Build Qaulity of FE SERIES

HI
i am a university student of uk and i want a laptop that can do some gaming also can take load of routine university work loads for that i want a lapotp with good graphics card plus decent build quality so i check this model

http://www.dabs.com/ProductView.asp...05,4294955430,46030000&InMerch=1&v=2#infoarea

seems to be quite a good deal i just curious about the build quality of this machine as i am very bag fan of thinkpads and my last 2 laptops are thinkpads but this time i want to change it. i want to to know that is this laptop is sturdy enough to stay 1 and half years of university life. also what about sony support i heard very bad about that is this company provide Installation dvds/cds of drivers and windows with it for clean install or we can purchase those dvds separtely thanks for yours help

 

The build quality obviously will not be as good as a Thinkpads but I have tried them out at stores and they are built okay, if you take good care of it, it should last you.

I haven't tried Sony's support but I keep hearing bad things about it but I've heard a few good stories about them too.

 

Hi mate

I have the FE31H (didn't want to stretch up to the beast you are looking at!) and i am very happy with the build quality, it seems very well built and the Core2Duo processor is a dream!!!

The keyboard feels very sturdy and well built, the screen is awesome, i'm more than happy - I think it will do you well for uni

 

The build quality is EXCELLENT. Way better than DELL, HP, etc....

Thinkpads look ugly...

with the VAIO, you get both quality and STYLE!

So go get your FE!!!!

 

Hear, hear!

 

Someone's in denial...

And, Thinkpads aren't ugly. They are top of the line machines of superior build quality and reliability. They may be a bit bland, but computers are made to be used, not to be paraded around.

With the VAIO, you get an attractive exterior. Interior, it's the same as everything else on the market.

So, go and think about it some more before you dump ~1,500 dollars on some notebook just because you think it looks pretty.

 

Um, you think the same way about your mobile phone too? You should ask the 60 million RAZR users if they agree!

 

I purchased my FE VAIO a week ago, and has now been sold on ebay.

Quite unimpressed with the build quality:

- CD Tray, when closed, can be pushed further in.
- Battery is loose when in the battery bay.
- The plastic finish on the laptop makes it very, very cheap.

Also, installing a fresh copy of Windows = Nightmare.

Other than that, its a fine entertainment laptop specs wise.

 

You can't judge cell phones and computers by the same standard
A VAIO costs thousands of dollars, while cell phones cost next to nothing
when purchased with a service plan.
I happen to own a RAZR, and they are very stylish, well-designed, INEXPENSIVE phones.

 

it does look a little cheap and a much ponderous

 

Maybe for you, but I bought mine on eBay unlocked and that set me back almost $400, but it was worth it cause it looked so kewl!

 

I'd recommend ASUS A8Js.

Here's the good things about the A8Js:
- sleek appearance
- 5.2 lb
- a Geforce 7700go 512MB! (CANT BEAT THAT)
(7600go<X1600<X1700<7700go)
- SATA interface (up to 100GB 7200rpm)
- 14.1" LCD w/ 1400x900 resolution. 220cd/m2 lcd vs FE's 200cd/m2 brightness (also reflective coating)
- no-flex keyboard
- DVI port
- Webcam + mic
- Core 2 Duo T7200 (configured up to T7600)
- comes w/ 667 mhz ddr2 ram
and more...

the 7600go is actually underclocked, which slows performance even more.

Btw, IBMs (Lenovos) are top of the line. Nothing really gets close to it. I don't even think the Vaio FE has that great of a style to throw $$$ on it. IBM thinkpads are NOT ugly. If the business black is disturbing, get one with the titanium cover.

 

The vaio is very nicely built..Its very solid. Im sure its not upto the par with business class Lenovas , but Laptops are like nice cars! You want to have it look good and last you long time! Buy a VAIO!

 

I actually heard the FE's lid is solid because it's made out of magnesium, but everywhere else is made out of plastic, especially the palm rest/ keyboard area.

no offense, but one of the reviews said the plastic parts feel like plastic coke bottles, and it's probably the worst plastic quality any company has ever used.

 

Yeah, the lid is some sort of metal, and looks really nice.

But I think the plastic is actually some of the best quality plastic i've felt on a laptop. Certainly better than what dell uses on theirs. And sony is usually pretty good with the little details, like the cd-rom light (on the button of the drive, looks pretty cool), the power plug, which is mounted on soft plastic so it will not break if yanked, and the expresscard slot button, which retracts into place.

 

Dell just doesnt use cheap plastic but over the weekend, my gf snapped her lcd lock down clips, which are metal the ones on the lcd panel! lmao i was laughing my ass off and reminding her the day i told her not to buy a DELL!!! But she insisted that her dad thinks its a good laptop lol...so funny!

 

well, its not the place to discuss Dell laptops...

i have got FE790 last week.... and its among the best i have ever seen.
lid is made of magnesium and inside is very high quality plastic. the one calling it cheap plastic is himself cheap...

anyone wanna ask anything about this laptop, PM me or ask here... i'd like to help anyone out

 

I've only seen FE's on display, but have always loved the way they looked and felt. A bit on the big side for my tastes, but very nice, none-the-less.

..and yes, I couldn't agree more about the value of style. And that RAZRs/VAIO comparison is entierly valid.

 

the build quality of fe is awesome....as earlier mentioned the combination of magnesium and (the most sturdy and sleek) platic is used in order to provide maximum portability in its class of laptops.....i was just amazed to see how significantly lighter my Fe38gp felt as compared to other 15.4" notebooks (2.8kg!!)....and on top of that it felt so slick and sturdy..thats an awesome combination

 

I liked it, it is plastic, but it has nothing to do with build quality. I havent had one problem with it falling apart or anything. The screen and keyboard is nice, I just think it's kinda big to not have extra features and stuff. But it is probably the best laptop aside from the AR series.

 

the "cool" led lights on my old sony dvd drive was cool while it lasted, except the whole drive quit working after 2 months on my laptop. I got the drive replaced w/ a philips. Though w/o the "cool lights," it turns out to be more quiet, more stable, stronger build for the tray itself, and there's very little "play" on the tray now. So here's what sony can learn: if you can't get the big details right, don't even bother with the little things.
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http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2800
That's the review that stated the poor-quality plastic due to budget costs. So there you have it.

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I'm not here to argue anything about the build quality, but to just make everyone aware of the review posted. everyone has different standards anyways. of course, coming from a thinkpad, you'll probably think differently. and FYI, if you are referring to me, I am in fact not cheap. I actually have BOTH comps next to me SIDE BY SIDE. I am telling you my experience, and what I read on a review. You cannot justify calling me "cheap."

And from my experience, I've had a FE690 side-by-side w/ a Dell E1505. The plastic used for the E1505 feels sturdier than the one in FE690 (as in palm rest area and the lcd bezel holding the screen together). The FE690 has a harder surface for the lid, due to magnesium alloy.

Dell probably made cheap-quality laptops in the past, but the E1505 I compared w/ the FE690 had better plastic material. It's less prone to fingerprints and dirt from its metallic surface, as opposed to white on the FE. Maybe I got a better E1505, who knows.

 

i'm also v. interested in the new FE series.
checked on sony central, and they felt smooth and elegant, however i doubt that a drop won't leave a mark on them
and they feel rugged too. only thing is i prefer ibm keyboard feel.