online purchases and supposedly without a hassle.
I'm inclined, if I go with an Asus, to wait for them to get the G73sw in stock (it's on their website as backorder/pre-order status).

Still going back and forth trying to figure out what to get. Or where to get it.

Did not realise the Malibals were all Sager units at the base. Run into far too many people who loathe Sager's customer service and have had problems, so I guess that's out.

Hmm....

 

Sorry I didn't explain it that well. Malibals and Sagers are built off of a laptop barebones called the CLEVO (clevo is a Taiwanese company that sales the barebone systems to companies). That's why the Sager, Malibal, Ion, Falcon-Northwest, etc.. , all look the same.
CLEVO - Series

Anyways, Malibal assembles their own systems (just like Sager), but Malibal does not do any repairs. You go through Malibal for Customer Service, but when you send a laptop to Malibal for repair, they in return send it off to Sager. That's when the Hierarchy of Sager vs Non-Sager kicks in.

Just letting you know your options. I found out the same info when I was shopping around for laptops back in December.

Good luck

 

thanks for the suggestion alex. 3 months no question ask return policy is excellent. i havent seen anything like this in uk. laptop prices especially high end laptop prices r sky high in uk, thanks to different taxes and vat. i spoke to toshiba rep and he told me £1949 for the machine which i purchased from pc world for £1200. i m sure new toshiba with sb would be of same price. it takes good 4-6 months easily for the prices to drop down in retail shops so i guess its a good 5 months wait for me from now on. i dont know anyone in usa so i cant go for that route either. once again thanks a lot for ur suggestion.

i can understand ur agony as well. $100 extra for so many upgrades was a bloody good deal. i m feeling sorry for u now that sb recal spoiled ur purchase but well, i m sure u will enjoy ur qosmio more than ever once u will get it after such a long period of agony and wait. best of luck....

 

Might I direct you gentlemen to the Acer 8943G or it's as of yet unarrived Sandy Bridge successor, the 8950G.

Very similar in specs to the Qosmio. The only real problem reported is a wi-fi drop issue that was fixed with a driver update. That and for some inexplicable reason, US models received a second hard drive bay cover that is too small to fit an actual second hard drive (the non US models apparently don't have this problem and some people have been ordering replacement plastic covers from Canada as a solution).

I was about to pull the trigger on the 8950G before the Sandy Bridge recall hit, then actually did pull the trigger on the Qosmio only to be told a week later they were sold out, and have been left laptopless for weeks now as my old laptop finally gave up the ghost and died for good. (God help me I've been using an android phone for all of my home web surfing for weeks now).

The 8950G when it comes back on sale is a pretty awesome bargain for what you get ($1599). Sandy bridge quad core, 1920x1080 18.4 inch screen (better than the Qosmios), 8 gigs of ram, and a 750gb hard drive all in a lighter and better looking package than the Qosmio. The only problem is of course the DDR3 6850 graphics card which Acer cheaped out on instead of a full DDR5 card.

Since I've been without so long, the laptop withdraw symptoms have almost faded, so I'm willing to wait a little bit longer for Sandy Bridge and the Radeon HD6970 on the Clevo/Sager P170HM. A quad core sandy bridge P170HM with a HD6970 with 8 gigs of ram, 750gb hard drive is going to be less than 1800 dollars. I figure giving up 1.1 inches of screen real estate for a graphics card that is twice as powerful is probably worth it.

 

Thanks for the heads up cmdjing. The ACER looks like a good competitor to the 18.4" market. It's specs are better than the Qosmio in almost everyway (however, liek you said, inferior GPU).

Looks sleek, metal chassis, comes with 1080p screen (1080p avail on higher end Qosmios). Price is still up there ($1600). My Qosmio q8102 was $1500. Still not 100% sold on the ACER brand (I have an Aspire that craped out about 1 month after the 1 yr warranty); but I'm enticed by the 8950G.

If the Qosmios don't come out soon, I might be going this route. We'll see!

 

The only thing I see wrong with the Acer is it gets bloody hot for that GPU. The 8943G I saw a review for was like 93c on the GPU. And if the 8950G is going to have the 6850m, which is a slightly under clocked 5850m thats going to be hot too. Just something I came across. I never had a Acer laptop or a Toshiba either. Girlfriend has a Toshiba and it does get quite warm to me on the bottom and the fan runs pretty hard when your using it. And yes, Ive cleaned out the fan and vent. I havent repasted it yet, but might have too. I was looking at the Toshiba's for gaming. But I went ahead and got the MSI GX660 for a steal in a open box package.

