I need an honest opinion about this laptop design

[Sesshi]

Not for me - and I own / have owned the X300, Air, multiple TZ's and the R500. The X300 is certainly more robustly made, but it's heavier and it hasn't got the battery life. The fans run all the time but it doesn't suffer from heat-related issues like the Air.

I mean, if you feel it's not the machine for you, then get something else. For me, while it's not without faults nothing beats the TZ in actual use as a true ultraportable for all-day carrying.

 

[Rojo]

If we're talking LOOKS only, it's really not a bad-looking laptop at all. Maybe not as refined as a Mac, but still not the eyesore that most PC's are. If I HAD to get a PC laptop, it would probably be something just like this.

However, I would never, ever, ever, ever, ever get a PC laptop -- no matter HOW good they looked. The most important thing to me is the operating system -- and OS X runs circles around Windows. Also, the quality of the hardware is very important, and Apple simply builds well-made computers that last a long time. I notice you haven't had yours long, and you are already noticing flaws with it. I've NEVER had that experience with an Apple product.

So if it's JUST looks you care about -- don't worry. You're fine! But if I was you, I would have waited and saved up for a Mac. It would have been better for you in the long-run...

 

[Sesshi]

The most important thing to me is what you do on a computer, not the operating system, followed by the dependability in everyday use of the machine.

OS X to me was the choice for a niche application, but in broader use puts sometimes severe limitations in the choice of quality applications available to use. And while almost every Apple has let me down in the second regard, very few Sony's have.

 

[mpw]

...[the TZ] is generally far more useful for people who actually do worthwhile stuff on a computer...

Bugger, oh well I guess it'd still be a good machine to arse about on too.

Seriously though Sesshi, adopt me.

 

[tsice19]

If the TZ ran OS X, I'd get that over the Air.

Not trying to start and Air VS TZ war here, I know they're both about as different as it gets when comparing ultra portables. All I'm saying is that it can be a great computer depending on your needs.

I'm waiting for someone to say, "well technically... it can... *cough* x86 *cough*"

 

[Sesshi]

Done it, and not worth the hassles to move away from Vista - which is more solid anyway than Leopard these days. Manufacturer supported compatibility is something else, but OSX86 doesn't cut it for me - yet.

 

[juanm]

Take an sticker, and put it on the lid. Oh, and telll them to shut up. I wish the MacBook Air was more like the TZ. I might even consider buying it. With no accessible battery, I don't care about a dual core, I'd only use it to download the pictures to the hard drive, not to work on them.

 

[surjavarman]

Actually I really like the vaio logo. It really looks neat. The green power button is also one of those nice details.

I'm running vista now and I'm not having any troubles at all so far. I just need a reliable machine that does everything I want it to do with no extra fuss.

I got the TZ but I keep looking at the macbook air and the X300. I want them too especially the X300. It just looks so reliable and neat. I would like to have to power and design of the macbook air. The functions and endurance of the X300. The battery life of the TZ. The vaio logo and the green powerbutton to finish it off.

 

[themadchemist]

Its still haunting me.

First I wanted the macbook air then I saw the lenovo x300 and wanted that one. And then I finally end up with the TZ cause I saw a good deal. This is my first laptop ever but it keeps haunting me. I'm begining to see minor imperfections now like the fan is almost always running. Keyboard attracts alot of fingerprints. Screen feels delicate. Maybe I should have saved up and gotten the X300. That one seems like its perfect now.

I dont know.. at first I was happy but now I'm still not sure if I made the right choice. The X300 just seems to look better and better.

No machine is ever perfect. If you can't live with the problems, return the computer. And if you can't return the computer, learn to live with the problems.

 

[futureswitcher]

Personally, Sony is second best in terms of industrial design. I'll admit, I'm a sucker for products, but this is a pretty nice-looking computer!

 

[NT1440]

whats with the fugly tube hinge thing?

 

[Sesshi]

It's an integrated replaceable battery. You know, the thing that you don't get with the heavier Air.

 

[Abstract]

I think that if I was considering the Sony, I may as well get the MBA. I don't feel like there's any design or reliability benefit with the Sony. The Sony has better battery life. Ok. With the X300, I feel like it's a different machine, and is worth making a comparison because they are so different.

I've used the X300, and liked it. The first thing I noticed is how much uglier the Lenovo X300 is than my friend's ancient IBM Thinkpad (same size, I think), but I'm not too hung up on that. I don't know how Lenovo could make it even uglier than before, but somehow they did. I'd personally go with the MBA. Someone who was presenting at a conference recently brought in his MBA, and it felt like a solid machine. I don't have much experience with them. I mean, I played with one in the store for 5 minutes, and I played with this guy's MBA for like 10 minutes while I was talking to him.

Of course, I doubt I'd ever get an MBA anyway. I'd rather get an MBP, which really is almost the perfect machine for my needs (it's missing the 1680 x 1050 resolution that I want). However, if I were considering an MBA, I'd also take a look at the X300. I'd check the specs on the Sony, but I don't think specs are as important as usability.

