2 weeks with the SZ420 VS Dell M1210

Well I have both laptops so I figured I'd give you a user experiance review.

I'll start with the Dell

The xps1210 is my work machine (yes a great work machine but it fit the bill)

Pro's
-4 USB slots (amazing no need for external usb hubs)
-Onboard CD/DVD!!!!!! PIA for ultralights with out onboard CD/DVD
-7400 GO clocked fast 450/900 OC's to an amazing 550/1050
-the media buttons which have a plugin for winamp HUGE HUGE plus.
-Custom Fan control tools
-Easy driver support for vista and XP
-Great WIFI reception becase antenna is in the monitor.
-Extra port for another set of earphones
-Dell media (which plays dvd's in a linux based OS for simple management and powersavings)
-Good battery life 3-4 HR
-WiFi switch on the side for eazy on/off
-Quite CPU/Video fan.
-SD reader reads almost all memory types out there.
-Speakers are on monitor bezel and face you!! Actually work good too

Con's
-plastic parts of Bezel are cheap and flimsy
-will overheat on long sessions of bf2142 if not elevated at STOCK GPU temps
-Battery doesn't seem to last as long as it did (less then a year old!)

On to the vaio

I purchased the vaio to replace my Emachines M6708. Can't say I miss that laptop at all

Pro's
-Easy on the eyes
-13.3" screen is very bright but has poor up and down visablity (standing above or below)
-Keyboard feels so solid and is easy to type very fast
-Biometric reader is actually VERY handy and saves so much time logging in.
-Bulit in camera and mic work very well and clear at normal distances
-Speed and stamina mode is awesome for battery, however, I find that battery life on a whole is poor bearly over 2 hr in stmina mode.
-WiFi hard switch very useful (needs a funtion key to disable bluetooth though)
-Fast performance for it's class 14000 marks in 3dmark2001 on XP.
-very light and easy to carry
-Speakers are super loud and are really clear
-Dell system utilities are well though out and work well

Con's
-headphone ports should be placed on the front of the notebook
-not enough USB ports (2)
-Mousepad really sucks (please sony drop the alps crap)
-Vista... Enough said it's crap for gaming.
-VERY POOR support to downgrade to XP
-Mouse pad doesn't disable when another mouse is attached via usb.
-SD reader only reads sony cards
-CPU or Video fan is super loud and doesn't cycle on and off just stay on when power is connected.
-Locked sony drivers

All in all if I dind't have the Dell I would probably say the sony is the best laptop I've ever owned. However, due to the dell haveing the extra ports, and having everything well though out for all the connectors I must say it takes the win and I'd buy another dell over the SZ for functionallity. However, if I was going for looks the Sony would win hands down.

 

You should PM Andrew about reviewing your laptop. They actually pay you for the reviews. I just finished one and payment is on the way, plus it looks like you kind of started already.

 

You can disable it via the VAIO ControlCenter.
I am not quiet sure, but I think there is an option to disable the TP when a usb-mouse gets connected.

Not true,
I use some crappy and cheap cards, and they all work!

Ever checked the VAIO Energy Menue thingie?
The fan adjusts the speed also when the SZ is plugged in.
At least my does so

Most of the US-drivers are, I agree.
But ever tried the european drivers? They are not locked.

I had the choice between those to laptops too,
I took the SSZ, because the Dell 1210 looks like a little fat girl
The SZ looks more like a College cheerleader. Hell, I love college cheeleader girls

 

I do not agree. I like them being on the side there. It's a subject of taste really.

No problems yet, but I agree to some part. The Synaptic ones are really good, compared.

I've upgraded to vista and installed custom nvidia drivers (found somewhere on the forum). Drivers work very well. I think I get 3.9 in performance index.

Not true. Could be a driver thing maybe? I use crap noname SD cards and it works just fine.

Mine cycles up and down like crazy depending on usage. You really should look into the power management settings.

Some of them are, yes, but I use original manufacturer drivers for a few parts of it. Cam/chipset/wlan/gfx on the top of my head.



I just love the SZ, but, the annoying thing is my clicking noise from the Fujitsu HDD. Seems to be a common issue and I'm gonna try with firmware upgrade tonight.