Sony Vaio C1MV Picturebook... worth it?

[ChrisIsBored]

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Contemplating getting a laptop. Something small/very lightweight would be perfect. Had a Vaio FX120 before and that sucker weighed 7 lbs. WAY too heavy!

This and the Vaio SR seem to be my favorite two choices right now...

Any insight from someone who owns one? Still haven't seen either up close though, local CompUSA doesn't have them in stock and BestBuy never carries the nice stuff either.

 

[joohang]

Only thing I don't like about the VAIO SR is the i815EM video. I also prefer the design of the older SR5k and SR7k models.

 

[TimeKeeper]

This is what happen to me.........

Got my wife a Sony SR33 (only 600Mhz w/ 128MB, hoping low-end labtop will not drain out the battery so easily) very light weight and compact. She used it quite often for couple of DAYS, then she still complain about its size!!!!!!!!!!! (now, it become our living room surfing machine w/ wireless nic)

Then I got her PocketPC 2002 (cheapo Audiovox), she was so amaze w/ it for couple days again and she complain about the short battery life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( This time she want to trade her Audiovox w/ my Sony Clie)

Anyway, my point is w/ any kind of laptop, you MUST bring a AC cable w/ you because you do run out of battery in very short period of time. (in this case, I don't really see the different between FX and SR because you still need a bag to carry all those accessories)

 

[joohang]

Isn't the battery life of the SR quite long though? Especially if you get the double capacity battery.

Other than that, I agree with you.

 

[TimeKeeper]

<< Isn't the battery life of the SR quite long though? Especially if you get the double capacity battery. >>


Unfortunately, I don't have extra $200 for that Double capacity battery. 🙁

oh, just like to add that if you happen to use PCMCIA card, it will heat up the SR very quickly.
And guess what, you can't really place the SR on your lap. (the Air-intake opening locate right on top of your left thigh) - no worry, it has big warning sign "Do not Cover the air vent" in 4 different languages. 🙂

 

[ChrisIsBored]

Yeah if I had to carry around a ton of accessories that would be a bit of a problem. The only thing I really need though is a NIC to connect to a network and i'm set. I won't be using the CD-ROM drive much other than just when i'm first setting up my software, and DVD/CD-RW are not necessary as well.

Anything that'll last me 5+ hours on battery life will work great.

 

[TimeKeeper]

Regular SR battery only last about 2 hours w/ 30% backlight.
5 Hours + might not be even possible w/ double capacity battery.

 

[ChrisIsBored]

Hehe... Picturebook it is then! 😛

Any other suggestions though? 4-5 hours battery time...

I know Fujitsu has their own small picturebook sized laptop using a Crusoe processor as well...

 

[smp]

Anything that'll last me 5+ hours on battery life will work great.

i-book


Dont' laugh, I'm serious. 🙂
I got to play w/ one a little while ago, when i have the money I'm getting one. (of course, by that time it'll be a newer i-book no doubt)

 

[ChrisIsBored]

Still haven't finalized any decisions yet, anyone else have any recommendations for a small/lightweight notebook?

 

[TimeKeeper]

friend of mine has the picturebook w/ 667mhz processor.
It is definitely really small and light weight. And I can assure you w/ Lucent wireless network card on board, it can last up to 2.5 hours. IBM-style curser is NOT very responsive thus make its small screen quite annoying to navigate.
One more thing, I am NOT sure if this is only happen to his machine. But the backlight will remind on, even when in "suspend mode" under Win2K.

Although I am very much Sony Fan, but I still can't recommend either of them. But I can definitely recommend Clie 🙂