Discussion
I would do whatever I feasibly could do in order to discourage you from buying *any* Sony computer or consumer electronics product.
Get a Dell. Or a Mac.
If you're happy paying Sony money for a laptop then I'd say get a Macbook Pro. If you don't like Apple then there's a very nice Dell Macbook Pro competitor that my Microsoftie colleague owns - I'm not 100% convinced that the laptop can sustain flat-out processing without thermal throttling the way my MBP can (having the entire laptop made of aluminium makes the whole box a heatsink, and whilst you won't want it on your lap, it doesn't overheat the CPUs in the way the plastic Dell can). I can't be arsed to navigate Dell's tortuous website but it's the one with the same LED-backlit panel as the MBP, the piano-black 'style' lid, full-on CPUs and 8 GB RAM capacity (expensive, but oh-so-worth it). Dell only have 2 USB ports on the box (like Apple) but one of them doubles as an external SATA port. Very cool. Apple have Firewire 800 - again whether you want one or the other depends on what external storage you have (or are planning to buy).
Also, Thinkpads have always been high quality at a high price, like Apple. But they never really picked up on the multitouch trackpad thing (I think Apple may have patents on this w.r.t. laptops - the trackpads on Apple laptops are huge and utterly brilliant to use compared to *any* PC laptop I've seen, which all still have small single-touch trackpads) and had the finger-wiggle button in the middle of the keyboard. I can't use that thing - if you can, then a high-spec Thinkpad would be a good buy.
Just *anything* except Sony. Hell, I'd even look the other way if you bought a Macbook Pro and formatted it to run Windows only. And even worse, Windows Vista (W7 is a decent system). But I'd put up with that, just so you don't get a Sony laptop.
Get a Dell. Or a Mac.
If you're happy paying Sony money for a laptop then I'd say get a Macbook Pro. If you don't like Apple then there's a very nice Dell Macbook Pro competitor that my Microsoftie colleague owns - I'm not 100% convinced that the laptop can sustain flat-out processing without thermal throttling the way my MBP can (having the entire laptop made of aluminium makes the whole box a heatsink, and whilst you won't want it on your lap, it doesn't overheat the CPUs in the way the plastic Dell can). I can't be arsed to navigate Dell's tortuous website but it's the one with the same LED-backlit panel as the MBP, the piano-black 'style' lid, full-on CPUs and 8 GB RAM capacity (expensive, but oh-so-worth it). Dell only have 2 USB ports on the box (like Apple) but one of them doubles as an external SATA port. Very cool. Apple have Firewire 800 - again whether you want one or the other depends on what external storage you have (or are planning to buy).
Also, Thinkpads have always been high quality at a high price, like Apple. But they never really picked up on the multitouch trackpad thing (I think Apple may have patents on this w.r.t. laptops - the trackpads on Apple laptops are huge and utterly brilliant to use compared to *any* PC laptop I've seen, which all still have small single-touch trackpads) and had the finger-wiggle button in the middle of the keyboard. I can't use that thing - if you can, then a high-spec Thinkpad would be a good buy.
Just *anything* except Sony. Hell, I'd even look the other way if you bought a Macbook Pro and formatted it to run Windows only. And even worse, Windows Vista (W7 is a decent system). But I'd put up with that, just so you don't get a Sony laptop.
As with everything there will always be those who say "go for it" and those who say "not with a ten foot barge pole"!
I am and always have been very happy with my Vaio laptops, especially my last one and my current one.
I started with them about 7 years ago and had a nice but chunky PIII version which I traded up for one of the first Centrino models. This had a great "case" with no catches to open it up, nice shiny metal look and was fast, great battery life and lovely screen, all of which put up with my extensive travelling, heavy use and punching of the keyboard.
After this I moved to a Thinkpad with more power, more memory, etc. Battery life was good but no better than the Sony. It was a little faster but more chunky and heavier. It lasted a few years but no more than the Sony and was similarly priced. The only reason I moved to this is because Sony went through a nasty phase of all their machines without 15"+ screens being 1280x768 which is completely useless.
My latest move was again back to Sony with a Vaio Z21VN. Plenty of power, screen much better at 1600x900, battery just fantastic at approx. 5 hours of pretty heavy use and again a great "case". It is very light at less than 1.5kg and has full HD with an HDMI output. I couldn't want any more from a laptop at present. I've had it a year and there is nothing else that I would want from it.
As mentioned some like them and some don't but I am entirely convinced.
I am and always have been very happy with my Vaio laptops, especially my last one and my current one.
I started with them about 7 years ago and had a nice but chunky PIII version which I traded up for one of the first Centrino models. This had a great "case" with no catches to open it up, nice shiny metal look and was fast, great battery life and lovely screen, all of which put up with my extensive travelling, heavy use and punching of the keyboard.
