Who would buy a Sony laptop again?

[alanng]

well answers please? and why?

For me no because i do not trust their quality checks, i think they try and rush out the latest fashion craze and then get on with designing the next.

Their driver downloads/documentation are dismal to say the least

[kee-lo_]

Proper forum? phpBB 2.0.0? Puleeze! I hope critical security issues with their hardware/software get fixed quicker than critical security issues with their choice of forum software! And Sony, a multi billion dollar organisation... you'd think they might have been able to splash out on a vBulletin license! :smileyrolling_eyes:

I wasn't talking about the software when I said that. Anyway I agree, they should get vBulletin, I like it a lot more than PHPBB, though it integrates well with PHPNuke.

[Qube]

At this time the situation is take it or leave it. 
Customization options would be nice, but I take it as it is, and gladly. 
You want XP pro, so? Buy it and update. Fixed.
I had no problems woth mentioning with my Vaios so far, but a lot of fun.

Owning a Vaio is diffrent from owning a Notebook. Notebooks are generally made for one purpose - to work abroad - no fancy stuff or hardly any. The Vaios give the customer more, AV, excellent design, good performance and just to be complete here, recognition and status. A slim silver Vaio beats a Toshiba or Dell in Coolness any day, hands down.

Lol.... Owning is Vaio _IS_ owning a Notebook. I buy a Notebook for its _features_, ability to perform the tasks a Notebook is designed for.

If you are honest, the _only_ thing a Vaio gives you is good Style - Sony is always behind other notebook manufacturers for the latest technology (processor speeds, graphics cards, HD sizes, etc). You yes you are correct - A Vaio does beat a Dell or Toshiba in coolness - shame it's the only criteria it can beat it.

If I want to blow $3000 on Style (you must have more money than I) then I'll upgrade my car to a convertable.

Any why not just upgrade to XP Pro? 1) It costs an extra £100 and 2) Sony won't support it. With Toshiba or Dell I can pay an extra £20 or £30 and upgrade at the point of order.

Paul.

[iainjturner]

I admit-I traded a perfectly good Toshiba Satellite 1.6Ghz P4-m laptop in for my R600. It seemed a good idea at the time, since the Toshiba was like a house brick, but now I wish I'd have kept it. Playing Medal Of Honour in my lunch hour on it was brilliant

[Klint]

Owning a Vaio is diffrent from owning a Notebook. Notebooks are generally made for one purpose - to work abroad - no fancy stuff or hardly any. The Vaios give the customer more, AV, excellent design, good performance and just to be complete here, recognition and status. A slim silver Vaio beats a Toshiba or Dell in Coolness any day, hands down.

I second that!

Also some of us have some sphycological issues with Sony products

Overall Sony Vaios are a good package, although a tad too pricey for what they are

[kee-lo_]

Hmm, I don't know, I agree with Paul that they are expensive for what they are. I guess now I know what a VAIO is like now, and I'll be sure to choose something else next time mainly to see what the thing is like and wether I am happy with its performance and its support. Not too happy with Sony's support though

[Stephanius]

Lol....   Owning is Vaio _IS_ owning a Notebook.   I buy a Notebook for its _features_, ability to perform the tasks a Notebook is designed for.

Exactly. I have bought my Vaios to the criteria of what they can do. It would however be silly to leave out the style factor. That I mention it does not mean it is the deciding factor for my choice.

If I want to blow $3000 on Style (you must have more money than I) then I'll upgrade my car to a convertable.

You specify what you want your car to include when you buy it. Major Customisation - like a modification from sedan to convertible are either not possible, or so expensive that sale and purchase of a new car make more sense. For the Vaio it is the same, you have the choice between diffrent models. You want a mobile Pentium and XP pro. No problem, that is available, take a look at the GRX616SP.

[Qube]

You specify what you want your car to include when you buy it. Major Customisation - like a modification from sedan to convertible are either not possible, or so expensive that sale and purchase of a new car make more sense. For the Vaio it is the same, you have the choice between diffrent models. You want a mobile Pentium and XP pro. No problem, that is available, take a look at the GRX616SP.

Well firstly, we are buying new - so we should get to specify features.

The GRX range is not great since it is an ATI m7500 graphics. Only the GRV616 has ATI m9000 which is Sony's "latest" graphics card. Though you can't get the m9000 with a mobile processor at all. the GRV range lasts 1 hour on battery (review in What Laptop?)

Ideally, I'd like Pentium-M 1.6Ghz, nVidia 4200Go (or the newer FX5600Go) or ATI m9600, XP Pro and decent battery life. A big screen also.

The machine that fits that spec best right now is the Dell D800. I really like Sony's large screens and 1600x1200 would do just fine - however everything else lets the Sony range down

Quite simply, I _am_ about to spend £2000 ($3000) on a new laptop and for that money I'd like to get the best of everything that I can get - latest processor - latest mobile graphics - longest battery life (4+ hours) - big HD - big screen, etc.

Paul

[kee-lo_]

Paul,

You need to look at Centrino for 4+ hrs. Remeber high spec gfx cards eat a lot of power.

[Qube]

You need to look at Centrino for 4+ hrs.  Remeber high spec gfx cards eat a lot of power.

Hi Kee-Lo,

Yes I know - thats why I said "Pentium-M". Centrino is just Intels branding for the combination of an Pentium-M processor and Intels WiFi card. Its also why I'm waiting foravailability of the nvidia FX 5600 Go graphics card since it also has a speedstep type power throttling to maximise battery life.

Cheers,

Paul.

[kee-lo_]

Cool

I think though the name Centrino is much better than Pentium-M, but thats me.