Deal Breaker: VGN-SZ730E/C, is the keyboard too loud on the SZ series?

So I'm planning on buying the Sony VAIO VGN-SZ730E/C.

The only thing holding me back is the keyboard. I heard its pretty loud and it can sometimes bother fellow employees. How bad is it? I plan on using this laptop for conferences and for school. If I'm sitting in a lecture, will the keyboard bother everybody?

The only reason I'm not getting the SR series is because the casing seems kind of cheap, unless there is a carbon fiber version out there.

 

I dont know what to say, SZ has been one of the really successful series of the Sony .. I think it is so good that you need to find out flaws and then you come up with the noise of the keyboard .. I have ordered my SZ and in a few days I can tell you how noisy the keyboard is.

Truely it is noisier than the SR, I checked out in sonystyle, but I still look the feel of SZ.. and look at SZ's .. the prices hasnt dropped even after the new series are launched..

 

Alright, I think I'm going to order this laptop.

Btw, does anybody have a link for a tutorial on a clean Vista Installation. Maybe it's just me, but I can only find XP install tutorials.

*edit* Or will just uninstalling the programs do just fine. I don't know how big of a performance difference there is between just uninstalling the programs and a fresh start.

 

usually a clean install is the better way to go, however uninstalling + defragging + some registry clean-up etc (e.g tune up utitlities) did the job pretty well for me.

I dont think the keyboard is any louder than a normal one. (i have an SZ4)

 

Well the keyboard is actually loader than other keyboards.

However, I actually find that I like the sound it makes when typing.

I suppose its a preference thing...

(3 Medion laptops in the family, all were quiter when typing, and I don't remember the old Asus, but it might have been quiter as well)

And tiding up is fine as long as you don't require every "inch" of power.

For you average usage it might even bee the better idea, some Medion laptops were slower after a clean instal.

Possibly because there were some manufacturer options built into the system which sped it up a bit.

 

Alright thanks guys! I'll probably order the SZ now. The only thing holding me back is that oo so beautiful Z!

 

I'm surprised people are still interested in paying over $1300 for an SZ, while they can pick up a Montevina based SR for $1299.

Well each to his own I guess.

 

Well my biggest problem I had with the SR was that it felt kind of cheap compared to the SZ. And I really didn't like how it looked but the Sony store didn't have the black color available for the SR either so that might of obscured my judgement.

 

Well the carbon fibre chassis and the switchable graphics are in favor of the SZ.

The display, GPU, CPU, harddrive and keyboard are in favor of the SR.

But if you don't like the look of the SR I understand you. And the SZ is still a nice laptop.

 

Before you order an SZ I'd advise you to try the keyboard out in person at a local store. It's really a matter of preference. Some people love the fact that it's full size. The SZ is beautifully designed but the sub-par quality of the keys detracts from the overall product; they're made of flimsy plastic that's short in depth and tilts on the axis. Another thing to be aware of is that there may be issues with the G86M graphics chipset.

What about the Z? That definitely has style. Plus the specs completely trounce the SZ.

 

well definately iisdev, its always better to look it in person and then decide which one you want.. I am sure .. I would have loved to go with the Z and I too agree with helios26 that I did not like the full look of SR. So I went ahead and ordered the SZ ahead of SR. So Z is the perfect option, but was costing me over $600 more which was getting over my budget... SZ is a testted great machine so if you have the money.. definately go for the Z.

 

yah that's my problem right now.. The Z really is past my budget. That's why I'm debating too buy it in a couple of months so it does fit into my budget.. But the SZ seems like a perfect fit at the same time.

 

that was exactly my problem too.. and I went with SZ.. and my reason was that SZ is tested product and had been loved for some time now.. so you know what you are getting.. Z's have too many new components.. new proc family, new motherboard.. so the first batch can have some problems.. SZ's also had it.. and sony modified the series and we have what the current SZ's are .. I bought 730E/C like 4 days ago from Newegg over the SR and I am happy with my decesion.. I also prefer the full keyboard as I use the extra keys..

 

Each to his own ofcourse but SZ comes with battery drainage problems and possible GPU problems.

I hope the battery drainage is solved in the newer series but I am not sure.

 

Well I can't report a battery drainage on my SZ71VN/X, or if its very low (1-2% per day)
My battery failed after about 2 weeks however...

But then, customer service was friendly, and I inconvenienced myself with travelling 100km to Collogne, but then I got a replacement on the spot.

So I think I was just unlucky with a faulty battery, else I'm very happy with my SZ and wouldn't want anything else.

(And I mainly use the Intel Chipset anyway, I've possibly played 3 games on the NVidia GPU, however within less than 2 weeks they became boring, so I don't use it anymore... so, perfect for me)

Congratulations to you ordering the SZ!

All the best with it and I hope you will enjoy it.

 

So how do I check for battery drainage.. ??

 

Difficult to say - is the suprising answer.

It was said that booting up may use up to 5% of your battery, however I haven't noticed this - I'd go with 1 to 2%...

What was suggested in the forum was that you leave you laptop on battery then plug it into AC and directly boot up. (Or press the power button first then directly plug in the AC supply)
I suppose if you want to be thorough, charge it "fully" (80% or 50% with battery care, or 100% if you must) then switch it of, after it shut down, remove from AC supply, leave for a week, then boot up with the above procedure. If there was battery drainage, there should now be significantly less power left in your batter.

 

ROARA!! This whole 1 inch difference on the Z is driving me insane...

I just want to see it! So I can see how big of a difference it is vs the SZ. I'll worry about paying for it later, but I don't want to worry only to find out that the Z screen is wwaay to small. Any input anyone?

 

If your battery losses 2% per day I would count that as drainage. It's not supposed to be that way. And I find it very starnge that Sony has not come up with a solution.

 

I'd say I lost 1 to 2% for booting.
I don't know if there is any drainage on my battery.

The there is also the fact that nearly all the time the laptop is either conected to the mains or I use it on battery, but I never check whether its used up battery power...

And I use it daily, from morning/mid-day to late evening...