Sony SZ U.S. vs Japanese version

I am still deciding whether I should buy Sony SZ92 (Japanese version) or SZ381 PX (US Version). SZ92 has 2.33 GHZ Core 2 Duo while SZ 381 PX has 2.16 GHz Core 2 Duo. So, the Japanese version is about 8% faster but 20% more expensive.

Japanese version may be more difficult to install since I have to download Japanese drivers and I don't speak a word of Japanese.

So, what do you think folks? Which one should I buy?

 

Get the US version...if you get the Japanese version you'll also get a Japanese keyboard (AFAIK) and you'll probably get the Japanese OS too. Such a small jump in power pales compared to the increased price and trouble.

 

I actually may buy from Dynamism which will install English OS and English keyboard for me. But they said I have to go to Sony Japanese website to download and install updated drivers.

 

I would say aside from some possible trouble from the region differences in the Japanese version, the extra price is not worth the minimum increased performance IMO.

 

Japanese keyboard is cool.

I got my Sony R505 in Hong Kong with Japanese keyboard.

Down side is the Ctrl + Number symbols mixed in weird orders. Takes awhile to get use to.

 

It looks pretty cool IMO , although you may never use it
i used a NEC lavie (japan only) with japanese OS and keyboard, and it took me around an hour to adjust the language
I don't think it's worth the money for the japanese version, anyway, there's virtually no difference between the two CPUs unless all you do is encoding and decoding things

 

I echo the thoughts of all the previous posters --- buy the US version.

I have no idea how this would work, but would the Japanese model be supported (as in Sony customer support) in the US, or would you have to ship it somewhere far, far away to get fixed... if it needed it? (I guess the above comment is relevant only if you do, actually, live in the US or Europe and not... uhm, on some island that happens to be equa-distant from both JP and US)

Food for thought, anyway.

 

According to Dynamism, the price they offer includes 3 year warranty. If something goes wrong in the first 3 years, I can send it to them and they will send it back to Japan for repair.

My biggest concern is not warranty. I am typing this with a 5 1/2 year old Sony Vaio notebook and it is very durable. My biggest concern is as I said, the driver support. It's all in Japanese and may not install in US version of Windows.

 

..very good news for all of us, I think.

 

VAIO driver updates are usually controlled by the VAIO Update program. even in Japanese its pretty straightforward stuff. even i can make a understandable translation if necessary.

either than that, the SZ should be running Windows XP Professional meaning you will not need to make a clean install of an english OS unless you want to get rid of vaio software. i wouldnt recommend it anyway, because you might have problems with the software controlled FN keys.

using the windows xp pro language cd (i have this fyi and can share - dont ban me), you should be able to change all the menus, unicodes and such into english. using a Japanese VAIO FS, the only problem i get with changing the language is the Japanese encoded Norton Internet security.

oh yeah, the difference in price is most likely due to greed on the sellers part. if i am not wrong, the SZ92 is a Sony Japan Direct model in which case there is an option to get a english keyboard straight on.

http://www.jp.sonystyle.com/Product...ica=1&hdd=2&memory=2&cpu=2&color=2&os=1&bdy=2

Windows XP Pro
Premium Carbon Fibre
Core 2 Duo 2.33GHz
2GB Ram
120GB HDD
Bluetooth & Felica Port
Built-in Webcam
Fingerprint Security

Prices up to ￥329.800 or roughly USD$2815 or so according to XE.com

in the end i would still buy a local machine. who knows what might go wrong...

 

I personally think its not worth it for the little speed improvement.

Core2 is already really really really fast. You might save yourself a few extra second during encoding or decoding but under normal usage, its not noticeable.

Just get the SZ381.

 

there is absolutely no advantage of getting a Japanese version unless you speak Japanese.

I have used many different Japanese laptops and speak a little Japanese, but the only real benefit is that it is easier and more convenient to type in Japanese with the Japanese keyboard setup, shortcut keys to change input method, but I do it on my English laptop as well, just slightly harder to do.

 

Just want to know what spec is nice, we got two model here:

SZ38GP/C
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T7200 (2GHz)
Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
Intel® 945GM Express Chipset
1GB 533MHz RAM (2x512MB)
120GB HD 5400rpm


SZ35GP/B
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T5600 (1.83GHz)
Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
Intel® 945GM Express Chipset
1GB 533MHz RAM (2x512MB)
80GB HD

Different by US$270.00

And why is Sony only use 553MHz for their RAM, not 667MHz
I switching from 15'4 to 13'3, will the screen be weird for me?

Hope to sort out some help here. Please.

 

35GP/B is a magnesium case think while 38GPP/C is the carbon fibre one (i am using this). oh yeah. 38GP/C is using only one 1GB ram chip too i think. definitely worth the price up

 

Makes absolutely no speed difference when using dual memory. Both 533Mhz and 667Mhz will max-out the Core 2 Duo data bus

 

Get it from Dynamism. Their support is great and they take care of sending it back to Japan if there's an issue. Dynamism puts XP in English and this model could be ordered with a standard English keyboard which is how Dynamism has it configured.

I got my SZ90 from them since you couldn't get the Core Duo 2.16 in the US in a Premium. Most of my laptops for the past 3 years have come from Dynamism.

So I can say without a shadow of a doubt there's no issue getting a Japanese model.

 

Both are Die-cast magnesium

 

SZ38GP/C is definitely carbon fibre. I am typing this message on one and its 100% carbon fibre. the /C denotes carbon fibre anyway

 

My bad, double check back the SZ38GP/C is Carbon Fibre

 

its cool i wish other countries had the premium carbon that japan and USA gets.

 

That Japanese version is coming with 3-prong adaptor?

 

Two prong as most Sony products come. It's a world wide adapter and the plug is the same as the US.

 

How about obtaining the latest drivers and utilities? I tried to install Japanese drivers from Sony Japanese website but all instructions are written in Japanese. Their website is all in Japanese so if there is any issues, limitation or specific instruction, I wouldn't catch it since I don't speak Japanese.