ASUS or Dell Laptop

E

ebendl

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Which one would you choose?

http://www.nivo.co.za/c/computers/n...-1920.x.1080-or-1920.x.1200/sort.by~list.date

My main requirement is a Full HD screen and less than R12k. I appreciate the Dell's 7200 RPM drive and 3 year warranty, but all the rest the ASUS wins hands down. Will be mostly for work, so the graphics isn't too much of a requirement, but it is always nice to have some 3D power available.

Does anybody know if the ASUS has a docking station available?
Does anybody know if you can buy extended ASUS warranties in SA?
 
There are quite a few on that page. Perhaps link the ones you're interested in?

The only reason I'd take the Dell is if the warranty exceeds that of the Asus (2yr).
 
have you considered a Mac? just asking..u could get decent 2nd hand one for under 10K..
 
ebendl said:
Regarding my second question, you can buy the extended warranty for R788 excluding VAT directly from ASUS. That would bring the warranty to 3 years.

Another option is this one: http://www.nivo.co.za/#buy~asus.mul....notebook.computer.n53sv.sz385v.silver~p24909

Only pain is it is Windows 7 Home Premium, not Pro.
Click to expand...

Gonna check links now.

Must say, I love Asus and their new laptops have very good build quality, but R788 ex VAT for a 1yr warranty upgrade is a bit steep IMO, considering most Dell's come with 3yr warranties already.

As long as you get a 64-bit OS, Home Premium or Professional will both be fine IMO.
 
Mmm, thought about using a Mac (lots of people in the office use them). But I will have to install Windows as well - use some Windows only software. Combined with the fact that I probably won't get a i5 /i7 if I buy second hand and I will have to settle for a non-HD screen, it kind of puts me off too much.

Where would you look for 2nd hand ones?
 
sandmanm34 said:
http://www.comx-computers.co.za/Buy...90X-Asus-N-Series-N53SV-Notebook-lp-40823.php

Slightly cheaper from Comx. I got the Asus N53J, very nice machine. I found the Dells aesthetically conservative bordering on f ucking dull and boring. Asthetics aside obviously very solid machines...
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Cool - you got any problems ordering from Comx? Bit of a pain that they only do EFTs and not credit card sales, but oh well.
Any previous experience with ASUS and their support?
 
ebendl said:
Cool - you got any problems ordering from Comx? Bit of a pain that they only do EFTs and not credit card sales, but oh well.
Any previous experience with ASUS and their support?
Click to expand...
I've bought a number of machines from them in the past. Not the most user friendly site to buy from but good enough!! Prices are always ultra competitive. I've physically been to their offices when they were in Pretoria. They were 2 guys (Tony Daykin was one of them) and working out of a massive zozo hut in the back yard!! I was like WTF but these guys turn more HP stock than any other retailer in SA other than Incredible Corruption. Very slick operation despite the minimalistic infrastructure. They've since moved offices but I wouldn't under estimate these guys!!! They went to great lengths helping me remove Vista off 2 machines I bought from them...
 
ebendl said:
Cool - you got any problems ordering from Comx? Bit of a pain that they only do EFTs and not credit card sales, but oh well.
Any previous experience with ASUS and their support?
Click to expand...

Top notch support. Locally based. Best in the industry.
 
Thanks guys, just ordered the machine. They (ComX) sell the extended warranty for R599 excl - cheaper than ASUS itself. :) This was the only real thing that attracted me to the Dell and now the playing ground is a bit more even (even if ASUS doesn't do on-site fixes).

Will post when I receive it.
 
ebendl said:
Thanks guys, just ordered the machine. They (ComX) sell the extended warranty for R599 excl - cheaper than ASUS itself. :) This was the only real thing that attracted me to the Dell and now the playing ground is a bit more even (even if ASUS doesn't do on-site fixes).

Will post when I receive it.
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Nice!! Should have it by Thursday!!

That's a decently specced machine at a very competitive price.

ASUS are really offering decent value for money machines these days... Build quality is decent and the styling modern. B&O sound is as good as you going to get in a laptop.

My only complaint with these machines is a slightly spongy keyboard.. I make use of a wireless mouse (Logitech M305) and it works brilliantly, not a fan of touchpads either and the one on the ASUS is not particularly any different from others I've used (although it does come with a nice piece of software called Elan Smart-pad which enables all sorts of clever tricks).

Anyway please post a review once you've had a chance to play...
 
Edit: I incorrectly quoted Asus for Acer. (I keep confusing Asus with my bad acer laptops experiances, which I shouldn't since I generally praise & use ASUS desktop components.)

With a Dell you wont be sorry.

My last 2 laptops where Acer travelmate series, our company had been using Acer for years. But we always had to toss them on the scrap heap after a year or 2 (or send em back for warrentee) Not one has eveyr funtioned 6months past the 2yr warrentee.

Beginning last year we switched to dells, my one right now is a vostro 3500 (only 3months old though, so I can't review its overall longlivity yet) but so for none of the year old ones have had any breakdowns. And the build quality seems pretty solid aswell.
 
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