Sony vs Apple / customer service

I love apple and their minimalist design but I can't stop looking at the Z series from sony (it has everything i could want in a sub 15"). Basically my dilemma is how confident should i be buying a sony compared to an apple. I have a sony style store and a two actually three apple stores within 35 minutes of me. I've never sent my MBP in for repair since i bought it last year because it has been rock solid for me. However, my HP (dv9000t) has been sent back and fourth a couple times due to countless hard drive failures and well I get tired of packing it up when something went wrong. I guess this is more for Sony owners to answer. Is having a sony store near you any benefit like it is having an apple store? If it doesn't help then i guess i will be sticking with apple for my next purchase.

 

sony doesn't run mac osx.
mac somewhat camping windows.

 

sorry i can see how my post is kind of everywhere.
I meant as in customer service is having a sony store near you as comforting as having an apple store near you?

 

you could take your laptop to an apple store for service but sony style store doesn't offer repair or warranty request. but this didn't stop me from buying a Z... LOL don't get me wrong, I love Apple. however, sony appears to have an upper hand in ultra portable laptops

 

actually vaios offer in home service on all there models now. So they come to your house/work and fix it!

 

isn't on site service cost extra? the standard warranty require customer mail in their laptop for service? again, i could be wrong

 

theres gonna be new macbooks and macbook pros, wayy cheaper than sonys of similar specs.

 

Yeah try the Sony forum.

 

You're being very optimistic. I would like to see Apple release a notebook as light as Sony Z with better specs at a lower price. I'm pretty sure they won't.

Moved to Sony forum.

 

Sony Stores are just retail outlets with a Sony badge on the front. They won't deal with service issues generally. At least, that's how it is in the UK.

 

Yeah, Sonystyle store is not going to help you in service, but you probably won't need it anyway.

 

SonyStyle stores in the US have something called "BackStage" and it is exactly like the apple genius bar, they repair and service your computer, and you can schedule a repair visit, etc.

I highly doubt the macbook or macbook pro will EVER be a better bang for your buck than sony. Sony charges a premium for brand new, apple charges an even bigger premium for their brand name. You can find a half dozen brands or more with cheaper notebooks with more power in them.... but people dont buy sony/apple simply for their price point. They are premium laptops, and as such generally come with a premium price tag across the board.

 

Thanks for the replies. I guess the topic has shifted from service to quality and bang for you buck between the two, which is great and all because i'm also somewhat curious on that topic as well, but still, i guess to put it as plainly as possible is "who will fix my notebook faster if something goes wrong" I'm hoping there is an edge to sony because the z will always end up having more problems then an apple product simply because of all the elements crammed into a small package, which increase the variables and possibility of problems. I'm willing to accept the increased risk of problems in the z as long as they will have same repair turnover that i would expect from apple and also purchasing a high quality and priced product. Am I asking too much
Also what is this "backstage" thing? I've never seen it the sony store

 

You can try entering your zip code & your model number in the New Repairs section and see if it finds any stores in your area that does Sony repairs. There are also Sony authorized resellers like Portable One or Spare Parts Warehouse that will repair your laptop for free if it's within warranty. Otherwise, for the standard warranty, they usually have something like a 1-week turnaround.

Example: The day after I called Sony, they sent a FedEx overnight box. I sent it out on a Saturday, they received it on Monday, and I got it back the following Monday.

 

Can't agree agree with you there. If any notebook is prone to overheating problems it's the Macbook Pro. I've seen many topics with heating issues. For example: This guy could not even install a 7200rpm drive because his MBP got too hot: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=306457

The cooling on Sony Z is excellent. You will not find anyone with overheating problems in the Z. The downside is that at load the fan is clearly audible.

Mind you, the Z is thicker than a MBP, that's one of the reasons it can cool better.

 

Check again. The ss store in Kansas City is building a service and repair center and will be completed by December. I understand that this isn't the only store that is getting the S&R.

 

In addition, as of 2007(last time i checked), Consumer reports had Sony as the laptops with the LOWEST failure rates, which means that your sony is less likely to break then, well, any other major laptop brand...(including Apple, Dell, Lenovo, HP, Gateway, Toshiba, etc.)

 

Sony has only stores where you can bring your computer and a sony tech can check your computer for any issue but they dont do service or repair they will still check for your service option if it's an onsite service or depot. you can check this link

 

Yep I can testify to that as well. I'm both a Vaio z and Macbook Pro user. My 2.4 Ghz penryn Macbook Pros does run significantly hotter then my 2.5 Ghz Vaio Z.

Also I've noticed that Sony's high end laptop offering (those made in Japan) are usually better built then the Macbook Pros. In fact I never had any problems with the past 3 Vaio notebooks I owned - can't say the same with my Apple portables. Though I like OSX tons better then vista.

As for service, Since I travel a lot I have a lot of good experience with Apple service. I feel that Apple's Global warranty service seems to be better then Sony's. At least in the counties I've visited like Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan. No silly, "Sorry you bought your unit in the US, we only do local warranty." crap.

 

Yeah I'm a Macbook Pro (3.1) user too, and the lid won't even shut now, cause of the heat kind of changed (bent?) the shape of the case...

 

Sony backstage will do upgrades for you... in fact they suggest that it's better to have them do it then anyone else AFAIK

 

I don't see where it says they cannot do any onsite repairs? There is an icon stating there is repair functionality, nothing says they have to ship it out.

Is apple any different?

 

So I have been digging around a bit trying to find information on what Backstage can actually do.

Apparently it is a "repair facilitator" which surely means they have a limited capability of what they can fix. Good news is that you can have someone else diagnose the notebook instead of you wasting a lot of time working with a rep over the phone. I assume they will also handle all of the packing and shipping for you. Bad news? If you are out of warranty, the diagnosis will cost you, of course, but the fee is good for an entire year.

I can't imagine this would be much different than what Apple does, but I don't know anything about world wide warranties and stores.

 

Thank you so much for the replies. I have a lot to think about