After this I moved to a Thinkpad with more power, more memory, etc. Battery life was good but no better than the Sony. It was a little faster but more chunky and heavier. It lasted a few years but no more than the Sony and was similarly priced. The only reason I moved to this is because Sony went through a nasty phase of all their machines without 15"+ screens being 1280x768 which is completely useless.
My latest move was again back to Sony with a Vaio Z21VN. Plenty of power, screen much better at 1600x900, battery just fantastic at approx. 5 hours of pretty heavy use and again a great "case". It is very light at less than 1.5kg and has full HD with an HDMI output. I couldn't want any more from a laptop at present. I've had it a year and there is nothing else that I would want from it.
As mentioned some like them and some don't but I am entirely convinced.
cyberface said:
I would do whatever I feasibly could do in order to discourage you from buying *any* Sony computer or consumer electronics product.
+1Had high spec Vaio, never left the house, never even left the desk, 10 months in hinge failed busting bits of case and making screen floppy.
Wonderful people at said manufacturers customer support "Nothing to do with us, it's been dropped/abused/treated roughly/thrown about, etc."
Will never ever ever purchase anything from Sony again.
cyberface said:
I would do whatever I feasibly could do in order to discourage you from buying *any* Sony computer or consumer electronics product.
Get a Dell. Or a Mac.
If you're happy paying Sony money for a laptop then I'd say get a Macbook Pro. If you don't like Apple then there's a very nice Dell Macbook Pro competitor that my Microsoftie colleague owns - I'm not 100% convinced that the laptop can sustain flat-out processing without thermal throttling the way my MBP can (having the entire laptop made of aluminium makes the whole box a heatsink, and whilst you won't want it on your lap, it doesn't overheat the CPUs in the way the plastic Dell can). I can't be arsed to navigate Dell's tortuous website but it's the one with the same LED-backlit panel as the MBP, the piano-black 'style' lid, full-on CPUs and 8 GB RAM capacity (expensive, but oh-so-worth it). Dell only have 2 USB ports on the box (like Apple) but one of them doubles as an external SATA port. Very cool. Apple have Firewire 800 - again whether you want one or the other depends on what external storage you have (or are planning to buy).
Also, Thinkpads have always been high quality at a high price, like Apple. But they never really picked up on the multitouch trackpad thing (I think Apple may have patents on this w.r.t. laptops - the trackpads on Apple laptops are huge and utterly brilliant to use compared to *any* PC laptop I've seen, which all still have small single-touch trackpads) and had the finger-wiggle button in the middle of the keyboard. I can't use that thing - if you can, then a high-spec Thinkpad would be a good buy.
Just *anything* except Sony. Hell, I'd even look the other way if you bought a Macbook Pro and formatted it to run Windows only. And even worse, Windows Vista (W7 is a decent system). But I'd put up with that, just so you don't get a Sony laptop.
Dont beat about the bush, what are you saying? Get a Dell. Or a Mac.
If you're happy paying Sony money for a laptop then I'd say get a Macbook Pro. If you don't like Apple then there's a very nice Dell Macbook Pro competitor that my Microsoftie colleague owns - I'm not 100% convinced that the laptop can sustain flat-out processing without thermal throttling the way my MBP can (having the entire laptop made of aluminium makes the whole box a heatsink, and whilst you won't want it on your lap, it doesn't overheat the CPUs in the way the plastic Dell can). I can't be arsed to navigate Dell's tortuous website but it's the one with the same LED-backlit panel as the MBP, the piano-black 'style' lid, full-on CPUs and 8 GB RAM capacity (expensive, but oh-so-worth it). Dell only have 2 USB ports on the box (like Apple) but one of them doubles as an external SATA port. Very cool. Apple have Firewire 800 - again whether you want one or the other depends on what external storage you have (or are planning to buy).
Also, Thinkpads have always been high quality at a high price, like Apple. But they never really picked up on the multitouch trackpad thing (I think Apple may have patents on this w.r.t. laptops - the trackpads on Apple laptops are huge and utterly brilliant to use compared to *any* PC laptop I've seen, which all still have small single-touch trackpads) and had the finger-wiggle button in the middle of the keyboard. I can't use that thing - if you can, then a high-spec Thinkpad would be a good buy.
Just *anything* except Sony. Hell, I'd even look the other way if you bought a Macbook Pro and formatted it to run Windows only. And even worse, Windows Vista (W7 is a decent system). But I'd put up with that, just so you don't get a Sony laptop.
Thanks for the reply.
Don't get a dell. Have had multiple clients with hard drive failures and stupid niggles that have gone wrong.
What do you need the laptop for?
Get a HP elite book or something of the like. My HP gets carried with me every day, banged off door frames, battery drained and worked hard....its like new still, with no problems whatsoever!
