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[AMDinside]

Hey everyone.  I want your opinions here.

I recently received an email from newegg with a promotion.  It is $100 off an Asus F3 laptop.  Bringing the price down to $1000.  This seems like a fairly good price for the specs...
Operating System      Windows Vista Home Premium
CPU Type    Intel Core 2 Duo T7100 1.8G
Screen    15.4" WXGA
Memory Size    1GB DDR2
Hard Disk    160GB
Optical Drive    DVD Super Multi
Graphics Card    ATI Mobility Radeon X2500
Video Memory    128MB
Communication    Modem, Gigabit LAN and WLAN
Card slot    1 x Express Card
Dimensions    14.2" x 10.5" x 1.1-1.6"
Weight    6.5 lbs.
Other Features    Carry Bag
Splendid Technology
Power 4 Gear+
Instant Fun Plus
Touch pad Lock
30days Zero Bright Dot LCD
2-way standard overnight Free shipping for warranty service

I presently have a 3 year old Gateway M505X.  It still works well, but its age is starting to show. 

Do you think it is worth replacing?  And are Asus laptops good quality products?

[PsiFire]

Asus hardware are usually hardcore and hard to beat. Good warranty and good performance. My buddy (some of you know him as FattyBoomBatty) has an Asus laptop and, while I haven't seen him using it recently, I believe he liked/likes it.

I'm a little behind on the specs vs cost ratio and what is good for the price, but those are some decent looking specs. Price seems high for laptops nowadays but for a good set of specs like that, it might be on par.

[AMDinside]

It is a little high, but I believe that is due to the discrete graphics and the fact that it is an Asus.

Build up a similar system from Dell or HP and the price will be very close.  I like the 2 year warranty on this system, whereas most others are only 1 year.

In fact, I just built a system on dells site.  It came to about $1250 with a slower processor (dell offered 1.66 and 2.0, not the 1.8 )

[AMDinside]

Well, I just discovered that the X2500 graphics card is NOT DX10 compatible.  That basically ruins the whole point of getting a new laptop.  I may as well wait until I can get a DX10 laptop at the price I am looking to spend.

[Popsikle]

Well, I just discovered that the X2500 graphics card is NOT DX10 compatible.  That basically ruins the whole point of getting a new laptop.  I may as well wait until I can get a DX10 laptop at the price I am looking to spend.

Getting a DX10 card thats DECENT on a laptop will be a pricey venture, I feel.

[coldflame]

8400's are on laptops...

[Detonator]

to be honest, i'd consider waiting a bit. in sept AMD will start releasing their tri-core systems along w/ more of their quad's. In oct., both Intel & AMD will be releasing all their new processor lines, bringing down their prices even more. For $1,000 you can do much better. Asus is a very good company, but for the price they're offering, i'd hold off... even though prices always change every 6 weeks.

[coldflame]

Agreed with Deto..
Yay for Tri-core

[AMDinside]

Yeah, I've decided to wait until I can find a system with a DX10 graphics card.  My laptop still works fine, so it's not like I need one right now.

Thanks for the help guys.

[AMDinside]

Ok, I decided to finally upgrade my laptop.  I found a great deal on Newegg for a laptop with a DX10 compatible graphics card.  Specs are as follows...

Model
Brand    ASUS
Series    F3 Series
Model    F3KA-X1
Part#    90NPNA1831884CQL600Y
General
Operating System    Windows Vista Home Premium
CPU Type    AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-56 (1.8GHz)
Screen    15.4" WXGA
Memory Size    1GB DDR2
Hard Disk    120GB
Optical Drive    DVD Super Multi
Graphics Card    ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600
Video Memory    512MB
Communication    Modem, Gigabit LAN and WLAN
Card slot    1 x Express Card
Dimensions    14.2" x 10.5" x 1.1-1.6"
Weight    6 lbs.
CPU
CPU Type    AMD Turion 64 X2
CPU Speed    TL-56(1.80GHz)
CPU L2 Cache    1MB
Chipset
Chipset    AMD M690G
Display
Screen Size    15.4"
Wide Screen Support    Yes
Display Type    Wide XGA
Resolution    1280 x 800
Operating Systems
Operating System    Windows Vista Home Premium
Graphics
GPU/VPU    ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600
Video Memory    Dedicated 512MB
Graphic Type    Dedicated Card
Hard Drive
HD Capacity    120GB
HD RPM    5400rpm
HD Interface    SATA
Memory
Memory Speed    DDR2 667
Memory Size    1GB
Max Memory Supported    4GB
Memory Spec    1GB x 1
Optical Drive
Optical Drive Type    DVD Super Multi
Optical Drive Interface    Integrated
Communications
Modem    56K
LAN    10/100/1000Mbps
WLAN    802.11b/g Wireless LAN
Bluetooth    Yes
Ports
Card Slot    1 x Express Card
USB    4
IEEE 1394    1
Video Port    1 x S-Video TV-out, 1 x DVI
Audio Ports    1 x Microphone jack; 1 x Headphone jack
Audio
Audio    Integrated Sound card
Speaker    Internal Speakers
Input Device
Touchpad    Yes
Keyboard    Standard
Supplemental Drive
Card Reader    8-in-1 Card Reader
Webcam    1.3 Megapixel Swivel Camera
Power
Battery    6-cell lithium ion
Physical spec
Dimensions    14.2" x 10.5" x 1.1-1.6"
Weight    6 lbs.
Manufacturer Warranty
Accidental Damage Warranty    1 year ASUS Accidental Damage Warranty - Drops, Fire, Spill, Surge for purchase after 9/10/07
Parts    2 years limited
Labor    2 years limited

All  for the low low price of $939.99, not bad huh.

[coldflame]

I dunno

[AMDinside]

Better than what I have now.

[coldflame]

Try Dell...

[Detonator]

Try Dell...

coldflame.....all of us in here know that Dell = PoS in the market. Asus, will run "circles" around Dell any day of the week & twice on sundays. Dell is reputable for its cheapest pc's, not its reliability

[coldflame]

Yeah
I thought you were going for cheapo
Although, to be fair, my Dell Laptop kicked a lot of ass in its time