Sony VGN S2VP vs IBM T42 (UC2F3UK)

Looking currently to buy a relatively high level laptop.

I was sold on the sony then discovered the IBM.

I will be using the laptop for wifi internet some games and occationally AutoCAD.

Anyone got any suggestions as to which is more suitable??

 

Sony is better for entertainment needs but can also do work while IBM is just the opposite, better for working needs but can also entertain. Depends one what you use more or which needs demands a hgher specs. One of the main reasons I choose S over IBM is because I want to play high-end games, and Sony is better in this regard (the other two are weight/size and style).

 

I will probably be using the laptop for video editing/ games mostly.

One question on the sony is with the display being 13.3 inch on a daily basis is this usable or too small??

 

I use a ThinkPad T42, I'll be getting a Sony S in a couple of weeks so I could offer a better opinion at that time. But what Skyshade says is correct. With Sony you'll get more consumer oriented features and it will be better suited for entertainment needs than an IBM. Many consumers also prefer the cooler looks of a VAIO over the button-up business look of a ThinkPad. Both Sony and IBM are pricey in general, so you don't really save money by going with one or the other.

Oh, one thing I do prefer about the ThinkPad is that the keyboard and build will be superior, at least in my experience to date so far between these two brands.

 

What about the screen size of the Sony? is it too small?

 

I find 13.3" very useable, but I must warn you I have been using a 12.1" VAIO Z505 for 4 years straight before S [ ]. If I bought T42, it would be the 14" ones and not the 15" ones. I am just a 12"-14" monitor person and my needs have not required me to choose otherwise [ ].

I would recommend you to go to some place that has an S for demo and get a feel for yourself.

 

this is the 2 notebooks ive narrowed my search down to as well.
i like the s because of its small size/firewire
but i also like the thinkpad because its ibm and its a great machine.
im interested to find out what you think when you get both notebooks abaxter

i will be using it for games/music production

 

Just found out that S2VP now obsolete and to be replaced early Feb??

Does anyone konw if this is true and if so what is the replacement spec.. price etc..

 

It would be replaced by like S3 something, not a brand new series. It won't be obsolete, but S3 may offer more options and/or cheaper price (if Sony drops the CPU price based on Intel's CPU price drop practice).

 

tomorrow i will buy an S2XP, and now i heard here that in feb will be released and S3?

Any idea about the specs? may S3XP will go 2ghz and 100gb HD? instead of 1.8 and 80gb?

 

I have no idea, being in USA and having the option to customize S270.

Personally, I would just go with S2XP now because the HDD and CPU are all user upgradable. If you really want the extra horse power in S3 (which I don't know if it will have 2.0 GHz, but if it does, the difference between 2.0 & 1.8 GHz is no obvious in most applications), just pop in a faster CPU or better HDD yourself.[ ]

 

Just ordered a S2VP, decided that it has a suitable spec and I can live with the screen size..

Cheers for the advice fellas[ ]

 

fatboy - where did u order it from

I ordered from inight uk only to be told the order has been cancelled!!![ !]
Only other place I can find is from sonystyle but its too much on there site.


Anyway if you could let me know would b v grateful

 

As I need the PC ASAP I have payed top dollar for it and have gone with Sony Style..[ !]

They stated stock comes each week and it could be delivered next week[ ], 27 were delivered thursday but sadly only for back-orders[ !]

All other sites either have no stock or are no longer stocking it!!

Does anyone know if you get a recovery DVD with all software on or is it just HDD?

 

my s2xp only goes with files in HDD but with a program that makes for you 2 recovery DVD's or 11 CD's



I have contact with my dealer about my red pixel and they have tell me that they will look for another machine for me hope it will be true

 

I have a sony vaio desk top that's really buggy and crashes all the time - does this happen with the notebooks as well, or are they more reliable?

 

My search for a new laptop has also brought me to these two machines and I'm leaning towards the Sony (can't live without a windows key like the IBM).

I've heard the VGN S2 is very noisy can anyone confirm this?

 

Hi,
I bought an S2XP recently and after getting 3 damaged laptops (cosmetically, pixel problems x2) I now have this one. So far I'm very pleased. I wouldn't say the fan is too loud. Before this laptop I had a Fujitsu Siemens Amilo D and I wouldn't say the fan is any louder than that.

There is the 'VAIO Power Management' program that handles all your power needs and in this you can change features such as performance, battery life, device usage and how quiet the laptop is. In battery mode the fan hardly comes on at all. I've watched DVD's and played some slightly demanding games (Morrowind) on battery setting and it's hardly used the fan at all.

To summise, I would say the fan is maybe louder than some people would like but it's definately not as loud as a desktop. I personally have no problems with it at all.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by MagicalArmchair

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by MagicalArmchair

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Before this laptop I had a Fujitsu Siemens Amilo D and I wouldn't say the fan is any louder than that. <hr height='1' noshade id='quote'></font id='quote'></blockquote id='quote'>
well that settles the noise issue for me. I had an Amilo D for a day before sending it back because it was so noisy, It sounded like it was going to drill through the table.

 

I just bought the sony vaio s360p, but not before placing a bid for a thinkpad t42 14.1" xga screen with 7200 rpm drive, 1 gb mem, and 32 meg vid memory. Love the vaio's screen but the system seems alittle sluggish compared to a desktop. So the IBM is on its way and I have to pick one. I also payed 1600 for the thinkpad and 1750 for the vaio after rebate. I guess I'm leaning towards the ibm but I was wondering what more experienced minds think about the choice? Also wondering anyone know how good these xga screens are?

Thanks.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by davidm71

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by davidm71

 

Yeah but the ibm is a few hundred dollars cheaper and I'm going to use it do do work on it. It would be nice if it had more video memory. Hope I can use photoshop on it, but 32 megs for video memory is cheap considering most graphic cards have b/n 128-256 or more. Wish I wasn't so impulsive! Maybe I'll keep both! Whats another 1600 dollars?

Dave.