12" ASUS systems

OK, so we all know the differences between the "ASUS Ensemble" and the "Built On Asus" units. There is more stuff on the Ensemble units, i.e. bluetooth, maybe some aluminium finish etc...

Right now there isn't any 12" Ensemble unit based on the Sonoma platform. We have the Z33 BOA and that is just about it.

This brings me to a couple of questions:

1) Will there ever (within a reasonable timeframe, anyway) be a 12" Ensemble model from ASUS in the states?

2) How does the M5a that is sold elsewhere in the world compare to the Z33? With the U.S. being the only country that has BOA systems and all - is there a difference between those and the M5a? What I have in mind is Ensemble vs BOA build quality, availability of bluetooth and such...

I really wonder if anyone but ASUS has an informed answer right now. But if any of you out there can bring some light to this - you just made it to my Christmas card list!

 

Last time I checked, the W5A was widely available and has a 12 inch widescreen based on Sonoma.

 

Well it's available in Canada, so it must be in the states...

It's on Proportable (which seems to be liked a lot on these forums, seeing how they command the Asus forums. )

http://proportable.com/detail.aspx?ID=103

 

You can't be talking about the U.S. Because if you are... throw us a link to where it is available please! It would be great, but I am sure it is not out in the states.

 

But again.. actually you're not all right when talking about the S5 or M5.. because those are refreshed models and the ensemble and barebones are identical.

With something like the Z63a (w3a) verses the W3v..... you have integrated graphics verses dedicated, but thats a given with the different letter designation.... Other than that, the Z63 just doesn't have bluetooth or an aluminum lid. That's just how it goes on that particular model......

The Z70a/v's (M6a/v) are built the same way as an ensemble worldwide as we get here except for the built in bluetooth ---- something which we are getting the module to retrofit anyway...... bot basically identical........ but then again, worldwide you don't always have the option for dvd burner or combo drive, etc...

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Ah, didn't see you talked about the W5a. [B)] I thought you meant the M5a which I mentioned.

I know the W5a is out but I see that more as a widescreen 10.6" system than a "true" 12". Anyway, I should have clarified that I was thinking more of a successor to the extremely popular M5Ne. [8D]

 

Yeah, I see that the M5a is the Z33a in that there is only that same model available here.

The W3 is different IMO. There is a W3v and a W3a on the Sonoma platform. Then there is the Z63a. Which is different from the W3a, i.e. no bluetooth and possibly other styling differences (maybe aluminium?). I am not too sure as I don't own it but I am positive about the BT.

What I am trying to say... there is a difference between the W3a and the U.S. Z63a. My question is still whether there is the same difference between the M5a sold elsewhere and our Z33a.

It is a fact that the rest of the world has got BT in the W3a. I wonder if they have it in the M5a too. And that makes me wonder what other differences there might be.

But it is probably difficult for anyone but Asus to say right now. Noone have both systems available to them. Like with the W3 - we have the Z63a but people from elsewhere (like John Ratsey of this forum) have the W3a.

Thanks.

BTW: Retrofitting a BT module - sounds sweet. Will you eventually be able to do that on the Z33a?

 

The M5a is out in the US.... in the US the model number is z33a though. Been instock for a couple weeks now... great update to the M5n.

http://www.proportable.com/detail.aspx?ID=5

They are the SAME notebook..... build quality isn't an issue... it's the SAME thing. But with an ensemble you'd get likea 4200rpm hard drive, a given amount of ram, a OS whether you need it or not... and a cpu that is the best for MOST people.......

That's why all of these notebooks aren't ensemble... because they can only get away with the set configurations on some notebooks. With the custom systems, such as the z33a...... if you want to put a 7200rpm hard drive with a 2.1ghz cpu and maxed out with 786mb of ram... you can. Good luck ever getting a 12" system anywhere with specs like that. For 12" systems that are preconfigured whether through Asus or something you'd find at best buy... you're going to get a spec like the S5a....

But then again.... we have the S5a... you wanted a 12" ensemble with a regular ratio screen..... how about that?


Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Well there is differences on all of the models worldwide no matter if it's an ensemble here and around the world, they are ordered in a certain way depending on what the needs are.

The best thing you can do to get your own information if what we say isn't going to be good enough is to look at the specs... Go to Asus and take a look yourself.

The M5a will not have bluetooth or a different screen or this and that at all. The US Z33a is identical to the rest of the worlds M5a but it might be sold in one of 3-4 different colors... you don't know, but that's it.

I don't know what you mean when you say it's hard for anyone but Asus to say....... because I don't think you really asked a question and if you did, it was wrapped up with something else........ but we can retrofit the bluetooth becasue there is a place to plug it in on the Z70v's motherboard, becasue it's the same motherboard that the M6v is built with and that has bluetooth. But to save say $75-100 on the cost of the notebook, the US didn't bring it in with the module on board... but it can be put there.

