Opinions wanted - ASUS G1

[Megatomic]

All right guys, I searched but the age old broken search syndrome kept me getting the goods I need.

Next month, when I get my yearly bonus from my employer, I'm going to be buying a new laptop to replace the heap I'm currently using (see sig link). I have just about settled on an ASUS G1 linkage. It has everything I think I'm going to need for the next few years barring DX10 support. But I'm not that much of a gamer anymore so I don't feel the undying need for a DX10 GPU. As long as I can play Spore when it comes out I'll be good.

The posted reviews at Newegg are really flattering to the G1, but I've seen little to no talk about them on Notebookreview.com or laptoplogic.com. What does AT think about this machine? Is it worth the $1800? Is there something else in that price range I should evaluate before making my final decision?

Things I need from my new laptop:

higher end C2D processor (T7200 is my sweet spot)
2GB RAM
dedicated GPU and VRAM
large HDD
good WIFI
widescreen LCD of high quality (15.4" is great, I don't want a huge machine)
sturdy construction

If there is another laptop out there that matches the G1 I'd love to know about it. Thanks for the feedback and any possible linkage you can provide.

 

[Brainonska511]

You can get it from here: http://proportable.com/detail.aspx?ID=196 - preinstalled with Vista Home Premium.

I don't think there is too much out there that would fall into the same category as the G1. There are a handful of notebooks that are smaller and have slightly worse or equal graphics, but as far as 15.4" notebooks go, the G1 is probably the nicest for gaming.

 

[Megatomic]

Yeah, Newegg has one preconfigured with Vista for the same price. I'm just not 100% sold on Vista yet, I'd rather get XP and move up later when I'm ready.

 

[Imyourzero]

I don't know man. The G1 is nice, but it looks like you can save some cash by going with another one and just adding another gig of RAM. There are several others with the T7200 and X1700/Go 7700 graphics, and are a few hundred $$ less than the G1...

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: Imyourzero
I don't know man. The G1 is nice, but it looks like you can save some cash by going with another one and just adding another gig of RAM. There are several others with the T7200 and X1700/Go 7700 graphics, and are a few hundred $$ less than the G1...

i agree. here's a 14.1" Asus ($1288) with almost the same specs (120GB drive, X1700 gpu, 1gb ram) and the 15.4" version ($1448) of the asus i just posted. if you want to keep the 7700Go, here's the link ($1548) for the 1gb version. only the $1548 one (the one with the 7700) comes with 1x1gb for the ram; the other two come with 2x512mb

you can get either 1gb of DDR2-667 ram for under $80 from newegg, or get a 2gb kit between $170-195 (choice of g.skill, corsair, mushkin). even if you don't sell the ram from the $1288 laptop, your total cost is going to be under $1500 at the total expense of losing 40GB of HDD space (going from 160->120GB). plus, it's a 14" screen so it's lighter

 

[Megatomic]

alimoalem, that 14.1" model with the 7700 GPU looks ok, but I'm not sure I actually want to lose the screen real estate to save a pound or so. I'll be using it mostly at home so the weight reduction is inconsequential...

I'll keep that model in mind though, thanks dude. :thumbsup:

On second thought, that might actually be a good way to go. I could wait until I got the laptop to look at the DIMM that comes with the computer and buy one exactly like it. And save a couple hundred bucks in the process. Good call man, my wife will like that one.

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: Megatomic
alimoalem, that 14.1" model with the 7700 GPU looks ok, but I'm not sure I actually want to lose the screen real estate to save a pound or so. I'll be using it mostly at home so the weight reduction is inconsequential...

I'll keep that model in mind though, thanks dude. :thumbsup:

On second thought, that might actually be a good way to go. I could wait until I got the laptop to look at the DIMM that comes with the computer and buy one exactly like it. And save a couple hundred bucks in the process. Good call man, my wife will like that one.

glad to know i could help

if you won't be gaming so much, dropping down to the MR X1700 with a 15.4" screen wouldn't be bad, either. it's the $1450 one i think. it'll only lose you 2-3fps but you do keep the screen real estate. it's up to you.

 

[Megatomic]

In my limited experience with linux, NV chips are better supported so I'll stick with NV. I have plans to use linux extensively in the near future. That's another reason why I'm not jumping right onto the Vista bandwagon - my beta testing experiences were less than positive.

 

[Imyourzero]

Yep, I would go with the 7700 Go...it looks to be faster than the X1700 anyway.

And as far as saving money, if you're willing to budge on the T7200 and step down to a lower-clocked CD or C2D like the 1.83 or 1.66, you can save even more and might not even notice much of a difference.

