SZ-360P/C VS. SZ-381P/X (Which One)

I haven't been on for awhile because I was getting my money together to buy a premium SZ-Duo notebook......so my question is:

-What are the differences between the SZ-360 and SZ-281 I know there both premium and that one has the "weave" carbon and the other the regular carbon etc. but is there anything else different?
-Do you think t I should buy the SZ381 or should I get the 360?
I am planning to upgrade to Vista.
I'm just nost sure whether the upgrade from 120GB to 160GB or from 2.0Ghz to 2.16ghz is worth the almost 600$ difference b/cause I would want the 2.33GHZ but its only available in Japan.

 

Get the 350 or 360.
I am GUESSING the 370, 380, and 381 will have WWAN, SmartWii,
the antenna, and tons of extra related bloatware.
Plus, Sony's going to charge you tons more for the extra processor
speed and RAM--totally not worth it.

 

That's why I may probably go with geekstuff4U; you can stick with the 120 or even a 100 Gig HD and get only 1 Gig of RAM with your 2.33 Ghz CPU on the premium and choose carbon or carbon weave top. I need to check their references though at resellerratings.com...anybody here done business with them?

I agree; I don't think you have to pay for the Cingular EDGE with the SZ360 model like the others

 

I'm considering the SZ at Geekstuff4u as well. I didn't see anything on
resellerratings though. Will try Google.

 

I almost considered GeekStuff4U when I got my SZ90, but ultimately went with Dynamism because I already had 2 laptops from them. Great service.

I've heard good things about GeekStuff4U as well. In fact, most of the importers are exemplary in their service and support. The thing about Dynamism is they are here in the USA and if you have a problem, it may be easier to deal with.

YMMV of course.

 

If Dynamism can give me the same deal at $2903 or within $100 of that which I priced at Gekkstuff I will go with them.

Premium w/ carbon weave
120 Gig HD
1 Gig RAM
2.33 Ghz
BT 2.0 EDR

 

Same specs I'm looking at. Let us know how it goes Buddy. I have a feeling Dynamism is gonna want more than that. They list the SZ91 for $2900 with only 512 ram, 60gb hd etc.

 

E-mail them. My SZ was a special order since it was not their standard build.

They'll get you a quote.

If you plan on going to 2GB of memory on your own, I'd go with 512MB of RAM, and if your're upgrading to a faster HD (the 120/160 is 4200rpm I think), go with the smallest HD possible.

 

Does anyone know where I can get the SZ-370? Is sony going to offer it? And is there another 13.3 inch Sony laptop coming out? I have heard alot of speculation that it is going to be in the lineup by october.

 

The SZ370 is already in the CompUSA stores although their website still may not show they sell it. I almost got one but I decided I wanted a higher Ghz like a 2.33 imported SZ but I may settle for a 2.16.

I've noticed on a barefeats (Mac) graphic a higher Ghz CPU can aid in faster graphics regarding games using the same GPU. I think the Geforce 7400 is going to need all the help it can get. Check it out here:

http://www.barefeats.com/mbcd2.html

Oops; disregard the above paragraph; I forgot Apple hamstringed the ATI in the 15" model, so pitting it against a 17" with the same model ATI is unfair I suppose. But if anyone has any info on graphics with a higher CPU I would be interested. Could be there would be no improvement in gaming with a 2.16 or 2.33 as compared with say a 2.0 Ghz CPU.

 

The merom 2.0Ghz is very fast already. You don't need a faster CPU for Geforce go 7400. For example, Windows Vista RC1 tested my SZ370 and the score for merom 2.0Ghz is 4.9 and Geforce go 7400 is only 3.3.

You won't get much improvement in your gaming experience even you buy a faster CPU. The bottleneck is the graphic card, not CPU in SZ series.

 

I recently ordered my UX90ps from geekstuff4u and it had been great. It was cheaper there because I didn't have to get an Eng XP Pro but dynamism forces you to get. I didn't feel like paying twice to Microsoft for a Japanese and English copy.

 

I have taken FenderP's advice and sent Dynamism this e-mail:

Hello,

I see at www.geekstuff4U.com they have the new Core 2 Duo Sony SZ3 model for $2903 which is configured with

Premium carbon weave top
2.33 Ghz Core duo 2
120 Gig Hard drive
Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
1 Gig RAM
English Windows XP

http://www.geekstuff4u.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=411

Can you give me your price with the same configuration and a time frame when to expect it?
They are charging about $60 for shipping. Can you give similar shipping charge?

Thanks,
Bill

If no reply by tomorrow I may go with Geekstuff if no nifty upgrades in Macbooks or MPB's.

 

Dynamism says they can price match Geekstuff so I may go with them.

 

Seems like the price of both Dynamism and Geekstuff is about $500 higher than directly from sonystyle, true? Am I missing anything here?

 

First configure the 2.33 Ghz models from Geek/Dynamism with 2 Gig RAM and all other specs similar to the Sonystyle SZ381 which is $3200, BUT remember the SZ381 only has a 2.16 Ghz Processor.

Sonystyle does not include the 2.33 Ghz processor which is about $300 more from Geekstuff. Sonystyle charges $350 for an upgrade to that processor if you do it by configuring the customizable SZ340.

Geekstuff is seemingly saving you $50 not only in the processor but they charge no tax, which can be around $180 more depending where you are in the U.S. So I would be saving about $230 by not buying from Sonystyle.

Dynamism says they will match prices.

Geekstuffs fully equipped SZ with Merom 2.33 Ghz comes to $3500.
Sonystyles SZ381 is $3200 plus $350 if they put in a 2.33 Ghz CPU, but they won't. Advantage: Geekstuff/Dynamism, to say nothing of the tax you have to pay with Sonystyle. But if you aren't looking for a 2.33 Ghz laptop then stick with Sonystyle, CompUSA, etc.

 

Adding 1GB ram costs $125 on sonystyle but $450 on geekstuff, I was wondering why that is.

 

Get the weaved version and buy an OEM copy of WXP and reinstall. 'Tis what I did.

 

what's a "weaved version"? the one from sonystyle?

 

Remember that different countries have different pricing for options.

Also, unless it's changed, Sony Japan gives you a 3 year warranty standard on the SZ (my SZ90 had one). In the USA you pay for that.

In the end, it's a bit of a wash. The Japanese one would still win out because for basically the same price, you're getting a better piece of kit.