Sony or Macbook Pro?

[Hatshepsut]

Hi all I'm have been looking to buy a laptop for few months now. My choice have been back and forth between Sony F series (due to its entertainment performance) and Macbook Pro 15" (due to its build quality and just love the look =P).

I'm just a normal comsumer who uses its laptop for web-browsing, emailing, chatting, wacthing movies,video and listening to music. No gaming or design involve but i expect to use my laptop for more than 5 years as I have been using my current laptop (a Fujitsu lifebook S series) for 5 years now. That's why i think its time for a change.


Appreciate all your help =)



1) What is your budget?

nothing more than US2400

2) What size notebook would you prefer?

c. Thin and Light; 13" - 14" screen
d. Mainstream; 15" - 16" screen

3) Where will you buying this notebook? You can select the flag of your country as an indicator.

I'm buying it in Malaysia since its cheaper than getting it in Australia

4) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?

a. Like: Sony and Macbook or any laptop that looks stylish =P

5) Would you consider laptops that are refurbished/redistributed?

Nope

6) What are the primary tasks will you be performing with this notebook?

Most of the time web-browsing, reading manga, watching youtube, wacthing movies, listening to music etc. Non-high tech task..

7) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places, leaving it on your desk or both?

Will be using it at home most of the time but if the laptop is portable and quiet will be considering taking it to work

8) Will you be playing games on your notebook? If so, please state which games or types of games?

Nope

9) How many hours of battery life do you need?

I'm flexible. If low battery life I'll just let it stay plugged in all the time. I'll be happy with any laptop that can pull off more than 1 and a half hour as that is my current laptop battery life (I think =P)

10) Would you prefer to see the notebooks you're considering before purchasing it or buying a notebook on-line without seeing it is OK?

Yes but if online gives me good deal plus it's a safe site then I don't mind buying it online

11) What OS do you prefer? Windows (XP or Vista or Windows 7), Mac OS, Linux, etc.

Never use anything OS other than Windows. I'm keen on trying Mac OS though but I'm afraid I won't used to it plus people keep saying the new Macbook Pros are overpriced. That put me off a little bit.


Screen Specifics

12) From the choices below, what screen resolution(s) would you prefer? Keep in mind screen size in conjunction with resolution will play a large role in overall viewing comfort level. Everyone is different. Some like really small text, while others like their text big and easy to read. If you are unsure of what to purchase, we would highly recommend you check some notebook screens before you buy to see what you like. You may also wish to take a look at the notebook screen guide for more information.

* Midrange Resolutions: WXGA+, HD+, 900p
* Actual resolutions: 1440x900 and 1600x900
* Offered on all Notebooks. Keep in mind text will be very small on a 12" WXGA+ notebook.
* A set of in-between resolution options that are found on some machines. Considered base resolution on 17" inch and higher laptops. Text and icons are smaller than standard resolution screens, and more windows fit onto the screen. These resolutions are very good for working with multiple windows side-by-side, without having to overlap them.
* Maximum Resolutions: WSXGA+, WUXGA, FHD, 1080p
* Actual resolutions: 1680x1050, 1920x1200 and 1920x1080
* Offered on Notebook 15" and larger
* On these screens text and icons will be very small. Text can often be hard to read, though some do like it. A very large number of windows fit on the screen, and there will be little need to overlap any of them. Max resolution screens are good for applications that require high detail (CAD, graphics editing, etc.)

13) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy screen?

I would like to try a glossy screen


Build Quality and Design

14) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?

Yes. I can't stand on notebook that is too bulky and ugly or too "unique" looking...

15) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last?

Probably in June and I want it to last for more than 5 years


Notebook Components

16) How much hard drive space do you need; 80GB to 640GB? Do you want a SSD drive?

I prefer a SSD drive but a HDD with 7200rpm would be fine. 100GB++ would be more than enough for me.

17) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a CDRW/DVD-ROM, DVD Burner or Blu-Ray drive?

Yes prefer an optical drive with DVD Burner. Thought about getting HP Envy but not having an optical drive put me off.


Thanks again for all your suggestion. =)

[carthikv12]

The new macbook pros are solid performers... they won't be any less powerful than the vaios and if you like the way they look though they might end up costing a hell of a lot more - they are built beautifully, though i recommend you try one... the edge on the palm rest is really sharp and could make for very uncomfortable typing if you aren't used to it.

to indulge, get a mac
to be rational and save money, get the vaio...

if you use it for 5 years or something, i would recommend a mac... cos you are a careful user... u should indulge yourself. and mac's customer service is faultless. i've heard some bad stories from sony's though.

[zeth006]

The new macbook pros are solid performers... they won't be any less powerful than the vaios and if you like the way they look though they might end up costing a hell of a lot more - they are built beautifully, though i recommend you try one... the edge on the palm rest is really sharp and could make for very uncomfortable typing if you aren't used to it.

to indulge, get a mac
to be rational and save money, get the vaio...

if you use it for 5 years or something, i would recommend a mac... cos you are a careful user... u should indulge yourself. and mac's customer service is faultless. i've heard some bad stories from sony's though.

That's one of Apple's selling points for me. Actual brick and mortar stores you can take your MBP to for servicing.

[Hatshepsut]

Thanks for your answer Carthikv and Zeth. =) I'll have a closer look on the palm rest next time i go to the apple store. There is another thing that has been stopping me from getting a Mac straight away is its OS system.

Is it really easy for someone who never use a Mac to get used to it? Cos I dun really want to put a windows system on my Mac. Its no point of buying it if i do so.

[Icestar20]

I am in the same situation myself. I am choosing between the Sony Vaio F series and the 15 inch Macbook Pro. I am still lost. lol

I really like both.

[voxel]

Isn't the VAIO F - a low budget laptop? It's cheap, runs hot, has a mediocre screen, has terrible battery life, etc. The VAIO FW supposedly had a better screen and ran cooler.

Too bad they didn't make a 15" VAIO Z.

[TechAnimal]

A 15in Viao Z would be a dream come true but would not be cheap. Apple has no FHD screens till you go 17in. No thanks

[lackofcheese]

The Envy 15 is nice @ 15" with FHD, but battery life is poor, and in Australia the refresh isn't out and the prices are terrible, so it's out of the question.

[carthikv12]

Ok, for Hats and Ice, the Macs will feel like they are in a completely different class (which to be fair, they are, even in terms of price) to the vaio F... so if you don't mind indulging in a one time investment that you would use for a long time, then a mac is not a bad idea... having said that, do try out the systems and check if the palm rest is not very annoying... try and judge as to how it might feel after typing for a while and not just by placing your hands on the keyboard for an instant...

now, about OS X, i've used a friends while travelling over a weekend... it is a bit diff from windows... but i've had 2 friends who've switched to it in the last year and a half... no complaints at all. It will take about a week for you to get comfortable with the interface apparently. After that, if you spend some time to learn 'tips and tricks' it should make for an even better experience.

[zeth006]

Ok. Allow me give my assessment of what you get with the Macbook Pro 15. Before I begin, I must state that it's not "irrational" or illogical to choose to buy a MBP 15 as long the MBP 15's advantages over the Vaio F are enough to establish a case for paying the extra price premium.

Macbook Pro 15

1. One of the best TN panels around. Seriously, even though TN panels are supposed to be inferior to IPS panels, the Macbook's panel's color reproduction level is actually quite high and is as close as you can get to being comparable to IPS panels. I would know because I'm currently typing this post on a HP ZR24W 24" IPS panel-equipped monitor. It's one of the reasons the Macbook is considered a compelling choice for photographers and average joes like me

2. Lower weight. If you're going to keep this on your desk, then this isn't a real advantage. But if you're going to be taking your notebook back and forth from school, this WILL be a real plus. Compare 6.9 pounds (Vaio F) vs 5.6 pounds (MBP 15). That's a difference of 1.3 pounds. Whether that's too much to be a deemed a portable is up to you.

3. Build construction - I can't comment on the Vaio F as I haven't read any reviews or touched it in person. But the MBPs are known for their solid unibody design. Plus let's not forget how sexy-looking it is.

4. Glass touchpad. I have noticed that over time, the Macbook has become the standard for judging touchpad quality. The MBP seems to do a good job in terms of sensitivity and incorporating multitouch gestures. The cliche "But it can't right-click" is just that, a tired platitude. It's nice to be able to go back and forth from home and school without needing to carry a mouse.

5. a. Battery life. The Vaio F gets 3-4.5 hours while the MBP gets 8-9. Once again, I don't know how important portability is to you. But
battery life is a nonissue for me as I plan to keep my MBP plugged in all the time.
b. Improved graphics switching. Unlike with Nvidia Optimus, power doesn't run through the integrated Intel graphics set. This is what
helps the MBP achieve its battery life.


6. Support. We've all heard the stories. There are brick and mortar stores in my neighborhood I can go to for servicing. I know I know, Macbooks DO face hardware failures as their PC counterparts do. That's why it's always nice to be able to take your notebook to an Apple store. Even though the "geniuses" there are 1/2 the time bags, you WILL get your service. If you're lucky, in the event Apple finds it can't repair your notebook, they'll give you a new one.


Now as with all things, there are the downsides, or cons, to consider.


1. Price. I understand you want the 15" version. If you feel you can justify the price differential, then by all means, go for the MBP. I won't comment here whether the high premium is worth it as I can easily justify paying $200-300 more for a MBP 13 vs. a better equipped 13.3" ultraportable.

2. Potential compatibility issues. In the event I jump on the MBP 13, I won't encounter any personally. Law school exam testing software is now written to be compatible with Macs. Ask yourself whether you will need to install Windows 7 as buying a copy of Win7 will add to actual costs.

All these pluses and minuses when taken all together into consideration are sufficient to justify buying a MBP 13" for law school. I need a good track record of reliability. I don't care about OS differences as I'm young and thus still capable of picking up on any perceived learning curves. Whether or not they're enough to justify your purchasing a MBP 15, that is to be seen.

Hope you enjoy your purchase!

P.S. I've been keeping up with "One Piece" and "Naruto." Good stuff. I'll DEFINITELY need a nice screen display for Thursday chapter releases!