Sony Z Series Query

basically i wrote a big thread on the ins and outs of cost etc of a z series laptop and then the forum lost it......or perhaps my internet connection, either way i lost it!

the basic theme behind it however was, are the sony machines worth the massive, and i mean MASSIVE, premium that they command? i.e. is a top spec vaio z (2 phase) really worth double anything else on the market? reason i ask is, i love sony equipment and i've always wanted a z but always been put off but the price and i want to know if they are just essentially toys of the clique with a big disposable income, be it personal or business, or are they actually that much better than the competition???

any input/feelings, much appreciated

thanks for your time in advance!

Ben

 

We've all had times like that.

Whether the Z2 is worth the premium depends. Ill take as a starting assumption that you can imagine a laptop even potentially being worth this sort of (substantial) premium. If you just can't see spending that kind of money on a laptop, which is true for many sound, sober and technologically proficient citizens, the issue is moot.

The next issue is whether you can afford it (we're talkin' a laptop here, not lifesaving medical treatment). Again, if not, the issue is moot.

The next question is whether you really want a very light, powerful 13" laptop that doesn't have an integrated ODD or GPU. It's a configuration that doesn't work particularly well for a lot of people. Keep in mind that you could buy a nice 15" laptop (or 13" or 17") and a desktop for less money.

A final question is whether you really, really like the Z2. There are people here who have tried it and either didn't care for (for a variety of reasons) or it just wasn't that special to them. For a Z2 to be worth the premium, you have to really like it. By like, I don't mean just that it fits your needs, but that you would enjoy using more than any other laptop given that you could buy almost any other laptop for less. That's true for me, but among Sony fans, I'm probably in the minority.

Read some threads and reviews and see if you think a Z2 would be your kind of machine. If possible, go to a computer store that has one, don't worry how it's configured, and play with it a bit. You should pretty quickly get a sense of whether or not you're a Z2 kind of guy.

 

For me it was power/weight. Other than the Panasonics, this is the lightest package out there with this much power and capacity.

 

I replied to another thread answering this question:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/637391-change-sony-brand-another.html#post8222693

The point of that is that I can NOT find another laptop that will give you the SAME or MORE features than the Vaio Z. It's a 13", full-powered, 1080p resolution, RAID0 SSD, optical drive, dedicated graphics, backlit keyboard and all less than 3 lbs. And NOTHING will give you all of that.

The only other laptop that comes close? The Vaio SA of course.

Even my Z1 has no competition when it comes to offering all that it does. It's because of that fact that Sony can charge about 300-400 more than what it's worth, but if you NEED everything that it offers and the BEST 13" laptop you can get, then that's the one.

In any case, look at the list of laptops i mentioned in that post, if one of them can satisfy your need, then get it. Otherwise, you're stuck with the Z. If you're willing to compromise, then there is another laptop out there for you with a better bang for buck. If not, then you're left with only 1 obstacle in the way, the massive entrance fee into the Sony Vaio Z Owner's Thread

 

wrong post

 

^This. Well said.

 

What he said. Start to finish. Even though I hate to give Louche unqualified praise, lol.

 

A compromise I have personally come to, based on my unique take on Louche's analysis, above, is to purchase Z1s, refurbs, "open box" new (still some around) and even lightly used ones on eBay or NBR Marketplace from sellers with excellent reputations or full refund policies. I recently got a mid-high spec Z13, "open box" (purchased, taken out of box, returned, allegedly not for any problem) from a company called "Onsale.com" for barely $1,100. In that case, I think it was underpriced by at least $500, but you can find lower spec'd lightly used Z1s for as little as $800 on eBay.

Unless you have some extremely high end needs, you can probably meet them all with the approach I am suggesting, provided you don't require the increased cpu horsepower and higher battery life of SB equipped models. Though if you're not comfortable with anything but new product, you're best off putting Louche's analysis to yourself and see where it leads you.

Good luck. I can help point you to or advise you about Z1s for sale - as a fellow member, not for personal gain. Feel free to PM me.

 

Probably not worth it, unless you really really want it.

I would classify Apple in the same category. Their products and user experience is nice, but if you (for whatever reason) don't care about that and just want to spend as little as possible while still getting by, then it's not worth it.

 

right i think the first step would be to play with one

and tbh i never buy new new, as in direct from supplier, laptops. i always trawl for ones on forums or ebay that are as new, unwanted gift etc.

i currently have a toshiba R700 and a tosh Z830 and both are great little machines, and tbh i doubt the Sony Z would prove to be that much better than my Z830, however i'm always open to worthy trade ups!

 

As long as you don't need the graphics processing power of the Z or the high resolution screen (hence the need for higher graphics processing power), the Protege series will perform admirably. For those that do AutoCAD, game, or any other GPU intensive tasks, then the Protege series is not an option.

 

i do some light old skool gaming on the Z830, runs my RTS's okay, LOTR:Battle for Middle Earth 2 runs on highest settings, altho native res is low at 1366x768

but requirement for powerful gaming is very little, i have my ps3 for gaming!

i think the purchase of a z would purely be for the gadget factor! and as such perhaps not a wise move unless i suddenly come into some money!

thanks for all the input folks