After months of yapping about wanting a new laptop, I finally bought myself one. My trusty old weighty Dell will now be sold as granite. My new laptop is called a Sony VAIO SZ3HP/B. I did consider the MacBookPro, but I decided that it was just neatly packed bullshit as I was getting a better spec on the Sony for almost the same money and a kg lighter too. A lot many people did volunteer the info that Sony too is neatly packed expensive bullshit. However, in my case a very good deal on the Sony made it extremely competitive. Btw, I bought it off this place called "Internet" or whatever the hell it’s called. Some said it was the web.
I was quite well warned about Sony’s recent quality and reliability issues. But I myself have had a good experience with (my father’s) VAIO FJ and it hasn't shown any half life yet. The build quality was top-notch and I saw no reason why I shouldn’t buy another VAIO.
Like most people with no social life, I decided to review my laptop and blog it. Most reviews found in magazines and the web of the internet online smacked of PR-jargon and were no help in making any judgement about the product. So here’s mine without the usual.
To start with, the specifications read as Core 2 Duo 1.83GHz, 1GB DDR2 SDRAM, 100 GB 5400rpm HDD, 13.3" WXGA display, WinXP Pro, WiFi, Bluetooth, built-in web cam, 128MB nVIDIA GeForce graphics with TurboCache nonsense AND an Intel GMA945 graphics unit and the usual DVD burner. Product weighs 1.8kg.
The build is pretty impressive. The palm rest area has a nice brushed aluminium finish and the chassis is apparently magnesium alloy. The plastics are nothing exceptional but the display shows very little flex, which needless to say is a very good sign. The lid has a tough sandpaper textured finish and the underside plastics feel super robust. The keyboard has a soft podgy feel to it. I’m taking my time getting used to it. I’m not sure whether it’s a good or a bad thing.
One interesting feature is the Stamina-Speed button. This switches between the NVIDIA Geforce (for graphics power!) and the Intel GMA graphics (for better battery!). In theory, a hybrid system trying to find a balance between power and mobility. In theory. Good theory. However, to switch between the two systems you need to restart. Which brings me to the question, why have an external hardware switch at all ? Couldn’t it just be implemented in the software ? The NVIDIA provides some impressive graphics muscle for a laptop of this size. Easily one of the best in class, especially as the rest of the class is using the Intel GMA945 rubbish.
Sony says the battery should last "upto" 5 hours on the stamina mode (The "upto" presumably means its not their fault if it lasts more). Which like all other Sony press releases, is utter bollocks. I have been able to squeeze out only 4 and a quarter in my best behaviour. Which is not too bad considering the competition. The Wi-Fi button very, interestingly, also controls the BlueTooth. This I think is a design flaw. One has to switch on the Bluetooth as well to use the wifi. Considering one doesn’t use BlueTooth as much as the wifi, its just a waste of the battery resources. I havent checked the full battery recharge time yet but it seems to be pretty fast. Of course like most Vaios this one too comes with a heavy brick like charger which appears medieval in comparison to Toshiba's sleek and small charger. However it does its job pretty well. The vaio comes with a Memory stick Pro Duo card reader and also, surprise surprise, an SD card reader (thats a major deviation from Sony's earlier policy of supporting only the Memory Stick format). Like all vaio, the SZ too comes with a lot of crapware. So if you were ever worried about having excess computing power, this takes care of it all. However, it can be turned off using MSCONFIG on WinXP.
One of my previous issues with Vaios was the heat problem, which never failed to supply third degree burns for your lap. It does make for a good birth control measure, though. The SZ seems to have taken care of it seamlessly. It NEVER gets hot even when running on the mains and the vents are in the rear, not on the sides. The fans are noticeably very silent and the hard disk cant be heard most of the time.
All in all, it seems to hold on well to what I had thought it to be before buying. The only unanswered question is reliability. The "made in Japan" label on the underside is a good start (unlike many other vaios, which are made in china). However, I'll have to wait and see if thats any guarantee.
I was quite well warned about Sony’s recent quality and reliability issues. But I myself have had a good experience with (my father’s) VAIO FJ and it hasn't shown any half life yet. The build quality was top-notch and I saw no reason why I shouldn’t buy another VAIO.
Like most people with no social life, I decided to review my laptop and blog it. Most reviews found in magazines and the web of the internet online smacked of PR-jargon and were no help in making any judgement about the product. So here’s mine without the usual.
To start with, the specifications read as Core 2 Duo 1.83GHz, 1GB DDR2 SDRAM, 100 GB 5400rpm HDD, 13.3" WXGA display, WinXP Pro, WiFi, Bluetooth, built-in web cam, 128MB nVIDIA GeForce graphics with TurboCache nonsense AND an Intel GMA945 graphics unit and the usual DVD burner. Product weighs 1.8kg.
The build is pretty impressive. The palm rest area has a nice brushed aluminium finish and the chassis is apparently magnesium alloy. The plastics are nothing exceptional but the display shows very little flex, which needless to say is a very good sign. The lid has a tough sandpaper textured finish and the underside plastics feel super robust. The keyboard has a soft podgy feel to it. I’m taking my time getting used to it. I’m not sure whether it’s a good or a bad thing.
One interesting feature is the Stamina-Speed button. This switches between the NVIDIA Geforce (for graphics power!) and the Intel GMA graphics (for better battery!). In theory, a hybrid system trying to find a balance between power and mobility. In theory. Good theory. However, to switch between the two systems you need to restart. Which brings me to the question, why have an external hardware switch at all ? Couldn’t it just be implemented in the software ? The NVIDIA provides some impressive graphics muscle for a laptop of this size. Easily one of the best in class, especially as the rest of the class is using the Intel GMA945 rubbish.
Sony says the battery should last "upto" 5 hours on the stamina mode (The "upto" presumably means its not their fault if it lasts more). Which like all other Sony press releases, is utter bollocks. I have been able to squeeze out only 4 and a quarter in my best behaviour. Which is not too bad considering the competition. The Wi-Fi button very, interestingly, also controls the BlueTooth. This I think is a design flaw. One has to switch on the Bluetooth as well to use the wifi. Considering one doesn’t use BlueTooth as much as the wifi, its just a waste of the battery resources. I havent checked the full battery recharge time yet but it seems to be pretty fast. Of course like most Vaios this one too comes with a heavy brick like charger which appears medieval in comparison to Toshiba's sleek and small charger. However it does its job pretty well. The vaio comes with a Memory stick Pro Duo card reader and also, surprise surprise, an SD card reader (thats a major deviation from Sony's earlier policy of supporting only the Memory Stick format). Like all vaio, the SZ too comes with a lot of crapware. So if you were ever worried about having excess computing power, this takes care of it all. However, it can be turned off using MSCONFIG on WinXP.
One of my previous issues with Vaios was the heat problem, which never failed to supply third degree burns for your lap. It does make for a good birth control measure, though. The SZ seems to have taken care of it seamlessly. It NEVER gets hot even when running on the mains and the vents are in the rear, not on the sides. The fans are noticeably very silent and the hard disk cant be heard most of the time.
All in all, it seems to hold on well to what I had thought it to be before buying. The only unanswered question is reliability. The "made in Japan" label on the underside is a good start (unlike many other vaios, which are made in china). However, I'll have to wait and see if thats any guarantee.
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