I purchased this laptop as a replacement for my old HP G60. I have been wanting to buy a new computer for some time now but had never looked too deeply into it. I originally wanted to build a custom pc and never thought that a laptop could keep up with a desktop. That is until I saw this computer. This computer is an amazing piece of hardware which manages to stay cool to the touch after hours of operation. Never would I have thought that I could find a laptop this powerful, let alone for under $1800.
PROS:
It has the new i7 Sandy Bridge which can tear through any task you throw at it.
The nvidia GTX 460M with 1.5 GB of DDR5. Windows tells me this card has 4GB total memory
Great speakers for a laptop. Never have I heard such sound come from a laptop.
The screen which as far as I can tell has about the same contrast as my 40 inch LED TV.
Can output 3D onto a 3DTV through HDMI
The keyboard has a great feel and the back light looks great every time I see it
The finish feels great to touch and does not show fingerprints.
This computer has BY FAR the best cooling I have seen on a laptop. It stays cooler than my old G60 which would power off if left sitting on a flat surface and would burn my hands.
CONS:
Honestly I dont have any cons that I can find. Just some problems that I am sure most people wont experience. After I installed virpe antivirus i got a BSOD and had to do a system restore to fix. However after the system restore I had to uninstall the drivers for the back lit keyboard and re-install them so they would work again. That and this computer came with Google chrome pre-installed. It would not open or uninstall. I had to install a new copy of chrome for it to work and now on my add/remove programs i have 2 copies of Google chrome.
Overall this laptop far exceeds my expectations for what a laptop can do. Most desktops will have a hard time keeping up with it. If you are in the market for a desktop replacement I honestly cant think of a much better way to spend $1800.
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I bought this computer because I am a budding photographer and casual gamer. I couldn't believe how much computer I got for the price. I purchased the computer 2/1/2011 and it arrived 2 days later. The first thing I tried to do was create the recovery discs only to find out the computer would not burn dvd's. I had called Asus before making the purchase to make sure the blu ray combo drive would burn dvds and i was assured that it would. Asus created a RMA and I send them the machine and received it back 10 days later only to find the same issue. I called and got another RMA and sent it to a different location and received a machine 10 days later that would burn dvd's.Then I found out about the sandy bridge recall. I opted for the advanced replacement so I could keep my machine while they sent me a new one but the new machine I received would not burn dvd's. So now I have another RMA and hopefully they get the issue fixed on their first try this time.
While I had a fully functional machine I absolutely loved it. It is blazing fast and whisper quiet. My brother has the previous years version of the Asus ROG and it sounds like it is going to exploded while playing W.O.W. Everytime I have spoken with Asus customer support it has been a pleasant experience and the turn around on the repairs has been quick. Its an awesome machine but a frustrating experience.
Best Deals for ASUS G73SW-A1 Republic of Gamers 17.3-Inch Gaming Laptop (Black)
First off, I ordered this from Amazon on April 6 and received the redesigned version. From the recent reviews, I can see that others ordering it around the same time were still getting bad models. This one came from Arizona. Once the nervousness of getting a bad model was gone, I could go to work.First thing I did was a clean re-install of Windows 7. I used the guide at notebookreview.com (Google search "clean windows 7 asus", it will be the first result). Since the G73SW-A1 does not come with a Recovery disc, I had to acquire a (legal) Windows 7 Home Premium install disc. (Note: when activating a retail copy of Windows 7 with the OEM product key, Windows will make you activate it by phone, which is automated and takes 5 minutes) As long as it's the same machine and Windows 7 Home Premium, you can activate it with the OEM key infinite times.
The -A1 comes with 2 500GB hard drives. The first HDD is split into 3 partitions (hidden restore, Windows drive, spare) and the second HDD is split into 2 empty partitions. When I did the clean install, I wiped all drives and erased all partitions, leaving C and D drives. With Windows 7 and Drivers/Software discs in hand, a restore partition is unnecessary. Someday I will clone the C drive and replace it with an SSD.
