Review: Sony Vaio SA

Ok, this is one of my ridiculously long posts, but I have been agonizing over the same choices and dilemmas most of the people on this thread have and I have thought it through to some conclusions that, at least for me, seem to maximize the user experience while minimizing the tradeoffs, including cost. If you're not interested in my thoughts, scroll right past


Personally, I'm sticking with my Z13 for now because, as Computer Cowboy put it best, (paraphrasing): "it's the best laptop ever made!" But I really don't want it to be my primary traveling machine because much of what I love about it is its classy aesthetics, and I am convinced I would soon add too many scratches and dents if I slung it around on my typical business trips.

Thus, I need to buy ultraportable #2 for durability, though, spoiled as I am, I want most of the virtues of the Z, but will sacrifice aesthetics and some amount of screen quality in exchange for durability, updated components (SB, msata, 6gbs SATA, etc) and price (see just below). Increasingly inescapable conclusion: Thinkpad X220. Yes, they are barkin-ugly, but are at least fully acceptable in all circles (just squint your eyes when you look at it yourself, lol) and the screen resolution is a come-down (I have not seen a definitive test of the color space of the x220 IPS panel, but people giving qualitative reviews seem to regularly use terms like "beautiful colors of the IPS display," as if IPS technology improves color space whereas i thought it only improves viewing angles - true or not?) Does anyone know how the color accuracy/gamut on the x220 IPS display holds up to the Z's 900p? Everything else about the X200 seems to shout: "I'm what you need even though you don't want to admit it!" And I do resent the loss of style, brilliant screen, discrete gpu and, for my uses, on board DVD. But given SB power, msata slot, 6gbs SATA, battery life (nowhere near as long as initial PR and media lapdog reports, but 6 hrs on 6 cell and 8+ on 9cell is fine), in the final analysis it comes down to this:

$878 shipped for base, thoroughly acceptable Core i5 2410 version and $1,120 for "loaded" Core i7 with 2 yr ADH and most other extras Lenovo up-charges for (BT, camera, 6205 wifi, 9V battery; no SSD or GOBI for now). I think that, to choose an SA, you gotta really want to game - on a 13" laptop with an ugly screen - or have $700-$900 to spare for a better looking - but far from Z-class styling - laptop if you need a "working" rig that's light, powerful and versatile.

So for me, it's 2 superb ultraportables - with significantly different virtues - for the price of a well-equipped SA that isn't as durable as the X220 nor has remotely the screen caliber and classy styling of the current Z1. Also, call me crazy (you wouldn't be the first, by decades!) but I like the idea of having two rigs with very different feels to alternate between. Kind of like owning a new Subaru SUV (the Thinkpad) and a gently used, but gorgeous BMW/Audi/Jaguar roadster (the other computer ). And the great backup tools, cloud storage and tiny, fast external HDDs make the switching effortless.

I have been quoted saying "I wouldn't be caught dead using a Thinkpad!" but I have not imminent plans to leave this earth - with or without my uggy black rubber lappy.

 

Gaming isn't a big thing. 1600x900 would be nice though. Going to go try to look at both today.

That's a solid plan but for me I just want one laptop that can do it all. X220 seems like a great machine but screen is too small for the only computer I'll be using and... well, the looks. haha

 

For most people, having 2 laptops for what 1 laptop can do is absurd. Personally I would rather have just 1 laptop but it could be an option for dyz but just not the 2 laptops you're saying.

I'll also comment on your perception about the SA and its screen; it's subjective. To say you would buy a refurbished Z just for the screen and a Thinkpad for everything else is not something I would recommend; why pay $999 for a screen?

People look for things that do everything, look at the iPhone: The phone part is not the selling feature, it's the consolidated features of having a media player, downloadable applications, and organization tools. Like the iPhone (I'm not saying the SA is an iPhone), the SA has everything someone would need.

Took to long to write that You posted what I said.

On a side-note, do you plan on using the laptop for any design or programming? I would recommend the higher-res SA then because of the res; more area to work is great for productivity. If you don't then the SB would be just as good.

 

Again, except for a good quality screen.

