Help?'s Sony Vaio 110/b vs 160 p/c

Ok so I am about to purchase a Vaio SZ. This is my first notebook and I am a little nervous about spending so much money on one. However from what I have read so far they seem like great notebooks. I have a few questions

1. The screens on the 110 and 160 are they different or is it just the case that is different and in turn making it thinner?

2. Has anyone tried gaming on the 110 or 160? I would really like to know how that went and if it is truly worth it to get the SZ to be able to work and game, or if I should spend $500 less to get one that doesn’t have the card?

3. How’s the heat on them? Do they get excessively hot when in speed mode such as for gaming?

4. Are there any rebates, coupons or discounts anyone knows about for these machines?

I am really only able to spend $2000 to get a machine which is making the 160 a little out of range at the retail price. I am wondering if the money will be worth it to game on this machine or if I should look at another notebook without the Nvidia card. Any suggestions would be helpfull.

Thanks

 

They're different. The screen on the 160 is physically illuminated with a different technology that gives it superior color definition while reportedly using less battery power. I believe the carbon fiber of the 160 is what allows the physically thinner construction, vs. the magnesium of the 110/120.

There's more here, which can in turn link you elsewhere about differences between the 110/120 and the 160.

I have seen amazon.com offer discounts on SZ120's, I believe. You should be aware of an electrical grounding issue present on the palmrest before you make a purchase.

The primary issues to be aware of with the SZ series seem to be battery life, overall keyboard feel (in particular the space bar has issues for some people) reformatting it, and "light leakage" tends to be somewhat common occurance on a lot of people's sz160's screens (dunno about 110/120). Everyone's mileage varies, some people get perfect laptops, these are just the issues that seem to pop up the most frequently. Reading the first 2 or 3 pages of the fourm fairly thoroughly should prepare you for any surprises a new SZ may try to throw at you.

I'm also interested in hearing from an owner, exactly how hot it gets when it's actually being used on your lap... I haven't read much about that yet. I passed my hand under various laptops in retail stores and sony's are always the coolest to the touch, so I've got an optimistic feeling about it so far...

 

Thank you very much. I agree the heat is the issue I have heard the least about so far. Also I have not seen anyone talk about useing it to game on yet. I am really interested in that.

 

So far it runs very very cool. I'll try running an intensive game on it. I have an infrared thermometer around here somewhere I use for RC racing...

 

That would be great if you could do that. That is really my only concern now. If it is worth it for gaming.

Side question. Does anyone have a problem with the fact that the notebooks d not have a lock on the front?

 

No problem there, they dont just open by themselves. Sony has attached tight hinges keeping the notebook locked unless someone opens them.

 

Hey does the notebook come with a case of anykind? Or is there one someone recomends that is small?

 

Haven't tried anything really stressful yet on my SZ120, like Half Life 2 or Far Cry, say, but WoW is running smoothly at high detail, full screen res, no FSAA. The keyboard and the bottom of the case get warm, but it's nothing major. Most of the heat is coming out of the vent at the back, as it should - and the fan is certainly a hell of a lot quieter than my old Alienware jet engine.

BTW, I also tried playing in stamina mode - framerate dropped by 75% with the same settings, but still playable when I dropped the detail level. 3DMark05 dropped from ~1900 to ~550.

 

It doesnt come with a case, and check the accessories forum on NBR for cases .

 

thanks Speckled Jim that is really helpfull. Appreciate it.

 

Ok now I am really scared to get the 110. I really cannot afford to get the 160 but I am worried that I will wish I did. Is the 160 really going to make that much of a difference? I am ready to go get this today so, buyers remorse is setting in and I havent even gotten it yet.

 

Look dont worry about it. Only "BIGGEST" issue is the screen, which is more vivid and vibrant in the premium. Dont worry about the weight they are both extremely light. As for carbon-fibre only thing it does mainly is make the notebook prettier, but it already looks fine. Im going for SZ120(Non-Premium) rather then the SZ160 (Premium).
I had a price issue due to the taxes in Canada so I might be a bit biased, but dont worry, get the SZ110 if you can, you wont regret it.

 

Okie. I am going to go get it this afternoon. Thank you for your kind words. I needed that.

Anyone know about the Best Buy service warranty? Is there anything they are trying to hide about it? It is a huge $439 for the SZ110. They have a rebate right now so the machine is $1849.99 regularly $1999.99 but the service brings it to allmost $2500. just want to make sure I am not missing anything that I read about it.

 

No problem. About BestBuy its recommended if you ever need to return the laptop in 1 year for the same exact model new one (you need to have a reason). Otherwise if you dont get it, you can always go and give your notebook to them and they will send it to Sony (within the warranty 1 year for free) to fix it.

If you for the service warranty it would be faster and nicer to get a new notebook. Thats the way the Canada one works, not sure about USA. Technically speaking should be the same thing.

 

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...CategoryId=pcmcat64100050013&id=1134703552594
sale not rebate..

 

ah sorry in the store it says rebate.

 

Ok so I got the SZ110 2days ago and I love it so far. My only problems have been
1. the battery life, it is only lasting 3 and 1/2 hours in stamina mode
2. the screen dims when its not pluged into the ac adapter, when in stamina mode
3. the lid where the camera is at comes apart if you open or close it to fast, the case comes apart, not bad just alittle but still a flaw

any suggestions on how to fix these ? or if they are defects?

 

1. that is not bad for battery life. You really have to do some tweaking in your power management options to get much better than 3.5 hrs.
2.you can change the way the illumination behaves in your power options in the control panel.
3.sounds like a defect.

 

great thank you.
I have had the sz for about a week now and I cant say enough good things about it. If anyone is interested in the gaming aspect of it, it will run World of Warcraft, and Everquest 2 fantasticly. Everquest the graphics are not what they could be on my desktop, but they are not bad and deffinatly better than what i was expecting. WOW runs just fine. No lag on either game from graphics. I can run WOW in both stamina and speed modes EQ2 will only work in speed mode with the nvidia card. hope that is infor for others.


sz110 luv