 

MY SUSPICIONS WERE CORRECT!!!!
Toshiba WILL change the model name on FIXED SB Qosmios!!!
[Just like Toshibadirect changed the q930S to q930 X ]

Newegg just got in the Qosmio x505 - q8100 X [just like q8100 but has fixed chipset; Walmart should get in trouble for what they tried pulling].

Though, it's pricier [but no Sales Tax]. $1299.
Newegg.com - TOSHIBA Qosmio X505-Q8100X NoteBook Intel Core i5 2410M(2.30GHz) 18.4" 4GB Memory DDR3 1333 500GB HDD 7200rpm DVD Super Multi NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M


And YES! It says 1680 x 945 screen .

 

Here's a few other sites with the q8100 X

Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q8100X 18.4" Notebook PC - Omega Black in PC Notebook Computers at JR.com

Buy.com - Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q8100x 18.4" Notebook, Intel Core i5-2410M Processor (2.3GHz up to 2.9GHz with Turbo Boost), 4GB DDR3 Memory, 500GB (7200rpm) HDD, DVD Super Multi-Drive, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit (Black)

 

It figures ...!!

Right on the heels of me returning that one to Walmart. I'm guessing I won't see the money on my PayPal credit card for another few days.

Dammit !!!

 

Just ordered the now-in-stock at Amazon G73SW-XA1, overnight shipping, for right at $1400. I'll take my third (and if this doesn't work, final) stab at Asus.

Mercifully, the returned Qosmio refund hit my credit card this morning.

 

Good luck with that, jms.

Let us know how things work out.

 

Square Trade says that Asus actually has the lowest rate of problems of all the manufacturers. That's disturbing, since I'm 0-for-2 in terms of non-defective Asus machines. Guess I'm Just (and this will define me as a pen-and-paper roleplayer) "rolling 1s". Hopefully that ends with this unit.

I'll let folks know once I get it. First test: is the screen defective? (that was unit one) Next: installing programs. Do they freeze the machine during install and then, if it does install, when executed (unit two)? If it passes those two tests, I will be turning cartwheels (er, not literally, Gawd that'd be a sight).

Otherwise, if this one is defective too, I'm just going to cough up the cash for the Qosmio 8104x when it comes out, or buy the Alienware (I can configure it out at around $1800). Both of those would be more than i wanted to spend, but at this point, if this Asus doesn't work, I'm ready to spend more just to get something that actually works. So we'll see in the next day or two, when the Asus gets here...

 

I too am thinking of buying the q8104X over the q8102X

Just maybe....

 

Also don't forget to test it for the keyboard lag and the dropped keys that we've been hearing about.

I'm curious myself about those problems that they claim have plagued every G73 model that's come out.

 

Well, Amazon just shipped it, so it will be here tomorrow. UPS usually delivers here late, so it'll probably be around 5pm tomorrow when it gets here.

As soon as the set-up is done, I'm throwing Forsaken World (mmorpg) at it -- see if it installs it and runs it successfully. Once I get past that, I'll check the rest and report back on how it goes.

(fingers crossed, prayers made, virgins sacrificed... er, scratch that last one)

 

Looked at the one at Buy.com ....

Tell me, are they going to change the designation of the chipset from HM65 (the faulty one) to something else or is it going to remain "HM65"? I only ask because if you scroll down and check out the chipset it says, clear as day, HM65

Is this right?

Do we have to take a chance each and every time we order and check if it's truly the B3 ourselves? Shouldn't a fixed system state "B3 Stepping" or something similar to take out all the guess work, hesitation, and trepidation?

 

I think the Cougar Point chipset is still "HM65", it's just revision-version 3.

I do agree, it would help greatly if OEMs and Manufacturers would explicitly state if it had the fixed chipset or not.

**EDIT**
I was just looking at Toshibadirect. It looks like all the Sandy Bridge laptops have an "X" at the end of the model name (Satellites and Qosmio). I guess that's our only way of knowing if it's fixed or not.

 

Well then .... I think I'll take another stab at this and order one.

 

Good luck!! Let us know how it turns out!

Let us know how that turns out too! I'm still interested in how the G73s work and if the problems are still existent.

 

When you get your Qosmios, try using CPU-Z to see if it is B2 or B3 revision.