 

[Sesshi]

I think that if I was considering the Sony, I may as well get the MBA. I don't feel like there's any design or reliability benefit with the Sony. The Sony has better battery life. Ok. With the X300, I feel like it's a different machine, and is worth making a comparison because they are so different.

And the TZ isn't a vastly different machine?

It's a true ultraportable. It can in all manner of ways travel with you better than an Air can - starting from being able to fit edgewise into a typical 15" accomodating laptop bag, leaving room for more stuff. the Air may be thin, but that attribute - I find at least, and I have the machines we're talking about and I do travel often - is less useful in a bag-packing sense.

All-up weight for a truly useful machine on the move? Take a look for yourself (stick MP3 weight-substituted for a 3G/EVDO stick - a real one would actually be a bit heavier).

All right, the keyboard is smaller - but it's not too small to adjust to. The tiny trackpad is slightly annoying for sure. And the smaller, higher-res screen is not ideal for desktop use as a main machine due to the size. But we're not talking about a main PC here - it's an adjunct machine for travelling purposes - and the Air is outfeatured, outlasted, outweighed, outhandied, and doesn't significantly outpace the slower TZ in typical applications (e.g. With Firefox and Excel with a couple of large sheets open, Word 2007 actually opens ~4 seconds quicker on the 1.33ghz HDD TZ than Word 2008 on an SSD 1.8 Air), especially when it starts overheating. The sole area in which it is definitively better is in the pretty. But I guess a lot of people do buy based on that when they don't know what they're buying (or are blogoidiotsphere 'journalists')...

The Air has a display socket that you need a cable assembly for, a single USB socket and a headphone socket. In using it, I realise what a near-joke this actually is. Only if you are successful in deluding yourself with JRDF does it become a complete travel computer.

The TZ you see in the pictures has modem, network, Firewire, Expresscard and 2 USB sockets on the left hand side, Headphone, Mic, Memory Stick and SD card reader on the front, and a VGA display socket + DVD-RW on the right hand side. For all this there is no weight penalty. In fact it's lighter. Vista is also more stable than Leopard these days, and while I may have to forcibly power down the Air once out of ~20 times of sleeping it because it won't wake up, under Vista sleep and hibernate (you get the choice without ridiculous sudo hackery) are rock-solid. TZ + Vista is a far better travelling companion for all sorts of reasons than the Air, although it doesn't get 'ooh's from people who actually wouldn't know what a good computer was if I hit them over the head with one.

 

[mpw]

...[how much the TZ rocks]...

Here, here.

I loves me some Sesshi.

Just wish I could afford a TZ

 

[RedTomato]

I think it's a lovely machine.

Whatever laptop you have is almost always better than not having a laptop.

Apple laptops are indeed expensive. You get a lot for the price, but there isn't much room for anyone who wants a cheap osx machine to just do web and email on.

I don't know how much yours was, but at a guess it was more than the cost of an older macbook or refurb macbook. Considered one of these instead?

I have an older C2D macbook, with 4GB ram and 320GB HDD, which gives it 2x the ram, 4x the hdd, and almost 2x the real processor speed, and far more ports, plus internal superdrive, all for just over half the price (inc upgrades) of the Macbook Air.

 

[Sesshi]

I think that those who can't see the advantages that a one-kilo reduction brings in terms of everyday portable usage will just not 'get' these machines.

I also have a 2.5Ghz Penryn with 4Gb RAM and 250Gb HDD, far more ports / connectivity, internal DVD+-RW, a 'real' graphics chip on which I can do stuff that bogs down the X3100, runtime which with the switcheable X3100 exceeds anything in the Apple inventory - which also happens to weigh a pound less than the Macbook. I don't pointlessly limit myself to Apples, so I don't have to compromise anywhere near as much as if all I had were the outputs of Cupertino.

 

[RedTomato]

Oh I'd love a lighter laptop. It's just that for both me and the OP, money is an issue.

My partner has an ibook and wants to get a lighter laptop. All she does is email and www so I'm seriously looking at getting her the Eee or something similar.

It'll be the first non-Apple machine we've brought in nearly 10 years, but it's 1/5 the price of a MBA.

 

[surjavarman]

I think it's a lovely machine.

Whatever laptop you have is almost always better than not having a laptop.

Apple laptops are indeed expensive. You get a lot for the price, but there isn't much room for anyone who wants a cheap osx machine to just do web and email on.

I don't know how much yours was, but at a guess it was more than the cost of an older macbook or refurb macbook. Considered one of these instead?

I have an older C2D macbook, with 4GB ram and 320GB HDD, which gives it 2x the ram, 4x the hdd, and almost 2x the real processor speed, and far more ports, plus internal superdrive, all for just over half the price (inc upgrades) of the Macbook Air.

I bought the TZ a few weeks ago. I could chose between these 3 models at that time.

Macbook (sep 07 edition) - 2.0ghz C2D - 850 euro
Sony Vaio SZ - 2.0ghz C2D, 2gb RAM, 160gb HDD, Nvidia videocard - 1070 euro
Sony Vaio TZ - 1.06ghz C2D, 1gb RAM, 100gb HDD - 1100 euro

I went for the TZ. I know its expensive but it was smaller and it was Sony's flagship model. I also thought it was only 50 euro more expensive then a new Macbook.

