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Why should I get a MBP over Sony Vaio?
- Thread starter Jim on the Wall
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A lot of laptop owners, including Sony owners, do not seem to agree with you.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2704,2184105,00.asp
Sony's scores for reliability and customer satisfaction are just average. Apple is still leading the pack. See article linked above.
I'd really like to see a Vaio that is "equivalent" to a MacBook Pro for $1250.
x2
On top of that you're comparing a new, updated Sony Vaio to like a 7-month old MBP. Compare stats again when the new MBP is released. Don't get me wrong though, if I was gonna buy a non-Mac notebook it would be Sony. Their products are very nice and are high quality.
i hope the OP didnt honestly expect a fair reply with his question. ur talking to Apple Fanboys hear they will all say OSX OSX OSX OSX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
but looking at the numbers its hard to justify the high price of a MBP b/c clearly you can see that you will get a "better" machince (spec. wise) for a much cheaper price. So for most a design worth drooling over and a operating system decades ahead of vista is justification enough for the high price, and as many will argue you get what you pay for. So the choice comes down to what you will use for and if OSX is really worth it to you.
dont worry i feel the same way you do about a certain Dell XPS
but looking at the numbers its hard to justify the high price of a MBP b/c clearly you can see that you will get a "better" machince (spec. wise) for a much cheaper price. So for most a design worth drooling over and a operating system decades ahead of vista is justification enough for the high price, and as many will argue you get what you pay for. So the choice comes down to what you will use for and if OSX is really worth it to you.
dont worry i feel the same way you do about a certain Dell XPS
Not legally. And actually the nice thing about the sony laptop(actually many PC laptops) are the fact you can get large extended batteries, which could give you up to 7 hours of life with bt and wifi on. Roommate actually has a sony with extended battery and is getting like 7 and half with wifi on, medium brightness.
The OP can get what he wants but you know what I absolutely hate about Sony's computers is the fact that they do not come with install or restore discs. There's a drive on the hard drive for restoration and Sony forces you to burn your own discs. Apple gives a full restore/reformat/bootcamp drivers/iLife suite on the whole DVD.
The little things make the difference. Sony is overpriced for a "Windows only" machine. If you get lucky and get good specs Sony will undoubtedly cut corners on the build quality or the internal parts. In other words in my experience if the price is good on Sony your not getting your monies worth.
The little things make the difference. Sony is overpriced for a "Windows only" machine. If you get lucky and get good specs Sony will undoubtedly cut corners on the build quality or the internal parts. In other words in my experience if the price is good on Sony your not getting your monies worth.
This is what I just did. I hated Vista and I was tired of Windows, I needed a change and I'd always wanted a Mac so I figured now could be the time! I got the MacBook though. I find it's functions and capabilities much much better and I don't regret it at all. A lot of anti-Mac people complain that Apple just works to make it so you have to keep buying from them because nothing it compatible with it but this is fast becoming legend. Even if there is something you need to work around because of such problems, it's way worth it in the end.
My experience has been that the latest gen FZ has a much better build quality than the currently available Macbook Pro. This includes the screen which is noticeably brighter, sharper and has better contrast (to my eyes) that macbook pro 15" LED and 17" that I have worked with. If someone is thinking they are getting a better laptop build wise with the mac, it isn't true (imho). Don't get me wrong, I think macbook pro is one of the best laptops available, and the difference between 8600 and 8400 is huge.
I have a Sony Vaio S-150. It's currently dead, sitting on my bookshelf-- the S-series had a known issue regarding the motherboards.
First motherboard went out within 90 days of me getting it. Lovely smell of burning silicon out the exhaust vent.
Second motherboard started going out after 1.75 years-- it wouldn't boot half the time, it would power-off when in suspend, and it would lock up if I picked up and moved the machine. At this point, I was outside the one-year warranty, so I figured I was screwed-- so I bought a 22" widescreen and an external keyboard and my laptop didn't move from my desk for a couple months. I discovered that Sony had announced that the motherboard thing was a known issue and they had extended the warranties on motherboards for a year, so I was able to get it sent in and fixed for free.
Third motherboard went out at around the 2.75-year mark; about two months prior to that I bought a Mac mini (they had just gone Core 2) to inherit the monitor and keyboard and to actually be a desktop-- in retrospect, I should have gone for a MacBook, but, eh, hindsight, 20/20, etc. I didn't even bother trying to get the Vaio repaired this time, since I had only just started carrying it with me to campus again and I didn't really miss not having it.
So, yeah, while Sony does have quite nice support, their QC has (or at least, had) issues. It was a nice machine while it lasted (good Linux support), but, honestly, I had expected that a $2K laptop would last more than three years.
First motherboard went out within 90 days of me getting it. Lovely smell of burning silicon out the exhaust vent.
