Should I buy the Thinkpad X220 or the Sony VPCZ2190X ?

The cost is not a concern since I do know that the Sony Z series are pretty expensive. I have the funding to buy either.

I have searched various models of laptop and it comes down the the X220 and the Sony VPCZ2190X.

I am most concern with weight, quietness, and good display. If I get the X220, I would definitely get the IPS display.

So if cost is not a concern, which laptop would you get? The Sony Z mondel also has its flaws or I would already pick it already.

If you think that I should not get either of them, please suggest another light, quiet, excellent display laptop. I may have missed another good laptop model.

 

I've been a long term user of VAIO laptops, since V505, then SZ4, Z690 and VPC-X1.

I don't like to buy more VAIO laptops, because non of these were durable - every time I spent £2000 on a VAIO, but every time there was something wrong right out of warranty. I'm tired of this.

Meanwhile I had a ThinkPad T60 and it's been running without a single glitch since 2007. It even survived through an accidental spill of milk, and an accidental drop.

Thus this time I've sided with an X220 instead of a VPC-Z2.

If you have money to burn, then you should get something like Crucial M4 512GB SSD.

Regarding your concerns:

VPC-Z2 will be lighter, but with significantly less battery life.

No idea bout noise, but I have never used a single VAIO flagship that was quiet before. The X220 is very quiet, and the most amazing part is that it can manage to keep the keyboard from getting hot, which all the VAIO flagships failed.

VAIO flagship displays proved to be sharp and it's one of the advantages. I can't say the IPS of X220 to be very good, but it just does the job - much better than all the previous crap displays used by ThinkPads.

 

I vote for the X220 for a number of reasons. I just don't like paying that much for a laptop though I can afford it. They take such a hit in value once you open the box. I'd assume you're going for the Sony for the HD+ or FHD. While some do like those displays, I'd say for most people the pixel density is too high. Based on past experience, I'd say the X220 is likely to be better built and offer better support. The IPS panel is better. The keyboard is better. The Sony isn't bad by any means and if you really want the HD+ or FHD, it's one of the few around that can offer it to you. If you really want WXGA+ and are just doing the basics, I'd say the MacBook Air is worth a look.

 

If you don't have a desktop computer to play games then you might want to go for the VAIO VPC-Z2. Also, the only big flaw of the X220 is the touchpad - it's the worst touchpad I've ever used.

 

I take it you've never used the Acer One?

 

Given how horrid Sony is to fix and how expensive it can be (not just initial cost), and how plasticity and non-durable they are, the only reason to buy is to get the high resolution in a 13.1" laptop, and personally I'd never drop 4 grand into a laptop.

x220 offers better price to performance ratio, has better build quality, ThinkPad durability, IPS display. Cons are just the "HD" resolution on a 12.5", the throttling issue (fixed with a 90 watt adapter).

 

I guess most people whom drives a Merc probably would not have any idea how a Lada drives. As such most people whom buys a 1000 dollars plus laptop would even consider a $200 Acer netbook for use or test drive.

 

I was in the same position. I've had a Z (VGN-Z11) for the past 3 years and was waiting for the new one in order to upgrade, but then it wasn't quite what I expected. For me the dock system was too over-designed, too proprietary, and that's the side of the Sonys which I think does them no favours.

In the end though it was Sony's choice of HDMI+VGA on both the chassis and the dock which killed it, as it limits external (digital) displays to 1920x1200. Even though both graphics cards can go higher over DVI or DP. I was running 1920x1200 anyway, but was keen to go up to 2560x1440/1600 for more working space. Turns out the maxed out x220 and a Dell U2711 could be had for the same cost as the Z.

Initial reports seem to suggest the new Z is hot and/or has noticeably loud fan noise. FWIW the x220 is a lot quieter than my last Z.

Re display, the Z 1600x900 is very, very good. But not perfect. It is edge lit and the backlighting is very noticeable, and vertical viewing angle is not great. Moving to the x220 IPS I realised I didn't have to constantly tweak the angle of the lid to get the best view. But the Z screen is very good, and the colours are very rich. The x220 IPS display is nice and I've not had any issues with it. I haven't noticed the reduced work space as much as I thought I would, although TBH I'm 10% mobile and 90% docked (Ultrabase - great).

The x220 also allows you to put in your own choice of SSD and RAM, and my system benchmarks and has WEI higher than those reported in reviews for the new Z, although they're close.

I don't think there's anything else out there to consider. There are a couple of HPs but they're 1.7kg.

I'm sure both are excellent machines, but I'm very happy with the x220. It doesn't look nearly as sleek and as 'designed' as the Sony, but having had one for the last three years, I'm very comfortable moving over to something which just works and is also seemingly easy to support and maintain. The x220 feels much better built, well it feels more simply built, and with a certain robustness that comes from that.

Sony BIOS and driver support also proved to be somewhat lacking when I had it. You bought a laptop with Vista? Then don't expect us to provide you with anything other than Vista drivers in the future. Win7 x64? BIOS hacks needed for it to allow the model-specific drivers to install (as Sony change the models every three months). Not loads of fun.

Hope this helps,

S

 

You guys are great. Reading your posts give me a lot of insights and I will buy the X220.

Now, I don't know if I should get the i7 or just the highest level i5. Some reports that the i7 drains battery that is out of proportion to its level of advancement and that it is not much more powerful than the top level i5.

What is your suggestion? i7 or i5 ?

By the way, I just found out that the x220 has a 15% off sale until today. It doesn't hurt to save a little cash so I have to make the decision today.

 

I vote the X220 as well, as for CPU, it does not seem like there is much difference between the i7 or the faster i5 in most applications.

