Gaming Does this computer look good for the price?

[Lastly]

http://www.microsoft...uctID.234332800


The price for the Series Z went down by 40%. That's awfully good! It's last 12 hours, have a separate GPU, 6GB Ram, and it's light; real light. It come with a Xbox too. I'm always on the go and really need a new computer for some R&D like programming and rendering a video. Should I get this Ultraportable or should I wait for the upcoming Microsoft Surface, Vizio Thin + Light? Microsoft will have Vizio Thin + Light on July 15th. I been to there special event the other day and the computer were real nice. I also considered some other recently released coputer like Samsung Series 9 or Zenbook Prime.

P.S. Does anyone know if this computer support VT?

 

[Originality]

What do you need it for?

 

[Lastly]

Mostly graphic editing, programming, (sometime) rendering a video or creating special effects, and playing games on the Airplane.

 

[Originality]

Then the VISIO won't be enough for your needs. If you can find out for me what AMD graphics is built into the dock, I can tell you if it's worth the price or not.

Haven't looked at the others you mentioned since they didn't come up straight away when I skimmed through the site.

 

[Lastly]

Thank you for your quick reply. It's really nice of you for your help. Here is a spec sheet if found: http://www.theverge....-z-mid-2011/631
It come with a HD Graphics 3000 built into the laptop, but an external power station can be attached and it's a AMD Radeon HD 6650M graphics.
Here's a review I found: http://www.theverge....o-series-review

 

[Originality]

Seems like a pretty good laptop. It's one generation behind (Ivy Bridge and AMD HD 7 series) but it does look like it'll satisfy your needs. Also, based on this spec sheet, it will support Intel VT. As for the price... well, I've never seen a laptop with decent graphics with such a big battery life, and the current price is much more reasonable than the original price, so it's up to you. The Xbox is worth around $200, so factor that into the price. Also it comes with the extra battery slice and dock included, where as the original price had you get them separately (at the cost of over $200 IIRC).

If you can fish up links to the other laptops you're considering, I can see how they compare. So far I've only seen the VAIO Z and VISIO, and I'd go for the VAIO Z for sure.

 

[Lastly]

Seems like a pretty good laptop. It's one generation behind (Ivy Bridge and AMD HD 7 series) but it does look like it'll satisfy your needs. Also, based on this spec sheet, it will support Intel VT. As for the price... well, I've never seen a laptop with decent graphics with such a big battery life, and the current price is much more reasonable than the original price, so it's up to you. The Xbox is worth around $200, so factor that into the price. Also it comes with the extra battery slice and dock included, where as the original price had you get them separately (at the cost of over $200 IIRC).

If you can fish up links to the other laptops you're considering, I can see how they compare. So far I've only seen the VAIO Z and VISIO, and I'd go for the VAIO Z for sure.

Yeah; the only thing that's holding me up from buying this computer is that it's one generation behind in processing and graphics. This is one of those really light and thin laptop that last this long with great power and price. I also sometime do some Wii emulation if that is a factor.

This is what I'm thing about:

Asus Tai Chi - Look really nice and thin like the Asus Zenbook. But no real spec is known beside the screen size and the dual screen. It seem like it's going to be expensive.
Asus Zenbook - I initially decided to pick this one up, but it only have have 4GB ram. A good processor even if it's i7 Ivy Bridge won't do much good with low Ram, right?
Vizio Thin + Light 15 Inch - Big screen and good price too, but same as Zenbook
Microsoft Surface - Look cool, but no spec or price at all beside that it will pack a i5 or i7 Ivy Bridge
Samsung Series 9 13 inch or Samsung Series 9 15 inch - The i5 version is $1500, but I would like a i7 for maximum performance. The i7 cost way too much at $1800, but it does have 8GB ram

Alot of choice with different variation. I really need good performance and something that worth my money. Thank you for your opinion. I really appreciate it. It be great if you can show me the best computer.

 

[Originality]

Ok, the biggest deciding point in the laptops you've mentioned is that the only one with discreet graphics is the VAIO Z. All the others use Intel HD 3000 or 4000. For graphics and rendering, you really want discreet graphics. Ivy Bridge does not have much improvement over Sandy Bridge and Sandy Bridge is still more than capable of handling most tasks with ease.

Also, you don't really need 8GB of RAM on a laptop. Most computers don't really use all of 4GB except under certain circumstances (e.g. High resolution graphics work) and RAM is cheap and easy to upgrade anyway. That, and emulation is not a factor with your budget - no matter what you get, it will handle emulation very well.

