Laptop Advice: Sony Vaio TR5MP...

[Rameses]

Hi guys,

Just some advice really. Basically I'm on the look out for a new laptop (or rather a sub-notebook as they are called).

I've had the TR1MP, but sold it...and now I miss it.

The replacement to the TR series is the TX, currenty TX1...but TX2 is due soon. Both will a price tag of 1500+.

If you care to have a quick look at vaio's website and the current TX1 spec, and compare it to the TR5MP spec:

Detailed specification:

General
Weight 1.4 kg
Processor Intel Pentium M 1.1 GHz
Core Voltage Technology Ultra Low Voltage (ULV)
Data Bus Speed 400 MHz
Chipset Type Intel 855GM
Cache Memory Type L2 Cache Installed Size 1 MB
RAM Installed Size 512 MB / 1 GB (max)
Technology DDR SDRAM - 266 MHz
Hard Drive 40 GB
Optical Storage Type DVD-RW
Display Type 10.6" TFT active matrix
Max Resolution 1280 x 768
Graphics Processor / Vendor Intel 855GM
Video Memory Shared Video Memory (UMA)
OS Provided Microsoft Windows XP Professional

What I am asking...is it worth the price tag the TX holds? I mean, yes, its very nice and of course more upto date etc...but will the TR5MP hold up just as good? I accept the Graphics are poo, and are little better on the TX, but thats not what I'm looking for.

What ya reckon?

 

[Rameses]

Regardless of how much the TX can be had for, its the spec and what I should go for?

 

[Rameses]

Even though IBM have a long history of Laptop building I still do not like the look of them...

Spec is ok'ish, but the whole design is just awful...

I'd like to stick with Sony to be honest...

Anyone else have input of the 2 Sony laptops?

 

[Rameses]

Blimey

What I mean is the look of the laptop, no one can say Sony's TR and TX aint better looking than IBM?

Like I've said, they have a long history of laptop building but the TR just PWNED the look of any IBM laptop...and the TX is right up there along side the TR.

Anyway, back to my question:

Will there be any jump in performace from the TR5MP to the TX1 and TX2 to justify the price tag they hold? Or should I go off in search of a TR5MP on ebay and save myself £600+

 

[Rameses]

I had the TR1MP and that is what I call a laptop. Maybe hard to understand for whatever you use it for but to me it was fantastic. 10.6" VERY clear screen, very light, long lasting and looked great?

Main uses were for music/dvd/downloard episodes of whatever...it had been with me to all of my spain holidays etc and fulfilled what it was meant to do. convient package which is very easy to carry and could handle whatever program you wanted.

:s

I'm fancing a TR5MP even more tbh!

Just read the TX1 has major fan problems in the sense it spins up and down all the time, and the TX2 fixes said problem while being fanless and bigger HD. The spec remains the same?

Now does that justify and 1500 tag? to the TR5MP?

 

[Rameses]

Reyt then,

Show me a IBM laptop which is small and sub 2.0kg.

 

[Rameses]

I'm sorry but that does not look good one bit

Spec is fine yes, but it just looks nasty as all ThinkPad's do...

It has to be sony, and nothing else.

Now let me say again...Looking at the TX1 and TX2(fanless and bigger hd to the TX1) compared to the TR5MP which is about a 1 and 1/2 old. Should I save money and go for that or one of the TX's? Based on spec alone.

 

[Rameses]

Sony have style? what more can I say?

The function, you say, is the same, yes. The style is something that doesnt even come into it when you refer to a Thinkpad. Remember, I had the TR1MP and that was a good spec, all housed into a very fine design. What I am asking is when the spec between the TR5MP and the TX's range is compared, does the TR5MP (being as its over a year old) still have a comparable spec? As far as I can see they answer is yes.

All be it the TX2's cpu is .100mhz faster and the HD is bigger. The display is 4mm thick and even thinner and lighter than any other model before it.

The price for a TR5MP can vary, between 600 and 800, and the TX2 looking like 1500+???

Whats worth my money?

 

[Rameses]

I think also some people have forgotten that I have had a TR1MP for 2 years...Not one single problem. IMO Sony do have build quality as well as looks.

I would have no problem going back to the TR series, all be it the TR5MP as its a lilttle faster and has a bigger HD, but I suppose it comes down to warranty etc?

Unless my house insurance would cover this in some way? I did have my TR1MP covered for going anywhere in the world...Not sure if accidental damage is something that was included?

I will go though and see the TX, I assume the Sony shop near me will only have the TX1...but besides the slight CPU upgrade and HD, not much has changed on paper.

 

[Rameses]

Buying a laptop based on what it looks like is both sad and stupid!!
Get a grip! It's not an item of clothing!
If your buying it so you can pose with it then thats very sad and pathetic tbh

IBM > Sony ...

WTF?

If you read my OP you'll see I'm asking to compare the TR5 and TX1 and 2?

Yes, and also the style plays a part...in that region Sony > IBM.

 

[Rameses]

LED backlight for the screen which is also higher resolution. Not sure if the weight has changed, I expect it has though. The TX is carbon fibre, is the TR5?

Note - I have cancelled my TX2 order, I'm now going for a SZ1XP due in mid March.

Hopefully we be able to get to see one sometime this weekend. I like the look of that SZ, had a look earlier...

 

[Rameses]

Well I went and saw one on Saturday...

It was a TX1, thought I was looking at one before that thinking it was the TX series but it was the T1XP. Anyway, found the TX and my first impression was how much it looked the same. Anyway I read the spec and it was a 1.2ghz 60gb etc...

I could not believe how much better it looked in real life, than all the pictures on the net.

To my eyes the display looked smaller than my ex-TR1MP (at 10.6")...but it is 11.6"

Beautiful piece of equipment and has totally convinced me that this is the laptop to get.

Soooooooooo light & compact, just what I want in a laptop.

*Hopefully* be able to place order at the end of Feb, just as they are released.

I believe the spec I want is the same CPU with 1GB and 80GB Hard Drive with a Dual-Layer DVD-RW.

Looking forward to it