DO get the IPS screen and the 9 cell battery, but if you want get a 6 cell for backup or lightening the unit when you only need it for 4 or 5 hours and not 9 or 10

 

if you need the usb 3.0 get the i7, but i5 will give you more battery time. I would choose the i5 personally. (which is what i ordered).

 

I say unless you're pushing the CPU, get the i3.

 

I would either get the i3 or the i7 (i7 for USB 3.0). You won't get longer battery life with i5 than with i7 (run LinX on i5 and you still get less than 2 hours battery life with an i5).

 

ZaZ makes a good point but I would opt for the i5 just for Turbo Boost. Intel completely reworked Turbo Boost for Sandy Bridge, a lot more potent. And for single threaded use, an i5 would beat an i3 as non used cores would be downclocked and cores would be overclocked. And like any other x series laptops, there is no upgrading (CPU is BGA soldered)

 

I'm sort of in the same boat, though probably not going to hit the buy switch till after Windows 8. I have a x40 from 6 years ago that is still going strong (after a fresh install every year or so) and a VPCZ1. As much as I love the Vaio I'm still thinking about going back to the thinkpad x series. I feel it is much more durable and 'built to last' as opposed to the Vaio which is a thing of beauty.

It would be nice if the x2-- series would offer a backlit keyboard one day though I doubt that would happen.

While I don't doubt any of the responses so far, I wonder what kind of responses you will get if you pose this question in the Sony sub form!

 

I just sold my vaio Z-13 and ordered a thinkpad. Having the Z for about 10 months, I was severly disappointed in the quality given the $2k price tag. Not to mention battery life was subpar. Add in the difficulty in changing out the SSD drives, the decision was an easy one for me!

 

Another vote for the X220 here. I had an older Z for about a month before I returned it. It was too loud, too flimsy, and too expensive. I would venture to guess the new one falls into these categories as well.

Just by comparing the older Z to the X220 the only things I liked better about the Z were its dedicated graphics and the looks. I didn't even like the higher resolution screen. IMO the res on the X220 is perfect, 1600 x 900 is too high for me in anything smaller than 14". The X220 is a great weight because it is light but it feels very solid. I seriously felt like the Z was going to just break on me at any moment. When I dropped it off at UPS to return it -- I was actually relieved because I just felt like something bad was going to happen and I would be out $1800. That's just too expensive for a laptop. I wouldn't buy the new Z over the X220 even if it was $1000 cheaper than it is. Seriously.

I'd say spend ~$800 on the X220 and go nuts on other stuff. Grab a nice monitor, extended warranty, put in an msata SSD or standard SSD or both lol. Make a eGPU setup. Get a docking station.. you get the idea. Or get all of the above and still have saved money over the new Z! It's a total no-brainer to me.

 

I was faced with a similar decision. You know what killed my choice of a Sony? The horribly loud keyboard and touchpad buttons! Damn things were way too loud. I kid you not. Then there's the issues with lack of durability. Sure, the Z-series are lightweight, but they just do not hold up under normal use. I've had other equipment in use for 5 years or more and barely have it look used at all (save for the usual shiny keycap wear). But the Sony stuff tends to start showing a lot of wear within 2-3 years. Palmrests and case edges especially. They're just not made to last.. at all.

 

Thanks for all your inputs.

I just order the X220 today with the following specs:

I7-2620M PROC USB3.0
GENUWIN7PROFES.64
GEN WIN7 PRF64 ENGLISH
12.5PRMHDLDBCLTDPYMBBBRDAN
4GBPC3-10600DDR3 1333SODMM
KEYBOARDUS ENGLISH
FINGERPRINT READER
CAMERA, HD 720P
320GB HRDDSK DRV,7200RPM
NO MSSDRIVE
TP BATTERY 29++(9CELL)
CPK NORTH AMERICA
BLUETOOTH 3.0
IC ADVN 6205 2X2AGN
INT WRLSSWDAREANTWRK UPGR
LANGUAGE PACK US ENGLISH

The total price BEFORE taxes is $1,112.65

This is with the 15% off discount e-coupon code.

I thought that I got a good deal until I read some of the forums here and found that people have been paying only $900-$1,000 for similar specs.
How did you guys get such a better deal?

 

They have had doorbuster sales for i7 units for relatively cheap. Or go through one of the special sites, visa cardholders, barnes and noble, etc. I just priced out that config at the barnes and noble lenovo site for $1039 before taxes. You just have to sign up; try this link:

http://shoplenovo.i2.com/SEUILibrar...-category-id=20E990072AB74EA5EA87218BF129CC11

If you wait a bit there may be another i7 doorbuster sale soon. Or just use that one and save a bit more =)

 

I would suggest sticking with 6 cell to keep the weight to 1.5kg - the comparison is with a Z and it won't feel like a comparison with the 9 cell in there. IIRC it's around 1.7kg with the 9 cell and 1.3kg with the four cell.

Never had a backlit KB before but I'm finding the ThinkLight to be something of a revelation. I like the way it gives you a small pool of light, so if I'm reading or referring to a printed document at the same time it's wonderful.

It would be very different!

But there's a surprising amount of Vaio to ThinkPad above, and on the Sony side I don't remember there being m/any people who've given up on ThinkPad to move to or go back to Vaio.

I reckon post it verbatim and see what the response is.

S

 

Can add USB 3.0 via a US$14-shipped expresscard. It will be *almost* the same as the i7 X220's USB 3.0. It uses the same NEC USB 3.0 chip but will be slower speed (2.5GT/s versus 5.0GT/s), and won't be bootable. For USB 3.0 external storage it will do a more than adequate job.

I'd vote for the X220 over the Z2. It has ready-to-go eGPU solutions via the expresscard slot, has higher capacity batteries, is more durable and costs substantially less.