SZ v. FE (soon to be law student)

A year from now, I will be entering law school. I hadn't planned on buying a new laptop until then, but unfortunately my current one died and so I am left with little choice.

I am debating between an SZ (not sure if I can afford the premium though, given that portable one does not offer interest-free financing) and an FE690.

On one hand, the portability of the SZ is highly attractive. It likely wont come into play until I get to law school, but when I do, I'm sure I would greatly appreciate the extra mobility and deskspace in class. I'm pretty sure I could adapt to the keyboard, given the fixes posted for the spacebar problem, and I would most definitely have an LCD monitor for use at my desk.

On the other hand, I would not have to buy an external monitor for the FE, and it seems like they might be built a little sturdier. The keyboard is a little bigger but again, that probably isn't a huge deal for me. Additionally, the screen on the FE690 is probably better than the screen on the non-premium SZ.

All in all, is it worth paying the extra for the non-premium SZ over the FE690, or should I go with the FE unless I was planning on getting the premium SZ?

Thanks a ton in advance!

 

Don't cross forum post.
I'll answer in the correct forum.

 

What is a cross forum post? And where is the thread that contains the post that you're answering?

 

I also posted in the "What Notebook Should I buy" section. I was unaware of the cross-posting etiquette on this board, so I mistakenly posted in both. The other section contains Luminis' reply.

 

Ahhhh...ok. Well you should be ashamed of yourself illini! We're going to have to give you a time out now for making 2 posts... lol

I will check the other forum, thanks.

 

Meh .. To lazy to hunt down your other post, I use my FE everyday at uni and I have no problems with portability and the big screen is a huge bonus especially when reading.

 

What about battery?
I get 4+ hours optimized with standard battery @ 3.72lbs.
Sonystyle claims that the FE gets 2 - 4 hours with standard battery @ 6.17 lbs.
Optimized, that probably translates to 1.5 hours

 

By the way, why not get the Dell M1210?
It looks great, it's a media powerhouse, it's sufficiently portable,
Dell customer service and warantees are great.

 

Funny you mention that, my mother recently ordered that laptop through her company for work, and I made sure to try it out before anything considering that she absolutely loves it. For me, it was the smaller screen that did it partially, and on top of that it just didn't feel good to me personally - and I guess that's a large component of laptop purchasing. It works fantastically, and I would definitely highly reccomend it to others, provided that they like the general feel/look/that intuitive feeling that one gets about a laptop.

Good suggestion!

 

I have the FE, I get 4 hours with WiFi off and just typing and 3 hours with wifi on downloading heavily and typing.

 

Well Illini07, like I wrote in the other popular notebook forun (not just section of this forum) HaHaHa...
"Play with both for several weeks and pick the best one for your needs.

I think the bright screen on the premium is worth it, especially on those days your sitting outside enjoying the sun.
I have five laptops, even when there's a 17inch screen front of me I use the SZ. The size is no issue with me.
I work and play at a University, you want something for others to initiate conversation with you? (opposite sex) Get the SZ. FE guy in my lab gets no play, of course he's a goofy looking mofo."

 

If you like to play games once in a while, Id go with the FE, if not go with the SZ

 

^ The only advantages the FE would have in gaming are a larger and better screen

 

Haha TheBugman, that was a great post. I ended up buying the SZ280, and I couldnt be happier. Hopefully this euphoria lasts!

 

*choke* 3,000 dollars for a 280?
Did you happen to read the extensive guide I wrote for selecting models?
It would be considerably cheaper to buy a base premium model like the 250
and trick it out yourself... and I bet you bought direct, too :X

Man, the perks of growing up in a wealthy family...

 

-stifles a laugh- I know What you mean Nuntius I wrote a guide on expresscards and every other week i have to direct someone to it because they didnt bother having a look in the guide section. Cool AV by the way.

 

Well I should actually modify my statement. I DID buy direct, but get a load of this. I went in and I told them that I wanted the 250, to which he said sure, and rang it up, brought it out, and I did the whole financing paperwork deal.