Overall early impressions:
Pros:
-Very fast: 100% loaded in about 30 seconds from power-on
-Nice build quality: good screen hinge, rubbery wrist-rests feel good. Fingerprints not really an issue. I still get a kick out of the stealth fighter styling.
-Very bright LED backlight and clear screen (though it's a glare-type).
-It remains quite cool at the bottom (my old Inspiron 9300 was a scorcher)
-Nice keyboard backlight
-Good quality backpack and mouse
Cons:
-Keyboard design: space bar does not work if tapped at the very bottom. It works OK if I hit it harder or centered. The arrow keys are too small and crammed between the number pad and Ctrl and Shift keys, so it's hard to find them just by touch.
-FN keys my old Inspiron 9300 had buttons for Mute, Volume Up/Down, Play/Pause, Previous, Next and Stop all on the front of the laptop. On this one, they're all integrated onto the keyboard, using the FN button. (just a minor nuisance, really) Also, the Play/Pause/Stop/Previous/Next buttons are pretty much useless as they only work with Windows Media Center. (If you disable WMC, the buttons default to Windows Media Player) Again, the Inspiron 9300 buttons worked with whatever media player was on at the time.
There's also this weird glitch with the desktop icons. I like to have a clean desktop (no icons). If you disable them in Display Properties, the icons reappear after a reboot. It turns out Power4Gear (ASUS's power management software) is the culprit. Go into its advanced settings and tell it to hide desktop icons for all power settings.
Overall, I'm very happy with this machine. No BSODs or system errors of any kind so far. The NVIDIA video card seems to be doing a very good job. All of the drivers on the machine and on the DVD are current, so I only had to update Windows 7. The keyboard will take some getting used to, that's all.
Honest reviews on ASUS G73SW-A1 Republic of Gamers 17.3-Inch Gaming Laptop (Black)
I owned the previous model and the good thing is this came out during exchange period. i got this from a regular store and not amazon.Clarification on specs: the hard drive is a hybrid drive meaning it has large cache and 4 gigabyte ssd built in. This should make it faster like an ssd. I haven't tested this yet so I cant say if it makes a difference.
First impressions:
pros: the build quality is superb!!! its is so solid with no give. the screen doesn't rock back and forth like many other 17 inch computers. It is cool and runs so smooth with minimal noise. The drive is still a bit noisy when it spins.
the built in video chip( within the processor) should improve battery life) not that this is an issue with a desktop replacement)
cons
-volume cant be raised or lowered by pressing 1 key. You have to press fn+ another key. annoying but not major.
Vidoe camera not impressive at all. may 1 year old macbook pro isight is much much better.
the finish feels great in your hands and doesn't attract fingerprints however i feel like it will collect stubborn dust over time unlike a metal finish.
overall this a great laptop very fast and responsive with minor issues but hey nothing is perfect!
Important update:
someone kindly posted in the discussion this link which i find concerning. there seems to be a flaw in the design of sandybridge chipset. I have not experienced any issues yet but i am considering sending it back. again actual laptop design is flawless but this seems like a serious issue with the intel chipset.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for ASUS G73SW-A1 Republic of Gamers 17.3-Inch Gaming Laptop (Black)
I've used computers for work and pleasure since 1989. I've owned four desktops. This Asus is my second notebook/laptop. My first is a Dell XPS M1710 which I still have and have been extremely happy with it. I don't game but use these laptops for photos, video editing and daily internet time.The Asus arrived two business days with free shipping after Amazon confirmed it was shipped. The packing box was a little flimsy but the Asus factory packaging is superbly constructed to protect the product. Included in the box also was an Asus Drivers and Utility disk, warranty card, Asus Express Gate and Inspiring Innovation Persistent Perfection manuals. Backpack, mouse and a tiny cleaning cloth were included also. I think the size of this laptop is great as it will replace my desktop. Many reviews mentioned the enormous size and weight. Didn't you read all the specifications before you committed? This machine is only slightly wider than my Dell XPS but more streamlined in design. It's about the same width or possibly less than a desktop keyboard. I wanted the HD resolution and big screen for the videos. My Dell XPS ran hot. This Asus is cool and you can have it on your lap.