I used to hate HP gear and graded it down with Packard Bell but now I think its top notch kit!
ETA: Thinkpads are OK to
What do you need the laptop for?
Get a HP elite book or something of the like. My HP gets carried with me every day, banged off door frames, battery drained and worked hard....its like new still, with no problems whatsoever!
I used to hate HP gear and graded it down with Packard Bell but now I think its top notch kit!
ETA: Thinkpads are OK to
Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 25th March 23:59
I'd go for it, a couple of friends have them, and no complaints after 18 months. See to me the laptop area is one where no one is without faults. Sony and Apple are expensive, HP's break all the time and probably the less said about Dell the better.
Personally I'm a big fan of Samsung laptops - I bought an R560 about 20 months ago now and it's been superb. Pretty well put together (although a USB port has broken), still speedy despite still being on the original install (who said Vista was crap - it's been the most stable OS I've had, and hasn't slowed down over time like XP did) and looks pretty stylish too. I doubt it will win any design competitions against a Macbook, but then I hate the Apple look anyway.
Sony do make some nice models however, we've had a few demo units at work. The Y Series 13" ULV model was a particular eye catcher, and the more mainstream CW models packed a fair punch for the price. I could be seriously tempted by one when the Samsung comes up for replacement.
Personally I'm a big fan of Samsung laptops - I bought an R560 about 20 months ago now and it's been superb. Pretty well put together (although a USB port has broken), still speedy despite still being on the original install (who said Vista was crap - it's been the most stable OS I've had, and hasn't slowed down over time like XP did) and looks pretty stylish too. I doubt it will win any design competitions against a Macbook, but then I hate the Apple look anyway.
Sony do make some nice models however, we've had a few demo units at work. The Y Series 13" ULV model was a particular eye catcher, and the more mainstream CW models packed a fair punch for the price. I could be seriously tempted by one when the Samsung comes up for replacement.
bodhi said:
I'd go for it, a couple of friends have them, and no complaints after 18 months. See to me the laptop area is one where no one is without faults. Sony and Apple are expensive, HP's break all the time and probably the less said about Dell the better.
My thoughts exactly - bought myself a Vaio for fairly heavy home use (having previously economised on an Acer that had everything go wrong with it) about 18 months ago, and it's as new performance and build wise 18 months later...I'm surprised they're perceived as so expensive, unless things have changed since - ok, they do some luxury models, but for the 450 quid I spent I couldn't find anything more powerful at the time... was having trouble deciding against some other major brands but the x-black screen and styling that we preferred won it for me!
TotalControl said:
What about Lenovo's range? They are, in my eyes, far better than Sony. Typing on them is a joy (like the IBM thinkpads were) and it just feels a whole lot more robust. Will be looking at getting another after I've purchased a MBP. 
No please don't - I had a Thinkpad about 6 years ago which were as solid as you could ever want or need and that was reflected in my colleagues experiences. Having used them again now for the last 3 years they have deteriorated to the extent I would happily swap it for a house brick. I know that some of what I've experienced has been down to the corporate software imposed, but the hardware failures have been many - screens, drives, batteries, heat soak issues etc etc etc...ETA: I do have a VAIO at home but I've only had it for 4 months so can't really comment on longevity.
Edited by Ranger 6 on Friday 26th March 09:16
I've got a Sony Vaio VGN-FW21L which I got nearly 2 years ago for about £500 as my previous Samsung laptop had packed in and I also wanted a larger screen for films. The Samsung laptop, which I thought was knackered, was later repaired for the massive cost of £20 and I gave it to my brother...that'll teach me for rushing off to buy a new one 
I've found this laptop to be very good, a comfortable keyboard, very similar to that of Macbooks. The blu-ray player is a nice feature which I've used quite often, using the HDMI slot on the laptop to hook it up to the TV. Now that we have a full HD TV, this feature is used less although I still use it to watch films from a hard-drive.
The only problems I've had with it are down to my own stupidity. I've melted a few keys off the keyboard with a desk lamp when faffing on with my DSLR and I buggered up the blu-ray drive. This happened because I was trying to watch T2 Judgement Day (Skynet edition) which required the latest version of the blu-ray software. Having acquired this, the disc would still not read properly, I even tried to return it to Asda. I tried updating the firmware...this is when the drive stopped working and was no longer being recognised. To fix this, I phoned Sony who guided me through the process of getting it to work again - this I found was excellent and far better the support I had been offered by Samsung with my previous laptop.
I think that there are probably better laptops out there for the money, but at the time it was between this Sony and an Acer laptop, with very little in it in terms of price and performance. The Sony looked better and had the better keyboard which prompted me to buy it.
