Dell Inspiron 6400 vs. Sony Vaio FE

[doggiezz]

Hello all, first post First off this forum has been a great help for me and my dell inspiron, overclocking etc. but alas it is time to buy a new laptop. I've narrowed it down to 2 choices, the Vaio FE and the Inspiron 6400.

Price is not an issue to me, and I would prefer a quiet notebook, which does not heat up too much.

5) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
Gaming, image editing, computer will be on most of the time.

6) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?
On the desk mostly, but intend to carry it around to uni once in awhile.

7) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?
WoW, BF, several other online RPGs. And any new games that might pop up and interest me.

13) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy screen?
As long as the colors are good and the screen is bright, all is well.

14) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
Not too fussed, but I quite like the play and pause buttons on the 6400.

15) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last?
Next week, or next couple of weeks.. ?

Vaio FE
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T7200 (1.83 GHz)
2 GB DDR2 SDRAM
NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 7600
15.4" Wide (WXGA: 1280 x 800)

Inspiron 6400
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T7200 (1.83 GHz)
2 GB DDR2 SDRAM
ATI Radeon x1400
15.4"

Well from the stats here, for gaming the Vaio is way ahead with the 7600 vs. x1400 in the 6400, but I'm concerned about sony laptops, as some of my friends (and the reviews here) have complained about sony's breaking down, or poor performance. Not forgetting the crap keyboard they have in the FE (noisy, fat). Plus my inspiron has served me well over the past 3 years (not a single need for repair).

What would you recommend?

[swarmer]

Have you looked at the newer Sony FZ too? I think the Asus F3 is worth looking into too. Both should be around the price of the Sony FE. Thinkpad T60 widescreen is a nice option too (it has a matte screen, unlike the others).

Edit: Oh yeah, look at the Compal IFL-90 too.

[doggiezz]

Thanks very much for your reply swarmer. Compal does not sell where I'm from (Malaysia), but I am currently looking at ASUS and its looking quite nice. Dell's now not an option, they stopped including x1400's with the 6400 for some reason (out of stock)?

[Dijo John]

I own a Vaio FE and wud certainly recommend it. It combines style and performance perfectly.

Perhaps the biggest advantage of the FE is its screen. U won't find such a gorgeous screen on any other machine.That's for sure.

I also love the keyboard with the flat keys and am sure u wud love them too once u start using it. It's very comfortable to type on and the noise is only normal.

Plus, the laptop runs really cool even after hours of continuous use. Regarding durability, my FE has functioned without a glitch so far.

[doggiezz]

Thanks for your reply John. I'm getting the FE

Cheers.

[mrXniick]

I would advise you to get the FZ or the fe.. considering it is the updated version of it.

One big knock against sony though is the wxga screen on a 15.4 inch notebook.. that is a low res for something that big.

[swarmer]

I know... I think it's a blessing in disguise though... If they offered WXGA+ on the FZ, I don't think I'd be able to hold back any longer.