When I got home and opened the computer, lo and behold, an SZ280 was sitting in my lap...I don't know HOW they screwed this one up, but I just got a 3,000 laptop for a rediculously good price. I never would have paid the amount for the 280, but if one falls into my lap like that, who am I to complain?

And by the way, my decision to purchase direct was a result of NOT growing up in a particularly wealthy family. A place like portableone offers no financing plans, whereas purchasing direct through sony gives me 18 months to pay off the laptop with no minimum payments and no interest. I don't have the immediate cash to drop on the machine, and that was exactly why I chose to purchase direct.

 

Check out the Asus W7J.

 

Hi NutiusLuminus,

I think the Dell M1210 is a great alternative too.

Just to add additional information for illini07 to help out.

Remember:
- M1210 is thick. It is what I have come to call the "ultrafat ultraportable"
- M1210 gives you more bang for your buck.
- M1210 is a tiny screen. If you enjoy looking at 12" screens, it's a good thing. If you've been looking at the FE because of a bigger screen, 12" isn't going to cut it.
- M1210 is smaller than the SZ, but not lighter. So the SZ gives you a bigger screen and keyboard without the sacrifice of lugging around something heavier. (The FE is heaver than both the M1210 and SZ)

The Sony SZ 23 has great bang for buck value. The premium version offers almost nothing more than looks. (And you're paying dearly for that...)
For the premium version, I'll summarise it as:
1) Fingerprint reader. (Depends on whether you want to use such things.)
2) Trusted Platform. Essentially means now the computer manufacturer can decide what can go onto your machine or not. (It's trusted platform for them, not you.)
3) Magnesium cover. Really cool looking and probably the only reason why you'd want a premium. Go for it if you have the cash...
4) It is slightly lighter. (About 8% lighter)

 

So you're being dishonnest and proud of it?

What would have happened if they made the same mistake and you received a 250 when you ordered the 280? you would have went back, scream at the guy and get what you ordered.

They made a mistake and you should do the right thing

 

I'd advice you to do the "right thing" too, but mainly for the sake of your warranty. If you don't this is going to come back when you need service from Sony one day. You want to keep the SZ280 but if you do you should pray that you never ever need help from Sony because then this one won't turn out well.

 

Nope the FE now has a 7600, the sz still has a 7400

 

Well, that's not a big difference. Games will run slightly better, but battery lifetime, build quality, materials, weight and size as well as screen sharpness all speak for the SZ.

 

I'd have to disagree and say that the 7600 and 7400 are a significant difference. The 7600 is about twice as powerful as the 7400. While the FE has a "larger" screen, I wouldn't necessarily say it is "better" screen than the premium SZ.

 

Huh? How do you know this?
I was mistaken because SonyStyle's custom model is still stuck with the 7400.

 

No its not, it gives you the option for integrated or 7600

 

Yup rhcpcrony Is right Sony havent had the 7400 for over a month now, its either 7600 or integrated.

 

I would say that FE screen IS BETTER then any screen on SZ.
And S-Video on FE also IS BETTER then on SZ (where it is absent).
But, FE with power adapter ~ 3,3 kg against 2,5 kg SZ with power brick.

 

I'll be entering law school, hopefully Fall 2007.

My current laptop is a 15.4 inch. Well, I should say my old one, because I bought a SZ250pc form portable-one. I wanted to move away from the old way I used my laptop. Which was, because it was so heavy I didn't take it with me everywhere. I also stopped and evaluated the trade off between carrying and the chance I would use it. Hence to say, occasionally I would be on campus with an hour or two between classes, unexpectedly, and wish I'd brought it.

The SZ is portable enough that I can carry it with me in my bookbag fulltime. Also the widescreen is nice for having an outline on the screen and the document you are writing at the same time. IN wordL >Format >frames >new frame.

I attend seminars/symposia/talks at Yale Law whenever they have an event open to the public. 50% or more of people in any given lecture will be on their laptop. And desk space IS at a premium.

-PHiZ