ok, I give up: SZ-381 vs. SZ-370 or 380 cto

The differences that I can see between the 381 and the 370 is the 2.16 ghz processor vs. the 2.0 ghz. Also the 381 has the 160 GB hard drive vs. the 120 GB in the 370. Both appear to be "Premium" style with weight at 3.72 lbs.

However, the price gap between the two is $750 !! ($3,100 vs. $2,350). What am I missing??

Then I go configure-to-order a 380 (which I assume is also "Premium") and equipped the same way as the 381 comes out to only $2,550. Although in the spec, the weight is listed at 4.02 lbs. Is this weight a mistake? If so, you can max out the 380 with the Core2 Duo 2.33 ghz chip for about the same as the 381.

Any help? I saw a thread from September addressing this issue, but it ended before anyone actually had the definitive answer.

 

The 381 is the upper-tier Premium with the premium carbon. There's three tiers to the SZs.


Regular
1. model # ends in /B Magnesium Alloy

Premium has two grades (both weigh in at 3.7 lbs):
2. model # ends in /C Regular Carbon fiber
3. model # ends in /x Premium Carbon Fiber

This review has pictures illustrating this for you.
http://www.mobiletechreview.com/notebooks/Sony-Vaio-SZ330.htm

 

thanks for the review link.

one last question then: the cto 380 spec sheet is incorrect?

i may go that way to get the 2.33 cpu and the silver keyboard (easier to see at night in bed!_)

 

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/ IN...VAIONotebookComputers_SZSeries&Dept=computers

If you mean the CTO SZ 390 (there is no 380 listed on sonystyle), then that's an excellent question. I'm not sure what kind of carbon it uses (the regular or the premium), however if you look in the specs you'll see it says in regards to the case, "black carbon fiber casing," and for the 381, it says " premium black carbon fiber casing" towards the bottom. So I'd assume the 381 is the only one that comes with the premium carbon. Both are still considered "Premiums," so I hope I didn't cause any confusion here.

So judging it by that, and assuming you get the same specs listed in the 381 for your CTO SZ, then the logical conclusion is that you're only paying less for the CTO due to the lack of premium carbon for the case; instead with the CTO you get the regular carbon fiber (to my own understanding, I could be wrong though).

 

yes. sorry....i meant the SZ 390 CTO.

so just to beat this to death:
the 370 ready to ship has the lower weight and thinner height...same as the 381.

but the 390 specs have the heavier weight and thicker height. i assume that's a typo?

has anyone ordered a cto 390?