Laptop purchase MBA, Sony TT, Sony Z1 and X?

Hi everybody !

In next few days I have to decide what to chose: VAIO VPCX11Z1E/X, VAIO VGN-TT46XG or MacBook Air (2.13 MHZ, 120 SSD). That's why I'm reading You a lot But, I couldn't find, what's the battery VGP-BPL19 life (wifi all the time, MS World, IE, MS outlook, no video watching, music playing etc. just office job) ?

And how can I install something from CD on X, is it possible to download MS Office on USB dongle and install it from it ?

Regards,
Kostek

 

Welcome to the board!
VGP-BPL19 -office use, wifi on, screen on 2 (which is enough inside a building) you get something around 5 hours.
You can install pretty much everything from a usb-stick.
Dont forget to unhide hidden and system files, when you are copying files from an install cd to the stick and you should be good.

the mac air looks really good...but weights 2x vaio X...its something to remember...

 

Thx for quick reply ! And what do You think, if I'll connect X to external monitor, it will work longer ? I suppose that laptop screen will turn off after I'll connect external...

Additional laptop to consider for me: Vaio Z11X9E...ehh, to many choices ;0

kostek

P.S. And one other thing, what about heat, is it getting realy hot when You working with office stuff and having X on Your lap ?

 

Hi,

I have one question for You. In the next few days I have to buy laptop. It has to be ultra portable. I'm considering:

1. Macbook Air (2.13 MHZ, 120 SSD)
2. Vaio TT
3. Vaio X
4. Vaio VPC Z11X9E/B (will be available in Poland next week)

What would You buy? I will work 99% of time with MS Office, e-mails, Internet Explorer, etc.

Regards,
kostek

 

The vaio X stutters with Hulu whereas the MacBook Air does not seem to have a problem. I know you listed what you will be doing but I would future proof as much as I could when it comes to watching video on my laptop. Personally I would suggest the basic preconfigured Z, as I would want an integrated optical drive, but that's only because I have no experience with the TT, but perhaps someone else can help. Anyway the Z has the i5 now whereas the others do not.

BUT if thin is what you are into then a MBA with an external drive is a viable alternative. Leaving the external drive at home the MBA will be thinner than the Z, just as light and is probably sturdier. Another plus is that you can install Windows XP or a different version of windows and it will be like having two laptops in one using Bootcamp or Parallels. For me that would be an especially good reason for owning a MBA. Still, I would rather "try" to wait for the new version MBA before deciding.
The MBA needs more RAM, bigger SSD, i3/i5, and a glass trackpad would be nice.
But with what you claim to be doing you would probably not need those new things.
The X was scratched from my list however. Would have seriously considered it even over the Z or the MBA if it were able to do the Hulu thing because with the optional battery it has humongous battery life and it still keeps the laptop about 1" thick I think.

I hardly ever game and if I do I have a MBP 15" at home, but when it comes to processing video no way would I want a stuttering laptop.

 

I FIRMLY believe that a Z in this case is WAY overkill. Why not get a Y or something for less than a $1000 bucks, and wait until the Z is refreshed with decent SSD's, USB 3.0 and NVIDVIA Optimus. The Z is a FANTASTIC computer, but lets get real here, this first version has a couple of small issues which make it VERY expensive for what this customer really needs.

I am assuming that they want a small laptop as they are interested in a Z, so I would say, save a few thousand and look at the Y.

 

Good point. The Y is even maginally thinner than the Z but does have at least nearly a pound of extra weight over the offerings he listed. Still, from a financial perspective I agree that he should add it to his list.

 

I love the sound of the Z. I will probably buy a Z at some point soon, but from their list of requirements, I just don't know why they would spend $3K when they could spend sub $1K and have a better computer than they probably need. If you want to spend that kind of money for the limited applications you will run, really take a hard look at Apple. The GUI is super slick and the computers look sublime. Not a whole lot of power to back it up, but is there a real need for performance here?

Also, the Sony X is a slick computer and VERY light, but that hard drive is just screaming for problems. Older SSD and it is SMALL. I would suspect that write problems cannot really be avoided eventually. I really like the X, but the storage is an issue.

 

Too bad it doesn't have a backlit keyboard... that would have been great.

 

I honestly tried to like the X because I wouldn't mind a 128 GB SSD. I mean I have bought some real 8 lb bricks with only 30 GB HD for close to $3000 in my day years ago. I just couldn't accept it's stuttering display of streaming video in this day and age, while other laptops in the Sonystyle/Apple store had no problems with the same Hulu video. Don't know where the bottle neck is on the X but I had to "X" it off my list. Too bad, since it had so much going for it, reminding me of the X505.

 

I was going to suggest a netbook Except that these usually
have small screens.

I was actually tempted to change my order to get the SSDs, if not for the fact that my new Intel SSD arrived yesterday. Sony's SSD doesn't seem bad, based on the measurements so far.

 

Is battery life or performance more important to you?

 

The X is just inherently SLOW... crummy Atom CPU, 533MHz bus, Intel GPU (I forget the model number) with a 3DMark06 score of just 50..!!! (According to notebookcheck.de). It is a glorified netbook, that is all...

