Back at Google I/O, we were introduced to a new platform named “Google TV“. It appears to be an Android-esque platform for manufacturers to be able to build set-top boxes and manufacture TVs which allow end-users to take advantage of IPTV offerings.

At I/O, we were shown that the Android Market is actually accessible, meaning you could potentially start using widgets on your TV. The Logitech Revue is apparently the first Google TV device we’ll see to market in the form of a set-top box.

Source: [fcc.gov]

Whelp, you AT&T/Apple fiends may find your iPhone 4 showing up on your doorstep one day early. Whether it was a mishap or totally intended on Apple’s behalf, you might want to check anyway. Apparently, you can pre-sign for the shipment so the driver leaves it anyway. Here’s the text from the actual e-mail that’s been going around:

Dear Apple Store Customer,

You recently received a Shipment Notification email from Apple advising you that your iPhone has shipped.

This email is to confirm that your delivery will occur on June 23rd. Although Apple and FedEx tracking information may currently indicate a later date, you can check the FedEx website the morning of the June 23rd to track your package to your doorstep.

In the event that you will not be available to accept delivery on June 23rd, it may be more convenient to use our pre-sign delivery option by visiting our Order Status website at http://www.apple.com/orderstatus.

Sincerely,

The Apple Store Team

Updated: FWIW, there is a G73JH-X2, which is similar to the X1, but has a Blu-Ray drive.

DrBoost on the NotebookReview.com forums says there’s a model specifically being released in Australia with the following specs:

ASUS G73JH-TZ008X - NEW! ASUS G73JH-TZ008X Notebook — 17.3″/720QM/8GB DDR3/1TB/ATI5870M 1GB/Bluray/11N/BT/Win7 Pro

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
Intel Core i7 720QM Quad Core 1.6GHz Processor
Mobile Intel HM55 Express Chipset
ATI Radeon 5870M with 1GB GDDR5 VRAM
8GB DDR3 1066MHz Memory
2 x 500GB 7200rpm Hard Drive
Bluray DVD Combo Drive
17.3″ WUXGA LED (1920x1280) 1920×1080 (Listed here.)
HDMI
2 Mega Pixel Camera
802.11n
Bluetooth
Firewire
E-SATA
Keyboard with Numberpad
Battery: 8 cell
Accessary: Gaming carry bag, Gaming mouse & Gaming headset
Weight: 3.99kg 3.52kg (Listed here.)

“I can only presume that there are a few errors (but hoping not) such as …. firewire, E-SATA. However, it does have Win7 Pro … maybe it’s a ‘business’ gaming machine ”

“I am told ETA in Australia is 17th February (arriving in Sydney).”

I will be updating this as new information is available.

I know we’re all getting sick and tired of repeating information, so this will be the place to go for everything pertaining to the ASUS G73JH.

What is the ASUS G73JH?
The G73JH is an amazing gaming laptop with crazy specs and is (or will be) available at an insanely low price.

Here are the specs that matter… the rest you can find on teh interw3bz.

Processor: Core i7-720QM @ 1.6GHz (2.8GHz Turbo), 6MB Cache, 45W TDP [Source]
Memory: 8GB DDR3 1066MHz* (Apparently expandable to 16GB. Souce: XoticPC.com)
Graphics Card: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870 (1GB of GDDR5) [Source] (Default clock speeds are 700MHz/1000MHz – Credit: dondadah88)
Storage: Two 500GB**(***) 7200RPM Seagate Momentus Drives (16MB Cache)

* ziddy123 was the first to report that his came with 1333MHz DIMMs. Yours may or may not.
** The X3 model apparently comes with two 320GB drives. This version is only available here as of the writing of this post.
*** The X1 model comes with one 500GB drive, no backpack or mouse, and a 2-year warranty.

When/where can I get one of these?
Confirmed reliable resellers that are active on Notebookreview.com include (but is not limited to) GenTechPC, PowerNotebooks.com, and XoticPC.com. Another reliable reseller is EXcaliberPC. Rumor has it that another shipment (A1’s) will be going out on 2/17/2010 with another shipping at the first part of March. (I am revising this post on February 22, 2010, and the A1’s have still not shipped at this point.)

Confirmed recipients of the G73JH-A2 on 2/6/2010:

The first shipment of G73JH-A2’s went out Friday 2/5/2010. Many people had preordered the A1 in early January, but people that followed the NBR forums knew the A2 would be in stock @ resellers on 2/5/2010 and ordered that day with overnight (+Saturday) delivery.

ziddy123 (Ordered from EXcaliberPC)
0100 1010 0101 0011 (Ordered from EXcaliberPC) Received @ 11:24AM EST
ViciousXUSMC (Ordered from GenTechPC)
Quadzilla (Ordered from GenTechPC) Received @ 9:41AM EST

Courtesy of Quadzilla’s iPhone! First end-user pic of this beast!
FIRST NBR RECIPIENT OF THIS MACHINE

