Toshiba/ASUS ??

[chich]

Hi Guys,

In the process of getting a new laptop and had my mind pretty much made up on a Toshiba A100/U00 until I visited the shops yesterday. Sure enough there's a new Core2 Duo CPU thats just been released and the unit i had in mind uses the 'old' Core Duo CPU. The salesman recommended a brand new Asus model as an alternative, problem is i know very little about them and i'm not keen on buying something that i'm not 100% sure about.

So my question is which is better in terms of quality, reliability and local support? The Asus looks pretty solid but i suppose that means jack if the parts inside are rubbish. I've also been told conflicting stories about the recent quality of the Toshiba products and that they don't offer local support here in Australia.

So taking into consideration i need a strong & reliable unit and that i need to make my mind up in a day or two which would you choose??

For the record these are the two units in question..

Asus:

http://www.surpass.com.au/content/st...?name=ASUSF3JP

Toshiba: Note that the CPU speed is a typo.. its actually 1.66GHz

http://www.cybershop.net.au/Notebook...ea100u00.shtml

Cheers,
Anthony

[King Nothing]

I bought a toshiba a70 a little over 12 months ago, and it's been nothing but trouble. Its had 4 (!) motherboards, 2 cooling units, and some peripheral interface replaced. And they still havent fixed the problems, even though its been in for repairs 4 times. The support isnt *too* bad, they gave me an extra 3 months on my warranty, but they arent interested in replacing it. ive had to argue with a guy from customer relations about the problems ive had, like i was making them up.

For a computer with a 3.2 Gig processor and 768Mb ram, its the slowest thing ive ever had to use. out:

Problems Ive had

- Not registering when plugged into power socket
- Not going into hibernation due to a faulty button
- Rattling cooling fan (twice!), took them a month to replace
- Weird coloured bars randomly appearing on screen
- Sometimes gets a blue fatal error screen appearing
- Makes a whining sound when plugged into a power socket
- Peripherals not registering when the laptop comes out of hibernation
- Speakers not working when the laptop comes out of hibernation
- Questionable build quality (paint chipping off)

Im sure that there is more, but I cant remember right now

Another guy I know has been through 3 toshiba's in 2.5 years, each one has died. I dont know a lot about Asus, but ive heard good things.

My advice, get an IBM. They're ugly and a bit pricey, but they are good quality. My dad works for an international financial journalist thingamaboby, and they tested a whole bunch of laptops. IBM turned out the best by a long shot.

So yeah avoid toshiba

[70caprigt3k]

Get an ibm, i have nothing but praise for them and most other people i know that have used them are the same.

[alpineau]

I work at a computer store as one of those pushy sales people lol , Any way as for ASUS as a brand there bloody good.

Both Toshiba and ASUS are in the same class. Both of these laptop are used by international business people because they both carry a international warranty. The toshiba is covered by a 1 year warranty and the ASUS is covered by a 2 year warranty.

As for the difference between core duo and Core 2 Duo. It is best sumed up by saying that the core 2 duo is leaps and bounds ahead of anything on the market at the moment including AMD. If your doing a lot of viedo / photo editing and or cad work this will be the great latop for you

In short go for the ASUS if the price is not to over the top. It has a better warranty and is much more powerful

Hope that helps lol

[alpineau]

I just had a look at the 2 units and yea for the small price increase go for the ASUS it has a better graphics card so if you ever do anything in the way of gaming or 3D design work it will have an advantige over the toshiba. Also the memory and the hard drive space is the same so you don't have to sacrfice anything to get the high preformance in the asus

Cheers
Alpineau

[Abacus]

I go through a lot of laptops. Used to buy Toshiba, and nothing but Toshiba. But their quality control, in recent years, has gone down the toilet. I've given the last one I bought to the kids, don't want to look at it anymore. It's DVD drive, which has already been replaced, is pretty much shagged. The screen has discolouration that Toshiba reckon isn't a warranty item. Go figure.

I have a HP Compaq nx7010 and a Sony Vaio PCG-K76P at the moment. No problems with either of them. Only problem with the Sony is there is no hotkey to turn off the touchpad when you have a mouse plugged in, and because its got a desktop P4 3.2 shoehorned into it the (noisy) fan never stops.

I'll stay with HP unless I have problems with them. I heard good reports about the ASUS units too.

[chich]

Thanks for the informative replies guys.. keep them coming.

By the looks of things I might be going with the Asus F3JP this time round - i just hope their screen technology is up to scratch. I've had relatively good experiences with Toshiba laptops so far but friends who have bought units (typically A80 variants) within the last year or so have had some sort of drama. Nail # 2 in the Toshiba's coffin is the fact that it only offers a 1 year warranty, whereas the standard Asus warranty is 2 years and covered globally.

