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    Vaio Z vs. CW

    Discussion in 'VAIO / Sony' started by vaio_boi, Dec 31, 2009.

  1. vaio_boi

    vaio_boi Notebook Evangelist

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    So I am looking at the Vaio website to purchase a new laptop to replace my HP DV3.

    On sonystyle.ca

    I have configured it comparably with pretty much loaded specs. The price of CW seems to be about $800 cheaper with MUCH better graphics card.

    2.66 ghz
    4 gigs ddr3
    500gig 7200rpm
    GT230M

    vs.

    2.66 ghz
    4 gigs ddr3
    500 gig 7200 rpm
    9300GS

    Can anyone tell me what the Z is so much more expensive? I understand that it is the flagship model but from what I have saw and tested in stores, the CW feels much more durable and the design is very nice.

    Am I missing something here?
     
    vaio_boi, Dec 31, 2009
    #1
  2. VVX

    VVX Notebook Enthusiast

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    For me the main difference is the weight - 5.3 vs 3.3 lbs, and the battery life - up to 8.5 hours (without Wi-Fi) on my Z11.
     
    VVX, Dec 31, 2009
    #2
  3. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

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    Check the sig, there's my vote! I really don't know that much about the Z, well, enough to answer your question...lol
     
    H.A.L. 9000, Dec 31, 2009
    #3
  4. vaio_boi

    vaio_boi Notebook Evangelist

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    The CW for a 14inch seemed verrry thin and portable in my opinion. What's a relastic battery life for the CW when not gaming.

    Multiple browsers
    msn
    youtube
    watching tv shows/movies
    itunes
    word
    powerpoint
    excel
    Photoshop
     
    vaio_boi, Dec 31, 2009
    #4
  5. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

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    The model I have isn't even near maxed out and it handles that without really having to even think about it.
     
    H.A.L. 9000, Dec 31, 2009
    #5
  6. roweraay

    roweraay Notebook Deity

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    The CW is a brand-new model and thus got things like DDR3 RAM that is very sparingly present otherwise, in the Sony Vaio range. The FW series does not have DDR3, the SR range does not have DDR3, the AW range does not have DDR3 and so on.

    The premium Z was released over a year back, when DDR3 was significantly more expensive and rarely was put into consumer level laptops. Its companion model the SR (also a premium model) was only given DDR2, since at that time DDR3 was too expensive for it. In fact, Sony designers debated a lot about putting DDR2 into the Z, instead of the more expensive DDR3 RAM.

    Bottomline, the Z is due for a re-design with much higher specs, so that people will no longer compare a "consumer-grade" CW with a model like the Z that costs significantly more money. The SR will also go up in specs (since it is a model positioned above the CW), including DDR3 and several other upgrades.

    Of course the Z has a higher-quality and higher-resolution screen and also availability of the 3.06 GHZ processor (not available in the CW range) but those are just trifles in the larger scheme of things.

    Wait a month, and with the new Z and SR models being released, the CW will not seem like a raging bargain, especially if you desire things like an i7 or i5 processor etc. As it stands, when compared against the current Z and SR, it *is* a raging bargain, especially if you can live with the slightly lower resolution screen and the additional weight of the CW (over the Z and SR).
     
    roweraay, Dec 31, 2009
    #6
  7. tktk

    tktk Notebook Evangelist

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    If you want a 5 lb laptop there are lots of great choices. The CW is one amongst a crowded field.

    If you travel a lot and want a 3.3 pound laptop with a 13" screen, optical drive and full power processor and switchable graphics then you have to pay a premium.
     
    tktk, Dec 31, 2009
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  8. ehosey2

    ehosey2 Notebook Evangelist

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    Plus, if battery life is important then that CW becomes less portable when using the high capacity battery compared to the Z's standard battery.
     
    ehosey2, Dec 31, 2009
    #8
  9. arth1

    arth1 a҉r҉t҉h

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    In short, you always pay a premium for size and design.
    Whether it's worth it or not is something only you can decide, but enough people buy the smaller models that the price is justifiable.
     
    arth1, Dec 31, 2009
    #9