since so many people seem to be interested in ABS and who/what they are, i thought i might start a little journal of my experience with them so you might be able to see first hand how your experience might be when dealing with them. i'll start with a short version of my story...
had a dell 5150
sold to work for new guy
bought dell 8600 - 1.5M/512 ram/128 ati/dvd burner/40 gig hd/wsxga: around 1650 or so.
saw abs had some great deals.
ordered a g1 - 3.06 p4 w/ht/gig of ram/128 at/cd/dvd combo/wxga/60 gig hd: almost 1700 on the nose.
so i have these two computers and i've been playing around with both of them. i won't even bother giving you hardware comparisons...it's pretty obvious to me that the g1 will wipe the floor with the dell.
here are some of my first impressions.
day1: the abs came in 7 business days. customer service was friendly and efficient when i ordered. i kept checking the site daily to see the little 8 step thing and where it was. i spent the entire time on step 3, and then, monday, i was all of a sudden at step 8 and the thing was shipped. pretty cool, but it made me wonder if they burned it in as they said.
the machine was packed very well. it came in the standard brown "i am a computer from a foreign country" packaging. nothing special about it.
for some reason, i got that software that moves everything from one computer to another. i could have sworn i checked the box that said i didn't want it, but i got it anyway. anybody want it?
upon first appearance, the machine looks pretty cool. looks a little like a widescreen i-book. it's all silver. there are two fans on the bottom and one on the side. the thing looks and feels like it could probably control a nuclear reactor. it's a solid machine from the outside.
the keyboard feels good, but strange. i guess i only think it's different because all of the laptops that i have used have the keyboards a little bit sunken in. i don't know any other way to explain it other than that. however...i have to admit that they keys feel a little...loose? that's the best way to describe it...
turning it on sounds like a jet fighter. it's pretty loud.
boot didn't take long. it popped up into windows, and screen looks awesome. it's really bright and and is very easy to look at. everything looks nice and crisp. looks like abs had burnt things in. noticed that they left their wireless test settings in there.
i am HIGHLY disappointed with the synaptics touchpad. it really feels pretty cheap, and the cursor moves in a somewhat jerky manner once you start slowing down to hover over something you want to click on. i even played the settings and it still doesn't feel right. the buttons are very tight and require you to press down on harder than usual.
wireless adapater found my network right away after i typed in the correct settings, and i was ready to go.
cd/dvd player is pretty loud...feels a little...loose. i keep using the word loose, and i'm not sure if this is the right word or not. i used the word with the keyboard too. it's a feeling like it MAY be something cheap, or it may be because i'm just used to a different type of laptop. i'm definitely willing to admit that this is probably the case.
this computer runs extra special hot. this was to be expected what with the processor, the card, and the hard drive being as quick as they are. the palm rest on the left side of the keyboard is hotter than the right side, and the bottom...if you let it rest on bare skin for any extended amount of time, i am quite sure you would have a nice, uncomfortable red mark there.
so far so good....until i decide i want to install xp pro on it. i begin to install it, and i counted three times that the drive made kind of a quick, sleight grinding sound...like the disk was brushing up against something inside. it's definitely not the disk because i've installed it on several different machines without a problem. but, it didn't seem to affect the install.
everything went smoothly until i got to the wireless lan driver, which...uhhh...isn't on the utility driver CD (it comes with a CD with all of the drivers on it). there are two folders in the wireless lan driver folder, and one of them is empty. the other one is for a broadcom wireless lan driver. hmmm....so i dropped a pm to the ABS guys that post on here in hopes that i might get that resolved. i have a functional computer now, but i have an unfunctional wireless adapater.
finally, they say the computer comes with some kind of ABS computer manual. i did not receive that either, though i did receive all of the proof-of-purchases and everything for the processor, ram, and then all of the drivers and such.
i'm being very objective about this experience because i am really curious as to what ABS is going to do. i've read LOTS of good things, and i've witnessed them do some stuff here that is above and beyond the typical company that sells computers. i'm not unhappy right now....but i'm not thrilled to death.
how am i writing this to you? i'm writing on the dell 8600 that i have here as well. it might not be as fast, but it's definitely been much easier to get working right out of the box. it's annoying me though because i haven't re-configured it yet (i.e. reinstalled clean XP on it, etc.). i'm using the factory set up, and MAN OH MAN it's slow to respond on just about everything. i don't know what they do to these poor things at the factory to get them to run this slow. there is SO much pure garbage on here that a basic user could be overwhelmed. AOL stuff...earthlink stuff...mcafee updates that sqwak at you, XP tours, updates, etc....god...
however, it's quiet. i can barely tell it's on. it's a little warm on the bottom, but infinitely cooler than the g1. battery life is really great, naturally. the construction definitely feels more together. however, the little track stick is completely useless, and the buttons that are supposed to work with it feel like you're pressing down on a sponge. and there's an annoying twanging sound that the keyboard makes when i hit keys over on the left side. it's very sleight, but once you notice it, it starts getting to you.
alright ABS...time to step up. i'm no whiner, and i'm ready to work with you guys on getting this thing right. to summarize:
- i need the correct wireless LAN driver.
- the mystery of the missing ABS manual pack needs to be solved. does this computer come with it?
- i don't believe i ordered the transfer software, but i have it here. would you like it back? you don't have to take anything off my price, as i feel like i got a pretty solid deal.
- if the touchpad normally as strange as i've described, i would recommend that you should perhaps think about seeing if you can get the manufacturer (uniwill) to do something about it. though i don't see myself using it much, it's still nice to know that you have a solid piece of hardware in case it's needed.
looking forward to chatting with you guys!