Second motherboard started going out after 1.75 years-- it wouldn't boot half the time, it would power-off when in suspend, and it would lock up if I picked up and moved the machine. At this point, I was outside the one-year warranty, so I figured I was screwed-- so I bought a 22" widescreen and an external keyboard and my laptop didn't move from my desk for a couple months. I discovered that Sony had announced that the motherboard thing was a known issue and they had extended the warranties on motherboards for a year, so I was able to get it sent in and fixed for free.
Third motherboard went out at around the 2.75-year mark; about two months prior to that I bought a Mac mini (they had just gone Core 2) to inherit the monitor and keyboard and to actually be a desktop-- in retrospect, I should have gone for a MacBook, but, eh, hindsight, 20/20, etc. I didn't even bother trying to get the Vaio repaired this time, since I had only just started carrying it with me to campus again and I didn't really miss not having it.
So, yeah, while Sony does have quite nice support, their QC has (or at least, had) issues. It was a nice machine while it lasted (good Linux support), but, honestly, I had expected that a $2K laptop would last more than three years.
Go to an Apple store. Touch one, use one, lift one up. Examine all the details of it's construction, and have an Apple store employee demo some software for you. GarageBand, iMovie, Pages, Keynote... Then come back and tell us you want a Vaio.
Does Apple still underclock the GPU? If so doesn't that kind of make it a wash?
Well it maybe over $200 they at least get the option unlike us MB and MBP users are stuck with one model battery.
Well it maybe over $200 they at least get the option unlike us MB and MBP users are stuck with one model battery.
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LED screen, backlit keyboard, ambient light sensor, awesome keyboard, 1" thick, the beauty of the machine, slot superdrive, OSX, awesome customer service, apple protection plan, everything else. play around with one, it's a real work of art. you get to use both windows and OSX on it too.
$200 is a lot of cash for a battery. I could buy AppleCare with that and if you know how to use a battery, you can use it for years without issues.
YEAH!!! Thats nice dude! You know how to keep a battery alive!
Why should anybody spend $200 on a battery? Just learn how to use a damn computer.
Actually there is a good point to larger longer lasting batteries. Like you are some where and need the extra juice because you either forget your charger, or there is no wall outlet. Much easier than swapping out batteries.
I'm kinda in the same boat as the OP. I'm going to college in August and I want to get a MAc but the HP prices and stats are crazy. You can get a Hp
HP Pavilion dv9700t customizable Notebook PC
GT811AV
* – Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate (64-bit)
* – Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T9300 (2.50 GHz, 6 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
* – 17.0" WXGA+ High-Definition Ultra HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1440 x 900)
* – 4GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
* – 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS
* – HP Imprint Finish (Radiance) + Webcam + Microphone
* – Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth(TM)
* – 240GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (120GB x 2)
* – Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer
* – High Capacity 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
* – System Recovery DVD with Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate (64-bit)
* – Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
* – HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope
For less than 2700...
That also comes with 4 years of Total Care...
HP Pavilion dv9700t customizable Notebook PC
GT811AV
* – Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate (64-bit)
* – Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T9300 (2.50 GHz, 6 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
* – 17.0" WXGA+ High-Definition Ultra HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1440 x 900)
* – 4GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
* – 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS
* – HP Imprint Finish (Radiance) + Webcam + Microphone
* – Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth(TM)
* – 240GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (120GB x 2)
* – Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer
* – High Capacity 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
* – System Recovery DVD with Genuine Windows Vista Ultimate (64-bit)
* – Microsoft(R) Works 9.0
* – HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope
For less than 2700...
That also comes with 4 years of Total Care...
I really think in the next year the MBP will dominate the high end notebook market. I cant wait to see what they do in the summer. New design and Blu-Ray?
Design-wise I do like the Vaios but the MBP is still lighter over the FZ series (5.4 > 6.1)
Plus, I hate tear-drop shape laptops where it's thin in the front and thicker in the back. I'd like my laptops to be flat.
The only grip I have against the MBP is that EVERYBODY I know has one, or a Powerbook G4 and they still look basically the same. New design please!!!
If you live near an Apple store, it's just nice that you don't have to call to have your laptop looked at. Just head down to the Apple store, taht right there makes a big difference money-wise. I'm a computer expert but I'd still hate having to ship something out for repair.
Plus, I hate tear-drop shape laptops where it's thin in the front and thicker in the back. I'd like my laptops to be flat.
The only grip I have against the MBP is that EVERYBODY I know has one, or a Powerbook G4 and they still look basically the same. New design please!!!
If you live near an Apple store, it's just nice that you don't have to call to have your laptop looked at. Just head down to the Apple store, taht right there makes a big difference money-wise. I'm a computer expert but I'd still hate having to ship something out for repair.