Reply to: Sony Vaio laptops

[Mustang]

I approve

I have a SOny VAIO VGN-S3XP. I bought it in 2005 and unfortunately paid top wack for it.

I have to say I have been pleased with it. I mainly use it at home but have taken it out and about without any problems. The new ones I believe are faster and have more disk space. They also have the finger-print security gismo and a webcam.

Now 4 years later I have encountered a few problems - mainly due to things slowing down. That could also be due to other software I have added. Sony support has been good I am pleased to say. Worth getting the extended warranty - if nothing else since once the warranty has expired you have to phone a 0900 number rather than an 0800!! The support guys will phone you back though to see if their suggestions fixed the problem!!

HTH

[pmeswani]

Heh, I was looking a month or two before that and there was nothing. All I could think was that Sony at the time were trying to prevent people from buying a laptop with a BD player in it and plugging it into a telly. Different story now that BD players are somewhat cheaper.

They probably thought they wre losing the HD format war and wanted to wait long enough to see what would happen. Or, they were R&D'ing the laptops for a bit longer than one would hope.

[scooterscot]

I bought a VGN-TX2P about 4 years ago straight from the sony shop at around 1800!

The only outstanding quality about it was the 8 hour battery life, at the time, was the only laptop on the market of being a capable road warrior - IMO.

Now it sits on a shelf hardly every used. It was the OS that lets it down, even if I do a factory reset it's OK but after the updates it's on it's hands and knees glowing like a hot coal. MS killed my viao!

I've tried various linux installations but generally don't have the time to faff about.. ubuntu works fine.

[NickNick]

I bought mine in about Nov. / Dec. 2007. The laptop I use has a HDMI port built in.

Heh, I was looking a month or two before that and there was nothing. All I could think was that Sony at the time were trying to prevent people from buying a laptop with a BD player in it and plugging it into a telly. Different story now that BD players are somewhat cheaper.

[expat]

Sony and the barge pole

I'm not touching anything Sony after the rootkit scandal.

For those who missed it, Sony put a rootkit on audio CDs, so that if they were played on a PC, it would install itself on your PC, hide itself, and let Sony do things to your PC without your permission or knowledge. Although Sony's desires were undoubtedly benign, the rootkit would also allow virus writers access to your PC.

Worse, Sony is unrepentant: they see nothing wrong in controlling your PC, and leaving it open to attack.

If they'll do that to your PC just for playing a CD, what would they do if they actually built your PC? No thanks, not in my house.

The industry will take whatever steps it needs to protect itself and protect its revenue streams...It will not lose that revenue stream, no matter what...We will develop technology that transcends the individual user. We will firewall Napster ...We will firewall it at your PC

[Archangel]

Not a Sony comment, but I've had a Lenovo Thinkpad for a few years and it is solid as a rock, never had a single problem, and its been dropped quite a few times (off the arm of the chair onto carpeted floor), kicked over many times, tripped over a couple of times and not skipped a beat.

Oh, and it was probably half the price of a Vaio.

[Gonzo]

Anyone have one?

What have your experiences been like?

Are they well built? Reliable?

Thinking of pushing the boat out and getting one before the end of the month.

Currently got my eye on a Z Series.

I have been using a Vaio VGN-BX series model since January 2007.

It is sturdy and solid and I have had no reliability issues - famous last words - you will now notice that I don't post for a few days.

I use it as my main computer but other than spending a lot of time switched on I don't hammer it with applications that do a load of processing.

It is just used for web surfing, email, MS Office applications. Bluetooth was built-in which was handy because I use a Bluetooth mouse.

[denver2k]

I bought VAIO VGN-S3VP (13'') about 4 years ago (April 2005 to be precise).It was bloody expnsive for someone who just started a graduate job. I was VAIO freak at that time and just wanted to have one. At that time, it was kinda status symbol. My PM said he cant justify buying such an expensive laptop being a family man.

Anyways, its OK, but i found support and parts are quite expensive. I have got a problem in fan ( its making too much noise and getting heat up). Fixing it, would cost me too much, considering the fact that its already lived it life.

If you have high usage i.e. some sort of heavy development,designing e.t.c (not only internet/email and office stuff), then you can also consider Dell. I cant remember model, but there is one where you can customize everything and thats really handy.

[stingman123]

Had @4 Sony's....never had a problem with any of them. Gave them all a good workout as well as i was on the road at the time. i'd get another no problem.

[cojak]

Vaio for sale

I have a mate who's looking at selling his 2 month old Vaio (he got a Mac Book Pro instead).

Not sure what the model is - I'll ask him and let you know.

[pmeswani]

Me too, SVGA, S-Video, Optical Audio, HDMI, Blue Ray, Firewire, USB, WiFi, Modem, Fast Ethernet. The only bugbear is that it doesn't have internal Blue-tooth.

Easily resolved with a USB adapter.

Yep. I almost went for a Toshiba, just for the extra feature of the blutooth. The only other difference was that the Tosh had the HDD-Player and not Blu-Ray. I'm glad I didn't go for the Tosh in the end.

[Churchill]

Exact same model I have. It will last me a few more years.

Me too, SVGA, S-Video, Optical Audio, HDMI, Blue Ray, Firewire, USB, WiFi, Modem, Fast Ethernet. The only bugbear is that it doesn't have internal Blue-tooth.

Easily resolved with a USB adapter.

[pmeswani]

I've got a VGN-AR51J

Bought it XMas 2007 - I like it.

When it comes to replacing it then I'll buy another Sony.

Exact same model I have. It will last me a few more years.

[pmeswani]

I looked into getting one a while back and there was a distinct lack of outputs on the thing. No HDMI, no SVideo etc etc. So I went for something else instead.

I bought mine in about Nov. / Dec. 2007. The laptop I use has a HDMI port built in.

[NickNick]

I looked into getting one a while back and there was a distinct lack of outputs on the thing. No HDMI, no SVideo etc etc. So I went for something else instead.