The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    SZ2xx or Macbook?

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by T2k, Jan 25, 2007.

  1. T2k

    T2k Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    8
    Messages:
    148
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I know it's the Nth topic with this subject but I still need some 'reinforcement' againt my wife. :D She likes the Macbook better - she will be the main user, only at home - but SZ is a LOT lighter and if I occasionally travel - conventions, conferences etc - I'd take it and would love to have a stronger VGA to do certain things, let alone the ~2lbs weight difference (I'd buy the carbon version, it really matters when you walk around all day long in some remote city because no cabs around there.)
    Pricewise I don't really care but I noticed 2xx-series ones a tad cheaper and it seems the same as 3xx sans CPU.
    What I don't know is though how much faster a Core 2 Duo than a Core Duo - I know it's not x64 but who cares -, say 1.83GHz ones? I'm rather interested in real-world experiences, how the delta works out when it comes to real-world apps like video editing, encoding etc?
    TIA
     
  2. Spartan452

    Spartan452 Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Get the SZ you won't be disappointed, I bought a macbook and then I sold it because I didn't like its design, then I got the SZ its a very nice machine, you won't be disappointed, unless your dvd drive craps out like mine did.
     
  3. RedSensiStar

    RedSensiStar Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    178
    Messages:
    897
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    I think the MacBook is over priced for what you get. Starting at $1099 you get the C2D 1.8GHZ (ok good) but 512mb RAM (ok wtf). In addition, you get the horrible GMA950. Thinking about doing anything graphical? No good games here -- or serious anything, really.

    The SZ is just the better computer. It looks better. It performs better. And you get more for what you pay for, even if it is Sony.
     
  4. nyu3

    nyu3 Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    8
    Messages:
    89
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    The $1099 starting MacBook is waaaay better than the $1219 startin Vaio SZ, which comes with a CELERON M.

    However, Vaio SZ is nice in that you can configure it to be better than a MacBook. However, it will cost about $200 more than a MacBook. For many people, the $200 is worth it for lower weight and the Geforce 7400.
     
  5. elizabex

    elizabex Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    86
    Messages:
    424
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    The low weight and having the option of using a dedicated graphics card set the SZ apart from teh MacBook, IMO.
     
  6. T2k

    T2k Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    8
    Messages:
    148
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Isn't that covered by your warranty?
     
  7. T2k

    T2k Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    8
    Messages:
    148
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Now that's the point: are you sure? MB now has N support enabled, has a faster CPU etc.
    How is the camera compares to the Macbook ones?

    Hmmm... ;)
     
  8. T2k

    T2k Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    8
    Messages:
    148
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    PCG-6L2L - is this SZ260P or SZ260P/C? :confused:

    TIA
     
  9. Bomfunk

    Bomfunk Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    3
    Messages:
    210
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    You also want to take into consideration where you want to use the laptop. Macbooks tend to get extremely hot, so usage on the lap is definitely not comfortable. the SZ are known to be quite cool regarding temperatures.
     
  10. T2k

    T2k Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    8
    Messages:
    148
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Thanks for all the answers! We just got a 260P which appears to be 260P/C but I'm not sure, hence my question about the model number here and about differences in my other topic...
     
  11. elizabex

    elizabex Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    86
    Messages:
    424
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    There have been topics about the P/C distinction here ---- my SZ's box, which I'm looking at right now, says 360P/C.. but my laptop says 360P on it.
     
  12. T2k

    T2k Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    8
    Messages:
    148
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Yep, mine looks to me the same case: black/charcoal casing but only says 260P. In fact since it's a retail-only model Sony doesn't even list 260P/C on its support page...