Sony sz. vs. Apple Macbook

Which laptop should I get for portability and performance at the same time. I want something that will...

1. Last long
2. Can take a beating
3. long battery
4. Education

I heard that the Macbook can be used for windows xp with the exact SAME PERFORMANCE as pc. And I hope to get vista installed later on. Which brand is more reliable as to the machine running well for a long period of time. Here in Canada, the macbook is noticeably cheaper than its competitors from Sony, Thinkpad, etc.

What do you guys suggest? I would love to hear more suggestions.

I want something in the range of

2.0+ GHZ core duo OR core 2 duo
1GB+ ram
80+ HDD
12-13 inch

 

Your name is VAIO-boi. Buy the SZ.

Contrary to popular belief, Macbook is not fully compatible with XP,
and I hope Mr. Gates cripples Vista enough that the highest versions
are completely incompatible.

Macbook will last longer, Macbook will take a better beating (notebooks shouldn't be taking beatings), Macbook has longer battery life, and Macbook is better for basic educational purposes-no games, basic tasks.

If you want a cheap, very good notebook, stick with the Macbook.
I would advise you not to even try testing Windows compatibility with the Macbook, though.

Depends on how you set your priorities.

 

So the standard non carbon sz will not be good for carrying around to schools? Is it more fragile?

Could you name some alternatives that would be good for portability?

 

??

How so?
The latest Apple bootcamp brings drivers for everything, including the webcam.

JY

 

Contrary to what he said, at least my standard SZ can take a beating. I take it to university pretty much every day and so far, it has survived that as well as me accidentally kicking the screen (don't ask how that happened, just assume that I'm pretty stupid sometimes).
The battery on the SZ lasts pretty long as well (in stamina mode, that is), if you just want to type and stuff with WAN enabled and one or two brightness notches (enough to work indoors), you should get at least 4h.
And games do work on the SZ.

It depends on what you mean by education. If it's just standard office stuff, both notebooks will do the trick very well. I prefer the SZ keyboard, but that is definitely down to personal preference. But since education always implies typing, you should definitely try both keyboards extensively before buying one.

In my opinion, the Macbook offers more bang for the buck, however this thing gets real ****ing hot. The SZ is, in my opinion, the more elegant solution, lighter and can do more. But if you don't need dedicated graphics, for example, that's not as much of a point.

By the way, as for education: Apple (unlike Sony) offers pretty big student discounts. Look into those, at least over here they shave around 100€ off your average Macbook price.
And if you're interested in another portable that's pretty sturdy, have a look at Lenovo's X60 or if you want something slightly bigger T60, which you can also get with a student discount. Over here, they retail (with discount) at prices starting at 1495€ in a comparable configuration (although in case of the X60 only with a 1.66ghz core duo).

 

The SZ is a tough notebook. As evidenced by my recent run-in with a plane seat, the thing worked (other than the internal LCD getting broken). It's been on the road with me since April with no problems. It takes a beating.

If you get the extended battery, I get anywhere between 7 and 9 hours of battery life. The thing is also cool as a cucumber for me.

Yes, the Macbook will be cheaper, but I think the SZ is a better notebook.

 

I agree. I recently returned my MacBook because of extreme heat issues, lack of expansion and/or media card slots, and an uncomfortable leading edge on the keyboard.

FYI Windows ran fine on it under Parallells - I would not reccommend dual-booting in general, its much less convenient then virtualization.

I ran Windows so much under Parallels on the MacBook I was like 'w\hydid i buy a mac anyway?'

 

For the macbook, I noticed in os x, there are no HOTKEYS such as alt+d for website address type, ALL MINIMIZE, ctrl+n, etc. which I use A LOT everyday in windows. When I am in bootcamp for macbook, would I be able to use these hot keys? or will it not work?

 

With a name like that seems like you've already made up your mind. Personally I will wait and see what gives on Sept 12th with Apple since the SZ340 will not be shipping till Sept 11th. If there are no GPU upgrades in Macbook ( like the Intel X3000) or Macbook Pro (which presently has a downclocked ATI GPU) then I will seriously consider the SZ, especially if the premium models are also out by then. So next week I can definitely decide. Besides, it's another payday for me next week.

Also there was some hoopla about the Asus A8Js for the crazy low price of $1499 and it has a Geforce Go 7700 GPU. That kinda drew my attention. So much Merom stuff is comming down the pike I see nothing better than to wait and see how the land lays; and no; it's not that I will be forever waiting for something down the road; it's just that there are some great choices right around the corner.

http://jhingcardenas.multiply.com/reviews/item/4

Besides, having waited this long has given me time to realize I DEFINITELY want something better than the GMA950 in the Macbook. I still play games now and then.

 

I went through the same deicsion a while back. I chose a low end Premium SZ model and have been VERY happy. The main reasons for choosing the SZ over the macbook were:

runs cooler, better battery life, lighter, has graphics power when required.

The battery life in particular for me has been fantastic (contrary to what some others here have witnessed). I consistently get 7 hours of battery life. This is with maximum battery life settings and wifi turned off with brightness at about 1/3 (i.e. word processing mode) which is plenty bright.