My recommendation: For gaming and desktop use, get a 220$ Dell U2311H IPS screen which is a nice thing.

 

Again, it's subjective to people. If you had owned a Z or a higher screen quality laptop then yes, you would think that. However, most people have not owned or know what to look for in a quality screen.

It's all based on what you think or have previously owned to compare to.

 

Nope. I do like having multiple windows open side by side for note taking, browsing, etc. though.

Is the build quality on the SA any better than SB? Better build quality + 1600x900 resolution would be worth a few hundred extra to me... just not sure resolution alone is.

 

Check out the SA and SB at the Sony store if all possible. I've heard some people say different things about both in regards to build quality so check it out and see if anything sticks out to you. I would stick with the SB since you don't really NEED the extra work area but again, check out both laptops (at the same time if you can) and compare the quality for your own eyes. Should be the same materials.

 

I'd vote for a new thread!

The SA/SB/SC/SD owners' thread just has too many topics for one thread....and it will only get worse now that people are starting to receive their SA's.

 

And silent operation. Silence is priceless !
And express-card, good speakers, but those ones won't disturb me much

 

get the thinkpad x1, people are saying that it feels sturdier than the t420

and this video oh boy
YouTube - ‪Lenovo ThinkPad X1 laptop gets dropped from ceiling‬‏

 

I'm heading to the mall now to go look at an SA, SB, and MBP. Anything in particular I should be looking for? Don't know a ton about computers.

Still can't get over looks... Sweet video though.

 

Check some obvious things like the hinge on both laptops first or anything on the outside. Check the CD tray as well, above and below it; I recall some people say it feels "soft". Just try pushing a bit on the top or bottom of the laptop, I know some people worry that something might break if they grabbed it from that area or put weight on that area.

Next would be looking on the "inside"; look at the keyboard, palm rest, trackpad, etc. Get a feel for them and check if anything feels cheap or even if it feels good at all. Try asking the associates if they can play some sounds through the laptop speakers and compare the quality. Try a few other laptops as well to see if it's anything better or worse.

Check the screen as well: angles, colours, etc. You'll be looking at this to do everything so if you don't like it then your experience will not be a good one. I actually had the sales associate play a small video on the laptop to see how movies look. Just remember it's a sales pitch, try to act interested.. In a store with 20 people, I had 2 sales associates help me at the same time because I was asking questions and having a good time. I acted like I NEEDED this thing.

Generally, just try a dry run as if you owned the laptop and were taking it through some of its paces. You could also try and pretend to be a kid, they are always trying different things with objects to see how it works; push buttons, look in obscure angles, test everything.

 

went to take a look at sonystyle today. im in toronto, canada

is it just me or the hinges on these S laptops not as tight as say the Z?

also, while the SA has a dotted grid over the touchpad, it doesn't "feel" textured?

the SA has fingerprint scanner but SB doesn't. however, if i remember correctly when i was in hongkong a few months ago, the SB's in hongkong has fingerprint scanner already...

unfortunately all the S laptops in the sonystyle where user locked so screen-wise i can see nothing but the login screen

 

I'd bet you can drop almost every laptop flat on the ground like this. If this one lands on an edge, it disassembles itself in multiple parts for sure.

 

get an old laptop and do the test, however I dont believe that it would survive the fall

there is the tensile strength of the material, since it will bend against the point of impact, and then towards the point of impact.

silicon brittle when force is applied, not only the chassis needs to survive, but the components as well

I would give you this though, looking at the video Im not sure if angry birds was already running, if it was than the screen is ok, if not, the screen just leaked

 

Can't even begin to tell you how much this helped me. Thanks a ton man.

Went and checked out the SA, SB, and MBP. Honestly, on closer inspection I was not impressed with the SA or SB at all. Hinges were definitely not solid, that CD drive area is just terrible, yuck. So glad you guys talked me into checking them out in person. Although I did love the 1600x900 resolution on the SA.

Checked out the MBP and was really impressed. Seemed solid in every area and the screen seemed much better (though probably because it was glossy?). However, I'd prefer Windows than Mac, there's no HDMI (cord is only $40 though), and the video card sucks.