CPUID - System & hardware benchmark, monitoring, reporting

 

Well, here's the scoop: don't buy Asus.
My THIRD Asus laptop got here yesterday. And it has the same installer problems the second unit had -- the machine freezes during install, even of windows updates. I couldn't successfully complete any updates at all. I tried restoring it to factory setting using the recovery disks -- twice. Didn't matter. The problem remained. What's the use of a laptop that won't let you install anything or update the operating system with security updates?

So, it goes to UPS tomorrow morning with the Amazon RMA. And with it goes my tolerance for Asus, once and for all.

So: I will probably order a Qosmio or Alienware and just put up with having to pay more for the same specs. At least I have confidence that either of those will actually WORK out of the box.

I cannot begin to put into words how much utter contempt and disgust I have with Asus right now.

 

Sorry again for the bad news jms (0-3 from different retailers is pretty bad in my books).

I too have had problems with ASUS, and have contacted their CS and they could care less. I bought a ASUS mobo that died [no overclocking], but forgot to register my warranty. I had receipt proving it was still under 18 months old [3 yr warranty], but none cared. I know MY FAULT. [I actually don't get it, people praise ASUS, but those same people also admit their laptops have many problems].

Anyways, you should be good with either an Alienware or Qosmio. I would buy it, play around for a couple weeks, and then buy an Express or Onsite warranty (in fact Alienware (Dell) comes standard with Onsite warranty; might be worth the extra premium).

Good luck, and let us know what you decide.

 

Some Sager's come with 4 year warranty, JSUK.

And my experiences with ASUS have been all great. I had a CPU fail on me, but thought it was my MOBO. They replaced it no problem, it was 2 years after purchase.

But I have checked out the Asus laptops at the store and wasn't TOOO impressed, so I stayed away this round...

 

I saw Square Trade's #s, which make Asus the least-troubled maker, yet I can't seem to get one that isn't defective out-of-the-box. It's ridiculous. So, for me, at least, I'm done with them.

Qosmio or Alienware. One of the two. Depends mostly on the price I can arrange.

 

Damn, between the bad dropped keys problems i've had while trying out g73s, the horror stories with asus indy support and your 3rd times not the charm I think I'll pass on asus too.

Right now either the qosmio, alienware or MSI gt680r are my leading candidates. The MSI doesn't look bad at all.

 

Wow .... That really does suck.

Being a first time laptop buyer makes me really leary when I hear these kind of stories. Sorry for your luck jms. To think I actually considered an Asus G73 when I first started looking makes me glad I went with Toshiba.

Hopefully I'll have no horror stories to add when it finally arrives some time next week.

Let us know what you finally decide to get and how it works out. Good luck!

 

Looks like maybe some of the CPU reporting software doesn't "correctly?" report B2 or B3 stepping.... or maybe it does.....

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/562877-b3-b2-r3-really-confused-me.html

Just something to be aware of

 

Just dropped it off with UPS, to go back to Amazon.
Mercifully, Amazon is awesome about returns (all returns, not just defective ones).

Qosmio or Alienware. Does anyone have experience with Dell XPS? I'm a little skeptical, especially since the Nvidia 555 card uses DDR3 ram instead of DDR5. Do they have overheating troubles, poor build, etc?

Sadly, while i've had good luck in the past with HP, they have nothing that configures well. For whatever reason, their Envy line doesn't even offer a 7200RPM drive?!

 

I haven't heard anything bad about the XPS (nor anything good. I haven't heard anything about the XPS ).

Looks like the XPS are possibly shipping with affected chipsets....
http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-xps-studio-xps/562138-dell-xps-17-l702x-thread-21.html

As for the HP, i say NO! Until they redesign their heating issues, I say forget them....


===================================================================================
**EDIT**

Looks like people aren't relying on the CPU reporting softwares (HWinfo, CPU-Z). You have the check the B2/B3 stepping by Dos-prompt.

Check these links:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-xps-studio-xps/562138-dell-xps-17-l702x-thread-19.html#post7267787

And
http://www.intel.co.jp/Assets/PDF/specupdate/324646.pdf


Also this:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/7243925-post543.html


Do the quoted instructions to find the revision by Command Prompt. Should give you definite answer for b2 or b3 stepping.

 

Not considering HP (even if I did, their current configurations for their Envy line don't include a reasonable 7200RPM drive, which is just bizarre).

I'm looking at Alienware and Qosmio, though I strayed over to the Dell XPS 17. Never thought about Dell, nor have I used one. I prefer the video options on the Alienware... but the XPS, loaded up nicely, is something like $300 less than the Alienware. Grr...

