Xanth7
07-09-2010, 03:09 PM
For those thinking about a pre-order on an ASUS G73JH-A2 I'd like to relate my purchase experience and thoughts. The only customization I made was to upgrade the wireless card to an Intel 6200.
Apr 30, 2010 (Fri, 7pm) - Placed Order
May 6, 2010 - PayPal eCheck cleared
Jun 23, 2010 - Phase 2 (Laptop has arrived; Allow 3-7 days for customization)
July 1, 2010 - Phase 4 (Order Shipped)
July 8, 2010 - Computer Arrives
It shipped 48 business days after order. Total time was 10 weeks or 2.5 months.
So far the computer is working well, but I'm still testing it out. The included backpack is a sedate, all black affair that the G73JH fits into perfectly -which is very good since the new Ful laptop backpack I just purchased from Cosco will not take this monster. The G73JH is at least 1" wider and deeper, and taller than my 4yo 17.4" HP dv8300 -and I thought that one was big!
So what would I change if I had to order it all over again?
First, I ordered by PayPal eCheck. This let me get the ~$53 cash discount, but I got charged the $28 for the supposedly free shipping. So my advise would be to either: Setup the order on their website, call them to see if they can adjust the price down for the free shipping, and then run the eCheck. Or take only the FREESHIP discount, put it on a charge card, and have the added benefit of any extended warranties or extended purchase protection supplied by your credit card (I've no idea if PayPal has these same benefits now or not.) Be aware that contacting XoticPC after the computer has shipped and asking about a refund or credit for the $28 shipping charge will get you a call from JustinW at 7:45am giving you lots of double-speak about how it's somehow PayPal's fault and so they will basically keep your money.
I suspect that I may have not been added to the pre-order waiting list until my eCheck cleared. I'd seen someone here post that they had ordered on Apr 18 and had their computer by mid-June. Clearly things moved much slower on my order. But he may have not done any customizations. Also, I have no idea how backlogged ASUS is on their orders. But I have to wonder if a cc would have gotten me the computer sooner. Remember, with an eCheck they now have your money for the next 2.5 months so it isn't in their best interest to ship you a computer fast when they can give it to another customer paying with a credit card where (I believe) they can't charge the card until the unit actually ships.
Lastly, if you have a high level of IT skills like I do, then do your own customizations. You'll get the computer faster and you'll be able to keep the stock parts that are left over. (XoticPC has to Test and Warranty upgraded parts, so I was told by JustinW that they keep the left-over stock parts to compensate for this.)
So far, I guess I'm happy with my purchase. I am irritated at the long wait time, although to be fair, XoticPC may have not had any control over that. And I didn't like that I got charged the extra $28. I would have preferred at least the option of having them throw in a couple of XoticPC T-shirts or something to make it up.
Apr 30, 2010 (Fri, 7pm) - Placed Order
May 6, 2010 - PayPal eCheck cleared
Jun 23, 2010 - Phase 2 (Laptop has arrived; Allow 3-7 days for customization)
July 1, 2010 - Phase 4 (Order Shipped)
July 8, 2010 - Computer Arrives
It shipped 48 business days after order. Total time was 10 weeks or 2.5 months.
So far the computer is working well, but I'm still testing it out. The included backpack is a sedate, all black affair that the G73JH fits into perfectly -which is very good since the new Ful laptop backpack I just purchased from Cosco will not take this monster. The G73JH is at least 1" wider and deeper, and taller than my 4yo 17.4" HP dv8300 -and I thought that one was big!
So what would I change if I had to order it all over again?
First, I ordered by PayPal eCheck. This let me get the ~$53 cash discount, but I got charged the $28 for the supposedly free shipping. So my advise would be to either: Setup the order on their website, call them to see if they can adjust the price down for the free shipping, and then run the eCheck. Or take only the FREESHIP discount, put it on a charge card, and have the added benefit of any extended warranties or extended purchase protection supplied by your credit card (I've no idea if PayPal has these same benefits now or not.) Be aware that contacting XoticPC after the computer has shipped and asking about a refund or credit for the $28 shipping charge will get you a call from JustinW at 7:45am giving you lots of double-speak about how it's somehow PayPal's fault and so they will basically keep your money.
I suspect that I may have not been added to the pre-order waiting list until my eCheck cleared. I'd seen someone here post that they had ordered on Apr 18 and had their computer by mid-June. Clearly things moved much slower on my order. But he may have not done any customizations. Also, I have no idea how backlogged ASUS is on their orders. But I have to wonder if a cc would have gotten me the computer sooner. Remember, with an eCheck they now have your money for the next 2.5 months so it isn't in their best interest to ship you a computer fast when they can give it to another customer paying with a credit card where (I believe) they can't charge the card until the unit actually ships.
Lastly, if you have a high level of IT skills like I do, then do your own customizations. You'll get the computer faster and you'll be able to keep the stock parts that are left over. (XoticPC has to Test and Warranty upgraded parts, so I was told by JustinW that they keep the left-over stock parts to compensate for this.)
So far, I guess I'm happy with my purchase. I am irritated at the long wait time, although to be fair, XoticPC may have not had any control over that. And I didn't like that I got charged the extra $28. I would have preferred at least the option of having them throw in a couple of XoticPC T-shirts or something to make it up.