On the verge of getting an SZ360

Hi,
I'm on the verge of ordering an SZ360 off Amazon.
Im getting it in the US, and having it brought over to Israel (where I live) by a friend.
Seeing as it's bought abroad, I won't have any warranty on it in Israel, I'd like everyone (who knows of course) to be honest with me, how much of a risk am I taking?
I will be able to fix it here and there but it will cost me, so if I get a faulty unit, I'm in deep s**t, how likely is that to happen?
Any random comment on the SZ360 will be appriciated too of course.
Thanks.

 

Another question, seeing as the SZ360 is still not released on Amazon, I might have to get the SZ370. is WWAN the only difference?
I have absolutely no use for it in Israel, but could it actually be a problem for me? rather than just something I don't use.

 

amazon's showing me as in stock.

I had my sz360 ordered last week from sonystyle last week, she should ship tomorrow... w00t!

 

That's not amazon it's another reseller selling through amazon and they probably don't have anywhere near as good of a return policy (.I am buying one too once amazon gets them in stock.

 

Well if Sony ship's them tomorrow maybe Amazon will have them by the weekend? really pushing it here, My friend comes back over here in the 18th, I'd order through one of those resellers they have but those don't have 1/2-day shipping (costs me only 3$ from Amazon while I have my Amazon Prime trial) and I'm afraid ordering from them will see my notebook arrive after my friend's left the states...
Does the 370 have that antenna sticking out of it?

 

I checked actually, they do not plan to have any until december 6 (.Yes the 370 does have the antenna, that's why I am not buying it.

 

Dec 6? bloody hell!
How did you get that info, emailed them?
Looks like I'll have to spend a couple of hundred more and get it from one of their marketplace website, Jr computer or something, they have expedited shipping...

 

I bought mine (sz360) a week ago from J&R in NY, they have it in stock.

btw yair, a friend of mine also bought it for me, and then carry it to israel..

 

Are you in Israel then?

 

I bought mine (sz360) a week ago from J&R in NY, they have it in stock.

btw yair, a friend of mine also bought it for me, and then carry it to israel..

 

yep..
wow, that was a quick responses

 

How do you like it so far?
Weren't you afraid to get a laptop in the US with no warranty in Israel?

 

regarding the risk... how lucky are you with computer hardware?...

I've either been pretty lucky, or simply take care of my gear better than others. I'm going for the sz360 because my Vaio v505bl has been a truly excellent laptop for the past two years as my regular-12-hour-days devlopment workstation. I've opened it up a few times to clean the dust and things, and it was really well made... so I'm going Sony Vaio again.

...but, as good as my luck has been (only had one or two computer harware items fail *ever*)... that is not the same record for other people.

 

I could say I'm very lucky, and get my laptop in Israel in 12 different pieces, so I won't comment on that
All in all I believe I shouldn't have any unsual problems, I won't be traveling too far with it, just College and maybe Work, both are pretty close.
Don't get me wrong, there are places in Israel I could have it fixed if something happend, I'll just have to pay for it.
And in the worst case scenario, I can always send it with someone who's flying to the states, It'll just take some time, at this point in my life, I will be able to afford time without my laptop.

 

Just hit the trigger, may god be with me.

 

Israel may just be the best place for that.

 

Yea, you'd think...
Anyway, I just realised my last post makes it looks as if I had just shot somebody
So just in case the police is tracking these forums, I didn't.

 

Good luck. I'm sure there will not be any problems with your new Vaio.

 

I am looking forwrd to more responses because I am looking to buy one end of next month.

 

Well, my laptop arrived in Boston yesterday, very fast shipping from J&R.
Should be here next friday...

Gives me time to think about whether I am going to try and make a clean install or just uninstall all the crap and clean the registry.
Any thoughts?