.a.
http://www.andrewmusic.net
had a dell 5150
sold to work for new guy
bought dell 8600 - 1.5M/512 ram/128 ati/dvd burner/40 gig hd/wsxga: around 1650 or so.
saw abs had some great deals.
ordered a g1 - 3.06 p4 w/ht/gig of ram/128 at/cd/dvd combo/wxga/60 gig hd: almost 1700 on the nose.
so i have these two computers and i've been playing around with both of them. i won't even bother giving you hardware comparisons...it's pretty obvious to me that the g1 will wipe the floor with the dell.
here are some of my first impressions.
day1: the abs came in 7 business days. customer service was friendly and efficient when i ordered. i kept checking the site daily to see the little 8 step thing and where it was. i spent the entire time on step 3, and then, monday, i was all of a sudden at step 8 and the thing was shipped. pretty cool, but it made me wonder if they burned it in as they said.
the machine was packed very well. it came in the standard brown "i am a computer from a foreign country" packaging. nothing special about it.
for some reason, i got that software that moves everything from one computer to another. i could have sworn i checked the box that said i didn't want it, but i got it anyway. anybody want it?
upon first appearance, the machine looks pretty cool. looks a little like a widescreen i-book. it's all silver. there are two fans on the bottom and one on the side. the thing looks and feels like it could probably control a nuclear reactor. it's a solid machine from the outside.
the keyboard feels good, but strange. i guess i only think it's different because all of the laptops that i have used have the keyboards a little bit sunken in. i don't know any other way to explain it other than that. however...i have to admit that they keys feel a little...loose? that's the best way to describe it...
turning it on sounds like a jet fighter. it's pretty loud.
boot didn't take long. it popped up into windows, and screen looks awesome. it's really bright and and is very easy to look at. everything looks nice and crisp. looks like abs had burnt things in. noticed that they left their wireless test settings in there.
i am HIGHLY disappointed with the synaptics touchpad. it really feels pretty cheap, and the cursor moves in a somewhat jerky manner once you start slowing down to hover over something you want to click on. i even played the settings and it still doesn't feel right. the buttons are very tight and require you to press down on harder than usual.
wireless adapater found my network right away after i typed in the correct settings, and i was ready to go.
cd/dvd player is pretty loud...feels a little...loose. i keep using the word loose, and i'm not sure if this is the right word or not. i used the word with the keyboard too. it's a feeling like it MAY be something cheap, or it may be because i'm just used to a different type of laptop. i'm definitely willing to admit that this is probably the case.
this computer runs extra special hot. this was to be expected what with the processor, the card, and the hard drive being as quick as they are. the palm rest on the left side of the keyboard is hotter than the right side, and the bottom...if you let it rest on bare skin for any extended amount of time, i am quite sure you would have a nice, uncomfortable red mark there.
so far so good....until i decide i want to install xp pro on it. i begin to install it, and i counted three times that the drive made kind of a quick, sleight grinding sound...like the disk was brushing up against something inside. it's definitely not the disk because i've installed it on several different machines without a problem. but, it didn't seem to affect the install.
everything went smoothly until i got to the wireless lan driver, which...uhhh...isn't on the utility driver CD (it comes with a CD with all of the drivers on it). there are two folders in the wireless lan driver folder, and one of them is empty. the other one is for a broadcom wireless lan driver. hmmm....so i dropped a pm to the ABS guys that post on here in hopes that i might get that resolved. i have a functional computer now, but i have an unfunctional wireless adapater.
finally, they say the computer comes with some kind of ABS computer manual. i did not receive that either, though i did receive all of the proof-of-purchases and everything for the processor, ram, and then all of the drivers and such.
i'm being very objective about this experience because i am really curious as to what ABS is going to do. i've read LOTS of good things, and i've witnessed them do some stuff here that is above and beyond the typical company that sells computers. i'm not unhappy right now....but i'm not thrilled to death.
how am i writing this to you? i'm writing on the dell 8600 that i have here as well. it might not be as fast, but it's definitely been much easier to get working right out of the box. it's annoying me though because i haven't re-configured it yet (i.e. reinstalled clean XP on it, etc.). i'm using the factory set up, and MAN OH MAN it's slow to respond on just about everything. i don't know what they do to these poor things at the factory to get them to run this slow. there is SO much pure garbage on here that a basic user could be overwhelmed. AOL stuff...earthlink stuff...mcafee updates that sqwak at you, XP tours, updates, etc....god...
however, it's quiet. i can barely tell it's on. it's a little warm on the bottom, but infinitely cooler than the g1. battery life is really great, naturally. the construction definitely feels more together. however, the little track stick is completely useless, and the buttons that are supposed to work with it feel like you're pressing down on a sponge. and there's an annoying twanging sound that the keyboard makes when i hit keys over on the left side. it's very sleight, but once you notice it, it starts getting to you.
alright ABS...time to step up. i'm no whiner, and i'm ready to work with you guys on getting this thing right. to summarize:
- i need the correct wireless LAN driver.
- the mystery of the missing ABS manual pack needs to be solved. does this computer come with it?
- i don't believe i ordered the transfer software, but i have it here. would you like it back? you don't have to take anything off my price, as i feel like i got a pretty solid deal.
- if the touchpad normally as strange as i've described, i would recommend that you should perhaps think about seeing if you can get the manufacturer (uniwill) to do something about it. though i don't see myself using it much, it's still nice to know that you have a solid piece of hardware in case it's needed.
looking forward to chatting with you guys!
.a.
http://www.andrewmusic.net
Glad to see some more info on the G1. Although I think the ODM for the G1 (A258SA0) is Uniwill not Winstron. If so, you can get the wireless driver from 
First Post...
my choices are, well, limited.