In terms of portability, you can not beat the SZ . It is the lightest in its class. End of story. I've found the unit to be pretty hard wearing as well (though I do take good care of my stuff).

The main draws for the macbook were:

dual OS option, signifcantly cheaper than the SZ.

The deal breaker(s) for me with the macbook were heat issues and the lack of dedicated graphics. Some may say that the macbook looks great. Well, this premium SZ with silver keyboard has and continues to turn heads far more than the macbooks do. Best of luck with your decision.

Weshy.

 

You will get 2.5 to 3.5 hours with standard battery, non-optimized.
Optimized, you will get 3.5 hours to 4.5 hours.
Of course, since I'm an SZ owner myself, I am going to steer you toward it,
however, I see no reason to lie about battery life and tell you it's the best
thing since sliced bread (which is pretty great, by the way).

And, contrary to what EVERYONE says, if you drop or crush a notebook,
there is no hope. However, the extent of the damage sustained may
be important to you.

Both notebooks generate a lot of heat, and I don't know how important ports are to you.

The SZ also has questionable build quality in the hinges and slot hatches.

If you have a lot of money, I would recommend that you definitely go for a PREMIUM model SZ. However, if budget and your priorities are important to you, stick with the Macbook.

 

Well you obviously have looked very much.
There are hotkeys for all of those in macos X. Actually there are far more hotkeys to manage windows than in Windows using Expose.

Once in Windows, you can use just as any windows laptop. The only difference is that to get a right click you need to press ALT and click.

JY

 

The Sony SZ may be sturdy. But it won't look new for very long.

On mine, the plastic edge are now moving. The left one being even worse as it doesn't clip to the main case anymore.
Also the paint will wear off very quickly. And that's just due to me taking the laptop in and out of its sleeve.

When you put the laptop appart, you can tell it's very sturdy, the main body will go well for a long time. But all the little bit of plastic here and then will be long gone by then.

 

See these are the problems I am hearing and thinking WAIT I don't want to pay premium price for this when you can get a macbook for cheape AND will last as long or even longer.

I'm going to wait until next tuesday to see what happens with Apple.

 

As I said before: I think it depends on the SZ production charge you get. I have non-premium SZ and so far, nothing is falling apart. And as I said, I take it to university a lot, I take it to work and it has been to LAN parties, in my opinion the most unhealthy enviroment for notebooks next to bathtubs full of water.
The only thing you'll notice is finger prints on the aluminium hand rest. But you can easily clean it, just take a slightly wet kleenex or something.

Edit: I do however have a simple neoprene notebook bag but I recommend getting one of those anyway.

 

Er, not mine. Zero issues on both. Maybe the ones sold in the US, but the hinges on my SZ are rock solid and not shoddy.

 

Again, not my experience with the premium SZ90. No loose plastic, no bad paint coming off (mine has no real paint per se), no bad or unexpected wear on the carbon weave on the outside ...

 

Which model SZ do you have FenderP? Are the premiums built better than the magnesium models? Are edges/ portions of the magnesium models painted? Just want to make sure; don't want paint deteriorating if I decide to buy one. I would rather buy premium in that case.

Just checked another thread to see you have the Japanese SZ? Would it be the pretty much same as the new Sonystyle SZ381 on the U.S. website?

 

See my above post - I have the SZ90. The carbon fiber ones (either normal or the premium weave - which is what I have) are a bit different at least on the lid. I think the bottoms are the same, but again, I've had no chipping or flaking if there is paint. The issues may (or may not) be limited to the standard/magnesium ones.

Of course, there are no guarantees in life, right? I've been 100% satisfied with my SZ (sans my plane incident) and have had no issues.

What I would say is go to a store that has both a premium and non-premium (best would be a SOnyStyle or Sony store in your country) and compare for yourself.

 

i've got more loose parts then a hooker. and scratches on the round part in the middle caused by the screen. are we forgetting that a macbook can boot into windows and osx?

 

Also check this out:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/07/apple-acknowledges-macbook-random-shutdown-problem/#comments

I'd stay away from Macbooks reading this

 

Which model do you have? Just curious ... my SZ90 (up until it's unfortunate plane seat run-in) has been on the road with me literally since April coming in and out of bags, lid open and closed zillions of times ... no loose parts, nada.

 

Only the screen is made of carbon.
The side edge is made of painted plastic, it's not a matter of *if* it will wear off but *when*.
The bottom case is made of galvanized painted magnesium, so it's very sturdy...

The other plast part is just above the keyboard, where your switches are: it's plastic, but is less likely for the paint to wear off as this isn't a part subject to rubbing or touching

 

i have the sz 160. just to be clear they all are cosmetic. it works like a champ.

