need some help picking out a vaio notebook

I'm selling my macbook pro 17" 2.66 and I want to go back to a sony vaio my last sony was the FZ180 series with a bunch of junk software installed as you guys have a thread here on it, anyway I'd like to buy a vaio about 15-16-17' nothing bigger, my brotherinlaw has a 18-19 or whatever thats to big for me, anyway my needs are fast cpu,fast video card, no hdmi needed,new model, and especially no junk software I can't get rid of like in the FZ model my price would be from $2,000 - 2,300

Thanks In Advance !

 

Good luck with the junk software thing, nothing has really changed with the series of notebooks that came out after the lot that the FZ came out with.

You will be looking the latest FW refresh (successor to the FZ)

 

WOW ! Thats the only notebook thats decent looking and built with quality and nothing has changed , how the hell do they stay in business, I would have thought they would loose customers if they kept that up

the only reason I sold it was because of the software and updates the reason I bought this macbook was because build quality and I tried it and didn't see any junk in it , but didn't realize I wouldn't like OSX

I might have to go with a dell

Thanks !

 

Get the new FW -> Create Backup Disc -> Format -> Drop in Windows Vista / Windows 7 / I have one of the new FW with the ATI 4650 and its great.

 

how do you eliminate the junk software ?
do you make the backup for the drivers ? and install a self owned windows?

how is this done?

 

There are directions on the forums to backup just OS - I think - I used sony
software on PC to backup everything so I could restore later if I want, but use a stand alove disc or vista to install clean with no bloatware just besure to select format while inatalling and if going to 7 do fresh install not upgrade.

Drivers are on sony site.

 

I'm checking the sony site now for FW series, I remember the restore options when I restored and they had a few different types of restores, I even went and ordered the 3 disk off them because I thought the backup was corrupted, now that leaves me with another question I think I tried to install a retail vista on that machine and I wasn't able to am I correct ?

 

I'm looking at this one VGN-FW490JFT

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665893596



My Mistake I was reading it wrong it is a 1066 MHz, should have known with the P9600 cpu

 

justbrake, why don't you just use BootCamp to run Windows on your current MBP? Personally if I'm you, I'll stick with the MBP, instead of jumping back to a Sony Vaio.

 

Portableone.com gives buyers the option to get VAIOs with a"P1 optimized" image rather than the default Sony one. It's one way to kill the bloatware w/o lifting a finger. Don't know about their selection/prices for the models you're considering but they were competitive with the Z series last I looked.

 

What is the advantage of running with a less compatible, hobbled Windows environment under Boot Camp?

To the OP: I think the bloatware is overemphasised - the main culprit, apart from the trialware you can easily remove, is the VAIO Media services - and it's the work of like half an hour to remove.

I can debloat a VAIO from unboxing within an hour max leaving stuff I actually want, but maybe I've become the computing equivalent of a skilled fish-filleter. The disadvantage of the debloat vs clean install is primarily about space. The fact is though with a current machine, I doubt you're going to obsess over the last ten gigs of data cruft, are you?

 

Most of the actual bloatware that causes the problem can be cleaned out relatively easily...people just make a huge drama out of it for no real reason.

 

Looks like 16.4", FW4xx with Radeon HD 4650, 1GB VRAM, T9900 C2D 3.06 GHz is for you but wait until SonyStyle put FW4 CTO (Configure to Order) model in their website. The current CTO model they have is the older FW3 with a slower card.

As of junk software, I am afraid all Sony laptops come with bloatware. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to reformat, reinstall just the OS and install just the bare minimum. I did that both with Vista and XP and my FW now runs 10 times faster. But this step requires you to have your own copy of Vista or XP. If you don't have one, you can borrow Vista DVD from somebody without violating the copyright law by installing it with the serial number printed on the sticker at the bottom of your notebook.

 

Hi, I appreciate the heads up on the CTO coming, I checked out the one they have up there now, any Idea when they'll be putting it up ?

Thanks!, I appreciate the help !