Zenbook vs VivoBook

[AmazingTrans]

I am deciding between this 2 laptop.

I use the laptop at home around couches. I look at the zenbook, it looks all nice and light, but the mousepad seems to be off from the keyboard. It is not in the center of the keyboard.

VIvobook on the other hand, has same ssd and extra hdd, and it is cheaper.

not sure what's the difference between both of this? 

https://www.costco.com/ASUS-VivoBook-Pro-N552VW-Touchscreen-Laptop---Intel-Core-i7---4GB-NVIDIA-Graphics---4K-Ultra-HD.product.100309988.html

 

vs

https://www.costco.com/ASUS-ZenBook-UX501VW-XH71T-Touchscreen-Laptop---Intel-Core-i7---4GB-NVIDIA-Graphics---4K-Ultra-HD.product.100309533.html

 

hoep to hear from someone.

 

[Dabombinable]

12 minutes ago, AmazingTrans said:

I am deciding between this 2 laptop.

I use the laptop at home around couches. I look at the zenbook, it looks all nice and light, but the mousepad seems to be off from the keyboard. It is not in the center of the keyboard.

VIvobook on the other hand, has same ssd and extra hdd, and it is cheaper.

not sure what's the difference between both of this? 

https://www.costco.com/ASUS-VivoBook-Pro-N552VW-Touchscreen-Laptop---Intel-Core-i7---4GB-NVIDIA-Graphics---4K-Ultra-HD.product.100309988.html

 

vs

https://www.costco.com/ASUS-ZenBook-UX501VW-XH71T-Touchscreen-Laptop---Intel-Core-i7---4GB-NVIDIA-Graphics---4K-Ultra-HD.product.100309533.html

 

hoep to hear from someone.

 

The main difference is the amount of storage (the Vivo has a HDD to go with the SSD), and the Vivobook having an optical drive. Also, the layout of the ports is different.

 

Edit: The Vivobook offers more, for a lot less. So go with the Vivobook.

[MilitantCro]

I own the Zenbook ux501vw and I cant be more happy with it. It has a lot bigger battery then the vivo and a better design, it also has thunderbolt 3 which i use a lot and is more future proof that way.

 

zenbook pro all the way!

[AmazingTrans]

1 hour ago, MilitantCro said:

I own the Zenbook ux501vw and I cant be more happy with it. It has a lot bigger battery then the vivo and a better design, it also has thunderbolt 3 which i use a lot and is more future proof that way.

 

zenbook pro all the way!

Hmm, MilitantCro, don't you feel that the mousepad is slightly off to the right ?

typically mousepad should be center to the keyboard where center of the mousepad is align with letter B, that way your thumb can move it easily?

Also, what design is better? Would like to know more.

 

the vivo has the same port as the zen. Only thing different was the minidisplay port. 

[AmazingTrans]

1 hour ago, Dabombinable said:

The main difference is the amount of storage (the Vivo has a HDD to go with the SSD), and the Vivobook having an optical drive. Also, the layout of the ports is different.

 

Edit: The Vivobook offers more, for a lot less. So go with the Vivobook.

That's what i thought so too. I'm wondering, if i can make the vivo lighter by remove the optical drive, and then replace the battery with 6 cell. Wouldn't that make it better than the zen?

After doing some research online, it seems that the Vivo uses LED screen, and zen uses lcd. Anybody any experience with this?

[MilitantCro]

1 hour ago, AmazingTrans said:

Hmm, MilitantCro, don't you feel that the mousepad is slightly off to the right ?

typically mousepad should be center to the keyboard where center of the mousepad is align with letter B, that way your thumb can move it easily?

Also, what design is better? Would like to know more.

 

the vivo has the same port as the zen. Only thing different was the minidisplay port. 

I didnt find any problems with the touchpad, its actually glass so its one of the better ones you can find on windows laptops. I love it and actually stopped carrying my mouse to work.

 

The ux501vw edition uses LG 4k displays, if its touch enabled then the screen is glossy, if its not touch enabled it has a mat cover.

 

 

If you cant afford the Zenbook the Vivo is still a great laptop, but if you have money the spare get the ZenBook Pro.

[edit1754]

I wouldn't recommend either of these.

 

An important thing to know about these laptops is that they use the RG/BW Pentile matrix to claim that 4K Ultra HD 3840x2160 resolution (UX501VW confirmed, N552VW unlikely different given ASUS' track record with pentile), which replaces the RGB in every pixel with either only RG or only BW. It calls for a full 4K 3840x2160 picture from the GPU, but the downsampled picture you see on the display has lower chromatic detail than 3K 2880x1620. It gives you all the downsides of 4K (potential scaling issues, potential lower battery life) without all the benefits (picture isn't as sharp, diagonal "screen door effect" can be visible, text can appear fuzzy). A common consensus on this is that it's a deceptive practice, and that it means the displays are not truly 3840x2160.

