Taking the plunge... (Sony Vaio A)

Since its last day for the $150 off the DVDRW and I haven't really found any other notebook that I think provides me with the specs I want at the price I want, I'm taking the plunge on this and hoping that the Vaio A is a good quality notebook.

Here are the specs:

Sony Vaio A Series - $1299.99 (Not including tax)

15" XGA TFT with Wireless LAN
Intel Celeron M Processor 1.4 GHz
40 GB Hard Disk Drive
DVD+-RW Drive
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Microsoft Works 7.0 with Office 2003 "Student Teacher" Trial Edition
3 Years Warranty

After tax it turns out to be around $1412.

Surprisingly the Celeron M 1.4 GHz comes with 1 MB of L2 Cache which I've confirmed with Sony's customer service and Anandtech shows that this processor does indeed exist:

http://www.anandtech.com/cpu/showdoc.html?i=2012

So its possible that this Celeron M just lacks the power saving features of the standard Pentium M.

I was mainly looking for a well balanced notebook that could possibly stay around $1400 (although I had a short moment of elation before I realized I am to be taxed.) My hopes are to still be using this notebook three years from now.

So, what do you think? [8)]

 

I think there's always value in being the first kid on the block to have a new tech device/model because I'm an early adopter [ ] If the VAIO A seems to fit the bill for what you're looking for better than anything else you see out there then I say, why not? And, then you can come back to us and tell us how this new machine is...we hope that it will be a happy union and nothing but glowing reports!

 

I am in too, last night I purchased the A170 with the following specs:

1.7 M centrinio
80 gig, 5400 rpm
256 ram (I will purchase 1 gig of ram and install myself afterword since street prices much better)
3 year warranty
av dock

Total cost $2749.00.

I also found a targus carry case = 3.5 lbs + 8.6 lbs for A170 = 12.1 lbs total. This compares to most 15 inch in the 6lb range but also many carry cases also around 4.5 to 5.00 lbs for total weight of 10.5 lbs to 11 lbs. Thus total travel weight not too different.

I am looking forward to seeing the high resolution 17 inch widescreen, plus it looks like a beautiful notebook, the first reasonable wintel replacement for MAC powerbooks.

 

I'm sure both of you will be extremely pleased with your purchases. I'm certain it will supercede your expectatins in all regards.

Sony GRT270-16.1" UXGA; P4 2.8GHz; 1GB RAM; 80GB HD; DVD+-RW; 64MB Geforce 5600; XP Pro

"People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid." - Soren Aabye Kierkegaard

 

Thanks for the encouragement, I rarely take chances like this.

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by Screener

 

Agree Sony marks up prices a lot, if I recall they want extra $300 to $400 for P 1.8 mz vs P 1.7 mz while the difference in price from Intel is $100.00.

Don't know if you can change processor in notebook boards, but if you can then it makes sense in 1 to 2 years to upgrade.

Looking forward to seeing the notebook in early June!