Z60m vs ASUS 70VA

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ddutta · #1 Post by **ddutta** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 12:32 am

Hi

The Z series weighs and has similar specs compared the Asus barebones eg Z70VA.

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2540

It will be interesting to compare the 2. Of course its not a thinkpad and doesnt have the IBM service etc but I feel that notebook quality is becoming more uniform these days.

emorphien · #2 Post by **emorphien** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 1:47 am

Well I might be able to impart a useful opinion here on this. I own a T43p and my roommate owns a Z70v.

It is a nice laptop. It feels good, runs well and is quiet most of the time too. But it isn't built as well as the T series, and if Lenovo is telling the truth about the Z series then it won't be as sturdy as that. It's a tough machine, no doubt it is built well, but the chassis creaks more, and the screen flexes more.

(as an aside my apartment-mate has problems getting his touchpad to work right at times and his speakers won't shut off when he connects his headphones)

The screen is good, the speakers certainly put my T to shame (it has 4!) and it has a lot of nice connectivity options. So in that regard I see it as a good competitor to the Z. But if the Z is built anything like the T then it is a tougher more sound feeling machine.

ddutta · #3 Post by **ddutta** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 2:52 am

I am sure it wont be built like the T43 at that price point (850 USD for the barebone+battery). However, the Z60m has a ABS plastic body while the Z70VA has carbon fibre based (I dont understand materials). A decent Z60m will be in the 2K range while you can configure an ASUS with 2GB and 100GBHDD for around 1700 ...... and it has a X700 128MB!!!

emorphien · #4 Post by **emorphien** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 3:19 am

ddutta wrote:I am sure it wont be built like the T43 at that price point (850 USD for the barebone+battery). However, the Z60m has a ABS plastic body while the Z70VA has carbon fibre based (I dont understand materials). A decent Z60m will be in the 2K range while you can configure an ASUS with 2GB and 100GBHDD for around 1700 ...... and it has a X700 128MB!!!

Materials don't mean squat if the chassis isn't designed right (look at the titanium powerbooks).

The Z series ThinkPad is a lot more than just plastic too. And 850 barebone for the Z70va probably isn't a whole lot different from what a barebone thinkpad would be if you could get one completely barebone.

snife · #5 Post by **snife** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 7:28 pm

No TrackPoint would always be a deal breaker for me. I don't care how good a TouchPad is - it would slow me down dramatically

Zak · #6 Post by **Zak** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 11:19 am

emorphien wrote: Materials don't mean squat if the chassis isn't designed right (look at the titanium powerbooks).

So true. I had to pull one of those apart to change a video cable. I think nightmarish is the right word.

Would this be the right place to nominate the 600 series for best laptop ever? I wish newer Thinkpads were as well built.

ddutta · #7 Post by **ddutta** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 12:36 am

Zak, I agree with you. The 600 was incredible! I feel sorry for selling it off for being too old/slow.

stgreek · #8 Post by **stgreek** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 2:46 am

Zak wrote: Would this be the right place to nominate the 600 series for best laptop ever? I wish newer Thinkpads were as well built.

I wish *any* new laptop was as well built, although I have to say that the X series comes pretty close. I still love my 13.3" 600X though!

redskin · #9 Post by **redskin** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 9:23 am

i would suggest the hp nw8240

it's better than the ibm z60m, and better than the asus 70va

1. it has magnesium composit chassy like ibm t models
2. it has navigation track point like ibm
3. it's lighter than asus and ibm being 5.9 pounds
4. it has wxga screen 1920x1200 resolution
5. it has better graphic card than asus and ibm, being a little bit higher 3DMark score, using ATI Mobility Fire GL V5000, which is the Open GL version of X700, if Autocad and 3D rendering is important to you then this graphic card is for you.
6. it's thinner than asus and abm being 1.1" thick front and 1.25" thick
back
7. it has no fingerprint reader, uses same optical drive, multiburner like the ibm t series, so the performance of the drive won't be as good as the asus.
8. with main battery and travel battery (attaches on bottom of notebook) combined 7 pounds total gives you 8 hours of battery life.
9. it comes witht 3 years warranty like ibm, while asus only has 1 year and you have to pay extra for 3 year warranty.

you can get this hp model on ebay for only $1299 with 1.86 ghz cpu, 512 mb ram, dvd/cd rom combo, 80 gb 5400 rpm hdd, wsxga+ screen

rocketman · #10 Post by **rocketman** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 10:37 am

Here are some photos of the HP nw8240 I found. Looks pretty nice to me:
http://www.notebookforums.com/forums/sh ... ght=nw8240

#11 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 11:14 am

rocketman wrote:Here are some photos of the HP nw8240 I found. Looks pretty nice to me:
http://www.notebookforums.com/forums/sh ... ght=nw8240

Only two glaring faults, and one irritation (at first glance).

First fault - HP logo
Second fault - Touchpad
Irritation - Windows Key

Seriously, it appears worth a look.

However, I am perfectly happy with my T42, so I am not in the market.

emorphien · #12 Post by **emorphien** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 12:41 pm

GomJabbar wrote:First fault - HP logo
Second fault - Touchpad
Irritation - Windows Key

I'll grant you the first one.
I generally prefer touchpads for diddling about
And nothing wrong with a windows key

Charles Krug · #13 Post by **Charles Krug** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 12:50 pm

When considering a sub-5 pound widescreen, the best choices are the Z60t & the Sony S480. Features are pretty comparable, build quality is good on both. I've heard that Sony service is not good, but I've had limited experience with them. I'm happy with ThinkPad service & resources.
Jim

#14 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 1:11 pm

emorphien wrote:I generally prefer touchpads for diddling about

I disabled my touchpad within the first few days that I received my T42. I would prefer a plain palmrest, but it's more trouble than it's worth to change it just now.

emorphien wrote:And nothing wrong with a windows key

Reminds me of BG.

indiantweakhead · #15 Post by **indiantweakhead** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 2:53 pm

sorry to double post:

why is the z60m priced higher than the z60t?

emorphien · #16 Post by **emorphien** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 7:18 pm

indiantweakhead wrote:sorry to double post:

why is the z60m priced higher than the z60t?

Bigger screen, real graphics card.

Probably 2 major factors.

indiantweakhead · #17 Post by **indiantweakhead** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 11:07 pm

i see, the max price of a T is higher than an M though, am I correct? I believe this is the case because of the finger print reader?

Z60m vs ASUS 70VA

Z60m vs ASUS 70VA

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