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    CTO vs. Non-CTO

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by Prince_Phoenix, Sep 30, 2008.

  1. Prince_Phoenix

    Prince_Phoenix Notebook Consultant NBR Reviewer

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    Is Non-CTO better quality than the CTO?

    I'm having to buy one in the US without the warranty.
     
    Prince_Phoenix, Sep 30, 2008
    #1
  2. thebigpants27

    thebigpants27 Notebook Evangelist

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    This is a "dead horse" question. No, pre-built and CTO are virtually identical, there is NO EVIDENCE anywhere on this forum otherwise, just pure speculation that no one has ever proved. I have a CTO and many others do, in fact CTO is a better deal, because you can choose what you want. The CTO's are built in the USA with foreign parts, the pre-configs are built in china(or Japan...depending) with foreign parts.
     
    thebigpants27, Sep 30, 2008
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  3. sonoritygenius

    sonoritygenius Goddess of Laptops

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    They ALL have foreign parts anyway..

    I agree, there's NO factual evidence on which one is BETTER.

    CTO offers full control of what you want in a laptop for your usage and needs, there's warranty to cover build-parts-etc issues..

    Why buy a laptop without warranty (Do'h)
     
    sonoritygenius, Sep 30, 2008
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  4. thebigpants27

    thebigpants27 Notebook Evangelist

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    In regards to warranty, i HIGHLY recommend either going all out and getting a warranty with accidental damage protection and/or signing up for any(including the blue/bank of america or any other free) American Express, because they offer a pretty much "no questions asked" one extra year free warranty on all purchases. So if you buy with amex, you get 2 years instantly. If you buy with accidental damage and an amex, you get 3 years, etc. you get the point...
     
    thebigpants27, Sep 30, 2008
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  5. aerodrome

    aerodrome Notebook Consultant

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    because they ALL come with a one year warranty
    because you can purchase warranties later
    because it is like buying a lottery ticket, odds are you will never cash it in
    because in 4 years you will be better off putting that $300 towards a new model
     
    aerodrome, Sep 30, 2008
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  6. aerodrome

    aerodrome Notebook Consultant

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    there is no price guarantee for CTO models. If you order one and the price drops $150 the next day, you are SOL and just over spent.
     
    aerodrome, Sep 30, 2008
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  7. Sir Punk

    Sir Punk Notebook Deity

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    what does it mean CTO? google just made it more confusing.

    so if I buy with Am Ex I get an extra year of warranty?
     
    Sir Punk, Sep 30, 2008
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  8. Prince_Phoenix

    Prince_Phoenix Notebook Consultant NBR Reviewer

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    So... no warranty on the Sony Z is a bad idea?
     
    Prince_Phoenix, Sep 30, 2008
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  9. MegaMan X

    MegaMan X Notebook Evangelist

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    CTO = Customized To Order..
     
    MegaMan X, Sep 30, 2008
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  10. Sir Punk

    Sir Punk Notebook Deity

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    how can you possibly buy a Z with no warranty? even if it's an used one you can always transfer the warranty.
     
    Sir Punk, Sep 30, 2008
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  11. Prince_Phoenix

    Prince_Phoenix Notebook Consultant NBR Reviewer

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    Oh. If I'm buying in the US. US warranty doesn't apply internationally.
     
    Prince_Phoenix, Sep 30, 2008
    #11
  12. thebigpants27

    thebigpants27 Notebook Evangelist

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    No, it does, BUT you have to ship it back to the US to be serviced as a result. The same is true if a US customer bought a euro model or a model from japan...
     
    thebigpants27, Sep 30, 2008
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  13. Sir Punk

    Sir Punk Notebook Deity

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    it depends, Asus offers international warranty for example.
     
    Sir Punk, Oct 1, 2008
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  14. thebigpants27

    thebigpants27 Notebook Evangelist

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    as far as i know, sony does not offer such warranties.
     
    thebigpants27, Oct 1, 2008
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  15. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    CTO: Configure- To- Order

    Retail (Non-CTO) Notebooks normally come pre-built direct from the ODM, whereas CTOs --> the manufacturer gets a barebone from the ODM, and customizes the GPU, CPU, HDD etc etc as per the User's/Buyer's needs.

    An ODM generally has better staff/technology in many ways, as their primary goal is to build, whereas manufacturers such as Dell, HP, Sony, Acer, etc concentrate more on marketing and other stuff. But it doesn't mean that you would get crap if you buy a CTO. It'll be assembled by the manufacturer to meet the same standard and quality as the Non-CTO notebooks (maybe these are called Made-To-Stock).

    NBR Choking ?! [​IMG]
    .
    .
     
    Andy, Oct 1, 2008
    #15