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8 out of 16 people found this review helpful
1.0 stars
"Product warning"
Pros: VAIO screen resolution
Cons: appalling reliability
Summary: I bought a Sony VAIO laptop for £1,350 in 2003 having chosen the machine mainly for its large, high-resolution screen (16inch, 1600 x 1200) and in the belief that Sony laptops were some of the most reliable on the market. However, when the computer was just over 14 months old (not quite three months out of warranty), the keyboard failed completely, and I had to purchase an external USB keyboard to be able to continue using it. I wrote to Sony, arguing that such a major fault was unacceptable, and asked them to repair the product at their own expense. Their response was to offer me a derisory 10% discount on the cost of repairs.
Then, about a month later, the screen flickered briefly and died completely! I was left with an expensive laptop that was effectively reduced to a desktop machine that could only be used with an external keyboard and an external monitor.
So, here was a laptop that had been used carefully for about five hours a day, in a benign environment, had never suffered any kind of physical damage, and had only been taken out of the house on a handful of occasions, and yet had developed two major faults in the space of just sixteen months! Sony?s response to my complaints was simply to argue that their machines ?are some of the most reliable available on the market?.
Not one, but two major faults in just over a year. Reliable? Judge for yourself. My advice: think very carefully before purchasing a Sony VAIO laptop ? unless, that is, you intend using it as a desktop machine.
- 7 replies to this review
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I bought the vgn-t350 and let me just say that screen is the most fragile in the WORLD. The thing cracked after accidentaly being hit by an electrical cord at not thay fast or hard of an impact. When
i went to sony to fix it they chargeed me $750.00. What the F***. They have the worst notebooks in the world and their warrenty coverage is crap. -
Please only comment on the actual product being reviewed. This "blast the company" approach is of little use.
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I have a two year old Vaio ultra portable (with built-in webcam) that has been treated roughly and has never given me a problem. I sympathize with the reviewer's bad experience, but just like my good experience, it is old info regarding a different product.
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Hi, I've owned a Vaio notebook for 5 years now, and this computer has gone through a lot! It has been working in all kinds of aggresive environments, I have dropped it accidentally in many ocassions and it continues to work perfectly.
I have to say that it is the best notebook I've ever had.
Saludos! -
I'm not sure if I can qualify as having major issues with my grx(1600x1200 16" LCD). However it fried out over 6 months ago. I originally purchased the model in mid 2002 and have used it in more than the conventional way. I've hauled it on business trips and used it as my "main desktop" home office machine. It stood up to the stresses and tests for a little over 2 and a half yrs. However, just 3 months before the BestBuy extended warranty expired, the machine just stopped working. BestBuy (theGeekSquad) did everything that they could to bring it back. No Luck. Fortunately, (for me) the BESTBUY ext. warranty covered it. It taught 2 most valuable lessons.
1. Be cautious of Sony products. They can go without even a hint!
2. Take out the hard drive before sending it in OR make sure your backups are kept updated. -
I have never owned any pc system from Sony, but I DO find it interesting that they are one of the more expensive manufacturers next to Dell, Gateway, etc. and they offer the most minimal warranties. With Sony, you only get a 1 yr. warranty, with others, you will pay a lot LESS and most of the time get a 3 yr. warranty; I just thought that was interesting.
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I have a friend in Seattle who experienced your very same problems only in different order (he first lost the screen, THEN THE KEYBOARD). And Sony Vaio service is REALLY expensive.
