New 15" MacBook Pro 2.2 Vs. Maxed out Sony Z13? Help Please!!!

This is not a trolling or Sony Vs. Apple thread.

I have a chance to get either one of these at the same price. I have just received my insurance check for my stolen Z and I have been looking into a replacement computer. I am not going to wait for the new Z as I don't like the add on approach. Also, the SA is still MIA, so this is a no go as well.

For the most part, I loved my Z. The trackpad and battery life were ok, but this is one huge selling factor for the Mac. Also, OSX is a plus to have on the MBP, but I have no problems with Win 7 either.

The main negative is the size of the MBP Vs the Z. I do like the power brick better than Sony's as well, so this is a reduction in total daily weight. I would be interested in the HiRes Anti Glare as I have been spoiled by my Z. They can keep that glass crap.

Anyways... here's the main rub. The MBP kills the Z spec wise. Although, I would e getting a 512 SSD in the Z Vs a 7200 RPM drive in the MBP. I am affraid the Z will be worth nothing in 6 months, however I just went to local computer stores and still absolutely NOTHING still touches it.

What do you think a Maxed out Z will be with in a years time? This is another thing I loved about past Apple products. Their resale value has been very strong.

I use my laptop for business, showing homes and out in the field. The Z was perfect size for that and watching movies on the plane worked perfect because of it's size.

I also like to play games, Black Ops, Crysis 2, SFIV and others. With the Bios mod and new drivers, the Z could handle it well. Although, the MBP would be much better. I'm not sure what the difference between the 330m and 6750 is, but I would guess pretty large.

I am a screen snob. Plain and simple. The SB will not work for me.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I will be ordering a replacement something tomorrow.

Thanks in advance!

 

Replying to you on a 13" MBP...

Screen on Z shreds (resolution and color, not to mention glare) the screen on the MBP. Issue is you are comparing a 15" vs a 13" so the 15" MBP is available with better specs than the Z.

OSX vs. windows, you know what you are getting into there so no need to comment. Pros and cons both ways.

Couple bits of advice.

1.) find out how good windows games run on the MBP's. In the past, they did not perform anywhere near as well as their windows-designed counterparts.

2.) If you don't mind the 15" for factor, why not look around for a 15" windows pc that competes with the MBP specs? HP envy 14.5" comes to mind, I think I read somewhere they were bringing back the radiance displays as well.

Good luck!

 

Mind if I ask what is the config of the VAIO Z you're talking about when you said that it is maxed out? I'm just curious.

By the way, my suggestion is to get a new maxed out VAIO Z notebook. Good luck.

 

2.8 512ssd Carbon extended battery 1080p z13

 

Put a Z next to a MacBook Pro?

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ


EDIT: I guess I could make my post more useful by saying that a friend of mine has a MBP and he likes my Z better.

 

I humbly think that based on your uses as listed above, a VAIO Z notebook is probably going to suit you better when compared to a 15" MBP.

However, what kind of software do you need to use for work? If it is basically word processing & productivity stuff, then the power of the 2011 Sandy Bridge 15" MBP is not going to make too much difference to you & the VAIO Z notebook is going to be very, very, very fast (as you had already experienced while using one for a while) due to its RAID SSDs.

 

Just pulled the trigger...

I got 20% off at Sony for being a repeat customer.

VPCZ1290X
1080p
Metal Shield
Extended Battery
Win 7 Pro
Adobe Bundle
2.66 - 3.33
8GB
512 SSD

2556.17 Shipped

The MBP would have been 2387 shipped.

I can still cancel if you think I should pick something else.

 

Wow. Great deal. I wish I can get my hands on a 20% discount.

Anyway, congrats on your purchase.

 

Don't cancel, that Z config is just about perfect, you will be happy

 

I would vouch for th mbp 15'' its not that heavy, and can pack quite a significant punch.

Yes games on it perform quite well. the lead should be around 30-50% better compared to the Z

 

Damn, I was thinking the same thing.

The clincher for the Z was the 512 SSD. At 2400, the MBP would also need to be upgraded to SSD and 512 ain't cheap. The 1080p screen is nice as well.

Showing homes and lugging a 15" did not seem attractive while showing real estate and or using it in the car. It also seems huge at Starbucks.

I am sure that I'm taking that to extremes. If Apple would make a 13" worth a damn, it would have been an instant buy. I still have 30 days to wait out the SA. I would take that size increase and be OK with it. But, 1600 screen would be a must.