 

[Megatomic]

I don't really want to lower the CPU below the T7200. This is going to be my only system for the next 3 years or more, so I would like it to pack all the punch I can afford right off. If I could find an ASUS with a T7600 I'd probably get it....

 

[SaoFeng]

i'm looking at this asus g1 laptop too...here it is at BB:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp...=g1+asus&type=product&id=1168045345063

Is there anything better for the same price??

 

[jdoggg12]

excaliberpc.com Has it AK024C model vs the AK020C-B you find at best buy. Its the same price but comes with an mx518, backpack, better warranty, and you're not supporting BB
http://www.excaliberpc.com/ASUS_G1-AK02...1231211CAL400T/partinfo-id-574476.html

 

[imported_Reject]

I was looking at the G1 and the A8JS. The only noticeable differences between the two (other than the A8JS being 14.1" and the G1 being 15.4") is that the G1 comes standard with 2GB RAM, the A8JS has Bluetooth as an option, while the G1 is standard, and that the G1 only has a PCMCIA Type II slot, whereas the A8JS has an ExpressCard.

What broke me down and made me buy the G1 over the A8JS (even though I was looking for a 14.1" originally) was the availability of dedicated media buttons on the G1 (which are also on the A8JS, but in a more awkward position), along with a better webcam, as the A8JS is .3MP, and the G1 1.3MP. Both have DVI-D, so, if you have an HDTV, you'll experience great quality. G1 is 1680x1050, A8JS is 1440x900.

Pretty much came down to design, as they're functionally the same. G1's little LCD display above the keypad also helped in the decision making.

Great prices are available at the following sites, both for the G1 and the A8JS:

Differences between the AK020C (Best Buy) and the AK024C (ones below):
AK020C - SuperMulti, DVD+-RW/CD-RW drive
AK024C - LightScribe/Dual Layer drive, Targus backpack, Asus optical mouse (Logitech rebranded)

G1:
http://www.ajump.com/ajump/product.asp?dept%5Fid=4210&pf%5Fid=1840168 ($1,785.00; on back order 3/11/07; free shipping; biz is on the west coast, so for you late EST buyers, they'll ship same day -- tell Jerry the G1 guy says, 'hi')
http://www.xoticpc.com/product_info.php?products_id=1877 (base is $1,830.82, but they price match and customize upon request)
http://www.excaliberpc.com/ASUS_G1-AK02...1231211CAL400T/partinfo-id-574476.html (as jdoggg12 stated - $1,795.00, on back order 3/11/07)
http://www.btotech.com/store/products/laptops/ensemble/g1/G1-AK024C.htm (in stock, $1,799 price is after rebate)
http://www.infotechnow.com/shop/shoppin...m=shop&act=listbody&ct_no=7&pr_no=4684 (lowest price at $1,749.99, but not on a secure checkout server)

A8JS:
http://www.xoticpc.com/product_info.php/cPath/95_51_163/products_id/1662 (base $1,549.75, but customizable and they price match)
http://www.infotechnow.com/shop/shoppin...m=shop&act=listbody&ct_no=7&pr_no=4680 ($1,459.99)
http://www.btotech.com/store/products/laptops/ensemble/a8j/A8JS-4S024C.htm ($1,499.00)
http://www.ajump.com/ajump/product.asp?dept%5Fid=4210&pf%5Fid=2840168 (back order 3/11/07, $1473.00, free shipping)

 

[demenion]

Get the G1 if you care about the screen quality.

(old A8Js owner)

 

[otispunkmeyer]

G1 is a great machine, much the same as the much more expensive ASUS lambo VX2 and it comes with a tasty, well made targus back pack.

its a machine im considering too. (along with others in the ASUS range, MBP 15.4, iMac 20inch and now a shuttle based system) but i have a hard time agreeing with that styling. its just a bit meh and the lime green is a bit ungainly. also its made completely of plastic.

from what i have read its built like a brick ****** house, the plastics are of the highest quality and its overall build puts some more expensive machines (with other materials like aluminium) to shame which is good, but for me, from an asthetics standpoint plastics dont always float ma boat.

 

[SaoFeng]

i got mine. it's awesome!
i wanted to get an extra battery....anyone konw where i can get one?

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: SaoFeng
i got mine. it's awesome!
i wanted to get an extra battery....anyone konw where i can get one?

Check out Asus resellers, like ProPortable or MilestonePC.

 

[Scouzer]

Do NOT get an A8Js if you can help it. I have one, I'm typing on it right now, and I cannot wait to get rid of it.

/completely unsatisfied.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: Scouzer
Do NOT get an A8Js if you can help it. I have one, I'm typing on it right now, and I cannot wait to get rid of it.

