Sony or Pony?

I'm after multimedia laptop with the following:

- Intel Core 2 Duo
- 1G of RAM (upgradeable to at least 2G)
- Decent size hard drive (although not my main concern)
- 128MB graphics (preferably by NVIDIA)
- Firewire
- HDMI output (not a HD or Blu-ray drive)

In terms of spec, Vaios seem great (and my girlfriend's bro works for them = discount) but they tend to come with a lot of bad press.

Are the Sony's reliable or not? I don't want to have to be sending it off for repairs within a year, which I believe isn't uncommon.

Is this the case with the vast majority off Vaios or a particular series? I really want to get one but I could do without the headaches!

Recommendations welcome!

 

Electronics are electronics. Components are manufactured to be so intricately small and complex that the smallest of short circuits can render a device useless. That's the one thing that I always explained to any customers that purchase notebooks through me, when I was working in retail.

That being said, though, not all things are created equal. There are some brands that, although they can be reliable, are perfectly fine with a higher percentage of defective products, when compared to others. Sony is not one of those.

For being one of the biggest electronics companies in the world, the sheer volume of sales compared to complaints is quite low. I am sure you will read posts about people who will "never buy a VAIO again", but, honestly, that's their loss.

If I were to break notebook manufacturers into two main groups, quantity and quality, Sony would be in the quality group.

Go customise yourself an FZ.

 

What bad press have you read about the laptops, specifically? Yes they got some bad press about the OEM batteries that they sold to other manufacturers, and then there was the whole debacle with the rootkit/DRM equipped audio CD's. But I don't think there has been a lot of bad press regarding their laptops.

As was pointed out their quality is high. There support is iffy, but if you know what YOU are doing around PC's the support is adequate.

I've been very closely involved in personal computers since 1976 when I owned the very first computer store in Cincinnati. I have owned three different Vaio models over the past ten years, and I don't work for them or know anyone who does. Does that tell you anything?

Gary

 

Hi, thanks for your replies

I was thinking about the FZ11L model which, on paper, is what I need.

I have a friend who traded his Vaio for Dell because according to him "it was one thing after the other", which is what prompted my interest in Sony's reliablity.

Maybe "bad press" was the wrong phrase. What I should have said is there are a lot of complaints regarding the Vaio, even on these boards. And customer service, it looks like, is awful.

Not suggesting they're right but as I'll be spending my hard earned cash, I want to have confidence before I purchase.

 

Go to ANY of the various forums here that focus on a particular manufacturer and see how many complaints there are versus praises. The complaints will FAR outnumber the kudos. Why? Think about it for a moment, folks come to these forums because they are trying to solve some issue OR to do some pre purchase homework. They don't seek out places like this to sing the praises of a machine. (Well a few do, but you get my point.)

Tell me who's customer service ISN'T awful? I've dealt with Dell, IBM, Apple, Gateway. They ALL suck. Sony's just sucks a little more.

Gary

 

"Tell me who's customer service ISN'T awful? I've dealt with Dell, IBM, Apple, Gateway. They ALL suck. Sony's just sucks a little more." Lol

Okay, I see your point about the complaints vs praises, although I'd suggest Samsung and Toshiba seem to get more postive than negative. Perhaps this is because less people buy them? Who knows!

I'm just trying to do my pre purchase homework, as you call it. Any laptop which has to be sent away for constant repairs cannot be good. This, I've noticed, seems to be a trend with Vaios. Just wondered whether it's a typical thing or a fault that's been resolved or what.

I was looking at the Samsung R70 if I don't get a Vaio... hmmm

 

well said,
I am in service (totally different industry) and my motto is no news=good news
I don't hear from my customers until they have a problem.
Between my own and my family laptops I had my hands on 10 vaios. I had a major hardware problem which required sony service help only once. This was an experience I never forget. From what I read on the boards my dealings with them were just as bad as with any other manufacturer.
It takes patience and eventually they get it. They will even try to make up to you for lost time and headache, like they did with me.
I am getting ready for a new laptop and it will be Vaio.
Rob

 

Actually, Apple's customer service isn't that bad.