Mobile news

Overview and Introduction:

The Asus W3j represents Asus' latest foray into the crowded waters of the high-performance thin-and -light market. Built as a highly upgraded refresh of the immensely popular Asus W3v, the W3j maintains the sleek mobility of a 14" widescreen and adds the mid-high graphics capabilities of the ATI X1600 video card. The notebook sector has seen a recent influx of such designs, and while this review won't serve as an adequate comparison between these systems, it should illustrate why the Asus W3j stands deservedly among the upper-tier of these products.

Asus W3J being reviewed (view large image)

Asus has recently up-dated the hardware configuration for the W3j (H026P). The reviewed computer represents the stock specifications of the W3j at the time of its release in May 2006 (H017P). These specifications are as follows:

• Intel Core Duo T2400 1.86 GHz Processor
• 14" WXGA (1280 x 768) LCD Panel
• 1 GB (2 x 512 MB) DDR2 667 MHz RAM
• ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 w/ 256 MB VRAM GPU (512 MB Hypermemory)
• 100 GB 5400 RPM P-ATA Hard Drive
• Built-In Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 A/B/G miniPCI
• 8x Super Multi DVD Burner
• 8 Cell Li-Ion Battery
• 54mm PCI-Express Card Slot
• Built-in Bluetooth
• 3x USB 2.0 Ports
• 4 in 1 memory card reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO)
• S-Video Out
• IEEE 1394 (Firewire) Port
• Windows XP Professional
• 13" (length) x 9.7" (width) x 1.18"-1.28" (height) ~5.0 LBS w/ US standard 8 cell and travelers drawer ~5.4 LBS w/ US standard 8 cell and optical drive

The prime differences between the original H017P and H026P W3J configurations are the inclusion of an Intel Core Duo T2500 2.0 GHz processor, 1 x 1056 MB memory, and a $100 price hike.

Reasons for Buying:

Given the commercially-competitive nature of our society, the decision to jump for a big-ticket item can be a mind-numbingly painful one. While this pain might have been absent in my case, the decision to purchase the W3j was the result of 6 months of research. Being indecisive has its drawbacks, but a lack of patience is not one of them. My principle needs in a computer were portability, graphics-capability, longevity, and quality. Given my itinerant (occasionally consuming) gaming habit, a mid-high range GPU was a strong factor in my choice to buy. Combined with my needs for portability this originally caused me to look at 15.4" widescreen media notebooks. Among these were the MSI-1039, HP dv4000 (when it had the ATI x700), the Sager 5320, and the Asus V6va. All of these were appealing options, but a combination of release delays (in the case of the MSI-1039) and the up-coming inclusion of higher-end GPUs (such as the x1600) caused me to postpone my purchase. Whilst in the throes of the waiting game I heard about the Asus W3j, and decided that a 14" widescreen might actually better serve my needs than its larger counterparts.

This computer is intended to last me through medical school, all the while satisfying my note taking and graphics needs. As such, versatility in function and ease of mobility needed to be combined with a high build quality. I'm of the mind set that a few extra dollars are worth it, if the added attention to detail will prolong the aesthetic and functional life of the product. This was the primary factor which caused me to shift my attention from mass-market distributors such as Dell and HP, towards the designer models like Asus and Sager. While this meant my price range jumped from $1400 to $1800 I believe the end-result is worth it. The Asus W3j will undoubtedly serve me for 4 years in all manners necessary. While this time-frame will see such innovations as the introduction of Windows Vista and the release of 64-bit processors, I believe these issues will be addressed adequate to my needs.

Where and How Purchased:

I purchased the notebook from PROPortable.com. It's owner, Justin, is a frequent participant here in the NotebookReview.com Asus forums, and I consistently find his advice to be exclusive, accurate, and timely.

The purchase price was the same as that of other retailers, namely $1,799. Combined with shipping costs and a $50 discount for NotebookReview.com forum members the final price came to $1821.32. Although I had seen promotional sales for slightly less, I found the shopping experience through PROPortable to be phenomenal. I believe the extra $50 I could have saved is more than made up for in the comfort I feel working with Justin's company.

Build & Design:

This is one area which I can talk about without equivocation. The W3j is a masterpiece. The diligent student will realize that in specifications the Asus W3j is nearly identical to the Asus A8j and S96j. The difference you ask? Build quality.

Design has always been Asus' forte, and this fact is attested to in the construction of the W3. First impressions on opening the box were somewhat akin to Homer Simpson, being a combination of euphoric moaning and drool. The brushed aluminum lid is poetically elegant, and the seamless touchpad is gorgeous. The bamboo-style hinge maintains the curvaceous nature of the design, as do the fonts of the keyboard which are decidedly less angular than is typical. The colorations of the computer itself lend a great deal to the aesthetics of the machine. I particularly enjoy the charcoal black of interior, the chrome trim of the touchpad, and the gun-metal gray of the lid.