 

II you are interested in 4K, I'd recommendone of the following:

 

- The XPS 15 4K:
 - https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/Dell-XPS-15-9550-Signature-Edition-Laptop/productID.326871600 (GTX 960M model)
 - http://www.dell.com/en-us/member/shop/productdetails/xps-15-9560-laptop?view=configurations (GTX 1050 model)
 - Lower CPU/RAM/SSD per price but
  - the i5 quad vs i7 quad shouldn't make a huge difference for most games when the 960M is the bottleneck
  - the RAM is cheap and easy to upgrade
  - the SSD is less cheap to upgrade but still easy
  - the 100% honest true 4K UHD 3840x2160 86% Adobe RGB gamut display is one of the best you can get today.
 - TB3 only 20Gbps not 40Gbps on 960M model, but this may be fixed in the GTX 1050 model.
 - You can also get one cheaper from the Dell Outlet if you don't mind a refurb.
 - The 1080p model is great too! One of the best quality 1080p displays there is, actually, and it's likely a better choice than the 4K anyway (better battery life, scaling not required) unless you specifically want the 4K or touch.
- The Lenovo Y700 4K:

 - https://www.costco.com/Lenovo-Ideapad-Y700-Touchscreen-Laptop---Intel-Core-i7---4GB-Graphics---4K-Ultra-HD.product.100328233.html <-- Here's your direct Costco alternative!
 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA68654D3567
 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA8X552D0901
 - https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Y700-Notebook-Computer-i7-6700HQ/dp/B01LZNFLAK/
 - https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Y700-Touch-Touchscreen-80NW002DUS/dp/B01FJFNEIA/
 - No TB3 port but uses a 100% honest true 4K UHD 3840x2160 display. And the new Y720 will have TB3, a GTX 1060, and true 4K.
 - 1080p models also available.
- The Acer V 15 Nitro 4K
 - https://www.amazon.com/Acer-VN7-592G-788W-15-6-inch-Notebook-Windows/dp/B0161BJEDK/
 - True 4K matte (non-touch) 86% Adobe RGB gamut display.
 - 1080p models also available.
- Malibal LX650RP (Clevo) -- the only reseller I know that is still offering true 4K displays with Clevos.
 - http://www.malibal.com/boutique/pc/configurePrd.asp?idProduct=962
 - Pick one of the two Sharp-brand 4K displays. The Samsung is another pentile one.
- The Thinkpad P50, HP ZBook 3, or Dell Precision with 4K
- A 17.3" laptop with 4K (there are no pentile 17.3" screens fortunately)

 

[MilitantCro]

7 minutes ago, edit1754 said:

I wouldn't recommend either of these.

 

An important thing to know about these laptops is that they use the RG/BW Pentile matrix to claim that 4K Ultra HD 3840x2160 resolution (UX501VW confirmed, N552VW unlikely different given ASUS' track record with pentile), which replaces the RGB in every pixel with either only RG or only BW. It calls for a full 4K 3840x2160 picture from the GPU, but the downsampled picture you see on the display has lower chromatic detail than 3K 2880x1620. It gives you all the downsides of 4K (potential scaling issues, potential lower battery life) without all the benefits (picture isn't as sharp, diagonal "screen door effect" can be visible, text can appear fuzzy). A common consensus on this is that it's a deceptive practice, and that it means the displays are not truly 3840x2160.

 

II you are interested in 4K, I'd recommendone of the following:

 

- The XPS 15 4K:
 - https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/Dell-XPS-15-9550-Signature-Edition-Laptop/productID.326871600 (GTX 960M model)
 - http://www.dell.com/en-us/member/shop/productdetails/xps-15-9560-laptop?view=configurations (GTX 1050 model)
 - Lower CPU/RAM/SSD per price but
  - the i5 quad vs i7 quad shouldn't make a huge difference for most games when the 960M is the bottleneck
  - the RAM is cheap and easy to upgrade
  - the SSD is less cheap to upgrade but still easy
  - the 100% honest true 4K UHD 3840x2160 86% Adobe RGB gamut display is one of the best you can get today.
 - TB3 only 20Gbps not 40Gbps on 960M model, but this may be fixed in the GTX 1050 model.
 - You can also get one cheaper from the Dell Outlet if you don't mind a refurb.
 - The 1080p model is great too! One of the best quality 1080p displays there is, actually, and it's likely a better choice than the 4K anyway (better battery life, scaling not required) unless you specifically want the 4K or touch.
- The Lenovo Y700 4K:

 - https://www.costco.com/Lenovo-Ideapad-Y700-Touchscreen-Laptop---Intel-Core-i7---4GB-Graphics---4K-Ultra-HD.product.100328233.html <-- Here's your direct Costco alternative!
 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA68654D3567
 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA8X552D0901
 - https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Y700-Notebook-Computer-i7-6700HQ/dp/B01LZNFLAK/
 - https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Y700-Touch-Touchscreen-80NW002DUS/dp/B01FJFNEIA/
 - No TB3 port but uses a 100% honest true 4K UHD 3840x2160 display. And the new Y720 will have TB3, a GTX 1060, and true 4K.
 - 1080p models also available.
- The Acer V 15 Nitro 4K
 - https://www.amazon.com/Acer-VN7-592G-788W-15-6-inch-Notebook-Windows/dp/B0161BJEDK/
 - True 4K matte (non-touch) 86% Adobe RGB gamut display.
 - 1080p models also available.
- Malibal LX650RP (Clevo) -- the only reseller I know that is still offering true 4K displays with Clevos.
 - http://www.malibal.com/boutique/pc/configurePrd.asp?idProduct=962
 - Pick one of the two Sharp-brand 4K displays. The Samsung is another pentile one.
- The Thinkpad P50, HP ZBook 3, or Dell Precision with 4K
- A 17.3" laptop with 4K (there are no pentile 17.3" screens fortunately)

 

 

That 4k talk on the ux501vw was right on the samsung panel it used first, now its uses a true 4k LG panel so you are spreading miss information.

[edit1754]

I wish that were true but unfortunately the LG panel is still pentile.

 

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Asus-ZenBook-Pro-UX501VW-Notebook-Review.158762.0.html

 

Has a photo of the RGBW pixel grid.

[MilitantCro]

5 minutes ago, edit1754 said:

I wish that were true but unfortunately the LG panel is still pentile.

 

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Asus-ZenBook-Pro-UX501VW-Notebook-Review.158762.0.html

 

Has a photo of the RGBW pixel grid.

Thats not the same panel as mine... weird

[edit1754]

3 minutes ago, MilitantCro said:

Thats not the same panel as mine... wierd

That's interesting. How recently did you buy it? If ASUS has switched to using true RGB panels, that's awesome news!

 

What's your hardware ID for the panel in the device manager? Also it passes the chroma test? http://i.rtings.com/images/Chroma-444.png

 

[MilitantCro]

I didnt actually buy it I got it from someone at LG as a gift less then half a year ago. Might be a region thing.

[edit1754]

1 minute ago, MilitantCro said:

I didnt actually buy it I got it from someone at LG as a gift less then half a year ago. Might be a region thing.

Interesting. Yeah there was a similar thing with the Inspiron 7559 where the Notebookcheck review showed true RGB but all the reports I could find from owners were that they were RG/BW despite the same hardware ID in the device manager and people theorized it was a region thing.

[AmazingTrans]

15 hours ago, edit1754 said:

That's interesting. How recently did you buy it? If ASUS has switched to using true RGB panels, that's awesome news!

 

What's your hardware ID for the panel in the device manager? Also it passes the chroma test? http://i.rtings.com/images/Chroma-444.png

 

On the hardware ID, what do i look for? monitor?

and this chroma test when i run it, what should i see to know it passes? i click on the linnk it has lines saying the brown fox jump over..

[edit1754]

15 hours ago, AmazingTrans said:

On the hardware ID, what do i look for? monitor?

and this chroma test when i run it, what should i see to know it passes? i click on the linnk it has lines saying the brown fox jump over..

To get the hardware ID, Start Menu > type "Device Manager"  + hit Enter > Monitors > Generic PnP Monitor > Properties > Details > Hardware Ids

 

For the chroma test, save it to your computer and open it in something guaranteed to show it with no zooming or DPI scaling. MS Paint works nicely for this. Should show up about 1/3 the width of your screen, give or take. Then if it looks like this image (Inspiron 7566, credit /u/Frag1le) it's true resolution, and if it looks like this image (Inspiron 7559, credit /u/C21DigitalBoy) it's pentile.

[edit1754]

Update: New Inspiron 7559 also uses a true 4K UHD 3840x2160 display! (7566 confirmed and 7567 incredibly likely the same).

 

http://www.dell.com/en-us/member/shop/productdetails/inspiron-15-7567-laptop/dncwf408s

 

I would avoid the FHD anti-glare versions of this laptop, due to very poor display quality, but the 4K one I would say is a great option if you would like a 4K display.

[AmazingTrans]

I have checked out the zenbook in the shop, 

it has the follwoing hardware id: MONITOR\SDC424B

i did the chroma test, the weird thing is the picture is small. tried zooming in, it does look like true resolution. there is no dots in the letters.