I went to Best Buy last Saturday to browse their in-stock ASUS models… I’ve been eyeing them for their specs, but haven’t been able to bring myself to spend $1000+ on something as ugly as the G50V (it screams out Halloween to me). That’s when I saw the exclusive BB X83Vm-X2 — it looks much different in person than the photos online. The colors online are not very accurate, and the exterior pattern design is more sleek & subtle. The dark brown is similar to a rich chocolate, and the lighter color caramel. Nice specs too — an nVidia GeForce 9600M GS packed into a 14.1″ model, 320GB RAM, bright glossy screen, HDMI out, eSATA, and much lighter than my old college laptop (Compaq Presario V4000T… so heavy, bulky, and overall disappointing for the price I paid 3 years ago). It was still marked $1,049.99 and I had purchased it.. just to see the next day it went on sale! So I took my receipt & price matched it, no problem.
I’ve only had one major gripe so far, and that’s the keyboard. I don’t know if it is all models, but my boyfriend also purchased the same model & has same problem. Seems to have keyboard lag.. he types over 100 WPM, and my maximum is around 130, but I’ve had to really reduce my speed because nearly every other key was skipping. I could barely type sentences while using messenger programs… typing the sentence “I’m so frustrated!” came out as “I’m s frstratd!” Seems to be a problem with ASUS models perhaps, as the 50 series was having the same problem. I read through this thread on the Asus M50 series and made two modifications… the first solution on first post (some changes to Synaptic application), and some changes in the Task Manager to change compatibility for Synaptic applications. I don’t really understand how making tweaks for the touchpad affect the keyboard, but those minor modifications have definitely improved… I’m still skipping some keys, but I can type at an average ~90 WPM now no problem and I’ve almost forgotten that I was having keyboard issues my first two days with this laptop.
In terms of performance, I haven’t really pushed it to do much yet. It runs Adobe CS applications smoothly, and the bright screen is definitely an improvement over my old V4000T. It makes editing dust, blemishes, etc. so much easier. I have some video editing work to do but haven’t tried it out yet. Also have done some light gaming, no problems running Warcraft 3 with everything on high & max resolution. (Would you believe my V4000T would struggle with such an old game? With everything set on low/off?). Boyfriend has been playing Spore on his laptop and that runs smoothly as well. Another thing I’ve been looking out for is overheating issues, even from just regular usage keeping laptop on for long periods of time. My V4000T had problems with hard drive, CPU, or video card heating, and since the X83Vm-X1 is much smaller, I was concerned heat may be an issue here as well. So far, no problems.
Overall, I’m pretty pleased with the purchase. I was already satisfied when I had spent the $1,049 but since it went on sale for $899, I love it even more now. The laptop is actually pretty stylish and the colors are nice, but the photos on BB website don’t portray it nicely at all! & speaking of the V4000T… it is still in my possession. I have to double check that I’ve carried over everything from the old laptop to the new, and then reformat it (and fix the RAM issue it was having). I’m giving it to my mom; she said she wants it even though all she ever uses the internet for is to check her bank account all online. :)
Edit #1: Notebook came with a bunch of stuff pre-installed. The webcam program, LifeFrame, was fun to play around with. I like the Photo Club feature, which reminds me a little of the purikura (Print Club) booths in Japan that take multiple photographs. Has anyone tried the ASUS InstantFun program yet? I’ve heard that Express Gate can cause problems, and I wonder if InstantFun is the same way.
Edit #2: Added photographs! You can see more in my Flickr here.
Hi,
I’m a member of notebookreview.com also…I am excited to see some real life pictures of this notebook as I might be buying it within the week. I would love to get a battery life rundown, 3dmark06, and lots of pics of this amazing little NB. Thanks for anything you can provide!
~Josh
Josh
27 Oct 08 at 11:19 am
Hi Josh,
Thanks for your comment. I can probably get around to testing those things on the weekend. My boyfriend will probably be curious too to see benchmark scores. Just updated post with photos. Will keep you posted!
Shar
Shar
27 Oct 08 at 7:45 pm
My boyfriend just ran 3dmark on default settings & drivers on default – score was 4200.
Shar
30 Oct 08 at 7:57 pm
hello,
im from brazil, idont know how i find your blog, but, i was looking for reviews about this incredible laptop. Im going to usa next week, so do you recommend me this laptop? the price still U$1049,00, how i get the sale price of U$899,00?
Thanks
Leandro
29 Nov 08 at 4:57 pm
Hi Leandro,
It was on sale at Best Buy for that week. I am not sure if/when it will go on sale again. I think the laptop is still good at $1049 price, but even better when cheaper. I definitely recommend it though.