Of all of them, the VAIO Z still looks the best to me, even if the review says it has crappy speakers and can get noisy (that's what headphones are for).

 

[Lastly]

Thank you so much for the amazing answer. I visited the Sony Store and they just came out a new model yet again for the Z series. They come in three packages and they all don't have the external GPU. I think it is too expensive for the same spec but I wanted to ask for your opinion. It now include quad core and ivy bridge.

 

[chains_of_androm]

For that price you might as well go with the MBP w/retina. Better screen, GPU, and way better support. Sony makes decent laptops but I've found their support to be non-existant.

 

[Originality]

Macs can get very expensive if you get graphics software the normal way. Also my dad doesn't like using macs for video editing and rendering because, in his words, they crash far more often than PCs. The specs may be good and the support good, but the hardware design just isn't up to the standards of power users like us. Plus the apple tax (which has noticeably reduced in recent years).

Those VAIOs you showed have the same problem - integrated graphics. It'd be fine if you weren't looking for a graphics/rendering workstation, but you are. You need the graphical power.

 

[Lastly]

I don't mind buying MBP or MBA since I can put Windows on it, but I want good spec with good price. So what should I buy? New vaio model are crazy expensive at $1500, $1999, and $2999 while the high end model of 2011 is $1499 but come with the external GPU. Or should I get a Mac or wait for something. I want power and a good price.

 

[Originality]

Price scales to power, and it's hard to get power in an ultraportable. That's why I was impressed by the VAIO Z with the external GPU and attachable battery.

Have a look at Alienware to give you more ideas.

 

[Lastly]

For that price you might as well go with the MBP w/retina. Better screen, GPU, and way better support. Sony makes decent laptops but I've found their support to be non-existant.

Could you tell me why? Let me calculate this for you.

Calculation
Base Price * Tax

Mac Book Pro w/ Retina (Lowest End)
$1999 * 1.0775 = $2153.92 (Student Price)
$2199 * 1.0775 = $2369.42 (Normal Price)

Sony Vaio Z Series Mid 2011 (Highest End)
$1499 * 1.0775 = $1615.17
Microsoft Store Giftcard ($500) = $1615.17 - $500 = $1115.17

The difference between the two price is around $500. BTW, the graphics in the external GPU is much better than the Mac Book Pro. I don't really need any support; I actually never needed any beside broken parts. The spec along with the price is amazing compare to the Mac Book. I agree, the Mac Book Pro does look great, but the spec doesn't for it's price. I would love to buy a Mac Book Pro if the spec matches the spec or even better and the prices rises reasonably. Can anyone point to me if any of such said exists? I also have a $500 gift card for Microsoft Store from a friend so any product from them would drop down tremendously. Thank you for everyone feedback.

 

[YayMii]

I'd say go for the Vaio Z. I have a 2011 MacBook Air, and the only thing bottlenecking me is the Intel HD 3000 graphics. The Vaio Z is about as light as the 13" MBA, and the dock GPU is absolutely great (wish I could find one for my computer though). And you might want to find a nice external monitor to pair with it.

(BTW, 4GB is enough for almost everything)

 

[Lastly]

Thank you for your feedback. I contacted them and it seem they are offering me overnight shipping for free. This seems to be getting better and better. Another thing that's stopping me from buying it right now is, is a year old model going to be "future-proof" and the HD Graphics 3000 is a gen back. The 4000 have vastly improved. Is the external GPU portable? I ask some Sony's staff, but some say it's one one wire to the computer while the some other say that there's a wire to the computer and you have to attach it to the outlet. Does anyone know? Thank you.

 

[Originality]

The review isn't too clear, but it does mention the GPU having a power brick, which implies it requires AC power. Also the battery life doesn't mention with the dock connected.
EDIT: a second review does say it needs to be powered externally.

 

[jalaneme]

imo, no, paying 1 grand for a laptop with those specs is not worth it, i could buy a tower pc with 4 times that much power and it would probably cost less, if you need a laptop for on the go then you should try and see if you can get more value for your money, on top of that sony's computers are way overpriced anyway.

for example my local sony store is selling a all in one pc with touch screen display for about 2 grand, that is way too much and the specs were outdated too.

 

[Lastly]

Could you suggest me a certain computer then? The vaio z is.only $1100 along with good battery life. Is there a strong computer with good batter life with better spec?

 

[jalaneme]

i will have a look and come back to you, what brand do you prefer? acer? HP? ?