The laptop torture! Alienware M15x & Sony Vaio Z

Thanks for looking! I understand these two laptops serve completely different purposes. You should buy a laptop that fits your needs but in my case, I don't particularly have any needs. I'm just looking for a quality laptop that I might enjoy.

This is more than just like picking a laptop for me. Picking either one of them would have an impact on my lifestyle. I don't need to game but I wouldn't mind the opportunity. When I had the desktop, I gamed heavily. In fact I sold the desktop because I was playing too much! I don't need the portability but I wouldn't mind carrying the laptop with me to places I go. The only requirements I have are the best display I can get and a good keyboard and good support! Now let's look at these two,

Alienware M15x & Sony Vaio Z

Two laptops with beautiful screens that I liked! The Vaio would be more expensive than the Alienware. The extended warranty for Vaio is $299 extra which I'm not sure is worth it.

Alienware M15x

Great Warranty and Support.
Good Gaming capabilities with 5850!
Good Screen


Sony Vaio Z

Good Screen
Good power in a portable package
XP support!
Noise problems?

If we were to just look at laptop to laptop, which laptop is more reliable? I have been reading hundreds of pages of both M15x and Vaio Z owners thread. Both laptops have some problems. Alienware warranty seems to be great. I'm not so sure about the Sony. I could take advantage of the portability of the Vaio. I would become a "gamer" with the M15x. GT 330M can still play some games. Both laptops have good resale value! As you can see, I can find pros and cons for both laptops that would fit me. Maybe I just need to pick the one that is least likely to have problems. If money was not an issue, which one would you guys pick over the other and why?

Thank you

 

If money isn't an issue, get both!

 

I went with the sony vaio z because I wanted the portability, the ssd's and the ability to game, not heavily, but the potential is there. I did not want a large laptop because I'm going to be taking it with me everywhere. If you think the alienware's too big, possibly consider waiting for the HP envy 14 or possibly purchase the Envy 15?

 

I"m going to buy the Vaio Z because a few years later there will be faster laptops than the Vaio Z or the M15x but the Vaio Z will always have its small form factor, low weight and timeless looks going for it.
This also reflects in the resale value of these notebooks.
The gaming community is always looking for cutting edge technology and the best performance in gaming they can get and the M15x will be obsolete in that regard in a few years time while the Vaio Z will retain its value because of its portability, battery life and business executive features.

I had to make the same decision quite a while ago and I chose a desktop replacement laptop that had the newest technology back then and half a year later I was disappointed to see all these new models coming out which were better in nearly every respect.
I don't need to tell you how hard it was to sell this machine.
I won't make the same mistake again!

 

I was debating on the same models, I would choose the Z as the alienware looks like a casino: lots of lights, big and ugly. The is real classy.
If you real must have gaming, get a $299 PS3 and that should last for the next 5 years.
I say get the Z, and if gaming is a must get a PS3.

 

Heya, I have the old M15x, and the new Z.

M15x for serious gaming, without question. Z if everything else is more important, and you "just play sometimes".

And there are no noise problems as far as Im concerned.

 

I really abandoned laptops or PC as my main gaming platform. You have to have the latest graphics card or laptop to play games at max res. Thats why investing in a $299 PS3 will give you gaming for year! It costs less than the average high end video card.
Makes a lot of sense. the Z is great for casual gaming.

 

I totally agree about what the dude with the glasses said. But the desktop replacements always will rule and be able to do the coolest things, and have the best speakers, screens, and gaming graphics card.

 

Why do you list "XP support" for the Vaio Z?
To my knowledge, XP downgrade and driver set is only available for the old VGN-Z, not the new VPC-Z.

Unless you count "XP mode" Virtual PC mode in Windows 7 Pro+, in which case both models have it, but neither will work if the XP app requires hardware drivers.

 

Certain Z11 models come with XP downgrade media.

Pic of the media included with the VPCZ112GX/S I evaluated before receiving the VPCZ11FHX/XQ:



I wish I copied the DVD's before returning the Z112. The Signature Series doesn't have the option, or Fresh Start.

 

Here in the US, this doesn't seem to be the case. At least I could not find any version with XP downgrade on Sony B2B, except the old models (which you can still buy).

 

I purchased/returned the aforementioned machine from the Sony Style store in Dallas, TX.

I believe this model is also available at Bestbuy.

 

The Z112's in the US DO come with XP downgrade media. My Z112GX/S did.

Zoinks PM me your info and I'll ship you mine.

 

that makes no sense whatsoever, why do you need to game at max setting and max res? do you think PS3 or 360 games are at 1080P or the equivalent of high settings on PC? the answer is a clear no, for most cases PS3&360 resolution is below 720P and have graphic quality equivalent to medium settings on a PC.

 

I thought most PS3 games are at least 720p... (I have a PS3, waiting for GoW3 price to drop ).

But I think the issue is something else: the catalogue of games for PS3 is smaller than that for PCs. Or at least that's what I know from my gradually outdated knowledge of gaming...

To me, PS3 is different from other consoles because it comes with a Blue-Ray drive, that by itself is worth the US$300. To upgrade the drive on a Z costs US$500...

[A short while later] Why max resolution? My general take is that graphics rules as the human interface with machines. And in terms of graphics, the ultimate goal is realism. Realism requires infinite pixels per square inch, so the higher the resolution, the closer to realism. In addition, 3D is supposed to be the next step to realism: break the constraints of a 2D flat screen. I heard the PS3 can be upgraded via firmware to support 3D, so that's a good step to take.

Why max resolution for gaming? Coz gaming is a key driving force for graphics evolution. The generation of kids today play in highly-realistic combat scenarios, so that in the future they are better able to function in the military.

 

I think it depends on what you primarily want to do with it. I don't game (that much), and dedicate my PS3 for that purpose. After games like Ultima disappeared, I lost interest in RPGs. Also I suppose I grew out of it: I realized that while gaming has its benefits (venting frustration), its returns diminishes rapidy with increasing time spent. So I will never go for M15x.

I was using a netbook just before my Z. Believe it or not, I found that it was almost sufficient for what I do. The trouble is, 1-5% of time I wished I had a better machine, in terms of processor speed, graphics capability, and general snapiness. And it is just for that 1-5% of time which seriously bugged me, that I decided to invest more. Hence the Z.

 

i have a ps3 as well, as well as a xbox 360, wii and gaming computer.... sadly they all have a tendency to collect dust. It's been month since I last turned on my 360 and PS3.

I should have worded myself better, of course people want higher resolution and higher resolution is better. was just trying to point out it's odd that that particular poster complain about having to constantly upgrade PC GPUs to main stable frame rates but than suddenly rave about the PS3 which can't achieve 1366*768 resolution on pretty much all graphically intensive games (GOW3, GTA4, MGS4, COD4 etc, in many cases the resolution is substantially lower)