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General discussion

Sony VAIO S360 or Dell 700m ??

Apr 10, 2005 3:34AM PDT

Please help. I`m buying a small & light notebook and can`t decide which between Sony VAIO S360 and Dell 700m.

Discussion is locked

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making similar decision
Apr 12, 2005 1:09AM PDT

I'm making a similar decision, although im passing on the 700m because the keyboard is so small. Instead I'm considering the dell latitude d610. Seems like user reviews are more positive for Sony, but not sure if the higher price is worth it or not. On the other hand, Dell's service reputation is good but you may have more problems with it.

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Sony's Service and Quality Reputation
Apr 12, 2005 1:19AM PDT

R Profitt told a story once about Sony support telling him that their laptops were only meant to be used for a couple hours at a time, and needed a rest.

I think that exemplified Sony for me. Beautiful and Fully-featured, but fragile. Also their support has been sub-standard.

That having been said, yes, the keyboard on the 700m is wierd. I don't like it. You might instead consider a Latitude. At work we have a D400 and I really like it. The keyboard is usable for me. The d610 is a good choice however it's missing a widescreen, so if that was a selling point, you should consider another option.

The Latitude x1 is really fantastic looking but unlike the 700m, it does not have an optical drive built-in. At first I thought this would be a pain in the neck but then I realized . . . I never use my optical drive except when I'm at home anyway.

For a widescreen, ultraportable option with a better keyboard and built-in optical drive, consider the HP DV1000. It's a nice machine, though I dont' know if they've updated it to the latest Centrino technology.

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I've heard about...
Apr 12, 2005 4:34AM PDT

Sony having overheating issues. I've also heard that their tech support is practically non-existent. Dell, on the other hand, has been selling a lot of lemons lately, and has generally terrible customer service and support. (As far as Dell is concerned, you're just part of "the unprofitable consumer market".)

If you get a Dell, be ready to return it quickly if there's any sign of trouble. (Same goes for anything you buy, really.) Don't let them delay you beyond the "no questions" return period--just return it.

If your Dell is a good unit, you should be very happy with it. Dell does make some really good machines. And if it's a lemon, you don't want to get stuck with it--so don't fall for any delaying tactics. With Dell it's "hit" or "miss".

-JDM

(BTW, most laptops seem to run cooler on battery power than when using the ac adaptor...so you might want to use the battery as often as possible. My wife's IBM actually seems to run better on battery power.)

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Me too
Apr 12, 2005 6:47AM PDT

I was looking at the exact same two, S360P vs 700m, the slaesman told me about Lattitude X1, which he told me has an internal CD/DVD drive that is removable.
I also noticed the standard battery is 3-cell battery. They are very hungry to sell them as they offered me additional $200 off the price if I agree to buy it today. Hmmmmmm.... I always get nervous about those deals!
The 700m good good reviews from CNET although they did not say anything about the keyboard.
I am also going to look into the Latitude 410 which is a bit lighter than the 700m.

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Sony VIAO S360- TRIED IT RETURNED IT-GO FOR TOSHIBA s100
Apr 13, 2005 8:22PM PDT

i BOUGHT 2 FROM COMPUSA GOT 400$ TOTAL REBATE AND YET RETURNED IT: FAN WAS NOISY ( MAY BE BECAUSE OF THE SHARED MEMORY- DEDICATED MEM MAY BE THE ANSWER), LAPTOP WAS GOOD PERFORMANCE BUT NOT WHAT YOU 'D EXPECT WITH THIS PRICE TAG. SUPERIOR SCREEN TECHNOLOGY, PORTABLE COMFORT KEYBOARD. BUT I AM AFRAID OF THE LAPTOP HEATING UP ON LONG USAGE.
GOOD NOTEBOOK FOR A LOWER PRICE TAG AND IF NOISE IS NOT A PB FOR YOU. sLICK LIGHT....

s/ONE SAID IT WELL SONY IS VERY GOOD AT DESIGNING TOP OF THE LINE SLICK NOTEBOOK MADE FOR A SHORT SHELF LIFE (GOOD FOR IMPULSE BUY-THAT'S HOW I GOT CAUGHT UP)

I'LL GO FOR A TOSHIBA(MORE SERIOUS I THINK): PORTEGE S-100 OR AN R15 TABLET -LET ME KNOW IF ANYONE KNOW THOSE PRODUCTS.

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I am also considering IBM Thinkpad X40
Apr 15, 2005 1:47AM PDT

Many professionals agree that IBM still makes the best laptops in the industry. They have the X series ranging from $1500 and up. I configured one with the help of an IBM salesperson, and you can get a pretty good one for about $1,800. It is about 2.7 lbs - 3.2 lbs. One problem is that it does not come with CD/DVD drivers. You need an external one or a docking station. Still trying to determine if I really need an internal optical drive.
p.s. It is better to call them rather than buying on line, the salesmen will give you extra discounts if you ask. One more way to save money, with all these computer manufacturers you can get an additional discount if you have a kid in college and you tell them you are getting it for them. Keep that in mind with all gadgets, such as iPods, laptops, etc.

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go with the Vaio
Apr 25, 2005 10:45AM PDT

Trust me, go with the Vaio. The screen is much better than the Dell, and the graphics card is good, compared with the Dell which uses integrated graphics.