If I was looking to get a new laptop, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Sony, but I would still look around for alternatives at a better price as Sony do have a tenancy to rip you off or change things unnecessarily. When I melted my keyboard keys, I ordered replacements from ebay. It appears Sony have changed the design ever so slightly so the keys wouldn't fit leaving me with two rubber dots when I need ' and [. Annoying, but again I shouldn't have melted the keys in the first place
I've found this laptop to be very good, a comfortable keyboard, very similar to that of Macbooks. The blu-ray player is a nice feature which I've used quite often, using the HDMI slot on the laptop to hook it up to the TV. Now that we have a full HD TV, this feature is used less although I still use it to watch films from a hard-drive.
The only problems I've had with it are down to my own stupidity. I've melted a few keys off the keyboard with a desk lamp when faffing on with my DSLR and I buggered up the blu-ray drive. This happened because I was trying to watch T2 Judgement Day (Skynet edition) which required the latest version of the blu-ray software. Having acquired this, the disc would still not read properly, I even tried to return it to Asda. I tried updating the firmware...this is when the drive stopped working and was no longer being recognised. To fix this, I phoned Sony who guided me through the process of getting it to work again - this I found was excellent and far better the support I had been offered by Samsung with my previous laptop.
I think that there are probably better laptops out there for the money, but at the time it was between this Sony and an Acer laptop, with very little in it in terms of price and performance. The Sony looked better and had the better keyboard which prompted me to buy it.
If I was looking to get a new laptop, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Sony, but I would still look around for alternatives at a better price as Sony do have a tenancy to rip you off or change things unnecessarily. When I melted my keyboard keys, I ordered replacements from ebay. It appears Sony have changed the design ever so slightly so the keys wouldn't fit leaving me with two rubber dots when I need ' and [. Annoying, but again I shouldn't have melted the keys in the first place
Had two Sony Vaios (the not-too-cheap lightweight models, with carbon fibre chassis etc). Both broke just after 12 months. Dry solder joints or something like that. Basically any movement of the laptop would just cause the machine to lock-up... GREAT!
So third time around I bought a Macbook Air. It's nearly two years old now and still works great.
So third time around I bought a Macbook Air. It's nearly two years old now and still works great.
Ranger 6 said:
TotalControl said:
What about Lenovo's range? They are, in my eyes, far better than Sony. Typing on them is a joy (like the IBM thinkpads were) and it just feels a whole lot more robust. Will be looking at getting another after I've purchased a MBP.
No please don't - I had a Thinkpad about 6 years ago which were as solid as you could ever want or need and that was reflected in my colleagues experiences. Having used them again now for the last 3 years they have deteriorated to the extent I would happily swap it for a house brick. I know that some of what I've experienced has been down to the corporate software imposed, but the hardware failures have been many - screens, drives, batteries, heat soak issues etc etc etc...Thankpad X31. Bought 7 years ago. Still rocks, and rocks hard. The best bit of IT I have ever spent my own money on. It nearly bankrupted me at the time, but I wouldn't swap it for anything.
Lenovo Thinkpad X61S2. Bought 2 years ago. Best spec I could buy, oodles of RAM, hefty dual-core processor. First one was slow, poor battery life and badly finished, and was sent back for a replacement. The replacement has been so bad I will never buy another one.
Avoid.
Oli.
Ok I would point you in the direction of Dell and for one reason and one reason only, the after sales support is fantastic.
Buy the extended warranty, something goes wrong, you call them, they fix it. simple!
We buy around 1500 laptops/desktops from Dell each year and yes they do have some problems but I am guessing that if you buy any brand at that capacity you are going to see similar figures the difference being that if I have a problem with one the guy on the phone (usually scottish) will trouble shoot it with me and depending the outcome there will be an engineer here the next morning to replace the part that is not working correctly.
I'd say for customer support alone Dell cannot be beaten.
HTH
Buy the extended warranty, something goes wrong, you call them, they fix it. simple!
We buy around 1500 laptops/desktops from Dell each year and yes they do have some problems but I am guessing that if you buy any brand at that capacity you are going to see similar figures the difference being that if I have a problem with one the guy on the phone (usually scottish) will trouble shoot it with me and depending the outcome there will be an engineer here the next morning to replace the part that is not working correctly.
I'd say for customer support alone Dell cannot be beaten.
HTH
I have two Sony's. One was an insurance replacement, which is how I ended up with two. I would never buy another. Form over function. Look great, perform poorly ( I work in IT, so neither are loaded with piles of TSR's or junk apps.)
Get a Samsung or Dell, or if you like a more corporate feel take a look at the new HP's. Wouldn't buy a Lenovo, (we had these at work), strange beasts and overpriced for what they are.
Get a Samsung or Dell, or if you like a more corporate feel take a look at the new HP's. Wouldn't buy a Lenovo, (we had these at work), strange beasts and overpriced for what they are.
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