Many consumers were concerned about the sandy bridge problem. On the outside of the box was attached a sticker saying "new revision, certified design" as well as a small label on the laptop in the lower right corner with the same wording. I also logged on Asus' website to check the serial number to confirm the processor is the newest version.
The G73sw is also extremely well built on the exterior around all its seams of quality materials, not cheap plastic you'll find on other brands. The surface around the touchpad where your fingers and palms may touch does not leave smudges or stains but can get a surface scratch with sharp nails.
The upper cover of the screen is tight and securely attached to the lower portion. The screen's resolution, clarity and brightness is the best I've seen anywhere on a computer. Letters are not wooly in appearance. Some screens seem yellowish or bluish in use. Not this one. It's white where white should be f.ex. on a word processing page or webpage.
The keyboard is soft touch with a slight sound, almost silent when you type. It doesn't have that awful clicking sound found on desktop keyboards or cheaply assembled budget notebooks. The keyboard has a numerical section arranged differently from desktop keyboards. The directional arrows are placed differently so you need an extra fraction or two of a second to look before you press your selection. A few days and you're ok with that. The keyboard as you know is illuminated in fluorescent white with Fn+F3/F4 to adjust brightness as well as other Fn functions. I thought I could choose a color f.ex. red or blue besides white. Maybe it's possible and I haven't found out how as yet.
The two Seagate 500GB harddrives are fast. Just not as fast as the Western Digital 500GB in my Dell XPS. The Seagate hds are almost completely silent. If you listen to music or other background sound you don't know they're spinning. Almost like a hybrid car stopped at a red light.
I ran a clean installation of Windows 7 Professional from startup wiping the bloatware as many users have recommended here and on other forums. It has been extremely helpful reading reviews and suggestions from owners earlier this year. Thanks for your feedback. Be sure to use the driver and utility disk enclosed to return your machine to proper functionality if you do a clean windows installation. You will install approximately 14-16 drivers from that disk and avoid the junkware. Notebookreview dot com has excellent instructive pages to guide you through the process.
Other reviewers have written about other technical aspects of this machine so I won't at this time. With the past 3 days usage of mine I think I as well as other consumers will be happy with their purchase. Windows Experience Index was 5.9. I highly recommend buying from Amazon. If time allows I will write an update in 3-4 weeks when all my applications have been installed and used as I require.
BTW, I must have used over one hour writing this review and I fully enjoyed using the keyboard. Furthermore, I am not associated with Amazon or Asus nor have I an economic interest in this writing should someone think that. I am an end user, no more.
UPDATE 15 August 2011
Its been about six weeks since I've owned this notebook. My experience has been very favorable as I described above. I have one disappointment and some suggestions to Asus should they read my updated comments.
POSITIVES: Many. Fast, quiet machine with superb 5 star graphics as I mentioned in my review above.
A hugh pleasure using this machine.
OBSERVATIONS: These are minor points of my personal preferences or desires. What other owners experience can be different. Hopefully some will agree.
1. The keyboard is illuminated. The touch pad area left and right buttons should be illuminated also.
2. It would have been nice to choose one or two other illuminating colors for the keyboard.
3. The Asus embossed ROG on the cover would have been nice with illumination.
4. The keys on the upper row Esc, F1-12, Delete, Home, Pgup, Pgdn and End I would have liked 1/4 larger in size. For masculine fingers the buttons are small.
5. From mid-June until now the price has fallen as well as Asus has increased the rebate $50 to $150 this month.
DISAPPOINTMENT: The notebook is supposed to have blu-ray combo drive but the blu-ray discs I own or loaned from Netflix will not play on my machine. I haven't installed a 3rd party dvd software since many reviews have claimed these applications are problematic. I would have liked an Asus driver so the blu-ray discs were readable out of the box. Maybe someone here has a solution.
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