FE vs SZ - Final Purchase

Ok I cant decide, im really getting :decision: .
I need your help because I cant choose:

The VAIO SZ: My specs below: Cost : $2068.98USD


The VAIO FE: My specs below: Cost : $1903.99USD


So whats bothering me?
1) Not prices.
2) The SZ has a 13.3" screen (which is pretty small) but I can switch the video cards and a 6 hour battery life.
3) The FE has a 15.4" screen (which is pretty good) but I cant switch the video cards and a 3 hour battery life.
4) The SZ has a XP Home Edition (I will upgrade to Pro) while the FE series has the XP Media Center Edition. Is the Media Center really useful? Cant I install it on any laptop later on because even the SZ has bluetooth?
5) The SZ are available to order right away while the FE series is still on pre-order.
6) My Current HP: 14.25” (W) x 1.8” (H) x 11.59” (D) and weighs 8.2 lbs.
Sony Vaio SZ : 12.5” (W) x 1.0” -1.5” (H) x 9.3” (D) and weighs 4.07 lbs.
Sony Vaio FE : 14.41"(W) x 1.02" - 1.39"(H) x 10.81"(D) and weighs 6.17 lbs.
7) The SZ are OK looking while the FE series are gorgeous.
8) Will they both run powerful games such as Battlefield 2? and World of Warcraft at highest settings?

Thats it, its really getting to me. I want to use it for university, and my current HP ZV5000 is huge to carry around. As per the FE series and the HP ZV5000 specifications do they have little difference or is quiet a lot? I need the laptop for daily carry around for long periods of time, though I can plug it in when needed.

Thanks for reading and please do tell me which one I should get. I want to make sure because I wont be buying a laptop for quiet a while after this one. Also please tell me which one would yo go for if you were in University?

 

anyone? *bump*

 

I always had the notion that the FS has inferior material used in it and I would suspect it be the same with the FE models.. but I dunno..

to me, battery life and weight means a lot but i see u've been carrying around a heavy 8.2lb laptop so I guess weight wouldn't be a problem

and they both have the same resolution so you basically have the same desktop real estate

 

Just a reminder:
FE has a 256 MB video card where as SZ has just 128. If you are looking for games then i think FE is the way to go.

 

How portable do you want it to be? 15.4" is a bit too big to lug it around on a dayly basis imo. And it will be quite bulky in most classrooms. + the 3 hr battery life mean you can basically just use it for one class and the have to charge it again.

If you are so concerned about screen real estate, get an external monitor and the port replicator for the SZ (or a generic one if you want to save money).

Like I said, I think the FE is more stationary with the option of taking it on flights or other places from time to time, but not on a dayly basis. As pretty as it is it's too heavy and too bulky for that.

And please dont get RAM from Sony!!! They are so ridicusly overpricing it, it's crazy!!! Go to Newegg or something and get it for less than half the price.

 

Going from 8lbs to 6lbs isn't going to feel like much of a difference.

I can tell you from experience that my FS Series is about 5.7lbs and it's still something I wouldn't want to carry around with me.

If you are going to be taking this with you to University, I would go with the SZ.

And if the FE is anything like the FS, I can tell you it's not going to have the greatest battery life.

 

SZ...i wonder when they'll start selling it in OZ...

 

Firstly, thanks for all the replies

Ok i decided SZ it is, because FE is nearly the same thing as my HP (Size and Weight) and whats the point of changing then?
Im going to order SZ in Canada Sony Style when its available - feb beginning to what I have heard

 

OZ? Old Zealand...as opposed to New Zealand?

 

I mean the land down under...Australia & New Zealand

 

This isn't a very good basis for your decision... There is an SZ with 256 as well, but pure video memory is not the only deciding factor, there are very few cases where 256mb is to much better then the 128mb

At any rate... they're both great solutions.. FE is for those who sacrafice size and battery life for screen size