Just wanted to say looking at so many other laptops today, the Z is truly a thing of beauty. I was sure I could find something comparable out there, but it is in a class of it's own. I am excited to see the SA, it may be a HUGE seller for Sony. Why do I feel like after looking at Frys and Best Buy that the Z is so superior. Am I drinking the Kool-Aide? I was a long time Mac user that switched over to PC 6 months ago. The Z was the only PC that could pull me away, but now looking back at Apples hardware, everything below their 15" 2.2 is just lame for the asking price.

Apple is a more comfortable purchase from a repair standpoint. Drop it off and pick it up 72 hours later. I hope to not have issues with the Z, because I hear their service sucks a sausage and a half.

 

Wow... that's a GREAT price... >< I am envious... Well, in your original post you complained of the large power adapter of the Z, you can try this Cooler Master USNA95 for $60 at Amazon:

Amazon.com: Cooler Master USNA 95 Ultra Slim 95W Universal Notebook Adapter with USB 2.0 (RP095-USNAA1-US): Electronics

It's supposedly really small and it works with the Z according to a few people here.

p.s. I am SO ENTIRELY JEALOUS of your new config . Seriously a MBP 15" would only touch it on the graphics performance side of things... and even then you wouldn't be able to play half the games (or like Beaups said, you'd suffer performance degradation in Bootcamped Windows)

 

nope they perform much better, just look at the apple forums

 

Like I said earlier, the VAIO Z series definitely suits you better based on your usage. It is light, small, packs a punch, & looks very "professional" IMHO. 1st impression counts when selling houses, no?

Furthermore, if your VAIO Z notebook comes with the built-in WWAN (Verizon) & you do use it for your internet usage while out & about doing your real estate business, then it will even be more convenient because the MBPs do not come with those WWAN cards/antenna built into them.

 

Bootcamp has come a long way. It performs quite nicely and does not have the issues with performance like it once did. That's due to switchers and their ability to teach Mac heads that they can update their drivers and overclock.

Still worried a little about my choice.. I am a sucker for iMovie and iPhoto. But damn, 15" :/. (that's what she said)

 

Based on my very recent repair experience with my VAIO VGN-SZ381P/X notebook (which I've already given away), it will take about 4-5 weeks if you sent your VAIO notebook to them for service. That was a very "unfortunate" experience but I sincerely hope that you & others do not ever need any kind of repair services from Sony. Maybe that was just a very rare one-off bad experience & I happen to be damn unlucky to get that sort of service but I guess it shouldn't be a surprise since I've generally had rotten luck my entire life.

However, there is no doubt that Sony makes very, very, very classy top-of-the-line notebooks, such as the VAIO Z series.

I have to agree on your comments on BootCamp. I've been running Windows Vista (a few months) & then 7 thru BootCamp exclusively ever since I got my early 2009 unibody 15" MBP & I humbly think that my MBP runs Windows 7 as well or even better than my VAIO VGN-Z690 notebook (which is about to be put up for sale). However, the main tradeoff with running Windows thru BootCamp is that it makes my MBP warmer & produces less battery life.

 

OSX is throttled like crazy! It's not so much that their battery's are better, it's the OS.

 

Get the MBP and I'll trade you my Z for it, lol. (Main reason: I am sick of Windows OS... specs-wise, Z wins, but I prefer a better user experience over raw specs)

 

But that's just the point, the MBP is better in specs. (aside from the SSS standard) The 6750 beats the 330m, the 2.2 quad beats the 2.66 dual.

Its really the size and screen that have me on the Z. After looking for a 13" to compare to the Z, I came away empty handed.

As for user experience, Apple's trackpads are awesome and second to none! Although, I don't find much better with OSX over Windows 7. This is being stated by a former die hard Mac fan. The other thing Apple is doing right now that rubs me the wrong way is locking users in with their App store. A majority of users when upgrading their computers will have a hard time trying anything else because of all of their apps.

To be frank, I wish Apple never invented the iPhone. iOS has stalled development of OSX. I feel that Apple wants to move forward full force with their low power computing solutions.

 

its almost half the weight

 

3.1 Vs 5.7 and that stupid aspect ratio!

 

what does aspect ratio have to do with weight?

those 2.6 lbs are a big deal when you're carrying a messenger bag all day and you're trying to optimize your gear for weight and size

 

I agree with you. I was stating the weight difference and the fact that I prefer the Z's aspect ratio over the MBP.

