Suggestions please: SZ or Z

Hi, I'm new here and I need some suggestions...

First of all, I'm in uni and I've been wanting to get a laptop for some time now. And I've been interested in getting a Vaio SZ ever since I saw it. Cause I really like the way it looks, I'm a guy that prefer form over funtion lol.

But never got one cause I'm broke... Then when I finally saved up some money, the Z comes out! Now I dunno whether I want a SZ or a Z more lol. They both look really nice, and I wouldn't mind having either one but some pros and cons I see for both in my case:

The SZ is cheaper (getting discontinued?) than the Z and I like the 13.3" screen size more, not used to the Z's wide and shorter screen haha. But the SZ is heavier and since I'm gonna be using it for school, carrying 4lbs vs. 3.4lbs all day makes a difference (comments on how much of a difference?). I kinda like the new barrel hinge on the Z and its keyboard more. The Z also has newer/better hardware.

I know I could just get some more economic laptop but as I said I like the style of the SZ/Z and I plan on using it for a long time so I want one that I like.

Either one is gonna put a huge and I mean HUGE dent in my wallet but I'm looking for suggestions on which one would be a better choice overall. Like getting a Z with lowest configuration over the SZ or something? lol. Which one is a better choice (in the long run/for my case)?

Also if anyone knows how to get deals on Vaio laptops please tell me, those people in Sony stores don't seem to like me =( lol. Btw, is it wise to get a used/refurbed Vaio?

Sorry for the long post and if it doesn't really make sense...it's been a long day. Please help me, thanks in advance!

 

I personally would recommend getting a Z. If you're in the US, the following link is a great deal that you should consider. A VGN-Z550N/B at about $1,699 from Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-VGN-Z550...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1221452481&sr=8-1

 

Get the SZ, it suits your needs very well, and it saves you a lot of money you as a student can put to a better use.

 

I am also a very poor university student and had spent most of my money on my Vaio TZ and that will be the case for my next laptop as well, so I want it to be really really good!

I feel that since you are spending so much of your money on this purchase, make it as good as you can get. So I would recommend the Vaio Z, the latest and greatest, even if you get the cheapest configuration. It will have several benefits over even the highest end SZ like HDMI out, better screen (especially in color reproduction), lighter weight, can switch between Intel and Nvidia graphics without restarting unlike the SZ, etc.

 

I would go with the z as it is an awesome height for taking class notes, it's low profile and lighter weight really make it an impressive machine for students who'll be using it in classrooms and on the go.

I chose the Z mainly because it offered built in graphics for light and occasional gaming, a small student friendly size and weight, stylish looks, and a wicked screen that is one of the best I have seen on a 13" laptop. The SZ is also a decent machine, but personally I prefer buying the newest technology I can afford.

 

Make sure you spend some time with the keyboards of both because this is the biggest difference in my opinion.

The SZ keyboard makes an uncomfortable sound in my opinion.

 

this deal is making me consider returning my CTO'd Z590

 

Hm, well its opinion really, but I love the keyboard on the SZ and one of my friends who hates/strongly dislikes laptop keyboards was positively surprised, now I have only used laptops at home (never owned a desktop in the family) and love the SZ's keyboard.

Then the SZ is tried and tested - if you read through old reviws, there were a few "dodgy" aspects - that may happen on the Z.

Not the weight, I carried a laptop twice as heavy to school in the UK...

Another thing about the SZ though is the fact that the NVidia GPU is likely to fail if used intensively. If however you hardly ever need the NVidia GPU and use the Intel Chipset instead (I do) that wouldn't so much affect you.

See here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=268277&page=24

(Some useful things at the beginning and middle, no SZs have failed yet)

 

That depends what would be the price difference between SZ and Z. I don't know how difficult is to find SZ now, in Austria not so easy. Best would be if you can check both of them in person and see which one suits you better. Some people still prefer SZ over Z (in terms of design). Performancewise they are pretty much similar (Z is a bit better) so it comes down to this: do you want latest technology and are you willing to pay for it. I have SZ71 and waiting for my Z590, just because I like very much Z design, but I doubt I will feel any significant increase in performance, so for me I can say this is buying with heart, not with brain .

BR
Miki

 

Get the Z, 'nuff said.

 

Can't really agree with that statement. This is what I believe to be more true:
It is extremely unlikely that the Nvidia GPU will fail in a SZ, even if you use it intensively.

How many Nvidia 8400M GS have we seen that failed in a SZ? Zero I believe.

 

Yes you're right, no SZs failed yet and I did mention it in brackets!

The point is though, and people (inlcuding me I believe...) argued that with the SZ due to the dual graphics card, wear and tear on the NVidia would be reduced as nobody would use it all the time.

It is possible that they haven't failed only because they weren't used enough. Especially as, regarding all I've seen, they belong to the affected range too.

 

****, time to contact amazon about a price adjustment... i purchased when it was $1,788... still hasn't shipped though.

 

Dont forget if you apply (or any family member ) for amazon chase card at time of purchase, get an instant $30 off + x3 reward points for every $ spent = $25 gift cert in mail SOON !

yes savings are minimal, hey ur buyin a Z u can use these savings to buy accesories!!!

 

Get the Z550, for $1,698 it's a brand new Vaio with the most recent technology like DDR3 memory and Centrino 2, all for a really good price as well!

Can't go wrong with that.

The HDMI out, Centrino 2, cooler running, DDR3 memory, and the better contrast screen are all that I would not do without!

