Is there going to be an update to the Sony VAIO S?

Is there going to an update to the current S? I like the idea of it as a cheaper alternative to the Z, but the old graphics card, old processors, and lack of USB 3.0 are kind of discouraging me from getting it anytime soon...

Is there any word on an update to the S? I'm a little confused on what's an update to what...I've heard about the SA, SB, etc. Can anyone clarify that?

 

allready is VAIO S Series

 

Well, that's what I'm referring to. It has the old core i5 and the NVIDIA 3-series graphics card. Is there going to be something newer?

 

I doubt the S will get another update. I think it's more likely the current S will be cleared out before the SA hits the streets.

 

That's what I thought.

 

I don't think S will stop existing - have you looked at the SA? It looks nothing like a business solution, what S is! Hideous!!

I am pretty sure there will be an S update, but probably not soon. Considering the not really "revolutionary" difference between Arrandale and SB and the fact that S13 was released not so long ago - another update will have to wait.

I certainly am not interested in selling arrandale to get SB and so are many other people... what for. so it might wait until they can implement more new stuff.

 

Well, if the S does go away there should at least be some good deals.

I don't care for the thick screen on the SA or the styling, and I don't need 3D.

 

SA just looks shockingly bad!

 

The main thing I like about the S is the powerful SSD. But I don't like the lower-end graphics card, last years processors, and lack of USB 3.0. So I don't know what to do... :\

 

SSD is optional, don't know what you mean by that - there is no SSD by default and it is cheaper swapping the HDD with SSD yourself anyway. I wouldn't do it yet though but that's a different subject.

Lower end graphics? Please remember that's a business notebook! Be happy there is a dedicated GPU at all! Something from the class of GeForce 330M as in the Z is the "highest" you can find in a portable business class notebook - powerpoint and word run smoothly even without dedicated GPU!

Last years CPU - yes, true... but have you made an effort to read about what REALLY is different and new about SB and how and whether you can benefit from it...? You can always order S with i7 if you really (think you) need that much CPU power for whatever reason...

USB 3.0 - true. How many devices do you have running on USB 3.0 if I may ask?

Funny thing your signature says MacBook Pro - have you had a look at MacBook Pro 13"? Do you know it STILL doesn't even feature Arrandale but CPUs that are 2-3 years old?

 

I know the SSD is optional, but other laptops I'm considering don't have an SSD as an option. And while I like the idea of the cheaper option of putting one in yourself, I don't know how to do that and I worry about issues with drivers (last time I tried that, the sound driver just malfunctioned on a laptop of mine and now it has no sound at all and I've been unable to fix it). SSD is not a must, though, it's just tempting since I did test out a laptop with an SSD and the difference is really pronounced.

I guess the graphics is not really much of an issue. I don't do much graphics-intense work anyway.

As for USB 3.0, I have a new USB 3.0 1 TB HDD that I would like to be able to use, but I can wait if necessary.

And as for the MacBook, I made a mistake thinking I'd like Macs better after my old Dell crapped out on me, but really, I want to go back to PC. I've been waiting since October to get a new computer and can't make up my mind. The Sony VAIO S is tempting, but the reasons I listed are why I'm not so sure (in addition to the lack of media buttons, but it is, like you said, a business notebook so media keys are not top priority).

 

I`m in a similar situation, buy the current S series or wait for the SB...

I keep reading topics over here to find out more about those two laptops.
And as I have asked before I still don`t see this big fuss everybody is making on Sandy Bridge... People are so excited about it but from all the info I can find on the net I can`t find a big improvement on the "second generation" core I processors.

I did find a shop where they listed some specs of an SB model and they mention "backlite keyboard" (currently not obtainable for me since I don`t live in a country where we can CTO a laptop) but most important, they mention switchable graphics: ATI 6470M + Intel HD Graphics

I hate the SB design if it really is the design they showed on CES, but switchable graphics and backlite keyboard for the same price wins over bad design for me. I don`t care much for USB 3.0 since I don`t have any devices for it yet.

I just keep doubting and waiting for confirmation on the specs of the SB.
Also build quality will be an issue. if SB won`t be marketed as an business laptop i fear for build quality.

I just wish Sony would announce those laptops soon, my HP is really dying

 

See below in the text

If your needs are more multimedia-oriented, then S is clearly a bad choice! A few other people have made this mistake, they are really easy to recognize! The following main questions in the S Owners Thread give them away:

" Why is the quality of my web camera so poor? How can I make it better? And it is only 0.3MP..." - Reason: S's camera not meant to be used for erotic web-cam modeling, but for business video conferences...

"Guys, is your sound quality really that poor and not very loud? I can hear no bass" - Reason: Not meant for listening to music or dolby surround - just normal laptop speakers, which IMO deliver quite good 3D sound, but are not optimal for long-term music source

and many other examples, which, considering the fact that I am an S owner myself, makes me realize those people just made a very bad choice, not taking their needs into account! It is like complaining that your new Audi TT has suuuuch a small trunk where nothing really fits - .... well.... the problem is not really the car Next time think better what you actually need! In reality there is no such thing as an "all in one" device

 

Absolutely TRUE! Unfortunately there are many people in this world who just want to have the newest! They don't want to know why it is not worthy being so excited about it - they just want to have the newest! Period! They need to show off and be able to say - this is the brand new CPU in my PC.

But the truth is - 99,9% of all users will NOT feel any difference between Arrandale and Sandy Bridge. Computers nowadays are bottlenecked mainly by the HDDs and even by lack of RAM... but not by the CPU

But I am not hypercritical about it, as I was sooooo keen on having i7 when I was buying my current laptop. Then I started reading... and reading... and looking at numbers. Then I asked myself - which difference will I lack more - the speed one between i5 and i7... or the 300 euros price difference

As I have another laptop from my company featuring i7, I can tell you that I feel it MUCH slower, because of the 5400RPM HDD. I never felt any benefit from the i7 over my i5. Oh actually I'm wrong - Zipping a 1GB archive takes 1 second less - YEEEY

 

Well thank you very much, Gracy, I think you might have just helped me make my decision. I'm realizing that I do have more multimedia-oriented needs and that really, the Sony VAIO S appeals to me because of its SSD option, but if what you say is true, I should wait to get an SSD and if I really insist on one, I can always put it in myself.

The other laptop I was considering was the Toshiba Satellite M640. It will be updated in February with Sandy Bridge, an NVIDIA Ge-Force 540M graphics card, USB 3.0, Bluetooth 3.0, and it has better speakers, better webcam, and it's good-looking in my opinion

Essentially, it has everything I could want minus the SSD option (Toshiba Satellites never do). But I think you may have convinced me against that. We'll have to see, though, I can be very indecisive.