WTK: Asus Laptop from Newegg...is it any good?

[wickedestman]

well guys here is the deal on the laptop from newegg its an ASUS and it seems real good for bang for buck...

the cost is $1200... to me thas a ok price for it...

i kinda need a laptop for university starting in september and wanted to know if this is a good buy or should i wait...

I hear these ASUS laptops are soo cool... you basically take apart and replace everything in it... its not locked down to anything...

I want to know also...

if i buy a laptop...

1) Is it easy to multiboot XP and vista... as this laptop is coming with Vista Home Premium... i would have to wipe the HDD and install XP and then vista right? or wrong?

2) If later on i decide to change my graphics card is it easy to do so? can i just pop in a new one? or not? thanks...

BTW here are the specs from newegg and the link:
ASUS M51 Series M51Sn-X2 NoteBook (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220308)

Model
Brand ASUS
Series M51 Series
Model M51Sn-X2
General
Operating System Windows Vista Home Premium
CPU Type Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 2.4G
Screen 15.4" WXGA
Memory Size 4GB DDR2
Hard Disk 250GB
Optical Drive DVD Super Multi
Graphics Card NVIDIA GeForce 9500M GS
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 6.5 lbs.
Other Features Fingerprint reader
30-Day Zero Bright Dot
Carry bag / mouse
CPU
CPU Type Intel Core 2 Duo
CPU Speed T8300(2.40GHz)
CPU FSB 800MHz
CPU L2 Cache 3MB
Chipset
Chipset Intel PM965
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 NVIDIA GeForce 9500M GS
Video Memory Dedicated 512MB
Graphic Type Dedicated Card
Hard Drive
HDD 250GB
HD RPM 5400rpm
Memory
Memory Speed DDR2 667
Memory 4GB
Max Memory Supported 4GB
Memory Spec 2GB x 2
Note: 4GB physical memory installed. Due to 32bit OS limitation, system will only detect and show 3GB only
Optical Drive
Optical Drive Type DVD Super Multi
Optical Drive Interface Integrated
Communications
Modem 56K
LAN 10/100/1000Mbps
WLAN 802.11A/G/N
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 Yes
Audio
Audio Integrated Sound card
Speaker Internal Speakers
Input Device
Touchpad Yes
Keyboard Standard
Supplemental Drive
Card Reader 8-in-1
Webcam 1.3 MP
Power
Battery 6-cell lithium ion
Physical spec
Dimensions 14.2" x 10.5" x 1.1-1.6"
Weight 6.5 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


BTW damn thas a lot of info.. sorry guys...

[123456]

That's a great laptop, but... Changing/replacing video cards in laptops are extremely difficult from my knowledge/experience, (I broke one in my old Micron XD). You may run into troubles dual booting with XP since that notebook has 4GB RAM and the limitation for XP 32-bit is 3GB. Make sure your notebook's components, (bluetooth, wireless, audio, video), have drivers for XP before installing it.

[odannyboy000]

The limitation of your RAM is 3GB for Vista too, since it comes with a 32 bit OS as well......so, thats gay.

[wickedestman]

Cool glad you all think its a great laptop... i think my best bet is to wait right? til about july? would they be releasing anymore new chipsets before october/november period?

damn! that sucks... i would die if i broke that!

For real... i have to look for those drivers... i think on notebookreview there are some posts on the drivers...

Also, that why i asked:

1) Is it easy to multiboot XP and vista... as this laptop is coming with Vista Home Premium... i would have to wipe the HDD and install XP and then vista right? or wrong?

I have a Vista Ultimate 64bit DVD hehe :D so im thinking if there is an easy way to just wipe the HDD if i order a laptop and then install XP and then Vista 64bit? is that what i have to do?

Yea thats wierd eh... ASUS systems still use 32bit... :(

thanks

[wickedestman]

no one has anything else to say?

do you all think i should wait til around july to buy the laptop?

[david eaton]

m thinking if there is an easy way to just wipe the HDD if i order a laptop and then install XP and then Vista 64bit? is that what i have to do?

Don't do that until you have found ALL the drivers for WinXP; Video, chipset, sound, touchpad, card reader, ethernet card, and anything else I have forgotten!

[mjc]

Putting XP on a 'Vista' machine is a bit easier, it seems, for a desktop than for a lappie...

[jlreich]

If later on i decide to change my graphics card is it easy to do so? can i just pop in a new one? or not? thanks...
Short answer... No. Long answer... Not really. :p

4GB ram is not wasted with Vista32bit. Programs can not access the full amount of the 4GB but the OS uses it. With vista there is no waste since it will use over a GB at idle after a fresh boot.

With XP there is some wasted since XP doesn't need a whole GB just to run the OS. Actually in XP, unless you use major memory hungry programs like AutoCAD, or doing some major rendering in Photoshop 4GB is a waste period. For most people 2GB is enough in XP. Most ram I ever used in XP is around 1.7GB or so. That's the highest I have ever seen it in any of my systems with XP.

I have 4GB in my current system. XP shows 3.5GB. Vista HP 64bit sees all 4GB, of course. My wifes laptop has 4GB with Vista HP 32bit that shows 3.75GB.

[wickedestman]

@david eaton
scene scene i will keep that in mind thanks bro! and that will be some SERIOUS digging lol...

@mjc
ohhh ok.. you does have to mess aroubd with the boot.ini a lot right?

@jlreich
shuxxx! haha that was an expected answer... :D

ohhhh so 32bit vista still sees it.... hmmmmm cool cool....



But guys do you think i should wait until say july/august instead of say june time, like will it work out cheaper/better because new stuff may be released?

[jlreich]

You can play the waiting game if you like, but there is always something new coming out in the next few months. ;)

That laptop is a pretty good deal. Whatever you buy there will something else out the next week that is better and cheaper. You can play the waiting game forever and never actually buy anything. :p

[wickedestman]

Yup bro thats exactly what i was thinking... hopefully if i go away after exams i will purchase that laptop or any one that is better for that price. cuz its true it doesnt make too much sense waiting if a great deal like that is on the horizon...

[wickedestman]

BTW guys... if anyone has bought this laptop i found the drivers on asus site...

m51Sn
http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=M51Sn

For M50Sa
http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=M50Sa

:D

there was a discussion on it here:
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=161699

i found it so i just wanted to share the find with you guys