SR or CS, what made you decide to get either?

Currently I'm torn between getting either of these models. I'm wondering what the deciding factor was for any of you to get either model. I see a lot more SR users on here so I imagine that the majority of responses will be in favor of the SR, but please, I'd like to hear from CS owners as well.

Right now the biggest factor pushing me in favor of the SR over the CS is the LED backlit screen. What made you decide? Are you happy with the decision?

 

The quality of the screen and the fact that is has HDMI make the
SR the winner for me.

The fact that it's a LED screen isn't very important for me. Quality is.

 

So the SR screen quality is noticeably better?

 

Yes. Real life contrast is around 500:1 while the CS has 165:1. Brightness is also a lot better.
http://www.notebookjournal.de/tests/sony-vaio-vgn-cs11s-q-719/5

 

Hm... isn't the CS a slightly heavier 14.1" with Santa Rosa refresh, whereas the SR is a 13.3" using Montevina?

 

CR is Santa Rosa, CS is Montevina.

 

I choose the SR for size/portability. I would of got the Z, but I couldn't budget another $700+ for the same hardware specs.

 

CS is too big and heavy for a 14".

 

Thanks for the clarification.

Yea, if I hadn't bought my Z, I'd have gotten the SR. I'm all for portability.

 

I saw both in real life and I would say the CS looks like it is designed for women as how SonyStyle website seems to market it. The SR is sleeker and agressive while the CS is more curvy and elegant.

 

the looks... SRs "LOOK" prestiges, IMO better looking than Z other than the premium carbon. It also has a perfect laptop screen size 13'3, which isn't too small nor too big. Also the great insides of course. If you don't care about the screen size/prestige looks than go with the CS. But most definately the SR is worth the value.

 

I HAD a CS, i was also torn between the two models. After a week the CS went back. Too Heavy, Seemed slow for some reason, i liked the 14" screen, and even the look of the black unit, but i did think it was too glossy as well. I have an SR on order, just waiting for it to arrive. should be alot lighter and nicer i believe

 

Maybe because of the bloatware. You'll find that on the SR too. In case you didn't know, you can remove the bloatware or do a clean install.

 

Went for the SR for the following reason.

13.3 smaller than 14.1 would translate into some power saving and longer battery life
SR definitely looks much better than the CS. i definitely dig the cylindrical hinge with glowing power button look
SR almost looks liike the Z
P8400 processor, ATI graphics with HDMI etc
SR is lighter than the CS

 

All compelling arguments, and all things that were already pushing me towards an SR. I do agree that the CS seems more ladylike, even the black is a bit to shiny. And screen quality being subpar is a big negative for me.

 

i did a clean install without bloat ( see my thread on that ).. still wants very good.

 

Just to add, CS screen quality is par. SR screen quality is stongly above par.

Unfortunately there seem to be different panels going around in the SR, not all of them are as good as the best one (which is Toshiba as far as I know).

 

My wife's SR just arrived (Tuesday) and this is why she went with the SR. It has to be light or I'll be lugging it around.

Its interesting - my wife looked at both the CS & SR and preferred the SR. As they both came in her preferred color (pink) I think it boiled down to weight/portability. I may have pushed her to the SR a bit (better GPU & HDMI) though.