Sony Vaio SZ650N/C vs. Dell M1330

I figured I'd cross post this into the Sony subforum since I'm actually leaning towards the Sony which I've physically played with at Best Buy:


Here's my situation. My graduate school department is giving me a budget of $2000 give or take a few hundred bucks to purchase a new laptop. I've basically narrowed it down to the new Sony Vaio SZ650N/C through our school computer store or a fully loaded Dell XPS M1330 through Dell with a pretty good educational discount. Here's the specs I'm comparing:

Dell XPS M1330: T7500 (2.2gHz), LED display with webcam, 2GB RAM, 200GB (7200 rpm) hard drive, CD/DVD burner, 128MB NVIDIA 8400M video card, 6 cell 56Whr battery, biometric fingerprint reader, free Dell Laser Printer 1110, 3yr in-home service, parts + labor, 24/7 phone support, 3yr accidental damage and Lojack.

$2174.00 (a discount of $528 mainly on warranties I'm guessing), Ship date: 09/09/2007

Sony Vaio SZ650N/C: T7500 (2.2 gHz), 2GB RAM, 160GB HD (5400rpm), DVD-RW, NVIDIA 7400 video card, fingerprint reader, 3yr Depot warranty (or 3yr onsite w/ accidental damage for +$159)

$1949 (or $2108 with onsite warranty), available immediately

So the specs on these two are pretty much similar except for an extra $70 (in which money isn't an issue to begin with), the Dell has a bigger and faster HD, free printer, Lojack, and that oh so cool remote.

Any opinions? Is there any other lightweight notebook (~4lbs) with comparable specs that I should consider? Or should I pull the trigger on the M1330 or the SZ650N/C?

Thanks all,
jim

 

Get the sony, if you go to the dell forums, you can see everybody complaining about the build quality of the m1330. Lots of shoddy workmanship.

Plus, nobody can match Sony's xbrite screen.

 

What exactly do you plan on using your eventual notebook for?

What are your biggest needs in a notebook (e.g. battery life, screen quality)?

 

I compared 1330 and SZ650N in a BestBuy... Sony's screen is good but it's no better than 1330s, and not as bright at the highest setting. This is of course comparing LED-backlit screens. IMO, 1330 has better colors but then, of course, I had more time with it. As for the workmanship - I didn't like that SZ's lid was so thin, that it bends too easily. Yes, 1330 has a thicker lid (even tho it's still pretty thin), but it's much firmer than SZ's one. I'm just worried about the LCD integrity, when you can bend with a very little effort.

 

The dell has 64MB more vram. It has the silly remote thing. It has the slot loading DVD. It is also getting very bad reports on build quality in the forum.

The Sony supposedly has better build quality. I have the 650 and have a lot of light leakage and a 6 hour recharge time - both of which Sony admits are not to spec. Mine will be sent back.

 

Drawbacks of Sony SZ6:
#1. No virtualization in BIOS ( a big bummer I guess)
#2. No HDMI
#3. Very difficult to install Linux.

Drawbacks of Dell M1330:
#1. No Gigabit ethernet
#2. Shoddy built quality

Choose your pick.

 

The Dell also comes with a free notebook sleeve and a Timbuk2 bag (which can be sold for $150). If you don't like free bags, get the SZ.

 

I don't think education institutional sales has the free sleeve and Timbuk2 bag. They have the free printer instead and the upgraded 3 year in-home warranty.

Despite all the extra stuff with the M1330, I think I might just have to go with the *supposedly* better build quality of the SZ650.

A question for those of you with the SZ6 with light leakage, bloatware, lack of driver support problems etc... Do you regret your purchase of the VAIO SZ6 and wish you had gone with something else?

 

No, I really like my SZ650. There is no other laptop I would prefer at the moment. I've only talked about the bad things of the laptop... I don't like the small light leakage, nor the bloatware, but I like just about everything else.

 

I don't have any light leakage, but I think it's the luck of the draw. I'm very happy with the SZ6 and I'm glad that I canceled my M1330 order.

