Is the TZ150N Worth Buying?

Hi everybody:

Currently, I am using a Dell D620, which has 1.83 ghz Core 2 Duo, 80 gb hd, and 2 gig RAM; and it works well for what I need (office apps, photoshop (not a heavy user), a lot of web browsing, etc.). However, I want a lighter laptop with a better battery life that would last long in service. So, I tried the TZ150N a few times at stores, and I like it.

Nevertheless, I know that this is a pretty, and well-made ultra-portable. However, before I spend roughly $2600 for a TZ150N with 3 year warranty ($299), a 2 gb RAM kit from Crucial, and downgrading to xp; is this laptop really worth buying considering the specs?

Also, I have a few questions:
- Can the TZ150N be upgraded with SSD?
- Does upgrading the RAM or hard drive void the warranty?
- Can you make your own recover CD, just in case if you want to switch back to Vista after installing XP?

Thanks

 

1) Yes it can. Ask jjashik (i hope thats correct name of user here) who upgraded to ssd.
2) Upgrade ram wont void the warranty, changing disc probably yes (you have to disassembly whole laptop) but I dont know if there is some warranty sticker that would be damaged. If not, when something goes wrong you just switch back to standard hdd
3) yes, in preinstalled vista there is Vaio Recovery Center utility, or if you dont delete hidden recovery partition of the hdd you can hit F8 or F10 when boot screen is up and recovery will be made from hdd recovery partition

If you dont like price, you should consider buying from Japan directly - using conics.net or pricejapan.com e-shops - you will have warranty in japan, but save hundereds of dollars

 

Usually, I've found this to be true (and have bought from both before...), but I checked Conics and PriceJapan and in this case it wasn't cheaper. The one advantage to buying there is that you can configure your lappy with more choices.

I decided in this case to go with US dealer and buy from Portable One. They have pretty good price, free sleeve, and free option to have them put their optimized Vista OS on it. The other reason is that just in case I do need service, I don't have to ship lappy to Japan...

 

Seems good the deal with Portable One

Very good price indeed...is a petty that they don't offer the 64 GB SSD. But the TZ195 is tempting! Do you guys know if the Sprint® Mobile Broadband high-speed EV-DO WAN can be used in Europe?

 

Unfortunately, no, it can't. UMTS standards are different in Europe.

 

I have a tz150nb and love it go ahead and jump on it although i wouldnt running vista on it downgrade to xp

 

Well, I did jump on it yesterday, DanyBui81....

Based upon what I've been reading on the forums, I'd either heavily tweak Vista or just downgrade to XP as you suggest....

Thanks,

Mark
Waiting Impatiently for His New TZ150.....

 

Thanks for the replies, fellas

ArchiMark, where did you order yours? How much?

 

JLagoon, as noted above, I ordered it from Portable One <www.portableone.com>, they're located in the SF Bay Area where I am. Have dealt with them before, they're good to deal with and they're are the recommended supplier over at LeoG.net Forums...

Right now they have a special offer:

http://www.leog.net/fujp_forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12004

$100 less than Sony
Free 3 Year Inspice Theft Protection
Free FedEx Shipping
Free Slipcase
Free Clean OS without all the bloatware and including a 2 x DVD recovery set that saves about 10GB of hard drive space

Here's my order summary:

VGNTZ150NB (Black) (U7500 1.06GHz 11.1"XB WXGA 1GB 100GB DVD±RW FP CAM 56K 10/1000 WiFi BT WAN) • WRNTY: STD
Free INSPICE: 3YRINSPICE
Free BLOATWARE: P1image
MEM: 2GB
**
$2,249.00*

HTH,

Mark
Waiting Impatiently for TZ to arrive....
*

 

Hi Mark:

I think, Sony is selling for the same price--$2099, but portableone does give us more option and perks.

Thanks

 

Thanks for that catch, JLagoon....

Will check with Ivan at PortableOne who posted at Leog.net about price...maybe he'll knock off a $100 to beat Sony as he said....worth a shot anyways....



Mark

 

Ivan, has replied to my email and said that they'll take another $100 off and thanked me for letting him know about it. He said that Sony must have adjusted prices again....

Think that his response was very professional....so I'm a happy camper again...

 

Man, that is great! Thanks for following up!

Ooooo, I am really about to order one now. I am waiting for the price to change.

 

Price has changed on website and I received my credit this afternoon....

 

I Love My Tz

 

Hopefully, I'll do the same on Thursday when my lil' TZ is supposed to arrive...

 

you wiil you will Thursday will be here before you know it but be prepared to sit at home to set it up to run xp hopefully if your like me you don't run into complications

 

Thanks for the encouraging words and advice, DanyBui81....

You must be reading my mail....

See this new post over at LeoG.net from Ivan, Portable One about XPP on TZ option now....

http://www.leog.net/fujp_forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12017

 

no problem its a hit or miss thing with the downgrades but follow the directions on the quick guide for xp also use the camera drivers on the sony electronics website if you use the drivers on the ftp site your tz will hang on shutdown and standby

 

DanyBui81, as I wrote, Portable One is putting XPP on it for me and will give me DVD's for it and Vista....

 

thats a good deal

 

I am waitiiiiiing for mine to come next week!

 

i just noticed in my sig that I have owned ever t series they ever made except for the TR and I like the TZ by far the most

 

Got my TZ150N today from PortableOne as promised....

So far, it's G R E A T! ! !

Got it with 2GB RAM and P1's Optimized Vista....so far pretty good...display is beautiful....

Now debating whether to 'downgrade to XPP' next week as P1 will have optimized XPP DVD's ready then....

Decisions, decisions....

 

Hi Mark:

I just got my TZ earlier today too! I am going to give my comments in a new thread.