Buying new notebook, which to choose: Vaio vgn-sz48, Asus W7J, Asus V1JP or? [Archive]

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MrGaribaldi

11-Mar-2007, 10:04

I've decided not to buy a new notebook for now, but rather wait a few months and see what comes out.
Thank you for reading though!

If a mod would delete this thread, that'd be nice. Unless there is some interest to discuss which notebooks would be more suited for long battery life and graphics programming.

Hello, instead of continuing to hijack my thread about the X2300 I decided to create a new one here.

I am looking to buy a new notebook that should last me some time, allowing me to program 3D games/shaders (which is what I study in Singapore) and play current/future games whilst not chaining me to a power outlet, nor break my back. Wishful thinking you say? Just wait 'til you've seen the specs I want...

Ideal:
Intel Core 2 Duo T7200, 2GB 667 DDR2, GeForce Go 7400+/mobile Radeon X1400+ (256mb dedicated), 14.1 WXGA White LED, DVD writer (Region free/mod-able)*, 100+ GB SATA, Gigabit network, integrated wireless, fingerprint scanner (it contains my life), 2 years global warranty.
Weight < 2.5kg. Price < 4000 SGD. Sturdy (pre non-plastic) construction.

Current contenders:

Asus V1JP (http://sg.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=5&l2=24&l3=330&model=1526&modelmenu=2):
Cons: Not enough ram, 2.7 kg, and short battery life
Pros: 15.4 WXGA
Asus W7J (http://sg.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=5&l2=24&l3=297&model=1142&modelmenu=2)
Cons: Not enough ram, slow ram (557), slow cpu.
Pros: Light Weight < 2kg, comes with extra 6 cell battery if bought within 3 hours
Sony Vaio VGN-SZ48 (http://vaio-online.sony.com/prod_info/vgn-sz48gn_c/specifications.html)
Cons: Not enough ram, slow ram, dvd region hardware locked
Pros: If bought within 3 hours, comes with extra 7800mAh battery. Allows for switching between integrated graphics and GeForce Go 7400. Weight only 1.69kg.

*not a must, though it would be nice to be able to rent dvds anywhere in the world and watch them on the pc. Especially since it seems I'll move to a new continent every other year for the next 4 years.

Graham

11-Mar-2007, 11:03

MrGaribaldi

11-Mar-2007, 11:41

Don't know how many times I've recommended this,

but....

Asus A8JS (http://1toppc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=A8JS). Just take a look at those specs... In a 14" (a bloody high res one too). Doesn't have a fingerprint reader though

I'd imagine you could find one at sim lim :P Although buying it would be the tricky bit, walking in there is like wearing a giant flashing target.

Hehe, yeah, I was looking at it, but they are apparently sold out right now (according to Asus), and won't be back in stock for a couple of weeks... It's an IT show here in S'pore right now, and they had a special deal on it.

Sim lim is an adventure as you say... Walking in there, at least the first 10 shops will think you're a tourist without any idea of price or tech and very persistenly try to waste your money.. But then again, that's half the fun (until the third time you come back to check price/availability)...
And being an Ang mo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ang_Mo) makes it hard to get a good price..

Graham

11-Mar-2007, 13:08

Sim lim is an adventure as you say... Walking in there, at least the first 10 shops will think you're a tourist without any idea of price or tech and very persistenly try to waste your money.. But then again, that's half the fun (until the third time you come back to check price/availability)...
And being an Ang mo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ang_Mo) makes it hard to get a good price..

When I was there I initially made the mistake of going into the sim lim tower, not the square. Needless to say I was a tad disappointed. But yes, the square is awesome fun. They are all such utter and total dodgy bastards. Trying so hard to get you to buy 3 year old models, etc. I actually got a couple of them really angry with me when I started trying to cut them down to US equivalent internet prices. Pay less for a 3 year old model!? How could you know!, the box is this years model!! :razz:
The most fun was asking where their competitors were. (I'd done a lot of web research before I went :)

I loved Singapore. Awesome place. Too many people though :-( A few people I met were so desperate to get away, to the extent I had a security guard ask me to marry her (after meeting her a couple of minutes before). :frown:

MrGaribaldi

11-Mar-2007, 13:52

When I was there I initially made the mistake of going into the sim lim tower, not the square. Needless to say I was a tad disappointed. But yes, the square is awesome fun. They are all such utter and total dodgy bastards. Trying so hard to get you to buy 3 year old models, etc. I actually got a couple of them really angry with me when I started trying to cut them down to US equivalent internet prices. Pay less for a 3 year old model!? How could you know!, the box is this years model!! :razz:
The most fun was asking where their competitors were. (I'd done a lot of web research before I went :)

It's easy to get confused there! Took me quite some time to find it the first time I went there.
And yes, they would love to sell you something which looks like one thing, but really is another.
Which is why I insists on seeing the inside before I buy anything there.. (Sometimes it's not an old model, it's a completly different manufacturer in a branded case (apparently not to uncommon for cameras there)).
When I went there to buy a new phone, they tried to convince me an old Nokia was a new one (until I told them I had that one back in 2003-2004)... Let's just say that they didn't get my money ;)

I loved Singapore. Awesome place. Too many people though :-( A few people I met were so desperate to get away, to the extent I had a security guard ask me to marry her (after meeting her a couple of minutes before). :frown:

WoW! I never heard of that before in Singapore... In Vietnam I got quite a few offers, but I thought things were better here..

And can't really say I feel it's that crowded here... (Ok the IT show today was packed, but that is not the usual experience... ) Though I do miss the wide open spaces of the norwegian mountains...

Graham

11-Mar-2007, 14:11

WoW! I never heard of that before in Singapore... In Vietnam I got quite a few offers, but I thought things were better here..

And can't really say I feel it's that crowded here... (Ok the IT show today was packed, but that is not the usual experience... ) Though I do miss the wide open spaces of the norwegian mountains...

Don't get me wrong, it's a wonderful place. But I could personally see myself getting very claustrophobic living there for more than the 3 weeks I stayed, I'm more accustomed to small towns/cities. I can understand why she in particular wanted out... Probably didn't have any money, no foreign travel documents, no chance of moving up in her job.. I got the feeling that for her to be unemployed by choice would be socially unacceptable - ie take what you can get.. I think there were more security guards (at 3am) for our hotel than actual guests - it was a NTU hotel, and during academic holidays. But then again I only spoke for a few minutes, so I probably misjudged it.

MrGaribaldi

11-Mar-2007, 15:15

Don't get me wrong, it's a wonderful place. But I could personally see myself getting very claustrophobic living there for more than the 3 weeks I stayed, I'm more accustomed to small towns/cities. I can understand why she in particular wanted out... Probably didn't have any money, no foreign travel documents, no chance of moving up in her job.. I got the feeling that for her to be unemployed by choice would be socially unacceptable - ie take what you can get.. I think there were more security guards (at 3am) for our hotel than actual guests - it was a NTU hotel, and during academic holidays. But then again I only spoke for a few minutes, so I probably misjudged it.

Ok, I think I see what you mean. I've been down here for a year now, and don't really have a problem with it. At times it can be crowded, and I am often annoyed at how slow and akward people are walking (I like to walk quickly), but all in all it's pretty good.

And yes, at times there are more staff than visitors here, but aside from being hunted by shop staff who want to help/sell you things, I don't see that as too much of a problem. (Ignoring what it might say about salary levels and the like)