I keep seeing the G73JH-A1, G73JH-A2, G73JH-X3, etc. – What are the differences!?!
G73JH-A1: Has a BD-ROM drive. ($1,645.00 [USD])
G73JH-A2: Lacks the BD-ROM drive, but comes with a DVD+/-RW drive instead.  ($1,549.00 [USD])
G73JH-X1: Downgraded HDD’s. Comes with one 500GB 7200PM drive. Has the DVD+/-RW SuperMulti just like the A2. No backpack or mouse. ($1,449.99 [USD])
G73JH-X2: Same as the X1, but has a BD-ROM drive. Available in the USA. ($1,499.99 [USD])
G73JH-X3: Downgraded HDD’s. Comes with two 320GB 7200RPM drives instead. Has the DVD+/-RW SuperMulti just like the A2. This is currently listed on Provantage, but I’d imagine it’ll end up on Newegg and other retailers’ sites as well. It is worth noting that this version may not come with a backpack or Razer gaming mouse. ($1,495.15 [USD])

What is the case made of?
NBR user “0100 1010 0101 0011″ states that the laptop lid and palmrest area have a rubberized coating. He also says that the LCD bezel and bottom of the notebook are made of plastic.

How’s the sound on this beast?
“0100 1010 0101 0011″ says “I am in the cafeteria at school and it is way too loud! You will not need headphones, unless you are using it at an NBA game!” He continues on saying, “It’s certainly not a gimmick. The subwoofer in this machine works well enough to make the audio sound good enough to lose the headphones.” (I honestly think my Thinkpad T400’s sound was better. Everyone’s idea of good sound is different.)

Tell me about the LCD panel used in the G73JH!
Well, Quazilla was the first person to receive this notebook and he says, “The screen is VERY nice …”. Other users report that if Quadzilla like is, everyone will like it. Other users have agreed that with the DIMM part shortage, ASUS could have just thrown random LCD panels in machines just to ship them. I think they will all be the same panel. Justin@XoticPC says that the panel in his test model is a Handstar HSD 173PUW1. “ziddy123″ says after 4 years of using a 15.4-inch laptop, “this 17.3-inch is a godsend”.

Does the G73JH come with a lot of bloatware pre-installed?
Yes. It’s recommended (by me) to do a clean re-install of Windows 7 when you receive the laptop. Quadzilla states that there are 83 processes running straight out of the box.

Are the cooling fans loud?
No. Quadzilla originally said that “it is whisper quiet”, and other owners have said the same thing. (From my own personal experience, it’s no quieter than any other laptop I’ve seen straight out of the box.)

How do the cooling fans work?
The fans pull fresh, cool air in through the keyboard and through the fans in the back. The only vents/grills on the bottom of the laptop are placed in line with the DDR3 DIMMs. (The design underneath the keyboard has since been photographed and shows that air cannot flow underneath the keyboard.)

Should I upgrade the thermal paste?
Short answer: Probably not. ASUS spent thousands on the design of this machine and tested it under full CPU & GPU load in their lab environment to make sure it could handle itself in the cooling department. If AS5 or ICD tickles your fancy, go for it, but I’m going to chalk this one up as a waste of money. It’s honestly just another spec you’ll rattle off to your friends, but no one will care. Not even the notebook.

What is the stock wireless card?
“0100 1010 0101 0011″ reported that his came with an Atheros AR9285, but ViciousXUSMC’s came with the Intel WiFi Link 1000.

How many antenna wires are pre-installed in behind the LCD panel?
Two.

Does overclocking the CPU or GPU void my warranty?
Probably, but can ASUS tell if you’ve done it? One NBR user thinks so, but no one else agrees. There is no hard evidence of whether it is or isn’t. (From my experience with this laptop, there is not really any reason to overclock and push the limits. So whatever.)

If you don’t overclock, will it still be a good laptop?
Yes.

If you don’t game, will this still be a nice laptop for you?
Sorta. It depends on what kind of ports you need. If you require eSATA, Serial, or USB3.0, then this laptop isn’t for you. Otherwise, even if you don’t play games and don’t need the extra GPU power, it’s still a good laptop. Basically, if you can afford it, get it.

Is it heavy?
The ASUS G73JH weighs in at 8.5lbs. with the 8-cell battery installed. This isn’t including the weight of the AC adapter, the backpack, or anything else you may be carrying. However, multiple users have reported that it is surprisingly smaller than expected. Quadzilla has owned both the Alienware M17 (not M17x) and the ASUS G73JH, and he says they weigh about the same.

Does it come with an ExpressCard slot or eSATA?
Nope, sure doesn’t.

How can I tell how hot my GPU is running?
Download and run the AMD GPU Clock Tool.

How well does DIRT 2 run on the ASUS G73JH?
Quadzilla reported that DIRT 2 will run natively in 1920×1080 at 30 to 40 FPS with everything maxed, no AA. (DX11)

Should I upgrade to Windows 7 Professional?
Are you so in love with technology from 2001 that you need XP mode? Do you need to join a domain? No? Then you don’t need Pro. Save $130, dude.

