Significant upgrad to Vaio TX series?

I saw a vaio txn15p on clearance today for $1499.99 and was considering buying it. I would also be eligible for a free windows vista business upgrade with the purchase.

My understanding from the store clerk was that the TX along with all the notebooks in the store were on clearance to get rid of all windows xp computers to make way for vista pc's coming in the end of the month. He also said the store would ship the notebooks they don't sell back to the manufacturer (who may just ship the computers back with vista installed, and sell them at their regular price.).

My question, is there going to be any significant improvements to the tx series in the future that would persuade me from buying. I suppose I could always sell the notebook back somewhere.

 

It's a good question. Frankly, given what the TX is intended for, I have a hard time imaging there will be too many significant upgrades that would make you regret having the one you could get there. I mean, it's not like there's a TX coming out that will have some super powerful graphics card or a much faster processor. Eventually sure, but I don't think I'd expect anything any time soon.

 

Is the ram and HD user replaceable?

 

Ram yes, but only so much, and HD not really... It's a bit more complicated than just a one screw type thing, but it can be done. But you'll still be limited to the 1.8" HD's from Toshiba, which are still only at 4200rpm, and the highest they go is 100GB which you'll see in the next TX's I'd bet.

 

Currently, it doesn't look like the next gen TX is much of a bump. The best specs for the TX4 includes a processor bump to the U1500 (1.2 to 1.33GHz), and the HD change to 100GB. There may be other changes/fixes, but as far as just specs go, those seem to be the only changes.

 

Where did you see it for 1499?

 

At a local Best Buy that recently opened. The txn15 is sold out at every BB within a 2 hour drive and the notebook is also not listed on the website.

Do you guys think that this is smart buy considering the notebook doesn't have 64 bit capabilities and much less only a single core?

 

For an ultraportable such as the TX, it is fine. It is forgivable for these models to not have the latest cutting edge technology unlike their larger cousins.

 

This is sort of what I meant when I was talking about what the TX is going to be used for.

Realistically, what kind of computing do you plan on doing with the TX? For a lot of people who buy these kinds of laptops, the primary use is stuff like word processing, spreadsheets, web browsing, maybe some video playing, etc.

Dual cores aren't going to be that important for that kind of thing, and neither would 64-bit support (you aren't going to get enough memory in there for 64-bit support to even matter much anyway).

 

Gotcha, thx for the insights.

 

$1499 new in the box is a screaming deal. The TX850 without WAN is about $1650, on a deal.

 

One thing I am p*ssed off about the Vaio TX is not including Core Duo ULV. I've seen laptops with a louder fan than the TX and laptops with 2 hours of battery life. The TX800 series have 6-7 hours. I think adding a Core Duo ULV will reduce the battery to around 4 hours which is pretty much reasonable. I don't mind the fan is as noisy as the first Vaio TX. My first and foremost in my mind for a laptop is size and performance. 4 hours in a laptop is good enough for me, even when I travel. Sorry for the whining, but I've been watching the Vaio TX slowly being engulfed by Core Duo ULV laptops from other big companies (ie. HP and Averatec). I got a strange feeling that Toshiba is out to compete with Sony again. Toshiba may be hiding the next Libretto waiting to be revealed sometime this year.

 

I just found a spec sheet for the next TX series notebooks to be released, the TXN25, TXN27, and TXN29. At least to my knowledge they have not been released. http://www.learningcenter.sony.us/assets/itpd/notebooks/tx_series/article/specs.html (click on page 2 and 3).

They look like only incremental increases such as a 1.33ghz core solo, 224mb allocated to video as opposed to 128mb, and have vista business already installed. The MSRP ranges from $2300 - $2800, yikes.

 

I know there are other laptops with Core Duo ULV, but are there any that are as small as the TX (while also still having an integrated optical drive)? I am just curious if the Core Duo ULV could even be used in a form factor that small.

Aside from that though, what sort of stuff are people using a laptop like the TX for that they would benefit from the dual cores?

 

as far as i'm concerned, absolutely none - I do a large amount of word processing and bought a TX because I carry my laptop around with me a lot.

i think most people who buy a TX are well aware that it's a relatively low-specced machine and are buying it for portability reasons

 

Makes sense. Frankly it makes me think that going ahead and getting a good price on a previous generation TX (or maybe even an older model like a TX750 or something) wouldn't be a bad idea; I think if I were to get a TX my main use for it would be web browsing and word processing, so the performance would still probably be fine for me.

 

That is why I am considering buying the notebook. The TX has always seemed like a really cool thing to have because of its size, but its price at $2200 has always been a deterrent for me. However at the clearance price I have been more inclined to buy it now than ever; but I also have a c2d 15" macbook pro. I don't know if I really need two laptops. I was thinking of using the TX as the travel computer for web browsing, email, word processing and programming C# in visual studio.

 

Alright. The reason I want performance in a tiny machine is for AutoCAD 2D. I understand the 3D part requires a graphics card, but I think integrated graphics for 2D is enough. Is that true? Does AutoCAD actually run in a Vaio TX? Plus I do want the laptop to be as portable as possible.

 

I think AutoCAD should run; although my b igger question would be just how useable that app would be on such a small screen. Have you used the TX in person before? I mean, do you have a pretty good sense of what stuff looks like on its screen?

I personally think if I was using CAD, but still wanted maximum portability, I'd at least look for something a bit larger like a Sony SZ or something.

-Zadillo

 

Don't know about AutoCAD. In my case it's out of the office tech support via email, standard office apps, and Web browsing. The TX is perfect. No need to carry a separate laptop bag, just put the TX in a neoprene sleeve and stash it in my briefcase. It's made my life easier.

 

It looks like they updated the TX line in the form of the TXN25. The upgrades were incremental so I bought the TXN15 for $1299 new in the box. I was almost tempted to buy two to sell one.

 

Wow, that seems like a really low price..... I still see places trying to sell TX750's, etc. for $1500-1800 sometimes. Where did youg et this and can anyone get that price?

 

At a local Best Buy. They are getting rid of all windows xp computers to make way for vista. They have to have all xp computers gone by the end of the month. Basically they are trying to sell every pc they have as close to cost as possible. Whatever notebook that isn't sold gets sent back to the manufacturer which Best Buy has to pay shipping on and other extraneous costs I'm sure. When I walked into the store, 90% of all xp computers were gone, so it may be too late to snag one.

As a side note, Microsoft is giving a retail upgrade version of Vista if you purchased a pc in the last few months. I will fill out my form so I can get mine

 

Ahh, k. My local Best Buy had some of those, but they weren't willing to knock the price down nearly so much - hell, they were the ones trying to sell a TX850 for like $2000.