Popular Centrino Notebooks & Corresponding ODMs - Page 3

I know what your're getting at and see where your're coming from.

Great list you have going here. I think you might also add the Asus TravelMate 8003LMi:

Screen: 15" SXGA+ (1400x1050)
Dimensions: 331mm (13.1") x 280mm (11.1") x 33.2-35.9mm (1.3"-1.4")
Weight: 2.9 kg (6.3 lb)
Video: ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 128MB
Estimated Battery Life: up to 5 Hours

Acer TravelMate 8003LMi (PCTorque)

I've been reading these forums and shopping around for a notebook for over a year and I'll probably finally take the plunge after the first batch of Dothan machines is released. Assuming these models all become available with Dothan chips, these are the 3 machines I'm considering:

ECS G556e
Compal CL56
Asus TM 8003LMi

It might be nice to expand this ODM list to add known issues for each machine and whether fixes are available or not. For example, I've read about the backlight issue on the Compal CL56 and the fan noise and BIOS issues with the Voodoo m:460 (fixed in the newer G556e?).

I also have a couple specific questions for owners of the G556e and CL56 (I don't think anyone has the 8003LMi yet):

1) How is the SXGA+ screen? Specifically, are there ghosting issues and how is the viewing angle when you tilt the screen back and forth? If anyone has had a chance to compare the G556e and CL56 screens side-by-side, how do they compare?

2) For gaming, do either of these machines have multiple key-press issues? I seem to remember reading about some other notebook keyboards that have problems with certain games when you're pressing more than one key at the same time.

NONE OF THESE FIRMS SHIP TO EUROPE EXCEPT VOODOO AND HYPERSONIC; ASUS & ACER. and none of them have a notebook with a compal 56 chasis

ECS (Elitegroup Computer Systems) G556e, add:
http://www.i-tech.com.au/products/item4804.asp
(Australian site).
stu

TitanMan,

I have the Voodoo M:460 (ECS G556) and I get about 3 hours of battery life when using maximum power saving features. Typically I get a little less than 3 hours with a USB mouse plugged in. If I am gaming I can get about 1 hour and 10 minutes with no power saving features enabled. If I underclock the processor and GPU (not a complete performance reduction) I can increase my battery life to about 1:40 – 2:00 maximum.

Also, Falcon Northwest sells the Compal CL56 as their FragBook TL. The best part about Falcon Northwest is that they guarantee your LCD.

Falcon Northwest's "Perfect Pixel" Guarantee for the FragBook is our promise to you that your display will have no dead (permanently black) pixels and no stuck (permanently stuck on a single color) pixels on your FragBook display for one year after purchase. If you encounter either of these problems within your one year time frame, just return the unit to us and we will replace the display free of charge.

Aquaflight

TitanMan,

I want to thank you and the other contributors very much for gathering the information in this thread. I find it very helpful. I was wondering if you or someone else could comment on the ODM's for the MPC Transport X-3000, (Pentium-M with Radeon 9700) and the HP Compaq Business Notebook nc8000 (Pentium-M with Radeon 9600). I would also appreciate any comments on the relative screen quality of different machines; for example does the "super clear glossy" display on the Clevo 375E (per Sager) really make a difference? Thanks!

This must be the older G556 with M10 rather than M11. Perhaps the same chassis as the more recent Voodoo M:460. (Keep in mind there was an older Voodoo M:460 based on the ECS G552.)

Excellent, someone sticky sticky it!

very helpful thread to clear up ideas. Will look even better when people start adding the reviews

I also ordered a ecs 556

Hello, I am new to this forum, and I also ordered from Internetishop.com for the ECS 556e. The salesperson quoted me an eta of sometime later next week. We will see if it will arrive on time.

My order came to ~$1,600 including shipping which includes a 1.4pm and 40gb. The reason the price seems a bit high is because I tacked on a 3 year parts and labor warranty for $120 more. Compared to companies such as Dell, the price for the 3yr warranty seems reasonable.

I figured that I will save my money for now, and upgrade to a Dothan processor once it comes out.

Just noticing the discrepancies in the weight measurements for ECS 556. If you refer to the UK sources (Evesham and pcpro.co.uk), the notebook weighs 2.9kg or 6.4lb. On the other hands, all other places quote the notebook to be 2.5kg/5.5lb. Where did the 1lb difference come from? Anyone has any idea?

Ooooh... Two users with the ECS 556e i'm looking forward to the reviews since i'm thinking of getting the same, though i'm waiting for the Dothan since i'm not in any hurry.

Not only that, there is a size discrepancy as well...the Voodoo M:460 is listed as 12.99" (W) x 10.74" (D) x 1.1" (H), while everyone else lists their G556 as 12.83" (W) x 10.16" (D) x 1.00"/1.26" (H - Front/Back). There is still quite a bit of mystery surrounding this system.

Also I would like to see a comparison of the LCD.

Which ones are faster, better colour reproduction etc
Which ones scale better at low res - for gaming.

I cant imagine trying to game in 1400x1050 so which notebooks do the LCD scaling best.

I e-mailed internetishop they said that the ECS 556's fan only goes up to 35 db, i believe that's relatively quiet, so if that's true i think it'll be sweet...

35 db isnt that quiet.... but it is good

When the new version of the Asus M6n comes out with the 9700 video card will it have 128mb or only 64mb?

Anyone even know when the new version's suposed to come out?