Also remember hearing something about the refresh MBP's aren't much of an improvement?

So are there any Sandy Bridge laptops built like an MBP that run windows and have a decent graphics card with 1600x900 resolution? Haha. Guess I could always run bootcamp but my preference for Windows isn't strong enough to bother if I did go the Mac route..

 

The SA is the closest you will get to that. Or maybe the LG P330 when it's out but it doesn't have the resolution. I guess the old Z counts as well. I doubt any of these will match the build quality you're after though

 

Seconded for new thread. The first post in the Owner's Thread is very confusing. It just gives a list of software and no instructions. Though I appreciate the effort, I think a lot of users here would find a clearer, more thorough walkthrough extremely helpful.

Hoping to see a Windows 7 Clean Install Guide for SA/SB/SC/SD Series soon!

 

Yea, I know.

Going to wait for the U36SD to come out and see how I feel about that...

 

U36SD, if it will stay like the predecessor, is a quite nice machine and a lot cheaper. But, it has really a terrible screen: glossy and dark. If people here say that the SA screen is crap, they shouldn´t even try to look at that one (but also lenovo t-series, elitebooks etc.).

 

Yea... there's too many options out there and none of them are perfect but I don't know which to get haha. Was hoping to buy one soon but it's a tough choice.

I really liked the Asus U35 and almost bought one before I decided to wait for SB...

 

I went to go look at the Sony SA and SB series at the Sony Store in Denver, CO. A salesman told me that they were giving away free noise cancelling earphones ($99 value) if you buy a SA or SB laptop. So if anyone is interested in that, you may want to check your local Sony store instead of ordering online.

 

True but work's only with preconfigured models in store. CTO guys are out of luck.

 

u36 isn't really that cheap with the price tag of $930 and within 6 month it will be like $699 or less while sony SB pry still be the same price.

u33jc is now $475 with rebate might be the best value out there...

 

Make sure you review noise cancelling versus noise isolating earphones in order to evaluate the real value of these $99 phones. The $199 advertised ($149 retail! ) free slice battery offer in Canada is a real value, these phones are not. (I'm in the US now, was in Canada last week).

 

My custom order wasn't eligable for those free headphone but I decided to go back to store to whine some more and the store manager gave me some additional discount on some accesories (BTW on top of my 20% off). Got a pretty good deal on Sony Bags.

 

I've read through everything here and feel like I know way too much about this laptop. I also feel like it's the one for me.

But I'd like to know, before I buy one: are there any 14" (or even 15") laptops that offer the same performance and resolution in a small/light package (5lb or under)? I love the SA but if I could get something comparable for cheaper, that would be awesome (as I don't "need" it to be a 13" laptop).

 

You can have either

1. Small/light, performance
or
2. Bigger, cheaper

Pick one!

If you want small, light, cheaper (but less performance), look at Lenovo U260 or Toshiba R835-P56x. Would have bought a U260 on the spot if it had come in a color besides baby-p**p brown or orange (wth was Lenovo thinking).

Like all things in life, you get what you pay for.

 

How come u got 20% off!!!

BTW I can't seem to get the 10% Education Store discount on my VAIO SA, pre-configured or not, even with a .edu account. Anyone know what's going on?

 

you might have to add a warranty plan before you get the 10% off.

 

There is an existing thread that's on getting discounts on the SA.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/585831-discounts-sa.html
Much further discussion on it would be better placed in that thread.

 

ah thanks for bringing that to my attnetion!

 

Anyone know the exact brand and type of the used RAM in the SA? Does it matter to get the exact same (dual channel or so)?

 

as long as its 1333mhz. latency CL?, think its 9

 

I upgraded mine with Samsung memory from Amazon - $47.99 for 4GB:

Samsung MV-3T4G4 4GB DDR3 Laptop SDRAM (1333MHz PC3-10600)

From what I read, many of the high-end laptop manufacturers use Samsung as OEM memory. This Samsung mem is 40nm and thus is supposed to use about 50% less power than 60nm - that's another reason I chose it.

When I opened my SA, it appeared that the SA onboard memory is Samsung chips. Markings and numbers on the onboard memory very similar to the new Samsung SO-DIMM. 95% sure it's the same as what I added.

