Asus W3J or Macbook Pro

[Lenine]

Hey guys,

I am trying to decide which one of these to get.

For clarification, I am looking at the 2.0 ghz macbook pro with the 128 meg x1600.

With the educational discount, they come out to around the same price.


I am looking to buy this for college when I go next year. I suppose portability and battery life are issues. The W3J is 14.1" while the macbook is 15.4". However, the W3J is 1.28" thick and the MBP is 1" thick.

I am also going on vacation this summer and would be playing some games like WoW and CS:source on it. It seems like both of them would perform equally in this department.

Other than that, I can't really think of distinguishing factors between them. This is why the decision is so hard for me. If anyone can give me some insight as to which they think is better, that would be greatly appreciated.

Suggestions for other makes/models are also welcomed. PS. I have already decided against the A8JM.

Thanks in advance

 

[Brainonska511]

My dad just got me the Asus W3J (it was a choose whatever notebook I wanted) and as soon as I can get it in my hands, I'll post a review of it. One thing I liked about it when making my decision was the fact that it was smaller horizontally due to the smaller screen and it also looks unique because fewer people own Asus notebooks (at least in the U.S.), and finally, I have no use for OSX, so that feature of the MacBook Pro would go wasted on me. The Macbook's X1600 is known to be clocked lower than the standard, so it will not do so well graphically.

Also, there was a W3J review up on notebookforums.com. I'll hunt up the link for it.

Edit: NotebookForums.com Review - One thing to keep in mind (if I'm remembering this correctly), this user in the UK states that it came with a 4200RPM drive, the US models are shipping with 5400RPM drives.

 

[AmigaMan]

If you plan on using the laptop in Windows exclusively, then do not get the MacBookPro, you'll only end up disappointed. If you want a fast, secure, OS that works right out of the box, then by all means get the MacBookPro and stay in OSX. You can drop into Windows to play games if you want but I wouldn't stay in Windows for everyday work. While the MacBookPro's graphics card is underclocked, it does just fine playing Oblivion and F.E.A.R., and can even be overclocked.

 

[Commodus]

If you want to use OS X a significant amount of the time... well, you'd have to get the MacBook Pro, wouldn't you?

But one thing I like about Apple laptops is that the company puts a lot of thought into the hardware design. In OS X, you can put the system instantly to sleep by closing the lid (and waking it at a similar speed by opening it). None of the ports jut out, so you won't scrape the laptop against other items, including yourself.

Also, thickness does mean something, and it's just as important for school as the weight. A thinner laptop means a bit more room for books if you're carrying the laptop in the same bag (note: put the laptop in a special pocket if your bag has one, or get a sleeve!).

I'd also point out that Apple is currently running a promo until the end of September where you can get $179 off if you purchase an iPod at the same time as a Mac. It's a rebate, but it works (I bought a PowerBook a couple years ago with a similar deal) and it effectively gives you a "free" 2 GB nano.

 

[Trippytiger]

Originally posted by: Lenine
Other than that, I can't really think of distinguishing factors between them. This is why the decision is so hard for me. If anyone can give me some insight as to which they think is better, that would be greatly appreciated.

One of them is BIG, the other one is SMALL. Thickness is a pretty minor difference compared to screen size. Although they both weigh similar (assuming that the W3J weighs the same as the W3V), the Asus will be much easier to throw in a backpack than the Apple, and it will be a lot easier to use in your lap or in class.

Personally, I would go for the Asus just because of the size - I found my 14" T43 to be even a little on the large side for using at uni.

 

[AmigaMan]

Originally posted by: Trippytiger

Originally posted by: Lenine
Other than that, I can't really think of distinguishing factors between them. This is why the decision is so hard for me. If anyone can give me some insight as to which they think is better, that would be greatly appreciated.

One of them is BIG, the other one is SMALL. Thickness is a pretty minor difference compared to screen size. Although they both weigh similar (assuming that the W3J weighs the same as the W3V), the Asus will be much easier to throw in a backpack than the Apple, and it will be a lot easier to use in your lap or in class.

Personally, I would go for the Asus just because of the size - I found my 14" T43 to be even a little on the large side for using at uni.

That's a little misleading. The Apple is only 1.1 inches wider, .1 inch less deep, and anywhere from .18" to .28" thinner while only being .1 pound heaver. Each is just as easy to throw in a backpack and are just fine in your lap. Unless you're a 90lb weakling who would buckle under the strain of that extra inch of width and .1 lbs of weight.

 

[jackwhitter]

I've looked at exactly these two laptops for a while and the only major consideration (hardware wise) i could come up with is that the asus w3j has a hot swappable optical drive, so you could theoretically get an extra battery and keep two batteries in the laptop *most* of the time, thereby, doubling battery life (as well as increasing weight..). Also, the native resolution of the asus w3j is smaller, which would make it easier to game on than the macbook (at least in LCD native resolutions). Both laptops are of similar quality (asustek has won many of the bids for manufacturing apple laptops anyways), and the apple macbook pro looks sweet. i happen to like OS X, and i planned to wait until intel released core duo 2 and apple upgraded their macbook pro line to include this new processor as well as a faster graphics card, hopefully though there may be nothing new available...

oh, also, the asus w3j seemed to come with a bigger HDD and more ram at the same education price, but the 15" screen looks better and gives you more working space on the macbook pro. it is a tough decision. i'm still thinking.

 

[HamSupLo]

Both are quality notebooks, I own the z63a, which uses the same body as the W3V and W3J. I'd get the W3J only because not many people own an Asus.

Think different

 

[imported_jon1003]

Originally posted by: Commodus
But one thing I like about Apple laptops is that the company puts a lot of thought into the hardware design. In OS X, you can put the system instantly to sleep by closing the lid (and waking it at a similar speed by opening it).

You can do that in windows also under properties. Just set it to sleep or hibernate when you close the lid.

I have a 15.4, and it isn't easy to take to class because it seems big, I would go with the 14, you'll definitely be happier with the slightly smaller size.

 

[Commodus]

Originally posted by: jon1003

You can do that in windows also under properties. Just set it to sleep or hibernate when you close the lid.

I have a 15.4, and it isn't easy to take to class because it seems big, I would go with the 14, you'll definitely be happier with the slightly smaller size.

True, though it's not set that way by default. I also don't think Windows yet has the "safe sleep" option of OS X (where it will cache the RAM contents to disk so you don't lose what you were doing if you lose all power) or necessarily works as quickly.