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Sony Vaio

I had to use a work issued Sony Vaio for 2 and a half years and it was by far the worst laptop I've ever used. Their quality may have improved, but nothing would make me want to go back.

You can get better specced laptops for cheaper or about the same price if you look around.

For example:

Dell Vostro: $399 - http://configure.us.dell.com/d...S&cid=30152&lid=679942
(I'd up the processor to at least the next step, if not the last one, and increase the RAM to 2GB, making the final cost $460 - though there are some other cheap upgrades worth considering as well)

Toshiba for $550 http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...&cp=1&id=1213046783581

Gateway for $650 - http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm...m/ccd/productDetail.do
(I just got the Intel version of this awhile ago, and wrote a review on this forum)

So yeah, there's plenty of great deals out there for better machines. Sony tends to charge a premium just to have the word Sony on their (ugly) cases.
 
I was going to link the Dell, but saw it was sold out. Didn't think to call a store. That would be my #1 pick by far if you could get your hands on one.

I would avoid the Acer though, I'm about to send a friends in (her model is a slight step up from the one linked) for a second time, I can't figure out what's going on with it, and she didn't think to make the recovery discs when she first got it (Acer has so far refused to send me an OS or recovery disc).
 
thanks guys, I noticed circuit city ALWAYS has big discounts and MIR which BB never wants to match, are they selling refurbs or closeout models?
 
Their lower prices are typically on lower brands. Like Acer isn't exactly the best brand in town. And Gateway is trying to position themselves as a cost efficient alternative to the big boys (and so far I've been pretty impressed with their quality).

Sony, on the other hand, has years and years of recognition as a great electronics brand (hell, their TVs are still awesome), particularly among the older clueless crowd, and as a result they just charge more for less than what the competitors offer.

Best Buy's sales are where you can save money with them though - I got a laptop for $200 less than normal last week (a Gateway T series).
 
Buy electronics from walmart? eww

OP, Vaio >>>>> dell >>> acer.

For $600-$700 get a Thinkpad.


Wait, it's for your g/f. Hmm...macbook + student discount get you anywhere?
 
yeah i think sony charges a premium just for brand name alone. what i've seen is their prices are higher than normal, but what you get for that price isnt anything special at all

 
I don't really buy from walmart, I was going to use some sonystyle points I have but I check walmart and all the retailers for pricing and selection.

CC has lower brands but they even have good deals on toshiba. They sell lots of toshibas and lots of my family/friends own toshiba laptops.

as for macbooks, while they're sweet and intuitive and very clean, seems like they're still way overpriced for what you get. Like a wii vs a 360 or something.

I think if you buy a macbook with student ID you get a free itouch by mail.
 
Originally posted by: RESmonkey
Buy electronics from walmart? eww

OP, Vaio >>>>> dell >>> acer.

For $600-$700 get a Thinkpad.


Wait, it's for your g/f. Hmm...macbook + student discount get you anywhere?
Click to expand...

id suggest a thinkpad, too, but i dont think hell get a new one with quite near those specs for under $700 (ie, half the HD space and 1gb ram)
 
Originally posted by: CasioTech
Originally posted by: xSauronx
cheaper, better specs

cheaper still, similar specs

dont know anything about the build quality on yours or these two, maybe itd be worth it *shrug* the dell youd have to call a B&M store to see if its in stock
Click to expand...

how good do you think the video card on that Acer extensa is? What kind of 3d games do you think it could pull off?
Click to expand...

Probably an intel integrated x3100. Don't bother gaming with that.



To the post above CT's, yeah but using a coupon you can get the well-known T series (or R if it's cheaper) and then do a manual RAM upgrade and still be under $750.


Casiotech, if you're looking for something with a dedicated graphics card, don't pick an nVidia card right now. Certain GPUs from the 8 series and even the 9 series are potentially defective. 🙁


 
The newest Intel card, the 4??? (4100? 4500? i forget...) might be able to do CoD4 on the very lowest settings, Intel is boasting about their new gaming capable cards, but it's still nothing compared to a real dedicated card.
 
Originally posted by: kyzen
The newest Intel card, the 4??? (4100? 4500? i forget...) might be able to do CoD4 on the very lowest settings, Intel is boasting about their new gaming capable cards, but it's still nothing compared to a real dedicated card.
Click to expand...

From what I've read, Intel's X4500HD is capable of decoding full HD (1080p (or is it i, I always get confused)).
 
Originally posted by: CasioTech
I was hoping todays integrated cheapo intel cards can at least do COD 4 with low settings. :/
Click to expand...

HD4500 (i think that's waht it's called) can probably do it, but those are found on Centrino 2 notebooks, and are $800+

X3100 won't, at leaset I don't think it will.
 
Havent tried cod4 with the new intel integrated chipets, but the x3100, as well as the integrated ati and nvidia recent offerings (cant remember the names...6150/7150 and the x1200?) all fail pretty bad on cod. it runs, but awfully slow and trying to aim is painful at best.
 
yeah but the overall functionality on a laptop is greater than a PSP 😛

Besides, does your girlfriend plan to do any gaming?
 
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