IBMX40 or Asus S5N?

have u checked out that asus m5n? it's 3.4lbs (compared to 2.8 for the s5n), and has a BUILT-IN optical drive. personally, i don't own an m5n myself, but i've heard nothing but great things about the unit.

I'm pretty new to this forum, but from what i've read over the past few months, there are definitely a lot of loyal asus owners who can vouch for its build quality, reliability, etc.

I totally agree. I haven't been able to get a hands on feel with any of the Asus laptops (Damn the local retailers for not carrying them ), but everyone always comments on the great build quality of Asus.


^_^_^

I say IBM X40.

Nothing can beat the quality of IBM notebooks, IMO. Their tech support and warranty are one of the best, if not the best, out there.

Build quality is superb and while Asus notebooks are good too, I would not say that they are up to IBM levels.

I personaly have used that Asus model and it feels nice and sturdy, but the battery on it kind of sucks. In fact, that battery sucks on both of them

If you could, I would suggest you get an X31 instead. While it is older than the X40, the processor can be up to 1.7GHz (probably 2.0), and it takes 2.5 hard drives, instead of the 1.8 that the X40 has. It also has a dedicated gpu, instead of the shared intel extreme that the Asus and the X40 have.

I see you followed my advice

Try the Notebook General review, maybe you'll find a review for the Asus.

Cheers.

Sorry, I beg to differ with a moderator but I get 8.5 hours with the Asus S5NE with the extended battery. Granted it protrudes from the back when I use it, but I bring the extended battery with me when I need it for work.

Every other time I use the Normal battery that "Sucks" and I get 2 hours from it with Asus Power4Gear, more then I need.

Edit: As for reliability, (Perhaps I am biased here), but this thing is also built like a tank. Yes perhaps I am biased, but I can tell you with utmost honesty that my laptop will not screw you over. If you’re looking for a tough, beautiful, long lasting (with the extended battery), light laptop then I truly, wholeheartedly recommend the S5N. Note that you also get 2 years INTERNATIONAL WARRENTY.

Background information on what I use the laptop for: I work overseas and I use this laptop for work, when I am not hauling it around EVERYDAY for work. It’s constantly on at night in my apartment downloading 3-4 torrents.

My job requires me to be on the move every day and I can honestly say that this laptop is a beast in a beautiful pearl white sheep’s clothing. Do I need to meet with a client for about 2 hours and to have my briefcase as light as possible? Okay I leave the AC, external optical drive and extended battery at home. I get a laptop that will last me 2 hours at 2.8 pounds, that’s ultraportability. Do I need monster battery life but there’s no plug where I am going to be? Well I bring the extended battery and get 8.5 hours at a coffee shop/restaurant (Seven - Eight hours if I’m constantly listening to mp3’s and surfing the net and I have my brightness set to max).

I won’t argue that IBM is a world leader in the market, but I refuse to put IBM any higher than my Asus.

I wasnt talking about the battery life of the extended battery.

2 hours IMO is absolutely pathetic when it comes to a P-M notebook.

Sorry If I offend you, but it is the truth, IMO.

I dont want to have to stick a huge thing that protrudes, just to get decent battery life.

Leave the 2 hour battery lives for the desktop replacements.

Hmm, I disagree, but fair enough everyone is entitled to their opinion. Ultraportables arent known for their battery life. Ultraportables are Ultraportables for the weight or lack thereof (Hence why both laptops dont have spectacular battery life on it's default battery). It's more of the mainstream Pentium M laptops that have the better battery life since they have the 12 cell batteries, my "extended battery" is only a 9 cell and it gives me eight hours, in my opinion I think that's when the Pentium M shines when it can utilize a 9 cell battery and produce 8.5 hour performance. A good "DTR" doesnt even really get 2 hours, their more like one hour.

I'd rather have a sub 3 pound ultraportable that has a 2 hour battery life, then have a midrange five - six pound laptop with something like 4 hours on it's 9-12 cell default battery. If I wanted battery life, that's what the extended battery is for.

I'd also rather have something that slightly sticks out of my laptop and gives me superior battery life, then have to slug around a 6 pound laptop on it's default battery to give me a mediocre, and what i consider a pathetic 4 hour battery life for it's atlas like weight.

What is the weight of the asus with the extended battery?

Edit - 3.3 lbs

For that much weight, you can get yourself a sony, that has a weight of 3.06 lbs / 1.39 kg and a battery life of up to 7 hours, with the standard battery.

Oh, and it has a built in optical drive.


Edit - Or a panasonic w2, with a 2.8 lbs / 1.29 kg weight and 7.5 hour battery life (standard), with a built in optical drive.

I can't see much rationale in going with the IBM, it just does NOT stack up well against the S5N. Asus build quality is VERY good, perhaps it falls just short of IBM, however, you are getting much much more from the S5N than you are from the X40.

Yup, your edit beat me to it. The Asus with the 3 cell battery is 2.8 pounds, - the weight of the 3 cell battery + the weight of the .7 pound 9 cell battery.

I actually read 3.2 pounds, but .1 of a pound doesnt really matter .

Just want to add, S5N and M5N uses micro SODIMM, which is a bit harder to find than just usual SODIMM that other laptops typically use.

