Difference between pre-configured and CTO Sony laptops

I am considering ordering a Sony Vaio CTO laptop but I just wanted to hear from you guys whether this is completely safe. Because with HP I observed that the unit was not as solid as pre-configured ones. May I am wrong I don't know.

So basically have you ever had a bad experience with a CTO laptop, in general, and a Sony CTO laptop, in particular? The problem may be something instantly visible, for instance something related with the build quality, or may be something that might have occurred after using the laptop for a while.

Thank you so much!

 

There's really no reason to expect a problem with Sony CTO. A lot of people tend to make to big of a deal out of things, like assuming because somebody else had a problem with there CTO laptop assuming yours will be defective. Any computer can have a problem, CTO or retail. The main thing is just to get a quality and reliable brand like Sony.

Plus the Sony CTO deals right now are just to good to pass up...

 

All Sony CTO's are made in San Diego.

Made in USA = better quality..because Sony can be in control of the process.

 

So guys which SONY laptop would you prefer? CTO or pre-configured laptop having the very same specs and price?

 

If it's the same specs and price, what's the point of getting a custom? Configured-To-Order is meant to be just that--the option to pick your specs.

So to answer your question, if the specs are exactly like I want and the price is the same, of course I would get the preconfigured. (It would probably arrive faster too.) But, rarely is a preconfigured spec'd exactly how I want it.

 

Depending on the model, some would argue that premium notebooks preconfigured and made in Japan are of higher quality than those made in the USA. I tend to share this sentiment, but I don't think the difference in quality is worth sacrificing the exact specs I want.

 

Many people, myself included prefer pre-config machines over CTO machines. One of the reasons I prefer pre-config laptops is because I don't want to be screwed over with a stuck red pixel in the center of my screen and have to live with it on a $2000 laptop. You cannot exchange or replace CTO machines for a few dead or stuck pixels. You need to have at least 5? before Sony will do anything. One or two dead or stuck pixels is common in my own experience buying laptops, in contrast to this, I have never in my life seen a display with more than 3 dead/stuck pixels.

When you purchase a pre-config machine in a store, if you ask, they will usually let you examine the screen before you purchase. Also, if you purchase a machine with stuck or dead pixels and at home realize you have one, they will likely even let you come back to their store and exchange it for a different one, if you explain your situation beforehand.

 

Umm, I believe sonystyle.com has a 30 day return policy on notebooks including CTO's with no restocking fee, but you must pay return shipping, which is about 30 bucks? I haven't heard of the dead pixel policy--that actually sounds like Newegg's policy.

On the other hand, most retail stores in the US have restocking fees of around 15%.

Correct me if I'm wrong somewhere.

*Note: Just to be clear, CTO is not the same thing as engraved. Sony will not allow you to exchange or return engraved items.

Edit again: I see that forest boy is from canada. Sony's policies may be different there.

 

I'm sorry, I am wrong. Sony Canada will allow you to return a customized Vaio notebook (non-engraved), however it will be subject to a restocking fee of up to 20%.

Lets say you wish to return a $2000 Vaio laptop because you cannot live with a single red stuck pixel in the centre of your screen. Sony may impose a restocking fee of up to $400 + you'd have to factor in the $60 or so that it would cost you to ship your notebook back to Sony. This my friends, is a huge gamble, and simply isn't worth the risk if dead or stuck pixels concern you. For me personally, I'll stick with a store purchased machine, for my own piece of mind.

 

That policy rocks! You guys have it good. If I lived in the US, I'd take the gamble and build a Vaio CTO with only 30 bucks on the table..

 

This has actually been discussed in several other threads and someone else made the same argument about pre-config being "superior" to CTO and when i asked them to direct me to any evidence on the board, they linked me to several pages on the Z owners thread(the convo on the board existed before anyone owned one...to my knowledge).

Anyways, the conclusion made, was that there is really no difference and if there is any difference, it's almost impossible to tell. As i think PhilFlow or someone else pointed out, sony will use the same pool of components regardless of CTO or pre-config. So it's a crapshoot in terms of certain things, for both CTO and pre-configs, but unless you truly believe that a person in Japan will screw the components into place in a more savvy fashion then an american worker...oye....then i would not worry about the differences.