Recommend A VAIO Model For Me

Hello. I am looking for a new laptop for college and I wanted to ask you all if you could kindly help me find me the best VAIO model that fits my needs.

A little about myself and my preferences:

• College student, computer science major
• Will be programming lots, mainly graphics and game programming
• Loves watching movies, especially in crisp, smooth detail
• Wants a light computer that I can take around fairly easily
• Not a big gamer for the PC, but I would like to run games like StarCraft 2 smoothly
• Big multitasker, so I will probably be running several apps
• Wants a light computer that I can take around fairly easily

My price range is around $1000-$1400. Please help me find a VAIO model that fits to most of my needs as well as how I should customize it (if I should upgrade anything like the processor, etc.). I have done research on several of the models, but I want feedback from other Vaio owners as well so I would love to hear your input and any user experience.

Thank you very much and I appreciate any help!

 

You aren't going to get all of your preferences for 1400 bucks. Not unless you go second hand or find some unbelievable deal on something like a Z series which is ordinarily so far out of your price range it hurts.

The difficult ones to get are running Starcraft 2 whilst still being light. We all have different ideas of what light is but to me less than 2 kilos and 14" or smaller is what I'd call portable and it needs switchable graphics if you also want it to run any current games otherwise your battery life will be terrible. Anything bigger than that and carrying with one hand becomes uncomfortable, it'll be bigger than a narrow A4 ringbinder and so you'll have trouble cramming it in a rucksack.

Sony don't make a notebook that can be considered a true gamer since the fastest gpu in a Sony right now is nVidia GT425M in the F series and Radeon HD5650 in the E series, both of which are roughly equivalent to a desktop Radeon HD4670 or a Geforce 9600GT except with DX11 support. Forget about running DX11 tricks like tessellation though because it simply creams even the fastest mobile gpus like the GTX480M. To put it into perspective, a GTX480M isn't even going to keep up with a desktop HD5770.

Either way, if SC2 is a must you are really looking at a mid range mobile gpu at the very least like the HD5650, GT330M or GT425M which are the ones you will find on Sony notebooks.

I notice that your preferences don't include style either because if you buy Sony it is something you will pay for whether you care about it or not. You may want to look at the smaller Dell XPS range if you can forgoe Sony's typically beautiful industrial design but I hear they are quite heavy for their size. In terms of specifications only you can customise an XPS 14" or 15" with vastly better graphics than any Sony for alot less money.

 

I agree, choosing sony is literally paying for the brand and design when you compare with other laptops that offers equivalent specs at cheaper price. However, if you still want a vaio, the EA series should fit your demands.

At 14", it would be okay in terms of portability. Intel® Core™ i5-580M with HD5650 should be enough to run games. RAM and HDD you can probably DIY at a cheaper price than from Sonystyle. If you are desperate for an Full HD screen, you have to switch to the 15" EB series, although I would not prefer it if you going to carry it frequently on you.

I believe that in US you have free shipping as well as student discount (unlike EU...). So I think your budget is well enough for the configuration I suggested above. Good Luck!