The metallic and textured lid suggests the overall ruggedness of this machine (view large image)

The durability of the computer is also excellent. At no point in the three weeks that I've used it have I felt or heard creaks, rattles, or loosening joints. There is no flex on the screen or within the chassis itself. The magnetic latch of the lid is fantastic, and the hinge itself is so sturdy as to sometimes require two hands for proper positioning. (This in itself might be a negative for some people, but I find it a redeeming quality). The computer is also light weight enough (5.4 lbs.) to allow easy portability.

As to design there are only a few minor complaints. The only aspect of the computer which I find less than perfectly sturdy is the battery. If pressure is applied it exhibits a slight wobble. This is only a minor concern, it does not affect my opinion of the computer being totally sound, and it is completely unnoticeable unless sought after. I also would have been happier should Asus have used Carbon-alloy for the interior palm rest. As it stands the palm-rest is made of a high-grade plastic. This is particularly noticeable around the gray trim of the LCD/keyboard, and the seam of the battery. I also dislike how the heat vent was placed on the right side of the computer. Given the heat the GPU is capable of generating, this can be uncomfortable after prolonged use.

Screen:

Asus W3J screen straight on (view large image)

Asus W3J screen taken from the right side, notice the reflection from the glossy screen (view large image)

The Asus W3j is a 14" widescreen with WXGA resolution (1280 x 768). It has a Color Shine' glossy LCD with Crystal Bright' (extra bright) technology. When the W3 was first released there was no small debate about the rationale of using a WXGA resolution instead of something higher. I'll admit that I was slightly anxious concerning this fact, but I'm happy to report that I've since found a WXGA resolution to be entirely adequate. The viewing angles of the screen are relatively narrow, a fact definitively noticeable on black images such as the Asus start-up screen. In these instances the upper and lower portions of the screen can take on a gray haze. If three or four people where crowded around the screen I would expect those persons on the outside to have difficulty seeing. Nevertheless, I've found the screen performance to be more than sufficient for my personal use. There is no light-leakage (meaning bleeding of the backlight through the seams) that I can perceive, nor are there any dead-pixels. The gloss of the screen might seem extreme from some of the included pictures, but I have not found this to be the case.

Using the Asus W3J with two windows open on the screen (view large image)

On a personal note, I've also confirmed my suspicions that a 14" widescreen is an exceptional substitute for a 15.4" screen. Not once have I been disappointed with the size of the LCD. It shows video well, and it offers reasonable space to display two screens side by side.

Most importantly, a look at how the Simpsons plays on the W3j (view large image)

Speakers:

Except in exceptional cases speakers are usually less than superb on notebooks. The W3j is not such an exception. Of all things concerning this notebook, this is that which I have found to be the most blatantly average. The design of the computer itself causes the speakers to angle down. Whether watching videos or playing games I typically find myself wishing I could push the sound just a little louder and richer. In the confines of my room the sound is adequate, but in public you will find yourself straining a little. On a positive note, the headphone/speaker jack is excellent, and the ability to use such eliminates this difficulty.

Processor and Performance:

The W3j emerges at an interesting time in computer evolution, in that it stands on the verge of the introduction of 64-bit technology. Even absent such however, it still represents an exceptionally powerful processing unit. The Yonah T2400 is a 1.86 GHz Dual Core. This means that the processor is capable of isolating different functions to one of its two cores, thus decreasing interference between programs (or even within the same program) and speeding up the process.

The general impression during use is speed. At no time have I felt that the computer lags beyond reason, and even then only when 4 or 5 process hungry programs are open simultaneously. CPU usage hovers around 15% when watching a DVD which enables comfortable multi-tasking.

Included in the design of the notebook are several hot buttons which enable easy hardware management. Along the left side are media keys which play CDs even when the computer is off. When the computer is turned on, these buttons access Windows Media Player. Along the right side are buttons which enable/disable Power4Gear, Bluetooth, Screen Contrast, Wireless Internet, and the Touchpad. I find all these functions to be extremely useful.

Benchmarks:

The following benchmarks reflect stock speeds and stock drivers. As you can see the Asus W3j more than holds its own in performance.

SuperPi

Below is the Super Pi calculation to 2-million digits of acuracy score and comparison to other notebooks:

3DMark 05 Results:

Below is the overall 3DMark05 score and comparison to other notebooks:

PCMark 05 Results:

Below is the overall PCMark05 score and comparison to other notebooks:

HDTune Results:

(view large image)