Barebone/Whitebox Notebook PCs?

[tokyojoe]

I have been checking out Windows PCs and noticed that some of the motherboard makers like Asus and MSI are selling their own notebooks since they already OEM for brand name PC companies. Some of these models appear to be rebranded by local Akiba shops too. Has anyone used one of these PCs that can describe the build quality, features? Thanks.

[Watcher]

Some are great... on par with the best in the field (Asus was pretty sharp) while others are just wretched (Clevo - Sager, Power Computing, that Japan based English OS maker whose name is forgettable). When you start to go cheap on a notebook you start to sacrifice a lot of little things (look at what happens when Dell goes cheap). For example, the track pad on cheap notebooks are horrible, the heat they generate is unacceptable, and the quality of the plastic used is just screaming "You're gonna need a replacement in 2 years!".
I can't imagine currently spending anything less than 120,000 Yen on a notebook (and that would be for an iBook). Look more to the 150,000 and up for anything you're going to want to work with. You want cheap? Maybe eMachines is just making the acceptablity cut.

Watcher types on Toshiba Satellite M30 (forget the name in Japan) and spent 180,000Yen for it... and has never looked back

[Socratesabroad]

Like Watcher, I opted to spend a bit more than originally expected on a laptop - I ended up with an IBM ThinkPad.

One major consideration I had when buying was running Japanese and Chinese Windows (multi-boot). Unlike some of the domestic Japanese models, ThinkPads use the same drivers regardless of the Windows lang version. Same goes for parts. Another big selling point was availability of info online - the IBM ThinkPad websites are multilingual and have details as well as short videos on how to disassemble and replace most parts yourself (a money-saver if you're tech-savvy).

You might want to find out if the laptops you're interested in are the same models sold worldwide (this'll come into play should you relocate) or Japan-specific models (a major headache in getting support and finding parts).

[IkemenTommy]

http://www.zdnet.com.au/reviews/hardware/notebooks/soa/AMD_vs_Intel_10_notebooks_tested/0,39023407,39203488,00.htm

[IkemenTommy]

Like Watcher, I opted to spend a bit more than originally expected on a laptop - I ended up with an IBM ThinkPad.

The computer that my work provides me is the IBM chinkpad (x31). That thing sucks my right nut with no dvd-rw drive and no built-in 802.11 wireless. I hate to carry that thing around. I've seen Matsushitas (Panasonic) and Sonys that weigh less and have internal optical drives.

Oh.. my mistake.. IBM THINKpad.

[emperor]

I dont like the look of thinkpadsgenerally... but i do like the way the x41 tablet/notebook was designed and how thin and light it claims to be.

Almost makes me regret pushing the button and asking my dad to pick me up one of those upgraded ibook 12"ers, while i find a buyer for my japanese os vaio.

Can i get an opinion?

bought Oct '03

jap win xp home
P4 2.4, 768mb, 60gb, 64mb ati shared video, 15.4" tft lcd, 3xusb, firewire, ethernet, floppy, mem-stick slot, pcmcia

I saw similar spec'ed vaio on ebay for €900/950.
I was gonna ask for €800 (Y108,000 / $960)

I suppose Europe costing most for laptops can be taken into account.

Am I asking for too little / much / just enough ?

[IkemenTommy]

Probably too much but maybe you can try
yahoo-auc. I've never used it before so I really can't tell ya much.

[emperor]

Probably too much but maybe you can try
yahoo-auc. I've never used it before so I really can't tell ya much.

found a couple with slightly lower specs going for same money, im selling it in ireland/europe so would fetch a little more anyway - seems ok
cheers