 

I would suggest burning your backup DVD then uninstalling the junk and then run a reg cleaner (I use Winshampoo). I've tried both methods on my SZ and Thinkpad T60 and even though it's not quite perfect the reg clean method works fairly well. You'll spend way too many frustrated hours doing a clean install. You just have to make sure you only uninstall the apps...if you accidentally uninstall one of the necessary Sony quasi crapware programs you'll loose some functionality. Good luck.

 

Thanks,
Has anyone ever made a list of all the crap the comes with the SZ, and listed what should/shouldn't be kept?

 

Here is a software list pulled from the SZ370 specs and as you can tell I'm not a fan of most of the installed software.


Sony Original Software
SmartWi™ Connection Manager
Click to DVD® - DVD Creation
DVgate Plus™ - Digital Video
Sonic Stage Mastering Studio™ - Audio Mastering and Remastering
SonicStage® - Digital Music
VAIO Media™ - Network File Sharing
Image Converter - PSP Transfer
60-minute Trial Version of Wheel of Fortune®
60-minute Trial Version of Jeopardy®
60-minute Trial Version of DaVinci Code and Bewitched Games

Supplied Software
Microsoft® Digital Imaging Starter Edition 60-Day Trial Version
Intuit® Quicken® 2006 New User Edition (previous Quicken users may require additional upgrade)
InterVideo® WinDVD®
Microsoft® Works 8.5 with 60-Day Trial Version of Microsoft® Office 2003171 (Small Business Edition)
Roxio® DigitalMedia SE

Anti-Virus Recovery Software
Norton® Internet Security™ 60-Day Trial
TrendMicro™ Anti-Spyware 30-Day Trial
Iolo® System Mechanic 30-Day Trial
VAIO® Security Center
VAIO® Update software
VAIO® Recovery Wizard software
VAIO® Support Central

Internet Services
AOL® Online - 180 - Day Trial - new users only.

 

So you'd get rid of everything except those 2? what was that about losing functionality then?

 

Another one regarding the SZ, I've got 2x1 gig of 667 ram, is there a point in installing it? the SZ still doesn't support 667 right?

 

There is quite a bit more installed than those listed above. The ones above are just the mostly useless software apps. Apps such as the power manager, shared library, etc. need to stay. Basically, you can remove the all of the apps in the list above and not have any problems. I would keep the DVD player and wireless app because they are useful. Anything else listed in the add/remove control panel you probably want to keep.

 

Ya, the whole fourm said SZ Bios doesn't allow ram run on 667

No one really answer your question on the first page, does SZ370 have antenna stick out?

So the difference between 360 and 370 is the antenna?

Wouldn't that antenna be useful just for normal wireless lan, like stronger signal?

I still don't understand whats the big diff between 360, 370, 381, 390... Soooo confusing....

 

From what I understand:
1. Yes, the only difference between the 360 and the 370 is the antenna (i.e the wireless WAN), so that's a yes on antenna sticking out on the SZ370.
2. No idea if it's useful for anything other than wwan.
3. 370 = 360 with wwan.
381 = higher level of premium, or whatever, basically, it has better specs than the regular premium and a better/stronger/lighter(?) build (maybe just the lid though) too I think.
390 = cuztomisable version of the premium SZ (360/370 version, not 381, I think)

 

three cases... magnesium, carbon, premium carbon.

only difference between the "carbon" and "premium carbon", is the finish of the "carbon" is painted, but for premium carbon, they put a little extra into the process in making the clear gel coat that allows the actual carbon to show through on the lid. Same weight, etc etc. The gel coat would be more expensive process to make the finish, or possibly, having a grading system on how the carbon looks after curing, selecting those that go "premium"... 'unno really. But I do know laying up carbon so it looks nice in its raw form isn't trivial.

the 381 and the 390 are the only "premium carbon" models... the 390 being the one if you want your own customised specs.

The 360-370 thing is right... 370 is just the added WAN, and no, the antenna isn't handy for anything else. both 360 and 370 are "carbon" models.