Asus vs Viao. Need to know by tomorrow!

Soarer

Quick specs.....
Asus
Windows 8
B820 Processor
6gb RAM
1TB HDD
15" screen
€420

Sony
Windows 7
Core i5 Processor
4gb RAM
640gb HDD
15" screen
€430

Machine will be used for Skype, email, downloading, CAD (3d), and maybe some movie watching.

Which would be my best bet? I'm leaning towards the Sony, as it's be easier/cheaper to upgrade the ram/hdd if needed?

Thanks guys.

riclad

I,D GO for asus, i got vaio 14 months ago, new,
after 8 months it developed 3 dead pixels.
Since peats closed ,i never brought it back even though its under warranty.
but any laptop has 2 years gaurantee, holdon to receipt,
Would you need 6gig ram for cad.?
isnt ram very cheap nowadays,anyway.
SO if you prefer sony ,get sony.
for myself, i set screen brightness win 7, to minimum,brigtness.
i still find it slightly too bright.
go to the shop, play a video,file look at screen, which screen looks better.
avoid shiny glossy screens at all costs.
i cant find any program to reduce gamma,that runs on windows 7.
And the asus has a much larger hard drive.

Alanstrainor

Need more detailed spec.

The processor in the Asus is very poor. Would go with the i5 over that any day. RAM and even hard drive are easily upgraded.

As for graphics, i'd assume both are integrated at that price.

Soarer

Thanks guys.
Should've mentioned the Asus has integrated and the Vaio hs dedicated graphics. Didn't catch the details, but surely any sort of dedicated is better than integrated?

Andy!!

In this case go with the Vaio, as that Asus is very very poor.

seanmacc

For Skype I find my Viao fantastic (I've a VPC111fx), granted I am comparing it to my old Dell Inspiron and the other halfs HP. The internal camera and microphone I can't fault. Granted they probably vary from model to model.

Soarer

Thanks guys.

Like I said earlier, I was leaning towards the Sony anyway, even though the Asus is a lovely looking machine (in Argos btw. K55A).
Ideally would've liked a bigger screen for the cad, but I don't think I'd even get those specs secondhand for the €430.

Andy!!

Soarer wrote: »

Thanks guys.

Like I said earlier, I was leaning towards the Sony anyway, even though the Asus is a lovely looking machine (in Argos btw. K55A).
Ideally would've liked a bigger screen for the cad, but I don't think I'd even get those specs secondhand for the €430.

Nothing stopping you hooking up another monitor later.

machiavellianme

Where is that Sony available? Looks quite a good spec for the price.
Normally I'd pick Asus ahaead of Sony if its like-for-like but that Asus spec above really is poor for the price.

Soarer

It was the last one from Currys. Was sold before I got there, so I'm back to square one!

Open to suggestions of a well spec'd, fairly cheap laptop.

freestyla

Sorry but I have to suggest this one again Asus K56CA - The only thing you need to google about: how does 4200rpm hard drive affect CAD performance? Otherwise the laptop is top quality and fast for €540.



Check also Powercity EOL products, looks like 1 piece left of TOSHIBA L750-16Z with Core i5 for €450

machiavellianme

riclad wrote: »

I,D GO for asus, i got vaio 14 months ago, new,
after 8 months it developed 3 dead pixels.
Since peats closed ,i never brought it back even though its under warranty.
but any laptop has 2 years gaurantee, holdon to receipt,
Would you need 6gig ram for cad.?
isnt ram very cheap nowadays,anyway.
SO if you prefer sony ,get sony.
for myself, i set screen brightness win 7, to minimum,brigtness.
i still find it slightly too bright.
go to the shop, play a video,file look at screen, which screen looks better.
avoid shiny glossy screens at all costs.
i cant find any program to reduce gamma,that runs on windows 7.
And the asus has a much larger hard drive.

Didnt Peats reopen?

Soarer

Thanks for the option freestyla.

Purchased at lunchtime there and think I did ok. Actually, don't tell me if I haven't!

Got an Asus N56V Aluminium yoke (can't remember the exact model number)
Core i5
6gb RAM
750gb
2gb dedicated graphics
Bluray player
Bang & Olufsen Sound
Aluminium Chassis
USB 3.0, hdmi, etc.

Got it for the princely sum of €600. Was more than I was willing to spend, but with the dedicated graphics, I decided to push the boat out.

machiavellianme

Soarer wrote: »

Thanks for the option freestyla.

Purchased at lunchtime there and think I did ok. Actually, don't tell me if I haven't!

Got an Asus N56V Aluminium yoke (can't remember the exact model number)
Core i5
6gb RAM
750gb
2gb dedicated graphics
Bluray player
Bang & Olufsen Sound
Aluminium Chassis
USB 3.0, hdmi, etc.

Got it for the princely sum of €600. Was more than I was willing to spend, but with the dedicated graphics, I decided to push the boat out.

They're an excellent beast. The sound is awesome. Thats not bad for a bricks n mortar. Whip out the hard drive and upgrade the RAM and you'll be flying...

Soarer

machiavellianme wrote: »

They're an excellent beast. The sound is awesome. Thats not bad for a bricks n mortar. Whip out the hard drive and upgrade the RAM and you'll be flying...

Ooooo, a fella can't be saying that without giving options!
Good to know that I didn't do too bad.

P.S. How small an SSD would you get away with for running the operating system?

Freddy Smelly

riclad wrote: »

Since peats closed ,i never brought it back even though its under warranty.
.

peats reopened beside the ILAC centre... i'd return it while u still can

Andy!!

Soarer wrote: »

Ooooo, a fella can't be saying that without giving options!
Good to know that I didn't do too bad.

P.S. How small an SSD would you get away with for running the operating system?

Aye thats not a bad system you ended up with. For just an OS, 60GB will do but youll need much bigger if there isnt a second drive bay.

projectgtr

Soarer wrote: »

Thanks for the option freestyla.

Purchased at lunchtime there and think I did ok. Actually, don't tell me if I haven't!

Got an Asus N56V Aluminium yoke (can't remember the exact model number)
Core i5
6gb RAM
750gb
2gb dedicated graphics
Bluray player
Bang & Olufsen Sound
Aluminium Chassis
USB 3.0, hdmi, etc.

Got it for the princely sum of €600. Was more than I was willing to spend, but with the dedicated graphics, I decided to push the boat out.

Any chance of a link to where/what you bought, thats the spec im looking for at the budget i have. Even got a model number or what shop it was in?

Soarer

Sorry about getting back so late. Out for a few pints.

'twas in Currys Cork. Last one they had but they may have more nationwide. They've 30% off their Windows 7 stuff.