 

yah, already used that one on something else... otherwise that would be a great plan

not to thread-jack, but **** super saver shipping is killing me...placed order on 9/9 and still hasn't shipped.

 

they don't do price adjustments anymore for products purchased after sept 1st.

I bought my Z from amazon in August, so I was able to get the price adjustment, but in their email they specifically said that products bought after 9/1 wouldn't be eligible anymore.

 

Anything's possible with Amazon Just gotta complain till YOU get IT (trust me.. )

 

that's interesting... gonna have to call them.

EDIT: called them to clarify... they still do price adjustments BUT the amount has to be greater than $20 and the purchase must have occurred less than 7 days prior to the price adjustment.

EDIT 2: the price just went up to $1,915, so no price adjust for me!

 

I've noticed that amazon will lower their prices on the weekends. So maybe check back on Sat.

I've had my Z price adjusted 3 times since I purchased it in August, which means that there were 3 price drops.

 

I have owned a SZ260p for two years (still in my signature below) and I bought another SZ691N/X last week from Amazon. Must have been very lucky because I paid $1,286 for it. I immediately installed 4gb ram $65 and the new Seagate 320gb 7200rpm drive $130. After I purchased a second battery $169 I was still under $1,700 and I like the SZ. I like having both PCMCIA and Expresscard. The switchable video is nice and I know how to work on this laptop. Plus I had always wanted the premium carbon SZ. I am now shopping for a T9500 CPU. Still a nice upgrade overall. I sold my old SZ for 1,200 with the T7600 and all the upgrades including three batteries.

 

Not intention to hijack a thread

but I too am facing the same dilemma...here in canada an SZ costs $1799 and the Z costs $1999, no official discount on em

does the extra and improved features that the Z offers over the SZ worth the extra $200?

 

Thanks for all the replies guys. Forgot to mention I'm from Canada btw, if that helps...

Still can't really decide...but I'm more leaning towards the Z now cause I like the design and the Black/Silver look more than the pure black on the SZ lol.

A few things that I still want comments on:
-weight difference, will the ~0.6-0.7lbs make a noticeable difference if one carries it around all day, in a messenger bag?

-screen resolution, can't say my eyes are the best, so would it be better to stare at a 1600x900 screen most of the day or a 1280x786 one or is there no difference? -_- Also I'm used resolutions close to/at 1280x786 and haven't used 1600x900 at all so...

-would I be able to turn either the Z or SZ into a hackintosh? lol just thought I ask this too cause we use macs in some of our courses.

I have some more questions but it's really late so I'll saves those for next time. Thanks again guys.

 

This is actually the exact same dilemma I'm in. I picked up the SZ750 from Best Buy for $1199, and I'm wondering if the differences are worth returning it to get a Z from Amazin for about $1700.

 

if you are going to move about frequently with a laptop on the go, get as light as possible.
every gram counts!

i used to lug a 3kg laptop around... with lecture notes, books and such, it can top 7kg. no joke.. it's a pain in the @$$

now i switched to Z, it really made a difference. weight of my Z is surprisingly only 1.45kg only.
only about 200g heavier than TZ.
using a standard battery, i can get approx 6 hs of usage. hence bypassing the charger etc.

now i'm getting about 2- 3 kg of load per day, and that's more than 1/2 the weight gone.

i wonder will there be something like 700g laptop from sony to replace the tz series?


but if u are just looking for something to keep at home, SR will do..
i find the main differences between them is the weight only.


anyway, to get a feel of how 1.8kg is heavy, just think of a big can of milk powder.. that's the weight..
sales-personal will usually claim that 1.8kg (weight of SZ) is ultra light. (like real)...
SR weight is about 1.92kg


go do the maths urself.
with all things equal,

would u pay more for almost 500g (1 brick) worth of weight difference?
if yes -> Z
if no -> SR

SZ is outdated..

 

Well, the SZ isn't really outdated, the Z is just a tiny bit better, possibly unnoticeable in terms of specs.
Then the SZ is tried and tested.
With weight - you get used to it.
We boght a lawnmower yesterday (first rented house with a garden) I carried it aroung, 11kg, no problem.
Reason: My aviators case which I used in school could reach up to 15 or maybe more kilogramms with a 4kg laptop (Medion 15") and all "paperwork"...
Thus I'm used to this weight and don't really notice the difference.
So unless you are unused to weight, a few hundred gramms don't make a difference.

 

The actual weight of the SZ is 3.95lbs i intend to commute with this notebook to university very shortly and shock horror however am i going to manage? I am going to manage just fine and i am not a big 6ft man.

My nieces notebook weighed 2.93lbs so i have something to compare it to. I don't think that i would really gain anything from buying getting something lighter as transporting the SZ in a messenger bag would not give me a problem and i do not have a problem with the weight.

I feel no need to go lighter.


The SR does not really offer anything over the SZ. In terms of performance the SZ top model processor out performs many notebooks in Sony's current line up.

 

different countries, different perspective i guess..

journey to and fro school is about 2hrs of bus and mrt journey which i have to stand ...
i'm not really keen to have that much weight strapped to me.

i rather be fresh and alert in class, than tired and sleepy after carrying the load =/

i thought i could get used to the acer weight previously, but turn out to be wrong

 

For me every ounce counts. The lighter the better.

I'm very curious to see the real weight of new TZ and Dell E4200 for example.