This would be easy if I could just scoop up an X505-Q898 or -Q896 someplace, but those are all "discontinued" or "out of stock".

The other weird thing? Go to ToshibaDirect.com. They still list those units. I tried to buy the -Q896 this morning -- the "add this to your cart" link goes to a screen saying "this unit has been discontinued". I then checked -- literally all the Qosmios except the newest one are "discontinued" and not for sale. So rather than the 4 Qosmio models their website says are available -- there's just 1. They haven't bothered pulling down the other 3, even though they're not actually available for sale. That's really crappy of them. If i can't buy it -- don't show it to me. Grrr....

Does anyone know when they plan to roll out a full line of Qosmios with the new processors? Right now, it's just what i expect to be the top-of-the-line at $1899.

 

Hilarious. I must have caught ToshibaDirect while they were resetting their website. They now show only the 1 new unit.

Talk about odd timing.

 

Looks like they pulled the older models today (they had them up yesterday; I only see the q930X). Hopefully this means they will be releasing the other SB models soon.

As for the q896 and q898, most places are OVERPRICED, except for newegg. They recently sold otu of the q898 @ 1799. HOWEVER, Newegg also has the q8104 for sale, but I don't trust it [Non X-version. I contacted newegg they told me they will not guarantee which version it is, recalled or fixed version].


I have a theory on why the q930X is released with SB and the other models are not. I think it is because the 930X was only being sold by Toshibadirect at teh time, whereas the other SB models were available at many retailers. Thus, the 930X supply was easier to manage and fix, whereas everything else had to be gathered up, shipped, then fixed.


Hopefully they come out soon. I actually have the money to buy a 930X, but not only is it more than I wanted to spend, but It has more than I need (only want 1 Harddrive, only need 945P screen, don't need Windows PRO).
The q8102 I bought was only $1499; VASTLY cheaper!

The wait continues......

 

The irony is, if they had a, for lack of better words, 920x right now, at what I figure would be $1599-$1699, it would probably be configured the way I want (or could live with)... and I'd spring for it right now. I just can't seem to spring for the 'after tax this goes over $2k' of the 930x.
I saw that on NewEgg, and it seemed kinda phony. Among other things, the q8104 is a repeat of the q8100 -- in some places, it states 1080p, in others it says 945p. Not going into that mess again (not to mention the whole issue of whether it was recalled/fixed or not).

So, the wait (as you already said) goes on. Whichever happens first, wins: Dell puts out a coupon (logicbuy's my favorite place for those) for a bit off the Alienware; Toshiba actually lists more Qosmio than just the 1 right now.

 

F***ed once more!!!!!

DO NOT purchase from Buy.com

Apparently they enjoy screwing people over by advertising one thing and then selling you another.

You guys know that the page was advertising an X505-Q8100 X, right?

Well .... forget about it! It's just the average Q8100 with the faulty chipset.

Checked it with both CPU-Z and running the CMD command.

Getting an RMA as soon as I finish posting and now THIS one is going back as well!

Looks like I'm in the same boat as you, jms.

Even though I'm not a gamer .... maybe I should look into the Alienware myself. It's either that or go back to a Dell. I really liked the large screen and the solid feel of the Qosmio. I trust the average consensus that Toshiba's are reliable ..... But I'm just getting tired of the underhanded tactics that places like Walmart and now Buy.com are trying to pull on us.

Is it sooo damned hard to be honest with the people that are actually your livelihood? For their deceit, I'm never buying from them again.

Way to win over a new customer, Buy.com!!!

 

Wow, maybe we need to wait and let everyone else buy all the old stock....

This sucks!!!

 

Hm. Yeah, this whole situation is incredibly irritating... I mean, seriously, how freakin' hard is it to just buy a good gaming laptop that actually WORKS and is what they claim it to be?

I'd hop on the Alienware bandwagon the moment i can configure one just a little lower -- or a Toshiba, once they get around to posting more than the 1 type of Qosmio.

Ugh. What a mess this has been...

 

What a mess indeed!

You know, it's a damned shame .... All I wanted was to cosolidate me area and replace my ten dying (now completely dead) desktop for something compact yet powerful. Little did I know I'd be caught up in all this BS. Makes me wonder if I should abandon my plan and just get another bulky desktop

:SIGH:

 

The only common factor is the Sandy Bridge chip. What a mess Intel created....

If you go SB desktop, I don;t know if I'd expect anything different.

 

True.

Guess I'm screwed either way.