How’s the Razer gaming mouse that comes bundled?
While it’s not the Razer Copperhead most were hoping for (and the original ASUS marketing pictures showed), it’s alright. It sucks for me because I play WoW and need thumb buttons as bad as becoming a millionaire, but it’s a nice thought that they even included a mouse. Oh, the mouse is a Razer Abyssus.

How’s the bundled Targus backpack?
It looks amazing. Users have reported that it is nice. And it’s far from cheesy looking, which is a plus. Almost looks like some materials are leathery.

What is the word of the day?
euisungkim says, “ggjrjfirjfjxksmskdkqpdkcifjrnekfhfjdbendhchfhchrielelfjcbendmvjdjdjfjfjejdnfjdkwpqpqpskfjfjcnfjdkrkf”.

3DMark06 Results:

ASUS’s Marketing Material for the G73JH.

Quadzilla’s 3DMark06 Straight out of the box.
Bloatware still installed.
65*C Max CPU Temp.

Quadzilla’s 3DMark06 Straight out of the box.
Bloatware still installed.
“Twin Turbo Mode”.
75*C Max CPU Temp.

3DMark Vantage Results:

ASUS’s Marketing Material for the G73JH.

Quadzilla’s first run out of the box in “Twin Turbo” mode.

XoticPC’s Vantage Run, Stock Clock

XoticPC’s Vantage Run
Overclocked GPU @ 799MHz & 1200Mhz

XoticPC’s Vantage Run
Overclocked GPU @ 799MHz & 1200Mhz
1920×1080 Resolution

Videos:

XoticPC Review Part 1

XoticPC Review Part 2

Recorded by GenTechPC. Stock G73JH, 1920×1080 with no AA. Stock drivers.

Recorded by GenTechPC. Stock G73JH, 1920×1080 with AA. Stock drivers.

Recorded by GenTechPC. Stock G73JH, 1920×1080.

Recorded by GenTechPC. Stock G73JH, 1920×1080.

First-hand reviews and/or impressions:

QUADZILLA SAYS, “I have not run into any issues yet that i can think of honestly… Overall its a very nice machine … Build quality is good , not the best i have ever owned but still very good and when looking at a machine like this the price plays a huge roll in what to expect and from that point of view its amazing what this machine comes with…

I have in the past year owned a W90,M17,(2)M17x and maybe a couple in between i forgot about .. Compared to those machines it stacks up very well overall…

Things on this machine that make it stand out are the Screen is very nice, Bright,Clear, Great vertical viewing angles(this is what counts) horizontal are not that great but passable and not as important..

Cooling seems to be very good though the temp readings from AMD GPU TOOL i cant really make heads or tails of and dont know how accurate those are ..

Quiet… Ahh yes this one is important to me .. You dont really hear the machine so you should and can use this machine just about anywhere without annoying others or yourself … M17x sounds like a small leaf blower with all 3 fans blazing but the new i7 model is supposed to be quieter so i cant really comment on that one but just using a comparison…

Keyboard feels very nice … No flex that i can feel anywhere and the lights work well on it so i just keep them on all the time …

Weight… This machine is very light and is no chore to move around .. You can easily carry it with one hand if needed without worrying about dropping it plus the back panel has a rubber coated finish which makes it easier to hold on to …

Battery life ? hmm this one im not sure on but i have unplugged it and forced it into the battery savings mode but im not getting the Advertised 170 or so minutes they stated so i cant fully comment … I never let it run down to 0 though so it may or may not last that long…

Well thats about all for now but hopefully this helps a little …”

0100 1010 0101 0011 SAYS: ”Well, close to 20 hours with this machine and I haven’t turned it off once. None of us have reported any problems with this, including artifacts, colored SOD’s, stuttering or overheating.what is clear is that she runs cool overclocked, suggesting the fan architacture works really well. Someone asked if this is the best machine for gaming? Honestly there are 3 that are better. The dual card solutions (gtx280m x 2, 4870 x 2, gtx260m x 2) are going to beat this machine. But measured against any other single GPU machine, it wins by a large margin. I can’t wait to see what the 920 does n this thing!! With only one GPU, there should be no issues like the 4870 x 2 lappies.

Still, taking price, power, asthetics and components into account, this is the clear winner at present. Unless you are waiting for a $2,000+ dual 5870 machine to show up in 6 months, I’d preorder this soon.

I would also like to confirm that the fans pull air from the top and blow the heat from the CPU/GPU and heatsinks out the back. The pics I took with my nikon d5000 clearly show no vents on the bottom or in the fron for air to get in. Furthermore, the grill on the bottom, as Ziddy said, is for the 6gb of RAM. The GPU and CPU are on one side of the motherboard, while the RAM is in the other. How could the fans pull air through the bottom AND through the motherboard? I believe a laptop cooler may help keep the Ram cool, but not much else. That’s because, again, the fans, GPU and CPU are under the keybord….on top of the motherboard. I have seen no crazy high temps from any of the gamers/benchers that would suggest additional cooling is needed with the 720. Now, if mandrake or quad throw a 920 in there, that might be cause for a cooler.”

0100 1010 0101 0011’s Photos:

Quadzilla’s Photos: