sony TZ worth it?

with new chipset coming out and other companies making devices like the asus EEE,

is the Sony TZ series a worth it?



basically


Is the sony TZ is worth the price currently, compared to OTHER ULTRAPORTABLE laptops?

 

Fill out an FAQ.

 

I think it depends on what you are paying for a TZ. For $1900 to $2200 I say no, but I was lucky enough to get a TZ130 for around $1188 (deal is no longer offered) - so I would say at that price point the extras you are getting are worth it - ultimately it is up to you. There has not been a small laptop to come out yet in my opinion that has a display even close tot he TZ.

 

If you can wait untill fall,

There are coming very interesting ultraportables with the Centrino 2. Dell already announced the E4200, Lenovo the X200, and for sure Sony soon will do the same.

 

I agree that the TZ's screen is razor sharp, perhaps the sharpest I have ever seen on any laptop. With my aging eyes, I was actually surprised that I could read any text on it at all, but I can.

What is the current best deal being offered at P1, S. Style, Newegg or any vendor for a TZ configuration? i.e. the best bang for the buck?

Andrew

 

No. No computer is. There is always a new chipset coming out, there are always new models in the pipeline. You will never buy any computer if your main criteria is that there will never ever be a better one, because there's always a better one on the way.

I've seen people literally get stuck in research mode on this - people who've been researching a laptop purchase for years, because every time they like one model they learn of another due in a 6 months to a year that will have some fantastic new feature they'd never use anyway. The ironic part is, if you can spend 3 years just researching the choice, your research proves you don't even need a laptop - you've gotten by without one for 3 years, right?

Decide what features you need and buy one that has them. Don't worry about getting the lowest price, the latest model, the most popular brand - worry about getting the one that works for you. If you do a good job of matching your needs, you'll be happy with it regardless of the other crap, and it will last you years because your needs will change a lot less often than the technology advances.

 

epbrown that is such a great way of putting it. I totally agree with everything you said.

I know a new Vaio TZ model will be coming out later this year. In spite of that, I still went and purchased a Vaio TZ150 last week. The size, battery life, and aesthetics are all that matters to me, and the Vaio TZ delivers in all of these aspects. Even if Sony released a new TZ with better guts, I will still be satisfied with my Vaio TZ because it fulfills everything that I need. It's the perfect match.

 

In my opinion whenever you take a TZ, is worth it! No matter what model is or which chipset has, is always the best ultra-portable out there!

 

the new centrino 2 looks so tempting.. but it is a matter of when the TZ will have it

 

I feel the OP has touched on something here. The real question is not whether we here on the NBR forums or owners of TZ's or techies believe the TZ to be worth it (which I definitely do) but whether Sony, with large R+D costs for future T models, can convince Joe public to continue to buy them instead of cheaper models from other manufacturers. If they cannot then the future of luxury ultraportables may be in jeopardy.


Although I have lusted after a TZ since launch I am gonna wait until it has Centrino 2 and get an HP 2133 in the meantime to handle light duties. Trouble is how many others are gonna do the same thing (and maybe not upgrade later) and will Sony see a lack of future earning potential from continued development. Building ultra-portables with the kitchen sink in them may not look like such a good idea if HP's little creation and others take off in a big mainstream way.

The TZ is stunning but businesses wont be so into spending big bucks on high price laptops during a recession when they can get away with spending half the price or less on something of the same form factor from another big name maker. I.T. divisions don't give a c**p if their sales guy has the worlds best LED panel, they care about how much its gonna take away from the rest of their budget.

We may love this stuff but $2000 v $500 might be a hard sell to prove the next TZ is the best buy at Best Buy.

 

This is a non-issue - for any large business with several thousand laptops in the field, Sony is not even in the running. Sony markets and sets-up their laptops to be consumer-friendly rather than business friendly - they don't offer cross-platform support, detailed hardware and repair information, data management, security or a host of other capabilities that my own office (with thousand of ThinkPads in the field) takes for granted.

The Sony market has always been the retail consumer, and if Sony thinks they'll ever compete with the other laptop makers leasing to big business on the level with IBM, they're kidding themselves with this strategy.

 

the jump from santa rosa to montavina (centrino 2) seems so big

 

Asus EEE vs Sony TZ? Are you for real? Two totally different target market.

I do agree, Sony is not a business machine. Sony TZ is too fragile, it is not something you can throw around. IBM on the other hand is build like a tank.

And yes, TZ is totally worth it.

 

If you are referening to the TZ, it doesn't have the Santa Rosa chipset. Is the two years old Intel GMA 945 with the 950 GMA graphic card. From this platform to the Montevina yeah is a big step.
Come on guys you can't compare Asus EEE or HP MiniNote with the TZ. The first are subnotebooks, TZ you can easily use it as your main laptop like a lot of people do. Only the dimensions are similare, nothing else.

 

You are absolutely correct!
Well stated.
Part of this is due to the increased frequency of engineering cycles (time from one model release to subsequent model release) by Intel and other chip manufacturers. For example, in the desktop market, there used to be a new video card chipset once a year, then every 6 months, then every 3 months. Avid gamers may feel inclined to change their video card setup every 3 months. The people "stuck in research mode" (as you put it) are probably not the avid gamers.

But the "urgency" to get a new video card (or a new laptop) is somewhat an artificial stimulus placed on the consumer by Intel and others. Without that stimulus, many consumers would be happy with their current product, and sales would die. This stimulus drives the entire consumer electronics world.

In the case of computer laptops (and desktops), it is generally hardware (not software) that drives this stimulus. Most 2-3 year computers will run VISTA or any latest application. With desktops, it is gamers and other enthusiasts desiring more FPS for a game, etc.

Precisely, for businesses it is the Thinkpad lineup, perhaps some Dells for those businesses who are cheap or "daring" or some of the HP business lineup.

A notebook with a non-user-replaceable hard drive can not be in the running as a business notebook.

Andrew

 

Actually epbrown you made your own point instead of looking at what was written in my post. Nowhere in my post did I say 'large' business. Nowhere did I say thousands of laptop. Its obvious who the market holders for business laptops large and small are, the IBM's etc of this world. But small businesses will consider these laptops for their staff if the feature set and price reflect a benefit and/or they wish to make a visual statement and impression. As the TZ is not and has not been at the forefront of the business market it may/will see encroachment from other manufacturers into the ultra-portable market at cheaper prices in the retail and consumer sector. These consumers and smaller business may see the TZ as simply non-viable when compared to alternatives. The EEE was only the 1st. Newer models are coming from all sides and this threatens the T models and the industry's continued development of high-end consumer and pro-sumer models as stated by Sony themselves here

http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/27/sony-exec-sees-eee-like-pcs-as-having-potentially-negative-impac/

This represents a risk to anyone who values laptops such as the TZ from continuing their success in the consumer fields. Sony have pulled out of markets wholesale when pressed by other manufacturers and diminishing current and prospective profit margins in spite of the fact their hardware is almost always on the leading end, see the Palm OS PDA market as evidence (proud owner of a TH-55). I for one don't wish to be left with a choice of a Lenovo or a POS cheap ultra-portable simply because the market valuation for high-end ultra portables has plummeted. If you can't see the potential market destabilization caused by cheap ultra-portables with rapidly improving specs upon the high end market then you have failed to understand how technological growth from a lower market can envelope and undermine another.

No offense but please don't read anything into my posts that isn't there.

 

You didn't say large businesses, but you didn't specify small or medium sized business either - as you state, you thought that was obvious. Not so much.

That aside, I wasn't reading anything into your subtle and nuanced analysis of the business laptop market, but rather offering my own opinions as a counter to yours. As the old joke goes, "Put words in your mouth? As if I could fit them around your foot!"

Kidding aside, I personally wouldn't recommend Sonys for any business you couldn't run from a single room in the average suburban home. They're among the best consumer laptops on the planet, especially in the ultraportables segment, but I wouldn't manage a paper route with one. The company is unwilling to commit the kind of resources supporting business requires, and they have been since my first 505G.

 

Guys,

There is no need for personal attacks and please stay on topic. This thread is to help onetake, not discuss whether sony are capable business laptops.

@onetake,
Please make sure you fill out the FAQ so that we can help you better.

 

I dont need to fill out a FAQ because I have no intention to buy one right now

This thread is just to see if the sony TZ is worth the price currently, compared to OTHER ULTRAPORTABLE laptops

 

depends on the premium you are willing to pay for battery life

tz is still king for battery life

if it costs more than competing ultraportables this is why

 

it's up to you , but it is not much more expensive than other ultra portable or mobile PCs , the EE is a cheap laptop but more like for a kid , can you run Vista business on the EEE?

so for me , it's not worth it but for some it is.

i think the Toshiba R500 is a good option too , the Toshiba will have 128ssd , then I might get it .

also, the Lenovo X61 is a good choice , I can't afford the new X300 but the X61 is my kind.

Macbook air ? it is not worth it cause it's got only one USB and stupid battery that can not be replaced or swapped.

 

I totally disagree as a Lenovo user.

It is a myth, not the fact.

There is no research that shows it is more durable than any others, Pansonics are truly tough but way over priced so.

I think many people think more solid and hard looking the more durable , I think it is wrong , the more flexible the more actually useful.

But it is just my opinion , don't get me wrong , I like Thinkpads but they are great not because of its design or build but its total package offering, as a whole it is an unbeatable package.

CF VS Mag ? I think Mag case is not more durable than CF case.

 

The big question with the Toshiba is the screen. It has been reviewed on NBR as being a poor quality screen.

The X61 has no trackpad. If you don't do trackpoint, it is out.

The X300 has a much bigger footprint than a TZ. It is thinner but much larger width by depth.

The Thinkpads are, and always have been fantastic notebooks. The shortcoming, since the Flexview was phased out has been the screens. They just don't compare to a SONY screen. Other than that, they beat almost every aspect and feature of a SONY or any other notebook, unless you can't work with a glossy display like the SONY has.

Andrew

 

Everyone, watch this video.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=No1cjYTUz9w

For Vaio owners, it's not for the faint of heart. However, the video does make you appreciate the quality of Vaio laptops.

 

Wow, you think the X300 is too big ?

Well, size is very subjective. So is build quality, what makes people believe a Thinkpad so much better than others?

It's like religion,I can't say anything honest or sincere about a Lenovo if I do will be bashed(one time , I was almost banned here).

I never trash it , in fact , I think it is quite good but not at all special like some may believe.

So I never go to the Lenovo forum although I use a Thinkpad R61, you know it is not good to have strong feeling for a tool, it is not your own son after all.

Do we use it for more than 3 years with current fast changing tech?

I think most of people missing the most important point that the build quality is not as important as it used to be in 90th , since most of people buy laptop every year now and it is hard to break it in a year.

I do not care for build quality so my choice is an Acer, a Dell or a Toshiba.

Now, it is cheaper to replace it often than upgrading it or repairing it so no need to worry about BQ too much , but Sony build or Acer build is no so bad either.

ASUS seem to have some serious build quality issues(like cracking in case) but I do not worry about it. If I got this kind of problem, I wouldn't really worry about it as long as it runs normally. Build quality is something I least care for when I buy a new laptop.

And as with the Thinkpad build quality thing, the Thinkpad keyboad fantastic thing is very subjective at best, I prefer Dell's, I think Dells are firmer and more comfortable(I can not say this at Lenovo place).

As for the Toshiba R500 screen , it is LED back lit and rated very good in some UK reviews and German reviews that I found on line , I do not understand German but my friend translated it for me.Is the Sony screen really that good, or even better than the R500 screen?

I think my Toshiba M600 has one of the best 13.3 inch screens , it is very sharp with wide view angle.

I will go down to a shop tonight and see it myself, it's hard to believe Sony screens are so much better than my Toshiba's................

Acer 14.1 LCDs are quite fantastic too, no other 14.1 beats it in my book, I will compare that to a Sony 14.1 tonight, to see how I like it.

Finally, please remember if you only read English reviews, you are missing something very important (I usually read En , Chinese and Japanese reviews), like maybe these reviewers dont think or not even aware of it but most of them have prejudice against some particular brands or strong opinions or strong feeling for a some particular brand like Thinkpad quality , Sony LCD or Acer crappy quality control.

And these mag sites are all SPONSORED by Lenovo , HP,Dell and Toshiba usually , how they trash them even if they think these are ****ty.

And have you ever seen Acer sponsoring a site in the US?

I had prejudice against Acers. But in reality, the Acer 4920G felt much better than most similar sized laptops of other brands at my local , and as I believe Acer used more responsive LCD panel in its AS 4920 5920G series(like a German review said) than most of others of much more expensive computers ,I could paly a Demo game on the Acer much better than on others of similar kind.

Any way , I am not bashing Thinkpad or Sony , just saying many people just see it as a special brand or already believing it is superb even before gets his hands on it , so they miss something very important. Many Thinkpad series laptops are very nice , sure, but it is just a tool.

I like Dell Latitude personally but it is just my preference.

 

The SONY TZ screen is truly razor-sharp. I have not seen a sharper screen on any notebook. As for the Toshiba R500's, I have never seen one, and the R500 would be perfect for me if it had a great screen. Yes, it is LED-lit. I am basing the fact that it (the R500 screen) is inferior on a review I read here on NBR stating that the R500 had a very unevenly lit screen with very bad viewing angles, which is not the case with the SONY TZ.

As for the X300, it is not too large for me, but from the early reviews I have read, there are two LCD manufacturers for it, one is better, but neither are great screens.

In that I believe that SONY makes their own screens, and video is very important to them as a company, their screen technology is extremely good, although they all are glossy panels. The TZ may have the best of any SONY panel I have seen.

If anyone has seen an R500 or X300 screen first-hand, I would like to know what the opinion was of them.

Andrew

 

The Vaio from this video is the G series that has excellent build-quality indeed. A friend of mine has it and he is very happy with it. I think the G has better build-quality than the TZ if you confront how many lids had broke (there is thread in this forum somewhere). The TZ is more fragile so you guys be very careful carrying it.

 

Oh, congrats on you , IBM so great then?

I thought Lenovo bought the PC division of it a few years a go.

 

I'm surprised at how people can break their TZ screens. What exactly are they doing? It's a $2000+ piece of machinery. Are they balancing a TZ on one hand while skateboarding or something?

 

http://www.notebookjournal.de/top10/subnotebooks

I found an interesting link , there was no IBM.

 

None of the Vaio screens are made by Sony.

 

Wow.
Didn't know that.
Do you know who makes the panel in the TZ?

Andrew

 

I'm not too sure about the TZ screens, for the TXN, Sony uses Toshiba-Matsush1ta LED screens.

 

How come a TZ11XN gets more points than the newer model TZ21? Unfortunately I don't speak german! By the way, I agree with the Top-10 with the exception that the G should be higher.

 

Hiya,

i owned (and loved) an older model until it got nicked from the flat and am thus in the market for another one.

I am very curious to know when sony are upgrading the TZ to a higher spec? I would so love to see a spec nearing 4G RAM, 2.5 Ghz, 300 GB type, Dual Core with HD capability. Although it hurts at the outset i am willing to pay a premium for that finish. So any information on this will be much appreciated.

Many thanks,

Sha

 

For those specifications, you'll have to go with the slightly larger Vaio Z. The TZ refresh or replacement will use the SU9300 and SU9400 processors, with 1.2 and 1.4ghz clocks respectively.

The Fujitsu Lifebook P1630, the update to the P1610 and P1620 series with Centrino 2 and SU9300/9400 processors has been unveiled by the FCC. I hope to see Sony and other manufacturers make some announcements of their Centrino 2 ultraportables soon.

http://www.small-laptops.com/2008/08/31/fujitsu-lifebook-p1630-at-the-fcc/