Brand new Athlon notebook at Fry's for $499.95

[whiteboy81]

These things could be ok for a simple word processing and internet surfing...don't need much CPU power for that.

 

[whiteboy81]

These things could be ok for a simple word processing and internet surfing...don't need much CPU power for that.

 

[Atrac]

To anyone who actually bought this notebook -- does the manual and/or box give the website of "Great Quality?" If so, I'd like to know what it is.

Thanks!

 

[ChrisK]

I think it is a rebadged ECS http://www.ecs.com.tw/products/a535.htm

They look the same.....

I played around w/ it last night and it seemed pretty responsive...

it comes with XP home, Windvd4, and drivers... that is about it. (which is the way I like it.. I hate all the extra crap they usually put on)

The battery (4cell) doesnt last very long,
Wireless seemed to have pretty good range
I was very impressed with the built in 10/100/1000 ethernet controller
The touchpad buttons are a little odd, you have to push them on the edge in order to succesfully 'click' the button.
The video is fast enough to play all of my por...I mean movies full screen w/o any pausing
The fan on it is a little odd... it will spin up and down every second or so for awhile under moderate load while the cpu temperature alternated between above and below the trigger temp
It has no PS2 ports.. for you with ps2 mice/keyboards
It isn't light.... but its not really heavy either... 7 pounds

The internals:
There is 1 (empty) dimm slot... No access to the included memory (might have to take it all apart to get to it or it may be attached to the motherboard)
The minipci slot is easy to get to and already populated (im guessing with network stuff)
I wasnt able to get the case off, but I will give it a spin tonite and let ya know...

 

[Nikepete]

According to ECS, "the integrated WiFiTM -compliant wireless LAN available as configurable option, 802.11b:11Mbps or 802.11g:54Mbps". So the laptop has 4 USB 2.0 connections, 1Gb NIC and 802.11g !!

 

[pxc]

Originally posted by: ChrisK
I think it is a rebadged ECS http://www.ecs.com.tw/products/a535.htm

They look the same.....

I played around w/ it last night and it seemed pretty responsive...

it comes with XP home, Windvd4, and drivers... that is about it. (which is the way I like it.. I hate all the extra crap they usually put on)

That's it. ECS also makes the GQ desktops that Fry's sells.

One annoying thing about the integrated video is that it reserves the whole block permanently, not dynamically like Intel chipsets do (IEG set to use up to 32MB will use as little as 1MB, depending on the resolution).

The local Fry's has only 1 display model for $560. Not worth it.

 

[Atrac]

Thanks for the link to the ECS website.

"Provide approximately 40min. of battery life by 4-cell battery pack."

Ouch!

 

[aka1nas]

If this has a socketed proc than this is a good deal as you would probably be able to grab a mobile barton of newegg and drop it in. Also, since the battery life sounds so low, this is probably not one of the ultra low voltage Athlon4s which were the nonsocketed ones.

 

[Shaka]

Originally posted by: aka1nas
If this has a socketed proc than this is a good deal as you would probably be able to grab a mobile barton of newegg and drop it in. Also, since the battery life sounds so low, this is probably not one of the ultra low voltage Athlon4s which were the nonsocketed ones.

After some googling, I found that the Bartons do not have less power consumption. So I suppose upgrading the processor won't make my laptop any cooler?

 

[Aknosis]

Originally posted by: GMaximus
After having experience with GQ's CD-R discs, I think I'll stay away from all of their products.

LOL Ditto, doesn't look bad but... You get what you pay for?


Also, the extended warranties at fry's are great, my friend bought a stereo reciever at frys and 2 different times he fried it and blew out the fuses and some other stuff, both times he got a brand new reciver that was worth the same amount but a lot better (a year later) a way newer model.

 

[jrichrds]

Originally posted by: Nikepete
According to ECS, "the integrated WiFiTM -compliant wireless LAN available as configurable option, 802.11b:11Mbps or 802.11g:54Mbps". So the laptop has 4 USB 2.0 connections, 1Gb NIC and 802.11g !!

That just means the seller (GQ in this case) has the option of including either a 802.11b or 802.11g card in the laptop ...not that the laptop by default comes with 802.11g. Check with someone who owns this laptop to see what it actually comes with.

Having 4 USB 2.0 ports on a laptop is pretty nice. Neither GQ nor ECS are known to put out high quality stuff though.

 

[ChrisK]

I dug around a little more and have a better picture of the computer now... its a ECS A535+ not a A535 (not a big difference.. just the ability to change the lid's cover).

ECS's desknotes are meant to be 1/2 laptop and 1/2 desktop and are meant to be fairly configurable.... That is one of the reason for the wimpy batteries... most people plug their laptops in anyways. Also the reason for no PCMCIA... most everything is built in.

I found this site http://www.desknote.net/ ... it's ECS online storefront for the US. The have a section for add-on / replacement parts for the notebook http://www.desknote.net/eSale/eSale_item.cfm?modID=102&catID=100 . (I like the cheap price on the keyboard)... The fact that they are selling the motherboard as well as a CPU fan, leads me to believe that the processor is swappable. (Will confirm tonite).

 

[aka1nas]

Originally posted by: Shaka

Originally posted by: aka1nas
If this has a socketed proc than this is a good deal as you would probably be able to grab a mobile barton of newegg and drop it in. Also, since the battery life sounds so low, this is probably not one of the ultra low voltage Athlon4s which were the nonsocketed ones.

After some googling, I found that the Bartons do not have less power consumption. So I suppose upgrading the processor won't make my laptop any cooler?

Bartons definately run much cooler than Athlon4s(.18micron Palaminos). They also come at faster clock speeds, so a high end Barton may not consume much less power than a high end Palamino did.

 

[ChrisK]

The processor is soldered on
:-(

The thing is a pain in the butt to get open too. You have to remove the '5 year warranty' sticker under the battery pack.