reflexboy
MB Enthusiast
What's better for general web surfing, iTunes, music downoads etc? Don't do online gaming etc. Sony Vaio or a Dell laptop? TIA
Not sure if anything has changed recently but Sony support was shockingly bad. At least with dell they are well supported and responsive if things go wrong.
+ lots of offers/discounts around Dells at the moment
+ lots of offers/discounts around Dells at the moment
OP
OP
reflexboy
MB Enthusiast
Well my 6 year old Dell PC is still working well. Any comments about the VAIO people? By the way-Merry Christmas to you all 
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I have several laptops within my business. I've thrown away 2 dells, but the old faithful sony is still trooping on.
IMO the keyboard on the sony is better, too.
IMO the keyboard on the sony is better, too.
bennesspipers
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My laptop's Dell, no problem. Bought a Sony satnav last year,which went faulty in the 1st week,getting any sort of sense from Sony was a nightmare, i'll never ever buy anything SONY again.
Deker
Active Member
I've just moved from Sony VAIO to Dell XPS, the laptop itslef was fine but Sony didn't release any drivers for any other OS other than what it shipped with (drivers for the media control) ... that and the fact that a Sony replacement battery was £160 over a dell £40 (and you couldn't get non Sony one anywhere).
Deker
Deker
Sp!ke
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Anything but Sony imho.
Mudster
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Dell Studio 17 laptop, owned for 10 months.
Case started to split slightly buy the power switch, phoned Dell who collected next day and returned with a completely new case on it within 5 days no argument whatsoever.
My next one will be a Dell.
Case started to split slightly buy the power switch, phoned Dell who collected next day and returned with a completely new case on it within 5 days no argument whatsoever.
My next one will be a Dell.
Satch
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Has to be a Dell, recent experience of Sony customer "service" shows it has plumbed new depths.
No 2 son has a Vostro 1520 and with a Core 2 processor, 4GB of memory, and 64 bit Windows 7 operating system and it rips along merrily, to the point where it puts a great many desktops to shame.
Stumped up for the 9-cell 85 WHr Lithium Ion battery and that kicks up the battery life hugely.
Overall really neat little package
No 2 son has a Vostro 1520 and with a Core 2 processor, 4GB of memory, and 64 bit Windows 7 operating system and it rips along merrily, to the point where it puts a great many desktops to shame.
Stumped up for the 9-cell 85 WHr Lithium Ion battery and that kicks up the battery life hugely.
Overall really neat little package
Ade B
MB Enthusiast
Everyone always says Dell as if they make the best computers in the world - my dinky Vaio is great, stable, excellent screen, nice design and customer services were brilliant sending me a free bit to replace the corner I broke off when Mrs B 'packed' it in a rucksack 
The customer service was so good it almost became a nuisance as they called me every few days to remind me to fill in their form for the bit in question..
So I'd say +1 for Sony - expensive but great product and great service in my experience.
Ade
The customer service was so good it almost became a nuisance as they called me every few days to remind me to fill in their form for the bit in question..
So I'd say +1 for Sony - expensive but great product and great service in my experience.
Ade
I have had 2 Sony laptops. First one was very good. Second has been a real pain. One common issue seems to be battery life. the battery seems to degenerate very quickly. But why restrict yourself to those two brands? Have a look at one of the price comparison sites or review sites or something like amazon to find a laptop with your spec. then you can compare reviews and get to see some real feedback on a range of laptops.
I have had 2 bad Sony experiences and 1 good one
Both my work laptops were dire - my own expensive mini one has been great
I have had 3 Dells since the Sonys and the current Vostro 1720 is a gem - Its about as well specced as a Vostro can be but it was still pretty cheap given the spec
I have the optional 1900x1200 HQ screen so I can use photoshop on it
Both my work laptops were dire - my own expensive mini one has been great
I have had 3 Dells since the Sonys and the current Vostro 1720 is a gem - Its about as well specced as a Vostro can be but it was still pretty cheap given the spec
I have the optional 1900x1200 HQ screen so I can use photoshop on it
I agree - Sonys are pretty to look at but poor/cheapnon-standard components fail and the support is absolutely appalling. They will not sell you parts and support for drivers etc is next to non-existent. The bloatware/demo/trialware count is also among the very worst (presumably used to prop up margins).
(they USED to be good but fell to the "run by accountants" approach used to bail Sony out of its problems - sort of like Merc in c. 2000!).
Expect keyboards & screen hinges to fail, bespoke Sony software to cause clashes and paint to fall off media buttons.
Then enjoy paying 090 charges to speak to a buffoon if you want "support".
Yuck...bottom of the pile for me!
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The SONY Vaio I bought 8 years ago is still in use and has been passed around the family including use by children.
It was a sod to get a part for when 2 years old. I had to do without the machine for 10 days when it required a new CD drive. However, you can buy these parts anywhere these days (I paid £8 for the second one from ebay a year or so ago).
