Cannot decide between SZ670, 680 and 691n/x

I'm considering getting a SZ notebook and the main thing stopping me from getting the 691n/x is the 4200rpm hdd. Is it that much a difference from 7200rpm drives? Should I get the SZ670 instead which has the hybrid or do a CTO 680 and get the 7200rpm 200gb drive. I don't really need the disk space. Just don't want file copying/program installing/bootup to be too slow...

How slow exactly is 4200rpm compared to the hybrid 5400rpm and 7200rpm drives?

I really like the CF weave of the SZ691n/x and have a really good offer for it

 

You could always replace the hard drive. The carbon fiber, not as easily.

 

that would void the warranty wouldn't it

 

Most notebook manufactures will allow their consumer to upgrade stuff like ram and harddrive without voiding the warranty. But if I remember correctly getting to the harddrive in a Sony SZ series is no easy task. The harddrive speed difference from 4200 rpm to 7200 rpm is really noticeable for me, but thats just me. If you don't mind me asking, what kind of deal are you getting on the SZ notebooks you are looking at? I am also in the market for a SZ or TZ/TX.

 

$300 off the campus sale and another $100 dollar off.

 

You should buy a Hitachi Travelstar 7K200 (100/160/200GB) yourself and put it in the SZ of your choice.

The speed difference with other drives is shocking: http://storagereview.com/HTS722020K9A00.sr?page=0,2

Some people seem to think, oh I will just get any 7200RPM disk and it will be fine. That is not so. Some 5400RPM disks outperform certain 7200RPM ones.

 

I simply went with sz680N03 coz of my budget being less than 2 grands. 691 looks cool but yeah 4200rpm could be little low.. my current 40gb 5200rpm on acer runs too slow for me.

 

I don't think I have the technical skills to do hdd swap? wouldn't want to take my brand new notebook apart and not be able to put it back together again...

Anyone willing to do it for me ? lol I'm in socal

 

http://laptopsinc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=SSZ

 

I'm trying to take advantage of the discounts sony is offering so I don't htink buying from portable one is a choice.. Do they do only HDD swaps?

 

What is your total for the laptop you are looking at? Try searching the net for a better deal?

 

Portable One have put in an extra 2GB RAM and the Hitachi 7200 200GB HDD in the SZ691 for me and provide a warranty for them. I could have done this myself as I always update my Dell laptops, HDD's, Ram etc as it is cheaper but Sony are a bit strict on what can be done and not affect the warranty.

 

I am not 100% sure what all is allowed with regards to warrenty voiding. I just purchased an SZ680 CTO and asked the salesman if installing RAM myself was allowed without voiding the warrenty, and he said, minor upgrades are allowed, but usually extensive or difficult upgrades would void the warrenty. When I saw the tutorial on replacing hard drives in the Sony SZ series, I was shocked at how much you have to take notebook apart. So I felt that the hard drive replacement might go over the warrenty, so I opted to go with the 200 gb 7200RPM. Anyways if you get the SZ691 you could always take it to a sony service center and have them install a new hard drive for you (such like what portable one does, except they retail also).

 

so would p1 do the upgrades even if you did not buy the notebook from them?

 

I bought through Sony Style and they said this isn't possible. You can either do the free 3yr warranty or you can get the $100 off. Also, for the campus program they said the laptop has to be over $2k or the warranty is only $200 off, not free.

If you do manage to get both discounts please let me know so I can call up my sales rep and yell at him.

I'm also trading in a practically useless P3 laptop for $183 off. I think that is a pretty good promotion to save some cash. I did the Sony card too, but that is $50 less now than it was labor day weekend.

 

You guys thinks its worth getting the sz691n/x for now? if I can't stand the slow drive I could always send it to Portableone to be upgraded right?

 

I would not buy a $2000 dollar laptop with a 4200RPM drive.

I ordered a SZ680 with a 5400RPM drive. I will propably upgrade to a Hitcahi 7K200 7200RPM drive in a couple of weeks.

Bytheway according to Tom's hardware Hybrid drives are not worthwhile yet.

Why do you want the SZ691?

 

I ordered (and finally got a shipping notice) a sz691 from P1. Dollar for dollar, if you are not making any upgrades, it's not really worth the ~$400 for premium carbon fiber casing with slower spinning hdd.

I upgraded the hdd and ram through P1 and decided to go with the sz691 since i don't usually turnover laptops too often and splurged since I'll have it for awhile.

 

I really like the premium CF casing and since sony's having a deal for the notebook right now, I thought that I'd take advantage of it.

a little off topic but if i want to send my notebook to P1 to get it upgraded how do i package it?

 

I am thinking about buying the SZ680N03 INTEL CORE 2 DUO 2GHz/2GB/160GB/DVDRW/13.3/WINDOWS VISTA BUSINESS w/ 1 year warranty. Total is $1779.95 with free shipping. I am also thinking about buying the SZ650 from Universitycomputers.com for 1999.99 w/ 3 years warranty. Anyone have experience buying from Universitycomputers.com?

 

I do not know if P1 does the notebook services after the notebook has been purchased, so I cannot answer that question. They are however an authorized notebook service by Sony. Meaning they can install hardware and software for you without voiding warrenty. There are retail stores all around that are authorized by Sony for upgrades such as the hard drive. You may even want to see if you have a Sony Store in your city. You can go to the Sonystyle site and find the locations from there. You could also contact sony customer service to find the closest or best authorized service center near you.

 

I agree; paying $400 more ( www.sonystyle.com) for the SZ691 over the SZ670 is more like a downgrade. Because all the 691 has over the 670 is the premium carbon casing rather than the carbon casing. The 670 has the 160 GB 5400 RPM hybrid drive, whearas the 691 has a 200 GB 4200 RPM (NON) hybrid drive. In my opinion, go with the 670 as I did, or 680 CTO. It would have been nice for the hybrid drive to have more than 256 MB onboard but we can't have everything we want in life, can we

 

Just get the SZ680 or SZ650 IMO, those are the two I am looking at. With the extra $400 dollar you can get a bag for the notebook, external 500gb HDD, and a ipod or zune.

 

I just received my sz691 yesterday from P1. It is beautiful but as Ivan from P1 told me when I was ordering, it's not really worth the $400 premium. I haven't seen the regular carbon cases but I thought the weave on the premium would be more noticeable. It all depends on the lighting, otherwise, it's not that noticeable.

Don;t get me wrong, it's still beautiful.

Unfortunately, my ISP was down and had issues with my current hardware so I couldn't put the attention I wanted to my new machine.