/completely unsatisfied.

I would personally stay away from the A and F series laptops from Asus (I'm on a W3J right now). They are the value line and so it is basically like buying a Dell Inspiron. I've heard that the screens and general build are not to great on the A8J, which is unfortunate because it is a great little package.

 

[Brbnboy13]

Ordered mine end of last week. I can't wait to get mine. A few people I work with have it and they love it.

 

[erikistired]

i'm debating between the g1 and the s96j. i'm leaning toward the s96j tho.

 

[huynhc]

if you guys are wondering about the G1, there is a new release coming at the end of mayish that will include a bump in CPU to 2.16 ghz and will have Windows Vista ULTIMATE for around $200 more than Newegg's current price (comes with gaming mouse and backpack as well). I think the SKU is G1-AK035G (manufacturer's code). Google it for more details but its pretty much what I listed...

 

[maluckey]

huynhc,

It's true that you wouldn't want to buy a laptop today and find that in a few months that there is a faster CPU available at a cheaper proce, but with the G1 you can always upgrade the CPU. As you mentioned, you could wait and save 200 dollars and get a faster CPU (maybe), or you could just buy it and as you find the CPU to be inadequate, upgrade at a later date.

As far as gaming, the G1 is GPU limited not CPU limited. The 7700 is an evolutionary change to the 7600. One main difference is that nVidia shrunk the die and now the 7700 requires less power. It's only marginally faster than the 7600 equipped competition. In gaming, otherwise similar setups setups with a 7900 just blow the doors off the G1 and 7700 combo. It's not even a close race...

 

[GreenGhost]

Originally posted by: Reject
I was looking at the G1 and the A8JS. The only noticeable differences between the two (other than the A8JS being 14.1" and the G1 being 15.4") is that the G1 comes standard with 2GB RAM, the A8JS has Bluetooth as an option, while the G1 is standard, and that the G1 only has a PCMCIA Type II slot, whereas the A8JS has an ExpressCard.

What broke me down and made me buy the G1 over the A8JS (even though I was looking for a 14.1" originally) was the availability of dedicated media buttons on the G1 (which are also on the A8JS, but in a more awkward position), along with a better webcam, as the A8JS is .3MP, and the G1 1.3MP. Both have DVI-D, so, if you have an HDTV, you'll experience great quality. G1 is 1680x1050, A8JS is 1440x900.

Pretty much came down to design, as they're functionally the same. G1's little LCD display above the keypad also helped in the decision making.

Great prices are available at the following sites, both for the G1 and the A8JS:

Differences between the AK020C (Best Buy) and the AK024C (ones below):
AK020C - SuperMulti, DVD+-RW/CD-RW drive
AK024C - LightScribe/Dual Layer drive, Targus backpack, Asus optical mouse (Logitech rebranded)

G1:
http://www.ajump.com/ajump/product.asp?dept%5Fid=4210&pf%5Fid=1840168 ($1,785.00; on back order 3/11/07; free shipping; biz is on the west coast, so for you late EST buyers, they'll ship same day -- tell Jerry the G1 guy says, 'hi')
http://www.xoticpc.com/product_info.php?products_id=1877 (base is $1,830.82, but they price match and customize upon request)
http://www.excaliberpc.com/ASUS_G1-AK02...1231211CAL400T/partinfo-id-574476.html (as jdoggg12 stated - $1,795.00, on back order 3/11/07)
http://www.btotech.com/store/products/laptops/ensemble/g1/G1-AK024C.htm (in stock, $1,799 price is after rebate)
http://www.infotechnow.com/shop/shoppin...m=shop&act=listbody&ct_no=7&pr_no=4684 (lowest price at $1,749.99, but not on a secure checkout server)

A8JS:
http://www.xoticpc.com/product_info.php/cPath/95_51_163/products_id/1662 (base $1,549.75, but customizable and they price match)
http://www.infotechnow.com/shop/shoppin...m=shop&act=listbody&ct_no=7&pr_no=4680 ($1,459.99)
http://www.btotech.com/store/products/laptops/ensemble/a8j/A8JS-4S024C.htm ($1,499.00)
http://www.ajump.com/ajump/product.asp?dept%5Fid=4210&pf%5Fid=2840168 (back order 3/11/07, $1473.00, free shipping)

Great post!

Are these retailers reliable? Never heard of any of them. I'm buying it for work, so I'll loose control of the ordering process. Just wandering if someone has experiences with these guys.

 

[beyoku]

I hear the refresh at the end of May will include faster chip and direct x 10 grafix.
Also may include a new screen on the A models.