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    Should I Buy Y5 instead of W5?

    Discussion in 'Panasonic' started by skagen, Dec 9, 2006.

  1. skagen

    skagen Notebook Deity

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    I have a Panasonic W5 right now, for the past 3-4 months, and it is pretty good. Great low weight and long battery life.

    My only problems with it are that I'd like
    1) firewire
    2) real page up/doen keys
    3) more usable screen space.

    The first two are really nit-picks and not a big deal. I can - and have - gotten over them. But the third one is more of an issue. Right now I can really only get one window up and sizebars are not much use at this resulolution (12", 1024 x 768).

    I am looking at the Y5 model which has 1400 x 1050, 14" screen and most of the good things about W5 family including fanless CPU, low weight and sturdiness.

    Does anyone have experience of both laptops - and is it working going to the Y5 for screen space, considering it is not a widescren either? Or should I be looking at widescreen laptops?
     
  2. Kiwibru

    Kiwibru Notebook Geek

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    Older versions yes...I had a W2 for several years, then it migrated to my sister.
    I purchased a Y2 and it had lots more to offer. I really like the larger screen and it is still really light. No firewire though.
    If I had it to do all over I would not have bought the W2! Still use the Y2 to this day. Great lappy but a bit conservative internally (but that is Panasonic for you!) You may want to consider the SZ series from Sony. Nice machines, good compromise on screen real estate and Firewire is there!
    Good hunting!
     
  3. skagen

    skagen Notebook Deity

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    I have settled on Y5 now. Just about to sell the W5 and then I will get it.

    Sony - no way for me. I have had bad experiences with them before on many products, including laptop. They sell expensive branded items with very poor support and the laptops in particular do not hold up that well in the long run, unlike your Y2! I cannot be a Sony customer again - ever.
     
  4. Kiwibru

    Kiwibru Notebook Geek

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    Funny you should mention your bad experiences. I have had three now over the last nine years. The first lives on with a subsequent owner, the second was a monster machine with too loud a fan (drove me crazy) sold that, it lives on with a new owner, now a SZ and no issues. I have never had any issues requiring any use of Sony Tech. support. Hope it stays that way. Luck? Reviews before purchase? Some builds are better than others? Who knows...
     
  5. skagen

    skagen Notebook Deity

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    Went with the Y5. Order has bene put in and waiting for it to be fulfilled.