The M5 is jusdt a refresh...... same specs as before, no new features... period.. The only big thing besides this getting the sonoma chipset is that the M5a (Z33a) now use 65w power supplies instead of 55w....... that's a lot more power... but with that, the funny thing is all of Asus' centrino systems from the S5 to the W1 and everything inbetween all use 65w adapters.... just one less product for us to have to carry!

The w3a doesn't have the aluminum lid, I don't think.... it might have been offered else where, but I don't think it was.

I haven't had the W3a (z63a) a part yet, yet I did have my W3v apart. I didn't look for a specific bluetooth adapter on that unit. My thought is on the W3's it may be completely part of the board and not a seperate piece.... if thats the case than BT might not be able to be retrofitted on those...... but it's something we'll see in the upcoming month or so.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Man, don't put words in my mouth! Don't go all "if what we say isn't going to be good enough". The reason I want to determine the difference on the M5a vs the Z33a is that ASUS (according to a bunch of people, including you) is trying to separate the ensemble from the BOA models. One way they have done this before is by excluding BT. This has also been the case on the W3 where there are differences between the US Z63a and the non-US W3a. The W3a has BT. The Z63a hasn't.

This makes it easy to think - and hope - there will be such differences between the US Z33a and, say, the UK M5a as well. That shouldn't be too difficult to grasp.

Now, if you say the Z33a and the M5a elsewhere is the same unit - I don't see why I shouldn't believe that. But with the W3/Z63 fresh in mind I was hoping they would include more of the good stuff with the (at least some) intl. M5a models.

Just to clarify; on retrofitting BT, I know you were talking about the Z63a there and such. But I was asking about the Z33a. Are you saying you will know in the near future if you will be able to put BT in those or not? Or is bluetooth in a Z33a never going to happen?

 

I'm not putting words in your mouth. What I'm trying to tell you is that you're capable of reading the specs and have been around the forum long enough to be able to see differences in pictures and features.... but also should know that this model here, even though is under a different name there... is the same thing.

The name change, as I've said before is to keep the packages seperate and to make people understand that an M5a is an asus machine and a Z33a is a proportable machine or whatever. It's about warranty and packages..... like I said, asus might make a pacakge with two batteries, or include a mouse or a usb flash drive or whatever... There are no hidden differences is what I'm trying to say. You're looking far to deep into the name differences. It was just meant to help people realize Asus doesn't warranty these, the dealers do... and don't call asus with your problems. As long as the models show they have the same features, then they do..... they use the same motherboard. The Z33a's motherboard is stamped "m5a" ... But in the US you're going to be able to configure it how you want.... something that internationally you can't do.

If you want to look at it this way.... plenty of international customers were buying from the US becasue they could build out their own Asus system. This took away international sales of other countries I'm sure as well.

The W3's are new units....... they were designed from the get go for bluetooth and dedicated graphics and stuff like this.... The M5 is just an older model refreshed with a new chipset..... there isn't going to be a dedicated graphics model or something like that becasue it wasn't originally designed for that so there would be no room. It's basically about room, but also about where it would fit price wise. Asus has the W5 which is the model that's going to be all small and yet have all the connectivity you could ask for. For now, that's not going to be offered in a barebone......

If the M6's BT module works in the Z70v, we can obviously try it in the W3 if it has the same type of connection....... I don't think it does though. The ONLY reason we are considering BT on the Z70 series is because it came to the states with a BT light and button.... although the US office ordered with w/o BT..... so it just seems like it should be an option and the US office figured it'd be worth the cost to test it and be able to offer it. We'll see what happens after the initial Z70 series test.


The Z33 is never going to be able to be retrofitted with bluetooth. The M5a doesn't have it and therefore there isn't a plug on the motherboard for it. Look up the specs to the M5a, you're going to find the exact same specs on the z33a.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Thanks man, that shed light on a lot of these issues. Looks like you are on my Christmas card list from now on! [8D]

 

... oh not another one! [ ]

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]

 

Does anyone know when/if the M5a will be available in the UK? The UK asus web site doesn't seem to list it - nor any of the M5Ns. The shop I bought my M5N from about 6 months ago doesn't carry them anymore. I'm wondering if this is going to make it harder to get support in the future! Also I'm keen to compare the M5A and the M5N to see about the fan issue.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by CertDude

 

Again, I never felt the M5's fan was a "problem" like some others who seem like it drove them to the looney bin.... but the Z33a is much more like my M5 w/ S5 fan that I retrofitted. Although the fan didn't actually change from what I saw, it's acts differently.

As far as when they'll be available in the UK, I have no idea.

Thanks,
Justin
PROPortable
800-474-2296
www.proportable.com
[email protected]