 

[surjavarman]

post

Thanks alot! I actually feel alot better. But wow your vaio looks alot better then mine. I got the gold coloured version but I actually prefer the black one. Mine also only got a 1.06 ghz. I upgraded the ram to 2gb and everything feels alot more responsive now. Now I'm just waiting for SSD's to become cheaper. Maybe in a few years I'll replace the HDD with a SSD. I actually use the TZ as my main computer now. Its much faster then my old computer and the screen looks much better.

Is Vista really better? How come you think Vista is better? I strictly use OS X when I'm at school and it runs like a dream. I use Vista on my laptop and it runs smooth too. I honestly think both are great operating systems and neither have given me problems so far. Just my two cents

 

[ezekielrage_99]

Hey, if you like it, screw your "friends".

I wouldn't screw my friends.

 

[ZiggyPastorius]

This is why I love you, Sesshi You kind of make me wish I didn't make a personal choice to boycott Sony products (I've never bought one and I never plan on buying one), because if I ever need a WinPC again, looks like a pretty good machine, though I have no need for an ultraportable, as carrying even a Macbook or *ugh* my Inspiron all day in my Macbook plus books and stuff wasn't a hassle. I agree with pretty much everyone else, though, OP. It's not the best looking laptop in the world, but what the hell does that matter? If it works and you like it, have fun with it and get some good work done - after all, that's what you bought it for No need to worry yourself over nothing.

 

[Neutral Gamer]

Coming to the party late ...

Man, I can't believe I've missed out on this thread. I saw the title and never for a second thought it had anything to do with my beloved Sony VAIO TZ!

I had a 17" MBP which I sold in January cos I needed a smaller laptop as I needed to start travelling more for work. The TZ is the model I bought, in fact exactly the same model as surjavarman's except that I upgraded the RAM to 2GB afterwards.

The photos posted here just don't do the laptop justice - when you see it in the flesh and hold it you realise just how SMALL and LIGHT the laptop is. The screen has a higher resolution and looks so much nicer than the MBA one in terms of colours and sharpness. It's so liberating being able to carry something so easily around with you around the city and knowing that the battery's gonna give you at least 6 hours (more if you put the brightness down).

I think the design is a mixed bag though. When it's closed and you're carrying it under your arm, wearing a suit, it looks spot on. Very professional and stylish indeed. The VAIO logo really looks cool. It also shows other people how small it is. But when you open it up, the inside looks slightly ugly and outdated but of course the colour makes a difference. I think the all white models look much better. Or they should have at least changed the colour of the keys.

The trackpad's also a bit smaller than you'd like but apart from those two points I've got nothing bad to say about the hardware. It's amazing having a DVD rewriter in such a small space and I find I can type faster on the keyboard than I could on the MBP (but that maybe more to do with the MB/MBA style keyboard).

The only really annoying thing is how long it takes to boot up Vista and how many initial hours you have to spend removing all the Sony installed crapware. But now I just keep it on sleep most of the time and it starts up more or less instantly. But actually using it is no problem; all of Vista's Aero glass effects and animations are extremely smooth and for Office, music and browsing it's more than capable. You can hardly hear the fan and it only gets slightly hot every now and then but compared to my old MBP it's FAR better. That thing would get extremely hot and the fans would start roaring if you were unlucky enough to go to a badly designed Flash site.

My friend's got a MBA and even he admitted he was impressed by the TZ and how small it is. I think it's the best laptop for when you need the ultimate in portable computing yet still requiring half decent performance and a high screen resolution. The thing I love about it the most is being able to just put in on your lap while watching TV and knowing there's no danger of it falling off cos of its size and weight. And of course never having to worry about battery life!

It's a great laptop and PERFECT for what it was designed for: an extremely mobile portable. You're right the VAIO logo and glowing green battery really are nice touches. I'm still waiting to get a new MBP but this is what I'd still use when I'm out and about.

I love it.

 

[Diatribe]

I wouldn't screw my friends.

You wouldn't say that if you were friends with Jessica Alba.

 

[Sesshi]

Quite aside from all the other attributes, the real kicker for the TZ is that given the regular sort of use for both machines on battery power (power saving enabled, display at reduced brightness, Office/Web type apps over wireless), that at the time you'd be looking anxiously at the red battery bar of the Air, the TZ's battery bar will be showing a healthy amount of bar. And at the point the Air shuts down the TZ would be showing somewhere between 40-50% charge.

This is assuming you have the standard battery, not the extended battery which would take the TZ to within two spoonfuls of sugar of the Air in terms of weight... if so, you'd be looking at around 75% charge left at the point the Air dies.

And of course if your main cell runs out, the TZ allows you to whack in another one. The Air... got ~5 hours handy to sit in front of the computer (or manually disable sleep), or ~10 hours to charge it while slept? Ha... Which is why I have to lug both at times to do real work but to be able to use the likes of Keynote. To put the weight into context though for those who can't understand why you'd have an ultraportable, TZ + Air = Macbook Pro.