 

Weird most people prefer 16:10 over 16:9 because 16:10 is better for productivity (although it sucks that they went 1440x900 as opposed to 1600x1000)

 

I, for some reason work better side by side Vs top to bottom. Love having two full webpages up at the same time.

 

would you rather a 1920x1080 or 1920x1200? I'd take the latter. You still get the same horizontal space anyways. But like i said, i'd rather 1920x1080(16:9) than 1728x1080(16:10)

 

I'm pretty comfortable now with the Z purchase. The only thing I would change, and it's not a biggie, is Metal Shield to Metal Mosaic. I looked into a replacement lid for my old Z and the Metal Shield was 350, while the Metal Mosaic was 450!!!

Possibly interested in the broadband wireless, but I tether for that anyways.

Anyways, the metal Sheild looks slick. I will never own the Premium Carbon Fiber again. Fingerprint and scuff magnet. (for me that is)

 

I would vouch for the 15" MBP even though I'm a Vaio owner myself.

The 15" MBP sports a fancy quadcore i5/i7 and the battery is simply amazing.

 

After thinking about it, the GPU is the only thing I really want out of the MBP rig. I guess we cant have it all, but it cool that it takes a 15" laptop of the same premium value to start matching what I have in my 13" Z.

 

As much as I hate to say it, I'd take the 15" MBP.

I bought the Z in Dec 2010, when the new MBP's weren't even out yet. The 15" MBP was almost a equivilant of the Z, albeit a much heavier and expensive one. The 15" MBP needed a much greater charge to upgrade to the i7-640M, 256 GB SSD and 8 GB RAM-something the Z comes in default. The specs of the Z even made the previous 13" MBP's specs look like weak sauce.

However, it's a way different story now. A dual core 2.8 Ghz is sure to lose against a quad core 2.2 ghz CPU. There's also a slower RAM speed, and way inferior GPU on the Z.

Also, the Z is flimsy and the screen will most likely break if you mistreat it slightly. I finally understand why people appreciate the build quality of computers. It really makes *that* much of a difference.

 

The MBP with 8GB, AntiGlare and 256SSD is 3049 +tax. (2800 With Edu discount +tax)

Is is worth the premium over what I purchased? I can still cancel before it ships. SSS is a must and 256 is pushing it size wise.

 

I have both - I can tell you they're different machines for different purposes.

First of all - size wise - they are on opposite ends in my opinion. I had the Z long before the MBP and I can tell you after using the Z for a long time - picking up a macbook pro for the first time made it feel like a tank. It's the difference between an ultraportable and a standard laptop. You might not think it's much - but if you're always carrying it around - you will notice a large difference.

Second - power. The macbook pro's sandy bridge quad core i7 is significantly superior to the dual core i7 in the Z. If gaming is a large concern - the 6750 is also far superior to the Z's GT330. Additionally - because of the lower resolution - the 6750 will be able to push even more fps (assuming you're playing at native res). If gaming is of a high priority - you will have a far superior experience with the MBP.

Screen. I am a fan of the glass displays. Yes, it is outrageously reflective, but it helps with the contrast. Apple displays are a hit or miss. It's a lottery whether you get a good panel or a mediocre one. If you're used to the outrageous DPI of a 1080p screen on the 13 sony - you'll feel like you're looking through a magnifying glass on the 15" MBP. Between the two though - I have to admit I prefer watching movies and videos on my MBP despite the lower resolution.

In the end - I find that the Z is fantastic for work on the go. The higher resolution is good if you have to have several windows or spreadsheets open.

The MBP is more like a desktop replacement. Though it's more powerful than the Z, the Z does everything I need and more when I travel. The only thing the Z is going to fall short is gaming of course. I don't game on the go - so that is not a big deal to me.

 

I also wanted to add - the easiest way to see if which one you'd like better? Go to the Apple store and check it out. Though none of the stores carry the Glossy Hi-Res display - all of them should have the Matte Hi-Res on display for you to check out.

 

The lap will be going everywhere with me This is why I prefer the Z's form factor.

Gaming is a pretty big factor, but I am no competitive player either. 30 Min bursts when I have the chance. Sometime when im on a flight or stuck in a hotel room, but definitely not locked in my room with soda cans, a headset and empty chip bags.

I guess its the trade off for a portable laptop. I didn't even think about using a 15" on a flight. That would be a definite no go.

 

I did just that today actually. The screen was nice, kinda had a blue push to it, but nice. It is tremendously larger looking than my Z's was. Almost looked like a movie screen.

