Thoughts requested about VGN-Z890 (discounted) & VPC-Z11(regular price)

I'm confused. I'm just an average business guy. I used laptops to do spreadsheets, email, social network, download videos, and ask stupid questions on Notebook Review. I need a new travel laptop. Of the two which do you think would work best for me factoring price...

VGN-Z890
Refurb
3.06 gz
4 gig of ram
500 gig HDD, 7200 rpm
BluRay read/write
Large battery
Carbon fiber
Price: about $1900

VPC -Z11
i5 540
8 gig of ram
256 gig SSD
Fresh start
No mobile broadband
Blu-Ray read/write
Silver (not crazy about this)
Standard Battery
Price: $3150

I like to make decisions on my own but I've been following multiple threads about the Z and come away feeling like an average Joe like me may be getting in too deep with SSD's.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

I'll add one more factor which might matter: support. I don't know how often Sony updates older models' software, if it's not frequent, then it might get more painful down the road.

Also, selling the Z11 may help recoup part of the immediate cost. However, I don't know how much the depreciation is either...

 

Thoe are good points TofuTurkey. It'll be easier to sell a Z-11 than an 890. Are you in Hoboken by any chance? Lived there for years.

 

Nope, I'm further inland, around the Morristown area. Will most likely be going back to the Bay Area within a year. Mmmmm, good weather

 

I'd get the Z890 and put an intel 160gb g2 ssd

 

Yeah? I lived in SF for years. I'm in Portland, OR, right now. Nice town when the sun shines. Moving back to LA where I lived for years. (Getting the idea I'm old lol).

@ckthepilot thanks for your input. I'm leaning that way too. I do like backlit keyboard though. Do you think the video card will make all that much difference to an average joe like me who dos no gaming at all?

 

I'd get one of the Z890's with the P9700 or T9900 processor and Blu-ray optical drive, or would just remove the standard dvd drive and have a Blu-ray optical drive installed instead.

 

Thanks ehosey2. If I go that route I'll let you know how the refurb looks when it arrives. I know you were interested in that. It looks like I can get the refurb for about $1000 off of what it would cost new.

 

@ Glashub

Don't forget to add the code OUTLETVAIO20X to get the additional 20% off. I know it worked yesterday for any VAIO notebook in the clearance section. I have not looked today though to see if it still works.

 

@ehosey2. Thanks. Do you have any problems with the graphics card in your Z? I know the new Z has a big upgrade there.

 

I have no problem with the NVIDIA 9300M GS. I even have it overclocked as follows:

Core clock at 700MHz
Memory clock 702MHz
Shader clock 1800MHz

It's set to always overclock and I have no issues. Youtube 720p videos stream really good and 1080p videos take a little time to load but then play without issue. And while I'm not a serious gamer, Madden plays well at mostly high settings.

 

I'm really trying to justify getting one of those Z890's. It's very tempting, especially for the additional 20% off. Thing is, my Z820 is only a few months old, it has 8GB of RAM, and has Blu-ray. I bought it new and upgraded afterwards. What would I do with another Z, put it in the closet for a few years ? Hmm. What to do ?

 

IME, they update it just as often as for new models: Never.

 

My only concern about a Z refurb is if it had the screen replaced and will arrive with some dead pixels.

 

If Blu-ray is not a must, I'll humbly suggest the (new) VAIO Z base pre-config model, VPCZ112GX/S:

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0330321

IMHO, that is probably the best deal for a new VAIO Z notebook right now.

 

Thanks, SpeedwithJJ. Well, I ordered the refurb. I used the coupon code and saved another $385. I priced an 890 new and can say confidently that I saved $1000 dollars. My thinking is that the dual core 3.06 GHz is the equivalent to an i5 but it was the best maybe 6 months ago. The HDD can be replaced with an SSD that I want. No backlit keyboard....well I seldom use a laptop in the dark. Yes, it feels weird to willingly buy outdated equipment but my dual core SR didn't stop working or slow down just because of the new processors. I have an F-11 with the i7, etc. It throttles down when runs off of the battery, runs hot, and has big fan noise. I guess I decided to stick with the mature technology for now with the little laptop.

I'll let you know what the refurb looks like on Friday when i get it.

Thanks all again.

 

I'd be comfortable with the choice you made. Good purchase. And SSD's with larger storage capacities and lower prices are fast approaching so your Z890 will be current technology. So what that it does not have the 330M card.

 

@ehosey2 thanks for the reassurance. @speedwithJJ, There is that same laptop in outlet and with the code you can get another 20% off. @arth1, so true. Thanks again.

 

Glashub, congrats on your purchase.

 

Thanks SpeedwithJJ. I know you'd have gone the other direction and appreciate you extending your "congrats" anyways...instead of, "You moron! What were you thinking?"

 

Not really as what you described, to be really honest.

I've also got to admit that on a whole, the (new) VAIO Z series is better in every way to the (old) VAIO Z series.... Unfortunately, I'm most likely skipping this (new) VAIO Z series & waiting for its successor... The main thing that prevents me from buying the (new) VAIO Z series (other than I'm currently broke) is the fact that they're using propritery SSD setups.

I like components like HDDs/SSDs, RAM chips, CPUs, batteries, etc. to be "user replaceable." This is also one of the reasons why I'm keeping my (March 2009) unibody 15" MBP instead of selling it & getting the newer MBPs because of Apple's "stupid" implementation of "built-in / non-user replaceable" batteries.

 

Well, I was able to get the old Z as described for about $1500 with the idea that I can replace it in a year if I want to. The whole SSD thing has me a little rattled. Nobody knows if they'll slow down in time or not. A new Z the way I want it would cost about $2600. I already have an F11 with an i7, etc. So I had a hard time justifying ponying up big bucks again. What did you mean by "Not really as what you described, to be really honest."?

 

I mean that I sincerely congratulate you on your purchase & never for a moment did I think of something like "You moron! What were you thinking?"

 

Thank you.

 

If Intel ever gets around to releasing the X25-M G2 SSD equivalent but in a 320GB or greater capacity, that Z890 with the T9900 or P9700 processor with 8GB of RAM and Blu-ray would be awesome, especially with 20% off. As my Z820 has the P8700 processor, I wonder if I'm really missing out on something. But, being that I'm upgrading to SSD in the near future, perhaps it won't matter.

 

I thinking about the same thing as well - picking the old z over the new one. but today, i went to microcenter and got to see it in person. and i am definitely going with the new one now. looks so much better in person, plastic palmrest is not that bad, and it is much thinner in most parts than the old z.