Okay, BB said they will take it back...should I do this?

I am taking back the Sony VGN-FZ430E/B for the Sony VGN-FZ290EBB. The one I am getting has the NVidia graphics card, 2.0 GHZ Core 2 Duo, XBrite HiColor Screen, but only has a 160GB hard drive versus the one I have which is 250GB. It also comes with 2GB RAM versus the 3GB I have, but that's easy to upgrade.

The model I have now comes with the crappy Intel X3100 graphics card, and the processor is slower at 1.83 GHZ Core 2 Duo. There is no HDMI output and the screen is a regular ECO-EXBRITE.

So what do you say? Should I get the 290EBB at $789? I paid $849 for mine. The Sony Style site has it at $999, orginally $1,200. But I found it elsewhere cheaper. The only factor is the smaller hard drive. Will it matter that much? I think I only used up 40GB of my 200GB desktop and that is 3 years old. LOL.

 

I don't know the models in detail and I'm used to UK prices, so anything in the US looks attractive(!) but if you're getting a faster CPU and GPU and better screen in exchange for a bit less storage... that sounds like a good idea to me.

I'm currently looking into getting (OK, drooling over) the TZ32VN/X and that only has 64GB storage because it's got an SSD. How much space you need depends on what you plan to do with it really. My current laptop has 60GB HDD and that's been fine for my needs, albeit with an occasional spring clean required, but I don't store masses of movies on it or anything.

If you're working with productivity files, playing a few games and have a small-medium multimedia collection, I can't think you'd need anything bigger than 160GB actually in the laptop fulltime. If you need extra space temporarily you could always get a bus powered USB HDD - something like the WD Passport I use - to give you another 320GB of space quite cheaply and in a reasonably compact package. You needn't take it with you everywhere of course - it just gives you the flexibility to put your huge files somewhere else.

 

Well, you can always easily swap out the hard drive for a larger one, whereas you cannot upgrade your current notebook to include HDMI out, the better screen and processor or the Nvidia graphics card (or if you can, its very difficult). So I would go for the upgrade.

 

I would go for the upgrade as well. By chance what GPU are you upgrading too? I'm just curious. >.<

Also, if you do end up needing more HD space, buying an external or just swapping some stuff to your Desktop would save you $$$ so that you wouldn't have to buy another internal HD. Just a thought.... Hope this helps!

 

Its from Intel X3100 to Nvidia Geforce 8400GT. Should be a noticable upgrade, still far from serious game playing though.

 

NVIDIA® GeForce® 8400M GT GPU with 1023MB Total Available Graphics Memory.

Yeah, I'm gonna do it. Thanks guys!

 

Anytime! Enjoy your new laptop!

 

I'll personally also go for the upgrade. Furthermore, swapping the HDD is a lot easier on the FZ than on the SZ.

 

I decided to keep what I have. That website that was offering it for $789 was shady as hell. They did not take credit cards. There were two options, Western Union?? Can you believe that? Or going through some kind of site called E-Gold. I went to the site and I was like WTF is this? LOL. Looked up E-Gold found out they are under investigation for money laundering and saw something about stolen credit card numbers. I ran from that one!

The other option was to pay $999 at the Sony site which is still a great deal and If I had saw that deal first I would have paid the $999 for the better model, but that sale didn't come out until June 1st and I got this one May 25. (Paid $849 for mine which is still a good deal.) I decided when all is said and done it's just too much hassle and would have cost me close to $280 more when you figure in Best Buy's restocking fee. Then I have to wait 7-10 business days to get the new computer, so I am sans a laptop until then. Then there's that uneasy feeling you have to go though wondering if the new one you are getting will have problems and this one does not!

And since I just had my hair highlighted today for $200, bought $150 worth of clothes and I have a Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000 on the way which I bought for $90, I am just not that rich at the moment! It's still a damn nice laptop. I think I can live without the better screen (actually a $50 upgrade option) and the better graphics card. I don't really play any computer games. Don't need the HDMI since it doesn't have Blu-Ray anyway, and sure the CPU is a little faster, but going from 1.83 to 2.0 GHZ I would not think would make that much difference. My main reason for wanting it was that better screen. LOL. But damn, that's just a $50 option. I can't see paying almost $300 more to get it.

 

Well I'm glad to hear that you are happy with your decision! If you really had no problems with the one you already have you can't really complain or feel bad about upgrading can ya? XD

 

I'm so glad that as a (lazy) man my hair is low maintenance! Also, why dress nicely when there are gadgets to buy? lol

But I agree with the decision on the webcam. I have the exact same model and although I'm embarrassed to say I don't use it often, it's always performed very well compared to other models I've had in the past. I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

 

Dude, I so know what you mean. If I could get away with not coloring my hair and wearing sweatpants everyday I would. And I would get a top of the line laptop. LOL. Heck, I would get top of the line everything when it comes to electronics. I'm one of those rare chicks that gets off on stuff like that.

For example: I have a 40' Sony HDTV, Sony upscaling DVD player (which just sits there now that I have a PS3) a Nintendo Wii, two iPods, I spend money on things like computer speakers and surround systems, etc. LOL. But it is a VERY expensive hobby. And I am never really happy even after I buy it because I always think I could have had a "better" model. It's like some kind of addiction. But I especially can't stand it when I knew I could have had a way better computer (TV, insert item here) for just $150 more if the timing was better.

I figure I'm gonna have this for at least a year, so might as well get something good. I have never really had a computer with a really nice graphics card. My HP desktop was pretty cheap (I was just out of college when I bought it) and it has some ATI deal but it's a cheap one for sure.

I'm over it now though. These things tend to pass with time. LOL. Plus I'm still waiting on my webcam so there is something to look forward to. The UPS man is my best friend! I can't wait to get it. I researched it well and got the best one I could find for the money. The one that comes with the Sonys sucks really bad. If you are pretty it will make you look average and if your ugly you are really screwed. LOL.

 

Do you need a lodger, by any chance?