Dilemma - Dell Inspiron 1520 or Sony Vaio FZ!

Greetings,

I am pretty sure I will run into some biased opinions in this forum, but I would really appreciate any advice given as to my following choices.

I have already ordered the Inspiron 1520: Midnight Blue, Duo 2.0 ghz, 2 gb ram, 8600 GT (DDR2), and 160 gb HD - All for around $1200.

After hearing a lot of issues with the inspiron (Grainy display, headphones) and deciding the Inspiron is not the best looking laptop out there (Bulky/big) I have decided to take a look at the Vaio FZ.

I would be ordering the Vaao FZ: Silver-black, Duo 2.0 ghz, 2gb ram, 8400 gt, and 200 gb HD - All for around $1600.

A few questions I have regarding the FZ:

I will be using this laptop for school (Carrying it around a lot); So how portable is it?

The biggest sacrifice (Not including the $400 extra) with changing my laptop would be with the graphics card...Can this FZ run Oblivion / Medieval 2 total war pretty well? Will this run AutoCAD well?

I believe this laptop comes with a 1 year warrenty; is this true?

Will this laptop last me 4-5 years?

I am a long time Sony fan because of their durability and sleek design. Would it be in my best interest to switch to the Sony FZ?

Thank you all.

 

i have the same issue... the fz is way nice looking and probably lighter/sleeker/sexier and more well built...better screen, no headphone issues, ect...

yet...as you mentioned, it comes with a +400 dollars but the harddrive is not 7200, no Express audio card, no 8600 GT...which you could get in a dell and still cost you the same for the sony...

hard choice... does sony have coupon codes?

 

The FZ is thinner and lighter, but the 1520 will likely be cheaper, has better graphics, and high resolution screen options. When was the last time you saw a Sony equipt with WSXGA+? It all depends on where your priorities are with what you want in your laptop. The 1520 is also probably better built than the FZ with a better keyboard. If you are dead set on the FZ, tell me so because this thread then belongs in the Sony forum.

 

There's a pretty good review of the FZ here: VAIO FZ Review

And that site has pictures of the i1520 w/ the FZ here

 

I always thought Sony had better "quality" then Dell did, but that's from ignorance not actual experience. I really just want to be able to play Oblivion / Medieval 2: Total War and use AutoCad well...significantly better then my desktop anyways (nvidia 512 mb 7600 gs, 3.0 ghz, and 1 gb ram). I will be using the laptop for student work (Note taking) nothing very cpu intensive. Hopefully the ideal laptop will last me a while. Style matters a bit as well...I don't really want to carry around the incredible hulk. Would the Dell XPS M1330 be a more viable option? Is it true that it's very backordered?

Thanks again.

 

Bottom line.. what's the point of a WSXGA+ that looks grainy? Go with the non-grainy, usable headphone options.