In any event, it works fine - ran a couple passes of MemTest86+ v4.20. And WEI for mem is now 7.4.

But, no - it's not critical to get the same mem. But, the Samsung mem is only a few dollars more that Crucial, Patriot, etc. So, I'd recommend getting Samsung.

 

Yes, CL9. <10 char>

 

Thanks willysp, I will look into the Samsung RAM.

BTW: Why is there still no extensive test of the screen? Also some HQ Pics would be nice.

 

Re HQ screen pics - IMHO, not of much value unless the same person takes pics of 2 different screens using the same camera under the same lighting conditions at the same time.

The SA screen is fine straight on, but just average off-axis. About the same as my old FZ off-axis. My LG 26-inch Flatron is far, far better - but not very portable!

This is not the notebook for people who want a best-in-class screen for detailed photo/video purposes. It's quite fine for me and I'm happy with it; and I think the majority of users (not all) would feel the same way. For people who fell in love with the Z screen, and will now accept nothing less, they should pass on the SA, and wait for a new Z or look at the Lenovo IPS.

 

Went to Sony Building in Ginza to check out the Sony SA and SB. I have to say i dont like the hinge, the screen is so so. I didnt pay attention to screen before but after searching for a while, I realized to screen is pretty important. Compare to the XPS 1647's screen I am having now, SA's screen is not up to par. I dont hate it, but maybe I should go with the X1 or wait for the Z.

 

Have a look at Samsung Series 9 as well if you care for the screen. I was considering SA but screen was simply put pretty bad. I got Samsung last week and I'm loving it. The brightest and the most vibrant screen I have ever seen.

 

I'm assuming you were considering SA because of your "high-resolution needs". What is it like to use 1366*768? Did you have to change your habits?

 

The resolution is not that bad. If you are used to bigger resolutions then you have to get used to scrolling a bit more. It could make productivity worse depending on what you do (for me, coding and design so resolution is key).

 

Ok, i added a bunch of links to the 1st post, i basically went through this thread and pulled out the mini reviews/first impressions. Some people find it hard to follow long threads so now they only have to read the first page.

I see that in Germany a preconfig SA has been released.
VPCSA2Z9E (VPCSA2Z9E, VPCSA2Z9E/BI.G4) : Technische Daten : VAIO & weitere Computerprodukte : Sony
Hopefully notebookcheck or notebookjournal.de will review this in time.
I think really a least one high end model should come with a premium display. At those kind of prices some will expect it.
The hinge could also do with being rectifed now or with a revision 2 product i would hope that this issue that some people report is eliminated.

 

I was considering SA only because I thought it would have a higher quality display than SB not higher resolution display. I'm ok with 1366x768 resolution, I usually have hard time reading at higher resolutions. For me black levels, contrast, viewing angles and colors are the factors that make a screen good or bad. Unfortunately SA/SB is average or below average when those factors are considered. Samsung Series 9, Sony Z, Sony TT, Macbook air are all top notch as far as screen quality goes.

 

Just in: Sony SA in Sony HK Store

VPCSA25GG - Sonystyle.com.hk

http://www.sonystyle.com.hk/products/apps/product/simplePage.do?modelCode=_M033604&lang=en

 

And I would add the Samsung 9 is prolly the worst of that bunch.

 

why do you think so ? Every single magazine review or owner including me rave about the screen quality.

 

It has been there for a while, almost since the beginning of the SA CTO on the German site, The same goes for sony.fr

I just wonder why that is the only preconfig model at this point...
It`s way out of most peoples budgets and the people who can afford it want a more "premium" z-like quality...

 

It's alot cheaper than the VPCZ with 256 SSD...
The new Z will probably be with the same prices like the VPCZ.

 

It's weird that the SA is going with number "2" in Hong Kong.

So do you think it's the 2nd generation already? I know Sony goes fast with those numbers, like I got my FW11M and 2 months later there was already FW21 (if it isn't FW31).

If it's correct, I hope they fixed the loud fan noises that I read on forums here and hopefully the hard mouse buttons and other small improvements