topic Who would buy a Sony laptop again? in PCs & Accessories

Who would buy a Sony laptop again?

alanng — Mon, 28 Apr 2003 15:00:30 GMT

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

Who would buy a Sony laptop again?

kee-lo_ — Mon, 28 Apr 2003 15:17:39 GMT

I say yes because I like them for what they do. I know sometimes you get issues with them but most of the time they can be repaired. Also Sony seem to be the only ones having a proper forum :smileygrin:

Who would buy a Sony laptop again?

iainjturner — Mon, 28 Apr 2003 16:04:52 GMT

Their technical support is terrible, spare parts are incredibly overpriced and hard to come by, the laptops usually have dead pixels in the screen and the actual laptops are more often than not overpriced.

Who would buy a Sony laptop again?

kee-lo_ — Mon, 28 Apr 2003 17:07:25 GMT

I can't help but agree with you about the tech support, but I haven't had a dead pixel and they are expensive, including the accessories and everything else.

Who would buy a Sony laptop again?

Ling — Mon, 28 Apr 2003 20:09:37 GMT

I think a resounding maybe, depending on what laptops they release in the future, how they compare to everyone elses (Toshibas are looking quite nice these days) and how my bank balance is looking (red/black :smileyhappy:.

I agree on tech support; but they do look rather nice...
Also at the time (about 10 months ago) the GRX316/416 range was the only ones around that had a 16" screen, so if they pull something like that again then yeah.

Who would buy a Sony laptop again?

alanng — Mon, 28 Apr 2003 21:42:24 GMT

Hey Ken

I think you will find that both Dell and IBM also have a VERY active forum! Also they are moderated by Dell and IBM personel who actually check the forum every so often in the week and give decent answers!! I know i have used them :smileygrin: :smileygrin:.

Most of the problems i have encountered can't be fixed unless a change of motherboard or other....., I've never actually had a motherboard die on me before....EVER!! well guess there's always a first. I just hope they are quick with fixing the thing now!!

Who would buy a Sony laptop again?

Qube — Mon, 28 Apr 2003 22:15:59 GMT

There are some fundamental problems with Sony.

1) I would have bought a GRV616G (2.6Ghz P4, ATI M9000) when they were released - except that neither SonyStyle, nor any Sony Centres (or online shops) had any stock for 3 months after it was announced. By then the Pentium-M was all over the press, so I'm going that route.

2) Sony UK are _way_ too expensive when comparing the same models with Sony US. Someone at Sony UK should look at exchange rates and not immediately think we're all suckers who'll cough up an extra 300 quid ($450).

3) Sony UK offer ZERO ability to customise. Quite Simply, I don't want XP Home, I'd like Pro - that severly limits my choice.

So, I'm afraid, No I won't be buying Sony this time - I'm waiting until the nVidia FX5600 Go comes out ( < 1 month) then I'm ordering a Dell D800 P-M 1.6Ghz WIDESCREEN 1920x1200.

Paul.
Shame really, since all my other "toys" are top-of-the-line Sony and I would have liked to continue that but I can always buy a USB memstick reader.

Who would buy a Sony laptop again?

Stephanius — Tue, 29 Apr 2003 07:05:21 GMT

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.

Who would buy a Sony laptop again?

kee-lo_ — Tue, 29 Apr 2003 13:20:08 GMT

Hey Ken

I think you will find that both Dell and IBM also have a VERY active forum! Also they are moderated by Dell and IBM personel who actually check the forum every so often in the week and give decent answers!! I know i have used them  :smileygrin:  :smileygrin:.

Most of the problems i have encountered can't be fixed  unless a change of motherboard or other....., I've never actually had a motherboard die on me before....EVER!! well guess there's always  a first. I just hope they are quick with fixing the thing now!!

Hi,
BTW, my name's not Ken lol
I agree with you about the lack of Sony personel on here, but I guess they have other things to do.
I think though that we try our best to help people out here, as Stephanius said, "take it or leave it"

Who would buy a Sony laptop again?

weirdbeardmt — Tue, 29 Apr 2003 13:43:53 GMT

At the moment I would say "No, not in a squillion years". OK the laptop is pretty good (although I agree with the sentiments above about lack of choice re: OS) but I have well and truly had it now with Sony support... it is a diabolical. As for Sony-Style - do not even get me started on them. They are the most pitiful disgrace for an online company I have ever come across. I have ordered twice from them and both times it has ended in disaster.

It's a shame, because I like Sony stuff (even though it tends to be so heavily proprietary). Ho-hum.


Also Sony seem to be the only ones having a proper forum

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:

Who would buy a Sony laptop again?

kee-lo_ — Tue, 29 Apr 2003 15:13:04 GMT

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.

Who would buy a Sony laptop again?

Qube — Tue, 29 Apr 2003 18:48:01 GMT

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.

Who would buy a Sony laptop again?

iainjturner — Tue, 29 Apr 2003 18:49:52 GMT

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

Who would buy a Sony laptop again?

Klint — Tue, 29 Apr 2003 19:17:46 GMT



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

Who would buy a Sony laptop again?

kee-lo_ — Tue, 29 Apr 2003 19:20:49 GMT

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

Who would buy a Sony laptop again?

Stephanius — Wed, 30 Apr 2003 09:43:00 GMT


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.

Who would buy a Sony laptop again?

Qube — Wed, 30 Apr 2003 14:58:33 GMT

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

Who would buy a Sony laptop again?

kee-lo_ — Wed, 30 Apr 2003 16:10:24 GMT

Paul,

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

Who would buy a Sony laptop again?

Qube — Wed, 30 Apr 2003 19:07:33 GMT

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.

Who would buy a Sony laptop again?

kee-lo_ — Wed, 30 Apr 2003 19:15:32 GMT

Cool

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