Other then the fact that the Panasonic W2 has a list price of about $2200 american, and the Asus at about $ 1,340.71 USD, and since the Panasonic W2 has only a 5.5 hour battery life, not a 7.
(http://geek.pricegrabber.com/search_...25#description ) I can safely say that the Asus S5N is a better bang for back. (Dont even get me started on why some people "on the go" would prefer an external optical drive to an embedded, non upgradable one.

And which sony are you refering too?

Edit - Ah, I see, the T Series, but again at $2100+ for the basic model (Not Dothan either). Sure I suppose if you want to spend $700 or more on a laptop that will give you less battery life for MUCH more money, and only for a .3 pound reduction compared to the Asus S5N. I guess some people now a days have money boiling out of their banks if they want to spend 700 bucks more for an absolutley miniscule reduction (.3 pounds) and they, for some reason, want slower performance (1.1 ULV on the Sony T series and 1.5 Dothan on the S5N).

By the way they are giving away the Extended battery for free now (that means you get BOTH the standard 3 cell battery and the 9 cell battery), along with the Asus bag, and wireless mouse (Dont forget the free external cd writer/dvd reader as well )

Original poster, you can find the S5N here at a mind boggling price.
http://www.pricenetwork.ca/products.php?p=939

It comes to $1,340USD

You get the S5N (Pearl White), with the standard battery, 9 cell battery, Asus bag, Standard Dothan processor, external cd writer, wireless b/g.

Yeah I had a hell of a time finding mine, but then again this was in Canada. I had to get a store to specially order mine.

newegg usually carries micro sodimms, so it's not that hard to find, really.
ewiz.com has them (they take their time shipping, though)


they are most definitely more expensive, though

Took the specs for the w2 from here:

http://www.dynamism.com/w2/specs.shtml

I was not comparing prices. I was showing you that just because the notebook has a weight of less than 3 lbs, that doesnt make a 2 hour battery life acceptable, as there are obviously other notebooks in the same range or lighter, that have double if not triple that battery life.

The battery life of the S5N is at 3.2/3.3 pounds with the extended battery, that comes free with the laptop. I think I clarified that in my last updated post, unless you really HATE 2 inch's protruding from the back of your laptop. Yes you will get a .3 pound reduction in weight if you go with the W2, but what do you lose with that reduction? You will get LESS battery life and you WONT get a Dothan. Yes you weren't comparing prices, fair enough, but I find that a moot point. Your saving $700 if you go with the S5N that will give you longer battery life and will give you better performce, you only save .3 pounds . Am I the only one who does not see the insanity in this?

The Dynamanism battery life you got was grossly over exaggerated. http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:E...ery+life&hl=en
The tests shown here put it close to the manufactures specified battery time.
http://geek.pricegrabber.com/search_...25#description
Which is 5.5 hours.

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By the way, the Panasonic W2 has a 49Whr battery that gives it a very good 5.5 hour battery life, that is given.

The Asus S5N has 3 battery options, the standard 24Whr (3 cell), 48Whr (6 cell), and the 72Whr (9 cell). If Asus instead of the 24Whr battery, gave the 48Whr AS STANDARD, it's battery life would be at 5.2, which is comparable to the W2, and the weight would be very close to the W2 with the 48Whr S5N coming in at a cool 3.0 pounds.

But no, Asus doesnt do that. Instead what they do is they include the 24Whr (3 Cell battery) keeping the laptop at a slim 2.8 pound profile and they throw in the 72Whr for free just for kicks, giving it still a clean 3.2/3.3 pounds but at 8.5 hours compared to the W2's 5.5.

(Info taken from: http://usa.asus.com/prog/spec.asp?m=...eries&langs=09 )

You keep referring to the extended battery. I showed you that not all ultraportables rely on extended batteries to get good battery life. My main point was 2 hour standard battery life sucks/is pathetic. You tried to brush it off by saying that ultraportables are not known for good battery life. I showed you two notebooks that are lighter than yours and have better battery life, when using a standard battery. Also, not only do these notebooks provide better battery life, while being in the same weight or lighter, but they also have integrated optical drives.

The fact that you keep reverting back to the, extended battery argument, only makes my point that 2 hour battery life is pathetic, clearer.

Read my updated last point, sorry but what your saying doesnt make anything clearer. Yes I am refering to the extended battery that they give FOR FREE. And not to mention the fact that YOUR COMPARING A 3 CELL STANDARD BATTERY TO A 6 CELL BATTERY. If you look atthe 3 battery options and you compare BOTH THE 48Whr batteries that is A) standard for the W2 and B) is an option for the S5N. You will see that your points are TOTALLY MOOT.

Once again you are comparing a 3 cell battery to a 6 cell battery, do you not understand the words coming out of your monitor?

Asus DOESNT give the 48whr battery, they give the 3 cell AND the 9 cell battery CHEAPER FOR $700

I will state it once again You are comparing a 3 cell battery to a 6 cell battery, there is no competition obviously when the W2 is compared to the S5N when the W2 is given ONE battery that is 6 cells while the S5N is 3 cells. HOWEVER when you take into consideration the fact that the S5N comes with a 3 cell and a 9 cell you will see that your points are totally MOOT and mine is infact the one that is clear.


Edit: If in fact you were not comparing prices, then we are not comparing whether each one has an optical drive cheers! Even though I still think that external optical drives are better for ultraportables.