 

I have always wanted to own a Macbook or iMac but needed a Windows X environment so I have never had to make the choice. Regarding build quality on the Sony, I have owned 4 Sony notebooks in the past. None of them have been as good as the one IBM T40 I still own. Hinges on the IBM are way better than Sony. Bottom line is Sony is the "James Bond" or 007 of laptops. It looks better than any other laptop, IMO, and no matter who makes Sony's LCD panels; Sony laptops have the brightest and most vivid display again, in my opinion.
Regarding the build quality I have noticed that I am more "gentle" the way I open and close my lid / display. It does seem that, if you squeeze the case near the palm rest it will creek and flex. Personally, if IBM made as good a screen and form factor and it would have to be light (3.72lbs) and sexy like the thin carbon screen I might consider it. As for the Macbook, I looked at the Apple Store very hard at several Macbooks and after I picked them up I was thinking these things are heavy and not near as nice as my Sony.
If Sony’s build quality was too bad I wouldn't be on my 4th one. The SRX and TR3, that I previously owned, were ultra portables. They lasted long enough to outlive their processing competitive edge, I think that is about 2 – 4 years. To have the IBM T40 four years I have added a 7200rpm hard drive and maxed out the RAM and still I can only use it for sitting on the couch surfing the web with the occasional document processing.
The SZ was a hard decision as I wanted the TX or an IBM - Lenveno X60 but I could not logically justify paying the same price for a 2.88lb TX and not getting the SZ at only one pound more with a better keyboard, larger display, dedicated video, more ram, core duo, and so on or not getting the IBM X60 with a 4:3 screen form factor and external DVD. I say get a Mini Mac and SZ and you are set. As for whether to get a Macbook or an SZ I can't see where that is even a fair comparison, the SZ simply blows all others away by size, weight, display quality, thinness, all while not compromising speed or I would have bought something else. If my SZ lasts 2 – 3 years without problems I will be happy to sell it on eBay for $1,200 and move to the next evolution.
Someday Sony may get better at making the port replicator, battery charger, and other accessories forward compatible like IBM with ultrabay2000 and their port replicator. I hope Lenveno will produce a good product in the future and with Macs next OSX Panther and dual boot options they could come into play for me. For now it is SONY!
One last thing, Sony has a LocationFree TV product like Slingbox that streams television over broadband. If you have a Sony laptop and a Sony desktop you don’t have to buy any additional hardware. Sony builds VAIO Media streaming platform into every PC they build, not to mention Click to DVD which is another good software product exclusive to Sony.

 

i agree 100%

 

I visited the Apple Store situated beneath the large glass cube on 58th street.
All I have to say is that I completely misjudged the Macbook.

The only thing the SZ has on it is portability, a screen, and a few lousy ports.

The Macbook's build quality is much better, very solid, excellent design,
and it's keyboard is strong and comfortable to type on--spaced and spill resistant.

If your budget is an issue, and the weight of your notebook is not an issue,
then I must recommend the Macbook.

 

if money is not a problem, buy a macbook pro

 

I too love the build and appearance of the Macbook. I was in a CompUSA today and looked at both the Premium SZ270 and the Macbook. THe salesman said they already have the SZ370's; just not on display yet. I noticed a few user nicks on the edges of the SZ, but picking at them I could not cause anything to flake, but I agree the Premium lid felt kinda fragile to me. The screen looked excellent to my eyes. The Macbook screen also looked great and if I didn't know the body was plastic I would have said the black one was metal, partly because of the weight, but mostly because the fit and finish were so tight; it felt strong and solid.

My choice will be easy if they fail to upgrade the GMA950; looks like the SZ will get the nod Sept 12th if Apple does not upgrade it with at least an Intel X3000 chip. But if they upgrade the Macbook Pro 15" to Merom and a GPU that is not hamstringed like they did to the ATI 1600 inside it I may give the MBP some additional consideration, although I would probably feel like 15 inches is a bit too much for my mobility needs. So although the CompUSA salesman almost had me walk out with an SZ370 I held my ground. I don't need the slow Cingular EDGE and I will probably go for a screemer 2.33 Core duo 2 premium from geekstuff4U, since I can get it with only 1 Gig RAM and a 120 gig HD. That Bluetooth 2.0 is something I will also need if it's for real; the U.S. version does not have it to my knowledge.

Only 3 more days...waiting is half the fun.

 

You forgot to mention internal graphics and reliability. It is very interesting how people measure build quality. Is it by weight, strength, perceived strength? If it is the latter, then how is that measured...

One thing that is definately better by design on the macbook is the power connector design having seen it in action in the middle of a lecture. 2 laptops, 1 a macbook the other a (i think) toshiba. Both cords were tripped over. Macbook's cord slips off while the Toshiba stays connected, stretches and the laptop thuds into the ground.

The whole thing about the keyboard...anyone thinking about purchasing should try the keyboard before they buy. Every person who's used the SZ keyboard at uni has had nothing but praise. Others here seem to fervently disagree.

To my knowledge the SZ has bluetooth 2.0...

 

I dunno; I'm not reading BT 2.0 anywhere here:

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INT...es&ProductSKU=VGNSZ381P/X&TabName=specs&var2=

Also I am not finding an SZ with an actual core duo 2 processor at Dynamism; it's only core duo:


http://www.dynamism.com/sz91/pricing.shtml

Also prices look very high for the model they have with 120 gig HD and only 512 RAM, being no core 2 duo.

 

E-mail Dynamism. They may not have updated for the SZ92 yet. And they do special order.

 

Bluetooth is optional if you build your own in Japan. I didn't get it in mine.