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    Sony TZ - Is it a lemon?

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by Tool Tucker, Oct 8, 2007.

  1. Tool Tucker

    Tool Tucker Notebook Consultant

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    I'm contemplating picking up a TZ17GN/B (1.20GHz, "GB RAM, 4200RPM HDD) when I'm Tokyo in a couple of days. It's the international model with US keyboard etc:

    http://vaio-online.sony.com/prod_info/vgn-tz17gn_b/specifications.html

    However, after reading through the owners thread I'm a little put off by all the negative reviews, particularly wrt startup, Vista and the HD. I really need the 100GB and the DVD Burner, so the SSHD isn't really an option.

    So is the verdict that the machine is a dud worth avoiding until Sony either upgrades the HD or processor massively?

    Or, if I uninstall the legal version of Vista and replace it with a copy of XP, can I transform it into a workable unit?

    Thanks

    TT
     
    Tool Tucker, Oct 8, 2007
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  2. sm1810

    sm1810 Notebook Guru

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    Others that had higher spec models can comment, but my experience with TZ150 (1.06Ghz, 1GB, 100GB 4200rpm) was terrible. I come from an Asus U1F which literally flies compared to the 150...

    Seems to me the biggest issues are:
    - Crapware (do clean install of vista and load sony drivers manually)
    - Memory (vista doesn't like 1GB even my U1F is 1.5GB)
    - HDD (4200rpm is kind of slow, but very bearable if you fix Crapware + Memory)

    I do love the design though and having seen others praise the SSD ordered myself yesterday the TZ190.. And even though 32GB SSD is kind of a joke I do plan on utilizing a small WD USB 250GB HDD which is less bulky than opting for external DVD-RW...

    good luck whatever you decide
     
    sm1810, Oct 8, 2007
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