Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (
More info?)
"MSCHAEF.COM" <mschaef@fnord.io.com> wrote in message
news:UoOdnQRpAZe-M13fRVn-hQ@io.com...
> In article <UoSdnUnqDI5oPl3fRVn-qw@adelphia.com>,
> Beely <beely2000@hotmail.com> wrote:
> ...
>>Well, so far, besides the responses on this board, I've heard from several
>>co-workers and neighbors who are mostly giving strong words of support for
>>the "ruggedness" of the Sony.
>
> You might appreciate this. I have a co-worker who took his small Sony
> subnotebook on a college-student/hostal style trip around the world, for
> eight months. He put it in a ziplock bag and dragged the thing up
> mountains, into swamps, and through deserts (he apparantly ended up
> shaking sand out of the mechanics more than a few times).
>
> I've seen the machine, and it looks basically new and runs well for its
> age. I don't know if this is reprsentative or not, but I think Sony is
> very much able to make a durable machine.
>
> -Mike
>
> PS: My luck is worse, I've had failures in both IBM and Apple laptops
> within 1-2 years of comparitively light use.
Agreed on the ruggedness. On my second Vaio. Both were top of the range at
time of purchase. We still use both. They get a lot of travel and physical
abuse. A lot of time in hot tropical and dusty desert environments. Ziplock
bags a great idea when moving between airconditioned hotels and humid
tropics. Condensation a problem with temperature changes, but never store
in
the bags. I have used a panasonic toughbook though, so if you need something
very strong, I have not seen any better.
The first Sony (PIV 2.8GHz) had a mainboard shorted out when some metal
objects entered the PC slot during a security Xray (they were banging around
in the tray together- my slackness). Replacement was slow but not too
expensive, however this was a result of that particular Intel mainboard
configuration- others types may be very expensive. Other than that
accident, both have performed pretty much faultlessly.
The comments from "Quaoar" news:_-OdnZR9euynAl3fRVn-iQ@comcast.com... are
accurate and reflected by my experience. Sony "lost" my online
registration... I didn't bother the second time around. My perception is
always that they are very expensive both to purchase and repair but the
product is good and reliable. Keep track of your recovery disks because you
do occasionally need them (or in the case of the new machine, make backup
recovery disks.) and always copy serial numbers and record any contacts with
Sony Support. Handy for us is an authorised service agent nearby, so I
found my best support was from calling the agent direct and they are always
helpful.
If you can afford the purchase of a high end Pentium M, a good Sony is
highly recommended- add 2 gig ram and a 17" wide screen with X600 ATI
graphics it is a very nice and well made computer. Great external speakers
and port replicator came with the deal. The 2.8 PIV performed well but is
really only a desktop replacement and not very mobile. Heavy and
power-hungry. You will always find you will sometimes want to use it on
battery and that's where the PM's shine. The PIV battery lasted only 50
minutes and the spare cost $US390. Changing batteries a hassle mid-movie on
flights.
If your are not going the 'high end' path, there seems to be a lot of
notebooks around that outperform the Vaios on a 'bang per buck ' assessment.
I cannot comment on Dell but many who know them recommend them.
Dave