Sony VAIO SB vs Lenovo Thinkpad X220

I really doubt you say that point about price especially since at least in Canada, the price has dropped to $800 for a CTO. I wouldn't go as far as to say the durability of the two is equal, but the SONY is definitely not flimsy and the screen isn't as terrible as people make it out to be. As for battery life, I know for sure you can get at least 8 hours off of just the internal battery, so I don't think it's as clear cut a choice as you think it may be, especially with the graphics card and the price drop.

 

Not true. The screen looks very nice if you look at it precisely from the right vertical angle, but the vertical viewing angles are the worst I've ever seen. I still went to Vaio Center today and bought myself an SB over X220. X220 is ridiculously overpriced here in Finland and I've also read from many forums that SC2 (or any new game) will not play smoothly with it. The average framerate may be 30 but that's because it's jumping between 5 and 50. And in the meantime the temps go over 85 degrees C.

The build quality of this SB is solid but somehow the keyboard felt better when I tried the demo model at the VC. My SBs keyboard feels and sounds a bit flimsy, like cheap and thin plastic (compared to my Vaio TZ). Maybe this will change when I use it a bit.

Anyway, I'm happy with my purchase. Vaio SB is not the best as a laptop, but right now it's the best desktop-replacing <2kg portable. Not perfect, but definitely the best.

Edit: I bought the i7, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD model and I also got the slice battery and a docking station. I wish this laptop will last a long time, because it wasn't cheap.

 

By the way, I tried to play Starcraft 2 with only the Vaio SB's Sandybridge i7 and its integrated Intel HD 3000 GPU and it was totally unplayable. In the beginning it was okay(ish), but I started to get 10-15fps when I had about 50 zerglings swarming to my CPU opponent's base. This was 1v1, low settings and native resolution. With the dedicated AMD Radeon the system started to cough when I had about 300 zerglings decimating my poor CPU, (1v1, low settings and full-HD). So, to anyone who is considering an Intel-only machine for Starcraft 2: forget it!

 

Tell me, how often do you have to view a 13" laptop from a 90 degree angle??

I had the chance to compare the X220 with the Z 1600 X 900 and believe me, these are two entirely different computers!!! If screen quality is unimportant and battery life (recall, with the 9 volt, the Z gets 8-9 hrs and is not so heavy) and durability is your prime concern, go ahead and get the x220.

But believe me, it is a VW vs. a Mercedes, in all respects. If you can convince yourself otherwise, God bless ya! I'd take a 2 year old Z over a brand new X220 for even money, any day. (Oh, and I do not need the cpu power of the SB - won't for a couple of years.

 

Hey, don't say that just when I had managed to convince myself!

OK, my Z 1600x900 screen is magnificent (not the viewing angles though), but I have problems understanding how a new IPS panel could be much worse (except for the resolution).

Second, how can a Sandy Bridge i5 not be an improvement over an older i5?

Third, the 9-cell battery for the Vaio, while not heavy, props up the machine in a way that causes me to never use it.

So, can I still get the X220 please?

 

You know, one reason why I chose SB over Z was that Z didn't have a matte screen. I compared Z and SB side by side at Sony Center and while Z had way more crisp and clear picture, I just couldn't stand all the reflections (sure it's less reflective than the cheapest screens but still). So if I had to choose between X220's matte IPS screen and Z's clear full-HD screen, I'd go for the X220. Now I chose SB which has a very poor display, but at least it's matte.

 

You may get the X220, with my blessings, lol, though I personally find the viewing angles of the Z more than sufficient for a 13" screen and in all other respects, the Z's 1600 X 900 puts the X220's IPS resolution TO SHAME! The SB i5 is definitely much faster than the Core i5 in the Z, but will you have any use for the added performance? I tried every app I use and timed them and saw zero difference. If I did video encoding, I imagine I would. Personally, I would probably trade off a little speed for the overall magnificence of the Z - not just the screen, but just the beautiful industrial design and the way things look and feel so classy. As for the 9 cell, I always prefer batteries that prop up my laptops - improves air circulation and lowers temps, keeps the fans from running as often and gives me a better typing position. But to each his own.

Sorry, I am not really convinced by your argument (as if I am the ultimate "Judge!" But really, the Z screen is not that reflective unless you have a bright light shining on it and otherwise, it's about 10 leagues higher than the SB screen. The SB is a perfectly fine machine, but I think I would choose the X220 over it, as barkin ugly as I think all Thinkpads are! - because though lower res, contrast and color gamut than the Z, it runs circles round the SB's and, once you're leaving the luxury leagues of the Z, may as well go for the tough as nails, can drop it from 30 ft, pour coffee down the keyboard durability, along with the better of the low res screens. Neither are bad choices, I was just disappointed to find that the SB does NOT feel like a "poor man's Z," it just feels like a "middle class" notebook PC, in league with the dozens of nameless, faceless, los res 13-15" notebooks, IMO.

 

What I don't get is, why does it only fit the Z12? I thought the chassis were identical between the Z 11-13.

 

Well thanks a lot for your blessings, lovelaptops! I feel all better

You make some good points. The viewing are not at all troublesome on the Z, could just be better. You might well be right the Z screen owns the X220's (and the screen is what I'm the most worried about in switching laptops). To be honest, I probably DON'T need the extra performance of the Sandy Bridge, but it doesn't hurt.

As for the propped-up battery, each to his own indeed! Finally, while you seem to really dislike Lenovo's design, I love it, I love the keyboard, and I do need the sturdyness. That about settles it I think.

Finally, the Z screen is definitely not glossy! I don't know where that's coming from.

 

If you don't need:
- A good graphic card.
- An optical drive.

Go for the X220.

I am a Thinkpad fanboy, but the Sony SB had what I needed. Though, ALPS touchpad sucks (no 2 finger scrool), screen is average and speakers sucks. Microphone is not that good either and there's no mic in. Keyboard is obviously not as good, nor is the support.

 

Well, I compared Z and SB side by side at Sony Center and the Z's screen was considerably more glossy. Yes, it's not cheap-butt glossy but about the same level with Vaio TZ.

Edit: And as I said before, I bought SB as a portable desktop-replacement (not as a laptop). X220 just wouldn't cut it, and the guys at Sony Center couldn't promise me a docking station or extended battery for Z, which was way more expensive and has previous-gen hardware anyway. Vaio SB is not the same build quality with Vaio Z, but there aren't many choices right now. If SA proves to be better than SB, I might sell this SB and replace it with SA, but I wouldn't get Z right now anyway, because it's way overpriced considering the old hardware inside and the fact that I might not even get a docking station with it.

 

I can't find the post, but someone was pricing out a X220 i7, IPS screen, etc, etc for $1197 or so. That configuration is $883 right now. So if whoever was thinking about buying the X220, go get it.