I was considering the Sony Vaio at one stage but value for money just isn't there.. they're simply too expensive for the spec offered. Maybe the quality and reliability of the Vaio is superior??

My work laptop is a HP/Compaq and a few guys (myself included) have had a few dramas. My hard drive wouldn't stop ticking from new, another had a faulty keyboard and two drives have shat themselves in the past two months.
Another mate bought a Compaq laptop about 5 years ago for $5K - now its in the bin because the motherboard cooked itself somehow..
Personally i don't like the look of the HP range anyways so i havn't even considered any of them this time round..

[pertuan]

You might also want to check www.notebookforums.com. They have alot of reviews and potential problem reports. Its just like here.... except for notebooks.

[MoreHPformyXR6]

I have a Toshiba Satellite laptop that I have had for just over 12 months it hasnt missed a beat & ive been very happy with it.

[8pAc]

We recently purchased 3 identical toshiba tecra a7's at work and all three have been crap. motherboard replaced on one keyboard on another the third one recently had the left speaker stop working. also the companies banking software refuses to run and hangs and crashes. Also another quirk 3 identical spec machines 2 run a sane 1280 * 800 or whatever and the other one ony has 1680 by 1050 as the only widescreen option and on a 15.3 inch screen it is freaking to large, everything is tiny.

Get the ASUS all of there machines we have used have been nothing but joy.

[joshf2]

im still using the toshiba A10 i bought 3 years ago.

besides a HDD failure, which is not necessarily toshiba's fault, and then that was after 2 years, and a just recent noisy cooling fan, its been a solid unit.

[Abacus]

Originally Posted by 8pAc

Also another quirk 3 identical spec machines 2 run a sane 1280 * 800 or whatever and the other one ony has 1680 by 1050 as the only widescreen option and on a 15.3 inch screen it is freaking to large, everything is tiny.

I had this problem with the HP when I bought it. Powerstrip is your friend.

Here:

http://www.entechtaiwan.com/util/ps.shtm

I supply laptops to professionals (medical) and real estate salesmen and have done for many years, the ASUS units are the only brand I supply as these people can kill almost anything else! I'd choose the ASUS every time. 2 Yr warranty and service in most major cities with a couple of hour turnaround should you ever need it.

[ORSMEB]

ASUS ALL THE WAY!
I can't stress it enough. I was looking at other brands and was offered an ASUS by the sales blokes. I was like...ahhhh....ahhhh...ASUS? Who are they? He replied with information like the 2 year warranty, the fact that ASUS actually make motherboards for a lot of other companies....etc.
I have the ASUS W3V and it has been perfect for me.

[chich]

Sold - Asus it is. I'll call up and order it tomorrow..

Thanks for the feedback guys, much appreciated. If it stuffs up you're all to blame :nutsycuck

XR6000 - apparently 1 in 4 motherboard produced annually are manufactured by Asus. They look to be a decent mob.. time will tell i suppose.

[Franky]

I have the A100 that you listed and it's brilliant, very solid, fast and quiet pretty much does everything you want it to do.

It's a shame you didn't pick the A100 but at least an Asus is better than an Acer or Dell

[Ringo]

I will be in the market for a new laptop at the beginning of 07....I have read this thread with interest.

ASUS goes to the top of the list.

I have read and article out The Age showing that that the Duo 2 is worth the extra for its graphics capability.

[05MkIIFutura]

Originally Posted by chich

So my question is which is better in terms of quality, reliability and local support?

Mate ASUS and Toshiba are the bees knees for laptops. IBM and Fujitsu are also very good. If you get one of these brands you have a safe bet

Using a HP Compaq nx6120 cheapie (was 1700 or so when I got it)

I've had no problem with it, it has taken its share of knocks, but continues to do the job fairly well. TV out, bluetooth, wifi, 2 pcmcia slots, firewire, modem, dvdrw and 15.4" screen.

[photn]

heheh i must be the only Apple MAC user on the forums. The apple laptop is awesum. apart from the intel core due processor all the Hardware is pretty much the same. you can buy from a 13" up wards. i have a ibook g4 12". but the new laptops are awesum extreme speed and reliability, i have not had any problems and i have had my laptop for about 12 months. and it rocks. no problems. and the MAC os X is basically designed for idiots. its so easy to use and understand everything. you can also get Microsoft word and all that jazz for mac.

MAC ROCKS. ohh btw. macs dont get blue screens. or virus' like PC's do lol... i love those MAC adds. they rock.

[chich]

Originally Posted by Franky

I have the A100 that you listed and it's brilliant, very solid, fast and quiet pretty much does everything you want it to do.

It's a shame you didn't pick the A100 but at least an Asus is better than an Acer or Dell

To be honest i had my heart set on the A100 until i found out it was exclusive to Harvey Norman and when they told me a new CPU had been released. Judging by most comments on here and those of my friends i think i've made the right decision with the Asus. Time will tell...