Need help buying 2 Sony Laptops!

My husband and I need to replace our laptops. Since my mother is going to Taipei in mid-August, she's going to buy them there.

I want one notebook to be either ultraportable or thin and light. I want the other notebook to be either mainstream or thin and light.

Both notebooks will be used for internet and email, building webpages, working with simple graphics, watching movies and downloading stuff.

I originally thought we should have a really portable notebook (mine) and a bigger one for my husband that would be a desktop replacement, but my husband isn't keen on having a really big notebook, he also wants a smaller one that would be easy to handle and move around. I guess that's one of my sticking points, it seems a bit pointless to have two of the same notebook, I feel like we should get different and opposite ones.

We probably won't be playing many games on the notebook, I'm waiting for a good excuse to by my husband a Wii!! Battery life isn't so important, although it would be nice to have it be more durable. Don't really know much about screen resolutions but would like something that will let me watch movies and photoshop [ictures and stuff.

The notebooks looks and stylishness are important to me, which is why I want Sony!

Will be buying the laptop in mid-August and would like it to last me at least 5 years. As for the hard drive, I'd like to have minimum 200GB. I do need an optical drive, not sure what a Blu-Ray drive is, but I def. need to be able to burn CDs and DVDs.

I've been thinking about getting a Z (or SZ, maybe even an SR???) Series for me. Question: What's the difference between an SR and an SZ?? Other than the SR being newer and the SZ being lighter?

I thought that for my husband (who will be using his notebook a lot less than I will!) we'd get either a CR or FZ series. The FZ seems a little big, but the weight difference isn't so huge between it and the CR, so that's why I was considering it, but I'm starting to regret that decision and think that maybe I should get my husband either a CR or and SZ..

My last thought is that maybe I should try and get the newer models like Z and SR because I want these to last a long time, the CR looks a little heavier than it has to be and I think they'll get a newer model out soon, so it's not really worth the trouble of buying the older ones...

What do you think??

Thanks for all the help!!

 

Any of the new ones would work for you...

FW, SR and Z.

 

The SZ vs SR has been covered in another thread today... basically the SZ has a slightly more 'premium' build: carbon fibre casing, etc. The SR has a better specification in terms of technology, because it's newer. If all things were equal, the SR would be the obvious choice... but some of the current deals on the SZ make the decision a bit more difficult IMHO.

I would get an SR for your husband and get a Z for yourself (which he can be jealous of!).

 

Both of you get the same laptop. It's better that way.

1. You won't be guilty. "Oh dang..I like his/hers better...what a waste of money.."

2. You have more to talk about.

3. It would be cute, matching laptops

I have two friends who are brothers and they decided to get different laptops. All I hear is "why does your have a brighter screen? Why is yours thinner?" ect.. And basically one is jealous of the VAIO.

Anyway, if you're buying TWO laptops... depending on cash, get the SR or Z no doubt. Why get the SZ? It's only dropping in price b/c its old model. Sure it's good still, but the specs of the SR can be had for the same/less price and will be faster, cooler, and more battery life most likely (esp. with integrated intel graphics option). If you buy two Z's, you're looking at well over 4,000 after taxes and whatnot. If you wan't warranties also..add another 500 or so if you want coverage for both. 4,500 dollars. It's up to your preference and your financial status. I recommend either the Z or SR for your needs, its up to you to choose. the FW doesn't seem to fit what you're looking for IMO, as its pretty larger than the SR and Z.

 

Maybe get 2 of the smaller ones and 1 external monitor to share?

 

I think SRs are pretty much suitable for couples.

SR/Pink for lady and SR/Silver or Black for gentleman!

 

Or is it worth waiting till the fall/winter when newer ones come out? Any idea on what those may be? I saw another thread discussing that on here but can't find it anymore.... Thanks for all the input guys!

 

Well, I don't know where you are from, but I would recommend you to avoid buying Sony in Taiwan unless you live in some small African nations. It's kind of funny, considering a lot of Sony laptops are actually made by Taiwanese manufacturers, but the Sony in Taiwan has a very weird warranty coverage and it pretty much boils down to you can only service your laptop in Taiwan, even if you buy global warranties.

In fact, there are many Taiwanese who would for importing from Japan or even US instead of buying from Sony Taiwan because of the warranty and the lack of CTO.

As to which one to buy, I think SR is a better choice for what you need, and you can pick different colors so you won't get confused which one is whose.