SZ330 checked out at Best Buy

I must say the fit and finish of the SZ330 was very good for a PC laptop, though not in the same league with my 17" Powerbook. Too bad there is so much going on with the MBP's these days. The heat, whine and random shut down issues of the Macbook just don't cut it for me, as I am sure many of you felt the same way when you shopped for a laptop. I don't feel like taking a chance, getting a lemon and then have to swap it out two or three times or more before I get a perfect one. Yes, they say Apple will make it right but not after 5 or six times; no thanks.

Anyway I burned a Doom 3 demo onto a CD and snuck it into BestBuy and tried it in the SZ330. I was pleased with the quality. On auto settings it set itself to 640x480 but I cranked it up to 800x600 and it ran very well and looked good. Even on High Quality 1024x768 there was a bit of flicker with framerates but it was entirely playable. The Bestbuy reps caught on to what I was doing and they didn't mind; in fact most were as impressed as I was. But I did not get into any fighting, just walking and getting weapons. I am not a heavy gamer but it's nice to know the capability is there if I need it.

If I had to choose between the Macbook and the SZ I would certainly choose the SZ. The Macbooks biggest set back for me, besides it quirky design is the lack of a decent GPU. I may pick an SZ up next week if I can sell my T250 to a neighbor for $800.

 

Good luck with the SZ. When you said "lack of a decent GPU" are you talking about the MacBook or the MacBook Pro? The only reason I ask is that the MacBook Pro has an X1600, which although underclocked is still a better performer than the SZ's GeForce 7400. And of course the regular MacBook is in the budget range, similar to the upcoming Sony C series.

Just as a general point, I understand what you're saying, but no laptop is going to be guaranteed to not have some problem or other.

If I was deciding between the MBP or MB and the Sony, I would just base my decision on which laptop did everything I needed and I preferred using. Personally I lean towards the MBP because I like OS X more (and also appciate the idea that I can also install Windows on it, getting the best of both worlds) and I like having a more powerful GPU than the SZ. If I didn't care about OS X though, I could definitely see getting the SZ though. My last laptop was a Vaio S360 and it was generally OK, but I just didn't really like using it as much as I did when I owned an iBook..... which is why my next purchase will likely be a MacBook Pro.

I'm not particuarly concerned about the issues you described above because it seems like many of them have been worked out, or at least can be worked out if they come up again. I just don't personally make my buying decisions based on the odds of getting a "lemon", really..... I do base them though on how easy the company is to deal with if something does go wrong, and historically speaking I've found dealing with Apple to be a lot easier than dealing with Sony.

 

Not looking for guarantees of perfection; I just think the odds are better getting a working laptop from Sony. I read of people eventually getting it right after sending in a Mac laptop more than a few times. Eventually Apple gets it right. I know it's not just talk of people getting their laptop more damaged than before though. Doesn't look like things have changed much from what I've been reading. My personal experience of getting my Ti book back six times with additional damage is enough for me. Sure they get it right...eventually. The least the techs can do is keep the removed laptop screws from under the laptop lid while working on it; hence reports of scratches are still comming in years after the same thing happened to mine.

In any case my decision to get an SZ is not final. I feel sure, some of the MPB problems have been improved upon, but in spite of what some seem to believe with Sonystyle service I have had excellent results with them.

As you say it depends on what one's needs are. My 17" Powerbook works just fine for what I need. In my case an upgrade from my Sony T250 to an SZ may be the only choice for lightweight 13" with a decent GPU. But like I say nothing is in stone. Who knows; a revised MBP with Merom and other reliability improvements may do the trick, though I would prefer something smaller. Apple's quality control needs improvement though IMHO.

I really need something lightweight and 13" or under with a GPU. Sony seems the only choice at the moment in that category.

And yes, I do base my purchase decision on my odds getting a lemon; quality control is important to me. If the odds were better getting a certain laptop with no dead pixels compared to other models I would more seriously consider it.

 

OK, well, again, hope you enjoy the SZ, or whatever you end up purchasing.