Shar
Shar
29 Nov 08 at 5:35 pm
hi,
I was planning to buy this laptop from BB ASUS X83Vm-x1. can u please advise me whether to go for it or not?
2) I read :”It was still marked $1,049.99 and I had purchased it.. just to see the next day it went on sale! So I took my receipt & price matched it, no problem.”
I want to know wat exactly is dis system? did u buy from store or website?
was the price slashed on store or website? plz explain thiss bB system
Kavit
3 Dec 08 at 11:00 am
Hi Kavit,
I purchased the laptop in-store, and it just happened to go on sale a few days later, so they honored the sale price since I had recently purchased it. If it is regular price right now, they will sell it a regular price.
Shar
3 Dec 08 at 9:00 pm
I just Went to Best Buy and paid $899 for this lap top. I like the size of the system and the power of the cpu,gpu I cant wait for Xmas to use it
Dave
4 Dec 08 at 9:01 pm
I just purchased this laptop @ BB for $899. It was between Asus and the Toshiba A305-S6898. The Asus has twice the power of the Toshiba so I decided to take a chance becuase it is such a great value.
The Toshiba had better design and construction. The design and color of the Asus reminds me of a Louis Vuitton purse.
BTW, BB usually reruns sales prices around three weeks. So, if you missed the sale this week look for the same or better price in a couple of weeks.
umass
5 Dec 08 at 9:39 pm
These are great, I just picked it up a BB in Calif for $899.
I am from the USA, but have been living abroad for about a year and a half and have just come back to visit my parents. I used to build my own desktop gaming computers and would beat the benchmarks of Alienware computers. I have always used ASUS motherboards, they are AMAZING!
I checked Alienware’s website for appx the same specs as this notebook in review here and Alienware wants $2000 for basicly the same thing.
BTW, to the owner of this blog, great pictures of the Asus notebook… What are you shooting with? Nikon? Canon?
Ari
7 Dec 08 at 6:06 am
Hi Ari,
Thanks! I shoot with Canon. :)
-Shar
Shar
7 Dec 08 at 8:30 am
Shar,
Thanks. Canon 50D? or?
Ari
11 Dec 08 at 12:46 am
Hi Ari,
Canon EOS 20D. :) With a Tamron 17-55mm lens.
- Shar
Shar
11 Dec 08 at 7:10 am
hey shar,
im searching a laptop for abt 1000$-1100$. i v found this one. is there that sale prize 899$ in bestbuy? hav u tested new games by using this asus product? rnt u havin problems?
or cud u tel me a better laptop within my price range?
thanx
hans
25 Dec 08 at 7:22 am
Hi Hans,
You would have to check Best Buy sale ads to watch if the price drops again. Sales change weekly. I have been using the laptop to play Final Fantasy XI: Online on all high settings & tweaks and game runs very smoothly. I’ve also been playing Left 4 Dead on high settings and multiplayer online – also runs very smoothly. Very satisfied with this laptop purchase.
Shar
25 Dec 08 at 10:28 pm
Just copped at Bestbuy for $794.99!!! If u find it there for $899 at ur BB just ask them to look up prices at diff BB then they will honor that price.
$794.99 at BB
28 Dec 08 at 12:23 am
Where was the store you found it at? It’s $899 at mine in Orlando, Fl.
Poorman
29 Dec 08 at 12:39 pm
Hi Poorman,
I bought mine in California, East Bay area.
Shar
29 Dec 08 at 8:50 pm
ty, I’ll see if I can get mine to price match!
Poorman
29 Dec 08 at 11:53 pm
Hi, i just bought this today @ $899. Will BB honored the $794.99 price here in Atlanta, GA too?
Han
31 Dec 08 at 1:35 pm
I’m not sure. You will need to bring a copy of the advertisement to your local BB and find out their price matching policy.
Shar
31 Dec 08 at 6:17 pm
I just got mine for $794.99 yesterday in the Mt. Laurel, NJ store (just outside of Philadelphia).
Mark
1 Jan 09 at 12:00 am
Hello all,
This computer has be THE deal right now, and the surprising thing is is that not many people know about it. I paid $750.00 before tax at BB 4 days ago. It was in the store marked as $799, but I told the salesman that if he lowered it to $750, I’d buy it immediately, and he did! With tax + $16.00 “packaging few”, it came out to about $820.00.
I don’t think this laptop is selling well, and I think it’s because of the Aesthetics. People just think it’s ugly. Well, that’s fine by me, b/c if that’s the case then you can worry less about it being stolen. I call it the “beater factor”. But we know this is FAR from being a beater laptop.
Dean.
