Sony.com brings back 300 series SZ models

Today I noticed that the 330, 360, and 370 are back on Sony.com. The prices between the 300, and 400 series aren't very different. They actually have the 330's price the same as 430's. Also the 450 is cheaper then the 360. I don't quite understand why the decided to bring back the older models? Excessive inventory?

 

Perhaps because people still want Windows XP thats on the 300 series. Vista just isn't that great appararently from all the complaints I hear.

 

Isn't the difference between the SZ3 and the SZ4 just the operating system (XP versus Vista)? I think all it means is that they are now offering the XP OS as a no-cost alternative to Vista. Dell added this option some time back as well.

 

The HD size was increased to 160 from 120GB. That is why I'm not sure why people with go with the 300 series, when they can get a 400 series SZ with Vista and a larger HD for the same price, or even cheaper. If you're not a fan of Vista, you can always sell your license and buy yourself a copy of XP. I don't know, just my opinion.

 

smaller hard drive

 

I think its because SZ3xx work flawless with Windows XP

Ever since I upgrade to Vista, I have lots of problem. Battery life suck and I can't take picture with my webcam anymore. /angry

 

and audio card is little bit different too.

 

Is it?

What is you chipset name?

 

I don't understand why so many people crying about XP works better than Vista, and I think it is absolutely not making any sense to buy a new PC with XP instead of Vista. I have been using Vista for 2 months now, I can't say it is flawless, but definately an improvement over XP. There is a learning curve involved and I found less and less softwares which works in XP only. Time to upgrade your other softwares if you found them not compatible with Vista. I know softwares at work or doing business cannot be changed, but you can still loan XP on your SZ4 relatively easy.

If you want to go XP, many of us has a licensed copy from the old PC. However, Vista does not come with any disc and I don't know how you can sell your licensed copy Vista to someone (may be peel off your authenticity sticker on the back?)

Many people here can get the SZ4 working in XP, why just buy SZ4 from the start even if you are a die hard XP user?

 

all old SZs use SigmaTel STAC9225, the new SZ4 uses STAC9872AK. you will notice when you try to install the audio driver on Mac x86 OS, the driver of STAC9225 will not work on the SZ4.

this is the driver i wrote inorder to get the audio working on SZ4 on MAC OSX x86 10.4.8:
http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=48456&hl=vaio+sz