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    SR290 or Z540 or about same price?

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by WillEat4F00d, Jan 4, 2009.

  1. WillEat4F00d

    WillEat4F00d Notebook Enthusiast

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    I kind of stuck between those two laptops.

    The SR290 specs are:
    P8400 2.26
    3GB DDR2 Ram
    320GB 5400 RPM
    HD 3470 w/ 256MB DDR3 vRam
    Price: $1000 USD shipped.

    The Z540 specs are:
    P8400 2.26
    2GB DDR3 Ram
    120GB 5400 RPM
    Price: $1150 USD shipped.

    The only reason I'm hesitating to buy the Z is because I'm scared to change the HDD since 120GB is no where enough for me. Thx.
     
    WillEat4F00d, Jan 4, 2009
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  2. pardes3

    pardes3 Notebook Evangelist

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    where are you seeing that price for a Z ?

    is that from sonystyle ? coupon?

    BTW: I would recommend Z..
     
    pardes3, Jan 4, 2009
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  3. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Both are very good.

    Personally I prefer the glossy screen on SR. And I prefer the weight of the Z.

    There is a guide on this forum on how to upgrade the hard drive on the Z.
     
    Phil, Jan 4, 2009
    #3
  4. WillEat4F00d

    WillEat4F00d Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yes, it's from SonyStyle with coupon and student discount.
    All of the guides I see are for the Sony Z1, which from what I can tell, is not the same laptop. I might be wrong or not be looking enough.
     
    WillEat4F00d, Jan 4, 2009
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  5. adamj023

    adamj023 Notebook Deity

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    Where is best place to buy a Sony now that the existing promotion has expired?

    SonyStyle promo ends Jan 6th and the rebate/promo while expired, wont officially terminate till Jan 31.

    The Sony VAIO SR290PDB is out of stock and on backorder till next week.

    While on the other hand a notebook like Toshiba U400 or U405 with P8400 CPU has loads of inventory.

    Seems like everyone wants the Sony SR or Z Series. But with promos in effect, inventory is still hard to get on the SR and I bet the Z as well.

    Been checking inventory for p8400 based notebooks with ATI and it seems like there is not one in stock right now for the good ones as significant numbers of people are even backordering them.
     
    adamj023, Jan 4, 2009
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  6. WillEat4F00d

    WillEat4F00d Notebook Enthusiast

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    Besides the problem with changing the HDD, that's another reason I'm considering the SR. With the Z540 CTO, the "estimated" shipping date is 1/20 and school starts on the 14. With the SR, I would get it within a week because it's in stock.

    Now I'm kind of thinking about the new Macbook too...
     
    WillEat4F00d, Jan 4, 2009
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  7. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Keep in mind though that the screens on Sony have better contrast than the Unibody Macbook. If you want a Macbook with a similar quality screen as Sony you need to get a Macbook Air or Pro.

    There is a long thread about Sony Z vs. Macbook here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=311652&highlight=sony+Z

    There is no difference in exchanging the hard drive.
     
    Phil, Jan 4, 2009
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  8. pardes3

    pardes3 Notebook Evangelist

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    Will: I am logged in with my student account and yet Z with the config you mentioned above along with the coupon comes out to 1099 + 8.25% tax.

    Can you tell me how are you getting it for 1150 shipped?
     
    pardes3, Jan 4, 2009
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  9. WillEat4F00d

    WillEat4F00d Notebook Enthusiast

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    For me, the subtotal is $1099.99, plus tax is $48.89. The total is $1148.88. The tax for me is only ~4.5%.
     
    WillEat4F00d, Jan 4, 2009
    #9