New Laptop Possibilites

[jeepjunkie2003]

just looking for 2nd opinions here.... i am looking for a new fairly capable laptop around the 11-1300 USD range. I prefer Asus or sony as ive used them both for almost a decade now and have had nothing but good luck with them both hardware and support wise. There are slight differences in the 2 im considering and i would like to know what others think as I am not the most technical person out there but do know left from right and up from down in technical terms. The two im looking at are as follows and why im looking at them:

http/www.2020pc.com/ssproduct.asp?pf_id=1017956927

I like this one for the processor, HD, Video ( all i do is starcraft 2 ), and for the blu-ray rom and esata/usb3 ports.

http/www.2020pc.com/_e/loc/sproductdetail/1017519895/ASUS_G73JW_XR1_17_3_LED_Notebook_Core_i7_i7_740QM_1_73_GHz.htm

I like this one for the processor,HD, resolution, sheer power, battery ( 8 cell )... but it lacks the esata and blu ray which i would use. I have 2 external HD's that have usb and esata and i prefer the esata port as it always seems faster to usb... and as for the blu ray i just think it would be nice to have a high quality rom with hdmi out for my new tv... ill get someday!!!

any thoughts on the two? I am also open to any alternatives if anyone has any other suggestions I would like to hear from anyone and everyone about this stuff. I have done some homework but im sure there is much more to it and maybe someone else can help me nail one down that i would like to get!

 

[RetiredChief]

Also looking to upgrade my laptop, But waiting for more availability of sandybridge units.
Comment - My wife will say " sounds foolish, BUT it's your money - You ARE going to sell your old one"

One thing I'm do want is a 2nd HDD bay. Bay 1 for a SSD and Bay 2 for a HDD, or 2nd SSD.

Esata vs USB3 - looks like esata faster, but usb3 has power output advantahe.
Myself, want esata and usb3 functionality.
http/www.maximumpc.com/article/news/esata_still_faster_usb_30
http/www.crunchgear.com/2010/02/05/esata-is-faster-than-usb-3-0-at-least-right-now/

combo Blue-ray rom/DVD -RW. Have replaced the DVD-RW drive in both my current Laptops. Cost first one was $100 for a PATA version. The 2nd one was a sata version and the replacement cost was $200 in the US (Stupid as NO real cost diff in manuf) - found one in Taiwon for $100 which included airmail shiping, had it within 1 week. Just make sure that if you get one with DVD-RW that the drive is user replacable.

Added:
For reliability Asus->Tosibia
http/www.pcworld.com/article/211402/reliability_and_service_laptops.html Click on chart midway down
http/www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/netbooknotebook-reliability-study-shows-that-technology-breaks-/6186