The TT is a nice machine (I still happily use its predecessor, the TZ), but I hear there are rumours with regards to it being updated to a ULV Core i5/i7, so I would be reluctant to purchase one now...

The new Z looks to be something special, but as someone already said, probably overkill for your requirements, considering it's price...

I would say that leaves either an S or Y...

 

I need performance for MS Office, IE, e-mail, etc. so it's not that important

 

End If You could buy notebook once more, would You buy the same ? Vaio X ? Aren't You disappointed ?

Regards,
kostek

 

I would buy the X again.
Its a good machine, it suits my needs (similar then yours).
It doesnt get too hot, you can have it on your lap.

 

Kostek-
I think the X would work well for you. The size and weight are incredible, you will never stop being wowed by that. Just be aware that

1) it is just fast enough to be usable, but no faster. If you like to keep multiple apps running and/or multiple webpage tabs open (especially graphics-intensive pages), the X will handle it, but it will not refresh instantly moving from window to window, as it would on a faster PC. This is key. Imagine a netbook, but somewhat faster (and with enough memory so it can really multitask). If that's still too slow for you, don't get the X.

2) I had to make a few tweaks to make it great. for example
- update Intel video drivers, and get Flash 10.1 to enable smooth web video
- change gamma of the LCD in video driver settings, as well as adjust Cleartype. By default the LCD looks washed out, which made it tiring to read. Adjusting the gamma helped make the screen crisper and "punchier"
- use Google Chrome Beta 5 and set it automatically zoom into webpages (otherwise, the dense resolution makes it too hard to read default-size text)
- replace the cord that goes from power block to the wall with a direct plug (or do what I did and get an Igo charger kit)

I used to have a Macbook Air. It was also great, definitely faster than the X, it felt very solid, the keyboard feel was fantastic, there are much better third-party cases available, and it's arguably "prettier" than the X. But I didn't like: 1) just one USB port, no memory card port (always useful to have!), and no Ethernet port (the couple of times it mattered, I cursed Apple's overly aggressive minimalism), 2) the trackpad and fan were very poor in Windows/Boot Camp (if you're going to use Windows on a MBA, the trackpad will drive you crazy), 2) surprisingly heavy, 3) the hinge supporting the display felt VERY fragile and I was always afraid it would flip in one direction or another (it was borderline "floppy") unless I were sitting at a desk. I also had a philosophical problem with the use of an internal battery that cannot be replaced by the user...almost like planned obsolescence.

 

I looooooove this machine! It's the perfect companion to my Vaio Z.
A more powerful CPU would be nice, but only if the fan stays off most of the time, as it does now. If that's the price, I'm happy to pay it. I adore cool and silent equipment!

 

I've never had an Apple Air, but I've used a Thinkpad x60s and a Thinkpad X300--both groundbreaking laptops in size, weight and performance. This Vaio X is another groundbreaking computer. It does everything it's designed to do very well. It's amazingly light, and a good size--I can't believe how thin it is. The battery life is very good, especially after you eliminate many of the unnecessary programs and processes.
I'm not a real power user, but I like to have an extreme computer whether its power, weight, size, speed. I think the X belongs in my fleet of computers.

 

Whilst I love my X, I wouldn't buy it again. My config cost £1700 (I sold a MacBook for £750 so the X cost me an outlay of £950). For £950 it's not a bad purchase, but it's simply not worth £1700 ($2600).

It does what it is designed to do very well (stamina & portability). But it's one hell of a premium purchase. It's a very desirable notebook but I don't think it represents value for money.

 

Hi TT owners !

I've asked on Vaio X and Z owners about my future purchase but maybe You can help also . What do You say ? Would You buy TT again or maybe X or Z ?

kostek

 

Definately the MBA. It has MUCH beefier specs compared to the Atom powered X with the GMA 500. The MBA has a Core 2 Duo SL9300 with a 1066Mhz FSB with DDR3 memory and an NViDIA 9400m graphics solution. That would mop the floor with the X several times over.

 

Saw the VAIO X for the first time last weekend - wow, it's tiny.

As for the MBA - I find it runs too hot and is heavier than I expected it to be. I can see why it flopped. Who wants lap burn? Maybe next refresh.

I've been spoiled by nice LCD screens (17" GRX, LG laptops, etc.) so when I got the UL30vt (another sub-notebook) I found I hated the screen. I have a similiar opinion about the lower-end LCDs used in the cheaper VAIOs.

 

Have you considered the ASUS 1201N? About the size and weight of the Z with enough power (ION GPU & Dual Core Atom) to run Hulu without a problem. And best of all it is under $500.

 

That's a VERY good suggestion. And a big plus for me is it doesn't have that weird Eee logo printed all over it advertising it as a netbook, so it looks like an ultra-portable.

 

The new Thinkpad X200s might be a good option too. Core i7 CPU, low weight, great keyboard. Though if you want nice design, go for the Vaio X, nothing beats that. I was really considering the X for a while, but since I'd be using it as my main machine, it's just not enough. The TT is very nice and would probably be perfect for your needs, but if you don't find it heavily discounted, I wouldn't buy it. Now, I'm hoping Sony either refreshes the TT or the X with the new Core i7 ULV chips... Although it's unlikely to happen for the X as battery life would probably suffer enormously.