 

I am also one of those that ordered the M1330 and the cancelled it due to the delays. I am happy with my choice, because for me, design and build quality is everything. I love the sleek appearance of the SZ. Not that the 1330 is ugly, but Sonys design cant be matched.

Sure, i have the bloatware but there IS ways to get a clean install. My problem is when this is available in Sweden because I desperately need a notebook for my DJ setup.

How do you, owners of a 13.3" notebook like to watch movies on that size? Is it enough to watch two persons?

 

Well I cancelled my 1330 yesterday and picked up an sz 650. So far I couldn't be happier. No major leakage and slowly but surely eliminating the bloatware. I haven't had great luck with Dell especially with build quality. This is my first Sony so we'll see. I think I will add the 3 year accident and on site repair warranty from Sony for $299. All in my sz650 was pretty close in price to the configured m1330 I cancelled.

JTMav

 

I opted for them1330 and just recieved it the other day. They must be getting better at building them cuz my build quality is near flawless. I do hear the whinning noise people have been complaining about, but my brothers macbook does the same thing. I love the screen and media controls.

 

Except gigabit m1330 is a very complete laptop. And Dell support is far better than Sony. Build quality is a very subjective topic. And if you find you M1330 acceptable, I think you made a right choice. Particularly, when you'll use it with Compiz-fusion and windows running in KVM, and your friend with SZ6 is struglling with all the bloatware of Sony. Cheers!

 

It does come down to needs and wants in the end. Choose whichever bets suits you.

Dell, for all their faults, will always try to do right by their customers. Even if they don't mind having a higher failure rate than Sony, I think the fact that they are willing to replace those defective units without much hastle makes them a choice worth considering.

 

I can't agree more. If you are a Linux enthusiast, you'll not touch Sony even with a stick. If you do, you're bringing unnecessary trouble on yourself. A big factor for me is Intel VT-X. I can't even think of a reason why Sony did not provide the full benefit of processor, which does not need any extra effort to provide. It's a shame.

 

2 other benefits of SZ6:
-I think real world weight of SZ6 is lower than M1330.
(has anyone found real world weights measured? I am not talking about what Dell and Sony say)

-Delivery time: 1 day. For 1330 hopefully a month.

 

Any proof?

 

I have now done a 180.....the SZ's screen is NO BETTER than the m1330's. I have seen both and I can confirm this.....
I had the Toshiba screen, fwiw.

 

You mean they are the same quality?

Maybe they have the same screen, there are propably not that many W-LED screen suppliers.

 

I would say that they are of the same quality. I think that it's all about the LED screen suppliers rather than who makes the laptop.

 

In terms of mobility I think the SZ650 tops.. I find the two graphic setting really good on the battery life. If you're just surfing in a cafe, using the Intel graphic card instead of the GeForce will really save battery life. (Picking the GeForce option for Dell forces you to upgrade the battery, hence the weight). The 160gb Hybrid HDD also helps by caching data and saving the hard drive a few spins. Ordering the XPS seems to take time these days.. especially when selecting the backlit LED option. Sony has already released several versions of the SZ series, This would be the first time Dell brings this technology to their XPS line and their inability to deliver their best option is troubling. The HDMI connector is a big plus for the Dell.. A first among ultra-portables. I'm not sure if HDMI does a 5.1 digital audio though. But the Sony compensates with an optional docking connector with DVI-D out. Overall the things the sell Sony to me is that they are proven and in this rare instance have better bang for buck than the Dell.

 

I just held a m1330 for the first time in my life today..

let me say this, its like comparing an old ibook to the macbook pro. The build quality of hte 1330 was... jank to say the least.

even if they are similar in size, the fit and finish of the vaio sz, blows the xps out of the water.

My friend bought the laptop and was like "yeah its not as nice as they made it looK"

btw I love my vaio 490 sz running win xp with a 7200rpm drive installed

no light leakage, fast recharge every driver works, windowsblinds etc ... cant beat it

 

I would agree with this assessment: the sz series seemed much more like a premium notebook.

My problem with the m1330 is that it's marketed as a premium product, and it just doesn't feel that way to me.