4, months ago I bought a DELL laptop £944.00 inc onsite 4 year cover (so machine probably cost around £700.00). It was the biggest pile of rubbish I've ever had.
Within 1 week the keyboard was faulty and the machine crashed and hung time after time and there were also other problems.
I had a monumental battle that lasted for weeks with DELL to get a refund and without any shadow of doubt they DELIBERATELY made the return and refund process as awkward and frustrating as possible. They only buckled when I called their bluff and said I had a trading standards inspection of the product and a reference number for this.
Someone will have bought my Dell at one of their clearance outlets - I wish them luck.
I have a 2-3 year old HP DV9088EA laptop at present (good machine added more ram - 3GB) and this too has had a new keyboard and crashes sometimes (been rigorously tested but the fault still remains) but after the Dell experience I'm sticking with the devil I know.
IIRC Whizzkid stated on the forum recently that no matter what laptop you buy these days, they are only made to last 2-3 years.
It was a sod to get a part for when 2 years old. I had to do without the machine for 10 days when it required a new CD drive. However, you can buy these parts anywhere these days (I paid £8 for the second one from ebay a year or so ago).
4, months ago I bought a DELL laptop £944.00 inc onsite 4 year cover (so machine probably cost around £700.00). It was the biggest pile of rubbish I've ever had.
Within 1 week the keyboard was faulty and the machine crashed and hung time after time and there were also other problems.
I had a monumental battle that lasted for weeks with DELL to get a refund and without any shadow of doubt they DELIBERATELY made the return and refund process as awkward and frustrating as possible. They only buckled when I called their bluff and said I had a trading standards inspection of the product and a reference number for this.
Someone will have bought my Dell at one of their clearance outlets - I wish them luck.
I have a 2-3 year old HP DV9088EA laptop at present (good machine added more ram - 3GB) and this too has had a new keyboard and crashes sometimes (been rigorously tested but the fault still remains) but after the Dell experience I'm sticking with the devil I know.
IIRC Whizzkid stated on the forum recently that no matter what laptop you buy these days, they are only made to last 2-3 years.
mekon
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tbh sony have been trading on their name for a while now..... but i wouldnt use dell either, ive gotten through many many many laptops in the last 4 or 5 years, Ive found Toshiba to be the best for service and support, i had a clogged fan causing overheating and noise, so i called them up just before the warranty ran out, they collected it, cleaned it up, gave it a general check and delivered it back to my door within 7 days free of charge 
very top service.
HP/Compaq are good at supporting their older models, back in 2005 i wanted some info relating to a 2000 model machine, very out of warranty, they sent me an email with a complete service manual attached :bannana:
dont even get me started on "Acer".....
however a good company to look at are "ASUS" i use their components in my desktop builds and find the stuff to be top notch, all their gear comes with 3 or more years warranty, friends relative bought one of their laptops on my recommendation bout a year ago, i visitted recently and the machine was still running perfectly, they hadn't had any issues at all.
Samsung - got an NC10 netbook back in february, cant praise it enough incredibly useful, fantastic battery, still very usable out'n about.
Friend had a samsung laptop, very usable machine he gave it to his brother when he bought a new machine, short while later the brother had broken the power connector internally, had to open it up and solder the cable to the motherboard (a new connector was too much hassle) was very impressed with the neat layout, very tidy and well thought out (some machines are a nightmare to work in) so again a good company to look at
to recap
Sony acer dell - personally not fans
ASUS, Toshiba Samsung - excellent machines in my experience
very top service.HP/Compaq are good at supporting their older models, back in 2005 i wanted some info relating to a 2000 model machine, very out of warranty, they sent me an email with a complete service manual attached :bannana:
dont even get me started on "Acer".....
however a good company to look at are "ASUS" i use their components in my desktop builds and find the stuff to be top notch, all their gear comes with 3 or more years warranty, friends relative bought one of their laptops on my recommendation bout a year ago, i visitted recently and the machine was still running perfectly, they hadn't had any issues at all.
Samsung - got an NC10 netbook back in february, cant praise it enough incredibly useful, fantastic battery, still very usable out'n about.
Friend had a samsung laptop, very usable machine he gave it to his brother when he bought a new machine, short while later the brother had broken the power connector internally, had to open it up and solder the cable to the motherboard (a new connector was too much hassle) was very impressed with the neat layout, very tidy and well thought out (some machines are a nightmare to work in) so again a good company to look at
to recap
Sony acer dell - personally not fans
ASUS, Toshiba Samsung - excellent machines in my experience
crockers
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I have a Samsung X11 13" laptop. Think it's fantastic. Would recommend Samsung. Had a Sony Vaio. Very expensive and screen failed after 2 and a bit years. Not sure if it's a screen light or the graphics card as it won't speak to another monitor either. Quoted £150 to look at it. Not worth it. IMHO.