I wish I could find the Z locally to compare it. The Microsoft store was the only place that still had it, but they have since pulled their display. Our local Sony store actually closed last month.

 

Question for you...

Since you are fluent with both OSX and Windows, what would you suggest a Mac convert use as replacements for iPhoto and iMovie under Windows?

Thanks for all of your input.

 

All the screens at the apple store likely haven't been calibrated. I'll say my screen was way overly warm before I calibrated it. Looks fantastic now.

If you want a charger that's similar to the MBP on the Z - I have this one:
Amazon.com: Targus Premium Laptop Charger (AC/DC) with Limited Two Year Warranty APM69US (Piano Black): Electronics

Works great with my Z.

 

I don't use iPhoto. I use Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop. I can't imagine using anything else.

I don't edit videos so unfortunately can't help you there. Though I am certain there is something comparable in the Adobe suite - probably closer to final cut than iMovie I imagine though.

 

Thing is that this is my main and only computer. That's why the storage is such a huge issue. I am not a number crunching power user. I would think editing photos and video would be just fine on the Z.

Lightroom came up before when I asked this question.. I will have to give that a go. Does it offer photo management like iPhoto?

That charger looks better than the cooler master previously mentioned in this thread. Both are better than stock though.

Another plus I failed to mention is the noise cancelling headphones on the Z. Sony did a really good job on that.

 

You can always opt for the optical drive to standard 2.5" platter drive swap for the Z or the MBP. I believe they currently make up to 750gb for standard height (9.5mm) and will have a 1tb one later this year. You can also, of course, add an SSD instead of a standard platter drive as well.

I can tell you the Z can easily edit photos in lightroom/photoshop.

 

If I keep the Z, I will probably end up throwing a Bluray drive in it.

Did they find a working solution caddy for the 2011 MBP. Im sure irs only a matter of time, but last I checked it had not been done right.

I hope the 512 SSD helps me sell it for a decent price in six months. I just don't want to be selling it for $1500 or less...

 

not sure about the caddy - as I've never done it before. seems like people with 2011 mbp have it done on macrumors.

As far as resale value. Any ultra high end laptop - like luxury cars - will have a huge initial price depreciation. Once a new macbook pro comes out, it'll be hard to sell a high end one for $1500 - but from there, it'll hover around $1100-1300 for a year or two. I see people selling their 2008 (first gen unibody) macbook pros for close to $1000. I would say it's about the same for the Z, though I do think the 512gb ssd might help the value a bit, the problem is that it's still a sony proprietary part - so the SSD technically only has value to Z owners.

 

You have to keep in mind the target audience will be much smaller with more expensive configurations. You'll take a greater % hit than someone with a more base configuration.

 

What has me worried is the Z is EOL now. Although, it doesn't look like there will be an all in one solution to compete with it anytime soon.

I mean, a maxed out SB with only 256 SSD and average screen is $2499. And the new Z, even though we only have leaked/speculated reports, is going to be totally different than what we have now.

 

I've heard some good things about Sony Vegas Pro Video software, I'm not a video editor so I couldn't tell you from personal experience though.

 

Didn't you price the Z with a 512 SSD? Why wouldn't you price the MBP with the same?

 

Was trying to keep it relative. Add another $500 for 512 to the MBP price.

The MBP is, and I cant believe it coming from an Apple product, less proprietary than the Z. So I could replace the SSD if it went bad much easier than the Z. I have not seen may people with issues with their Z's SSD either though.

It also looks as though Sony is sticking with their pricing when it comes to SSD. The SB costs the same to jam SSD into it as the Z.

When the HELL is SSD going to become more affordable? 512 SSD drive should be way less at this point. $500 max!

 

$2,500 for the Z versus a MBP at $3,500. Easy decision plus you get the lighter package you want.

It also depends on the software you run. Regardless of Boot Camp etc, I know folks who went with Mac only to miss the full functionality of their Windows based software.

 

True... but as a few threads have pointed out here... you can go aftermarket...

I would not go upgrading memory with any manufacturer whether that be RAM or HDD/SSD... that's how they take your money. In the Vaio's case however, not only are you getting more memory (storage) you're also getting more speed... in that instead of 1 512GB drive... you have 4 128GB drives in RAID.

And yeah, SSDs should drop in price... but even on the market you aren't going to find 1GB/$1 with Gen 2 SSDs (unless you go kingston)

 

I was under the impression that the SSD in the Z is average speed wise. Isint the generation 2 Intel and OCZ faster?