Dean
4 Jan 09 at 10:45 pm
Hey y’all…
i’m looking into buying this cute laptop as i see all the good reviews about it and i can’t help to feel a bit confused about the price…
currently it is going for 989$ on the best-buy website but i spoke to the guys over at the sales dept. in the call center and they said they can match a lower price if they can verify it’s being sold for a cheaper price…
So, guys i need your help here… who can tell me a store that sells it for a lower price and can give me the location + zip code so i can have the guys over at best-buy call center give them a call and verify that price…
thanks so much in advance :)
Brittany
22 Jan 09 at 1:07 pm
Brittany,
As far as I know, Best Buy will price match with local stores, so you will need to check the advertisements in your area. You can also try checking out http://www.pricegrabber.com to see prices.
Shar
22 Jan 09 at 8:46 pm
Thanks for the link…
i Know that fact, and that is why i asked ppl to give me the adress of those stores which sell it for a cheaper price because in my area the price is the same.. :)
Brittany
27 Jan 09 at 6:01 am
I was hoping you could give me details on what you did as far as the synaptics are concerned to improve the keyboard issue. I just purchsed this laptop and love it but did find the same issue with skipping keys. I’d appreciate it.. Thanx
Edster
8 Feb 09 at 5:03 pm
Edster,
From this thread — http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=252283
1. Open the Synaptic application in your mouse properties and go to Device Settings Tab.
2. Select Synaptic and Click on Settings
3. Go to Tap Zones -> Uncheck Enable Tap Zone
4. Select Pointer Motion -> Go to Edge Motion -> Select No Edge Motion
5. Select Pointer Refresh Rate -> Check Slow Refresh Rate.
6. Restart computer
Go to task manager, go to the ‘process’ tab. And look for the two synaptics drivers “SynTPEnh.exe” and “SynTPHelper”. Right click on each of them individually. Click on ‘properties’ then click the check box to run the synaptic drivers in “Windows 98/ME compatibility mode”.
Shar
8 Feb 09 at 5:34 pm
Thanx for the quick response. I’ll let ya know if theres a difference. Crossin my fingers
Edster
8 Feb 09 at 5:48 pm
Okay. followed the steps. Only thing I couldn’t do was the windows compatability 98. Doesn’t let me check the boxes
Edster
8 Feb 09 at 6:40 pm
Edster,
It’s possible you are not logged in on the Administrator option? Anyway, good luck. If you need help with it still, I would check those forums, or contact ASUS customer service/tech support.
Shar
8 Feb 09 at 9:10 pm
Cool. Appreciate it Shar
Edster
9 Feb 09 at 1:11 pm
i bought it two hours ago for price matching 749.99 . had to wait here 2hrs, they r removing the so called optimization (they would have charge 129usd for that). i hope this is a winner for years to come, great price/value…any new issues i should know about?
paul
23 Feb 09 at 5:23 pm
Hi Paul,
Personally, no issues aside from the keyboard one which seems to not be so bad anymore since minor tweaks mentioned above. Great price you got it for!
Shar
Shar
23 Feb 09 at 8:40 pm
Hey, I’ve been looking at getting a new laptop and I was wondering if this laptops trackpad has the scroll function where you touch to fingers and move down the page scrolls down? Also does it register as a click when you tap the pad lightly?
vandals572
16 May 09 at 8:46 am
HI vandals572,
It does have the scroll function but not with two-fingers like the Mac. On the right side of the trackpad, there is a line and you can run your finger down the line to scroll up and down.
For touchpad tapping, this does not register as a click. But the buttons are just beneath the touchpad so this doesn’t bother me much.
Shar
16 May 09 at 8:54 am
Ok thanks for the reply. Also I’ve heard the buttons are somewhat hard to press is this true?
vandals572
16 May 09 at 9:34 am
vandals572,
They aren’t difficult to press but they won’t trigger with a light tap either. They do require an actual push to push the buttons. I don’t really notice because to be honest, I always plug in a mouse, especially since I work in Photoshop and stuff. It’s just much faster/easier. As mentioned above, keyboard registers weird but can be fixed with a few non-hardware tweaks.
Shar
16 May 09 at 9:59 am
Alright thanks for the info. I don’t really think the keyboard will be an issue as i think I type around 60 wpm. Now I’m deciding between this laptop and this averatec I found. http://cgi.ebay.com/AVERATEC-2500-LAPTOP-NOTEBOOK-2Gz-250GB-3GB-n2573vh1e-1_W0QQitemZ170332757875QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLaptops_Nov05?hash=item27a89f9f73&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A15|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50
vandals572
17 May 09 at 5:47 am
Hey guys I read everything in here and am very interested in buying this laptop for college and some gaming so I was wondering if you advice me to buy it since you guys have been testing it for a while and you every pros and cons in it .
Thank you!
Roody
29 Jun 09 at 11:36 pm